Every year, Odysseys Unlimited sends employees from different departments on training trips, giving them firsthand experience so that we can continue to provide our guests with the best possible service, from pre-tour customer service interactions to on-tour encounters. We interviewed some employees who have taken these training trips recently about their travels; read on to get an insider’s look at some of our small group tours, and what our employees learned while on the road.
Elizabeth Bougie, Senior Manager, Reservations & Customer Service, Tanzania Adventure: When we saw a lion up close for the first time. We were in Ngorongoro Crater, and two male lions approached our jeep. One looked right at me while walking towards my open window and rubbed against the door where I was sitting.
Derrek Joyce, Guest Communications Coordinator, Costa Rica's Natural Heritage: I have so many great memories from my tour that I have to cheat and list two: the Botanical Orchid Garden on Day 3 and the Bat Jungle on Day 7.
Isabel O’Brien, Lead Guest Services Coordinator, National Parks of the Southwest: My favorite moment on tour was seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time when we walked out of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Our group was wandering around the lobby/gift shop before heading to our guided sightseeing tour and no one expected to walk outside to see such an all-consuming landscape. It was fun seeing our group bond over being awestruck by the scene in front of them.
Eleanor Williams, Supervisor, Reservations & Customer Service, Exploring Iceland: On our visit to the geyser, I decided to hike the hill that overlooks the site. The view was spectacular with the green landscape dotted with patches of purple lupin, and it was made better by the periodic eruptions of the geyser.
Dani Rieck, Lead Travel Counselor, Patagonian Frontiers: I got attacked by two penguins! If you’re going to get attacked by a wild animal, I highly recommend it be a penguin.
Angela Bliel, Supervisor, Worldwide Staffing & Quality Assurance, Discovering Portugal: The grotto boat ride in Lagos.
Isabel O’Brien, Lead Guest Services Coordinator, National Parks of the Southwest: We stopped at a small, unassuming lodge for lunch one day. They had incredible homemade cookies and unique flavors – I never thought I would enjoy a zucchini cookie, but my only regret is not buying a few dozen to take home.
Derrek Joyce, Guest Communications Coordinator, Costa Rica's Natural Heritage: I can’t recall anything that was unexpected, but the fresh fruit couldn’t be beat!
Eleanor Williams, Supervisor, Reservations & Customer Service, Exploring Iceland: I ate quite a bit of fish, which is saying something as I am known around our office as a turf girl, not a surf girl. My real triumph, however, was when I tried fermented shark. It was not an experience I need to repeat, but I am proud that I braved it.
Dani Rieck, Lead Travel Counselor, Patagonian Frontiers: I’m not sure there was anything unexpected, but I ate really, really well on tour.
Elizabeth Bougie, Senior Manager, Reservations & Customer Service, Tanzania Adventure: There weren’t many unexpected foods on our trip, but I was surprised at how great the food was.
Angela Bliel, Supervisor, Worldwide Staffing & Quality Assurance, Discovering Portugal: A treat in Aveiro made with egg yolk and sugar.
Eleanor Williams, Supervisor, Reservations & Customer Service, Exploring Iceland: I honestly never pictured myself in a fish processing facility, but I learned a lot that day and even enjoyed myself.
Derrek Joyce, Guest Communications Coordinator, Costa Rica's Natural Heritage: If you told me I would willingly explore the top of a volcano, I would have laughed. That said, Irazú Volcano National Park was stunning and I’m so glad I got to see it.
Isabel O’Brien, Lead Guest Services Coordinator, National Parks of the Southwest: Rafting on the Colorado River!
Dani Rieck, Lead Travel Counselor, Patagonian Frontiers: I got to hike on Cape Horn.
Elizabeth Bougie, Senior Manager, Reservations & Customer Service, Tanzania Adventure: I never expected to find myself on the plains of Africa seeing lions, giraffe, chimpanzees, elephants, rhinoceros, and wildebeest in the wild. It was like I was living in a dream. I pinched myself more than once checking to see if I was really there.
Angela Bliel, Supervisor, Worldwide Staffing & Quality Assurance, Discovering Portugal: Cruised down the Duoro River.
Angela Bliel, Supervisor, Worldwide Staffing & Quality Assurance, Discovering Portugal: Be flexible!
