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8 things I've learned by booking rail holidays for my clients
8 things I've learned by booking rail holidays for my clients

TTG

time6 days ago

  • TTG

8 things I've learned by booking rail holidays for my clients

I've had quite a few rail bookings this year; it's my older clientele in particular who like to travel by train and they appreciate a bit of extra support. At times I've had disruptions to their itineraries with substantial changes made and it's caused more headaches than I think were necessary, had I planned less for each day or more two-night stops. Here are eight things I'd advise my fellow agents to do when booking a rail itinerary. 1. Plan with a purpose Start with why. Is there an event or experience your clients are looking for, are they trying to see more of a region, or simply avoiding the pain of airport queues and potential delays? Understanding the 'why' helps narrow down the options and add those unique experiences that will make your service stand out. Whilst planning a solar eclipse trip recently, I suggested travelling by rail. Bringing a new dimension to the trip, rail would allow them to see more of Europe, interacting with locals along the way. Their tour was all about experiences and they were delighted with the suggestion, even more so because they hadn't considered it. The Rocky Mountaineer was the highlight of my clients' tour of British Colombia. It wasn't on their to-do list, but as soon as we talked about the huge windows and stunning scenery they were sold. They still talk about it now: 'The scenery left us speechless, and the entire experience felt world-class.' 2. Leave some wriggle room When it comes to day plans, less is more. I thought I had the perfect itinerary for my client, until with a month's notice, I learned the direct train from Paris to Zurich wasn't running and his journey would take over 12 hours. I'd crammed too much into one day, assuming everything would run smoothly. It was a stressful couple of hours, but by adding a night in Geneva en-route we were able mitigate the delays. Fortunately, it didn't cost extra, and the client was relieved I'd found a work-around for him. It was a great lesson that rail travel should be enjoyed slowly. Moving forwards, I'll keep journeys to a half day where possible and including more two-night stays to provide the wriggle room needed when things don't go to plan. 3. Offer upgrades – they are cheaper than you think It's surprisingly good value to upgrade from second to first class on several European rail routes. I'd arranged a scenic trip taking in Berlin, Prague and Vienna and included upgraded journeys between Brussels and Cologne. The clients were thrilled with the unexpected upgrade. It's all part of a unique journey and a story to tell when they get home.

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