WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TOUR GUIDE AND A TRIP LEAD?

A tour guide is an expert in a particular topic or place, responsible for providing information, interpretations, and guiding tourists during a specific tour or at a particular location. They focus on educating & entertaining visitors with their knowledge of the destination. On the other hand, a trip leader has a broader role & manages the entire travel experience for a group of travellers. They handle logistics, ensure safety, manage budgets, and act as a point of contact throughout the trip. In a nutshell, while tour guides provide information, trip leaders organise, oversee, and facilitate the overall travel experience.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TRIP LEAD

​Being a Trip Leader for TravelholicShe is far from a perpetual vacation; it's a challenging and legitimate job that requires dedication and hard work. While your friends may envy your breath-taking "office" in national parks, valleys, or living heritage hubs, they may not realize the long hours and 24/7 availability you commit to handling any situation that arises. Behind the scenes, there's an immense amount of work before each trip, much like a swan gracefully gliding while paddling fervently underneath. As Trip Leader for TravelholicShe, your role is crucial in maintaining a positive atmosphere, creating unforgettable experiences, ensuring smooth operations, troubleshooting issues, facilitating effective communication, and fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all travellers. It's a profession that requires both - a passion for travel and a relentless work ethic.​

What's in it for you?

• A lot of travel, of course.
• Opportunity to explore the world and experience adventures like snowmobiling in the arctic, camping in a canyon, experiencing the life of a Kazakh tribe, and much more.
• Experience & learn about different cultures and savour local foods.
• Living expenses are covered during a trip (accommodation, breakfast, and most meals) and flights with a daily allowance.
• Meet new people from around the world and build deep friendships with locals.
• Be part of the TravelholicShe journey.
• You'll learn a lot about yourself, developing your interpersonal and leadership skills in ordinary and extraordinary situations. It's also a job with real autonomy – your boss may be 12,000 miles away!

Requirements to Become a Trip Lead with TravelholicShe

1.  Well-travelled:  Ideally, you should have explored some unusual parts of the globe and been on some trips solo or in a group. But remember, the most important thing isn’t travel – it’s people.
2. Demonstrate people and leadership skills. Trip Leaders would be the go-to person and life of the trips.
   To be able to maintain an amicable relationship would be key to maintaining a healthy atmosphere for all. 
   Those with experience of service industry, & of leading or teaching people, would be ideal for such a role.
3. Experience a trip with TravelholicShe. It'll give you a great insight into what it's like to be part of a group on vacation, and see a real-life trip leader in action. While you're there, ask the trip leader exactly what they do on a day-to-day basis.
4. Be ready to answer the question: “What would make you a good trip leader?” We look forward to hearing from you on why and how this role will help you and us.

FAQ​

​1. How old do I have to be?

Our groups are designed for a wide range of age groups, 29 - 49 years old and, in general, it is ideal for our customers to have a Trip Leader who fits that profile. 

2. Do I need any prior trip leading experience?

Preferably yes, but not mandatory. Our ideal candidates have previously led tours or group trips and have at least travelled 1-2 times with TravelholicShe.

3. What qualifications do I need?

We require all trip leaders to go through the TravelholicShe Trip Leader training. Preference will be given to those who have experience leading trips. 

 4. Can I choose where and when I work?

Personal preferences, language skills, availability and country-specific experience will be taken into account when placing Trip Leaders. The Operations Team is constantly juggling the work schedules to make sure that every departure has an available trip leader on call and we are constantly adding more dates and new trips so there will likely be ample opportunity. The destination you will be assigned to will be based on your
experience, level of expertise and customer feedback.

 5. Do I need to speak other languages?

While it isn’t a requirement, it is helpful and Trip Leaders may be prioritized to countries where they speak the predominant language. Additionally, we encourage all trip leaders and customers to try and learn as
much of the local language when traveling.

 6. I want to host trips in my home country, is that possible?

Absolutely, we love working with locals! Prospective trips leaders need to have the latest information on the coolest secret hangouts, the best local restaurants as well as provide experiences similar to those of the locals. This also helps us to promote local businesses, keep resources in the local economies, as well as reduce our carbon footprint. 

7. How often are the trips?

We aim to run several trips throughout the year, each led by a qualified Trip Leader. Please refer to our upcoming trips for currently listed trip dates, but keep in mind that we may add and remove trips as necessary.  

 8. Will I be able to choose which trips I lead?

We will do our best to match you with the itineraries you are most qualified for.  If you have specialized knowledge of a particular country or are keen to explore a country where we offer trips, please let us know and we will factor that information into your placement.

 9. Are there any physical requirements that need to be met to lead trips?

Different trips have different requirements in terms of physical fitness. For most trips, you will be required to walk quite a bit each day. 

​10.Can I do this alongside my other job or studies?

While on trip, the responsibilities of a Trip Leader are full-time and thus need to be prioritized like a full-time job.  We prefer to have trip leaders that can run many trips a year. If you are looking to take a week off your full-time job to do this once or twice a year, then also this works for us. Depending on your schedule, there may be time to take up other jobs or studies in between trips, but we would love for you to do as many trips as you can in a year with us. Regardless, please discuss your schedule with us, so that we can plan accordingly.  

 11. Equal Opportunity

We believe in equal opportunity and do not discriminate against applicants due to race, colour, creed, identity, religion, marital status, age, national origin, sexual orientation, political affiliation. However, since we run majorly women-only groups, so we prefer women trip leaders for comfortability.