Derrek Joyce, Guest Communications Coordinator, Costa Rica's Natural Heritage: Flexibility and spontaneity are key to having an excellent travel experience. On my departure of Costa Rica’s Natural Heritage, our driver Max (seemingly without reason) slowed down, turned around, and stopped the motorcoach on the side of the road. He had spotted a young sloth in the tree we passed. Not only was this the only up-close-and-personal experience we had with a sloth, but it wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t trust Max to take the reins for a moment.
Isabel O’Brien, Lead Guest Services Coordinator, National Parks of the Southwest: Be open-minded! On a group tour, you may be doing activities that you would not have chosen to do on our own. Take that as an opportunity to open yourself up to something new that you may realize you love!
Eleanor Williams, Supervisor, Reservations & Customer Service, Exploring Iceland: Have an open mind. Some of my best travel experiences have been to places I never thought I would go, or never really had an interest in.
Dani Rieck, Lead Travel Counselor, Patagonian Frontiers: Take the bucket list tours now. If we’ve learned anything the past few years, it’s that it may not always be available.
Elizabeth Bougie, Senior Manager, Reservations & Customer Service, Tanzania Adventure: I had not experienced group travel prior to Odysseys so I was not sure what it would be like traveling with people I had never met before. I have been pleasantly surprised; it is fulfilling to be able to share the incredible experience of being immersed in a new culture with likeminded people who share my enthusiasm for travel. The tip I would give is to keep an open mind and encourage others to share their views of the trip with you. In my opinion, a shared experience makes the time spent more enriching.
Dani Rieck, Lead Travel Counselor, Patagonian Frontiers: I’m going to Peru later this week! And next year, I’m going on our Mystical India tour. India is somewhere I never thought I’d get a chance to see. I’m especially looking forward to the variety of things we do on the tour.
Derrek Joyce, Guest Communications Coordinator, Costa Rica's Natural Heritage: Egypt, without question. Our Egypt & the Eternal Nile tour has been on my list since I first joined the team here at Odysseys Unlimited.
Isabel O’Brien, Lead Guest Services Coordinator, National Parks of the Southwest: Egypt!
Eleanor Williams, Supervisor, Reservations & Customer Service, Exploring Iceland: I bounce back and forth between a horse trek in Mongolia or a tour to New Zealand.
Elizabeth Bougie, Senior Manager, Reservations & Customer Service, Tanzania Adventure: I would love to visit Israel! It’s a place so rich in history, so it would be amazing to experience it in person. A tour guided by an expert in the culture, history, and politics, like on our Israel: Timeless Wonders tour, would be the best way visit a place like that.
Angela Bliel, Supervisor, Worldwide Staffing & Quality Assurance, Discovering Portugal: Greece.
Derrek Joyce, Guest Communications Coordinator, Costa Rica's Natural Heritage: Getting to know our guests! Working in our Guest Services department, my conversations with guests tend to have a specific purpose. It was great to have a chance to get to know everyone on a more personal level.
Isabel O’Brien, Lead Guest Services Coordinator, National Parks of the Southwest: The most impactful aspect of the training trip was having the opportunity to see our guests on tour. I loved being able to talk with our guests who have years of travel experience and learn about what makes the trips enjoyable for them.
Eleanor Williams, Supervisor, Reservations & Customer Service, Exploring Iceland: Speaking with our guests over the phone has always been delightful; everyone has stories to tell. Meeting our guests face to face is even better. I get to hear more stories and truly get to know them.
Dani Rieck, Lead Travel Counselor, Patagonian Frontiers: Patagonian Frontiers is a tour with a web of flights and cruising and motorcoach transfers. Just learning how all of that falls into place and works was really helpful. Also, just getting to know our guests personally has been really impactful. We still keep in touch and I get so excited seeing all of their adventures.
Elizabeth Bougie, Senior Manager, Reservations & Customer Service, Tanzania Adventure: In my position, being able to directly relate my experiences with our guests is priceless. I am able to answer questions for people with the knowledge of having been there myself.
Angela Bliel, Supervisor, Worldwide Staffing & Quality Assurance, Discovering Portugal: Seeing firsthand how much work Tour Directors do to make the tour successful.
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