Joan’s group in Queenstown

Joan Gilbert relishes her role as a GTO, arranging trips for a group of friends from all over the country. “It’s not a job – I do it because I enjoy it,” explains Joan, who is based in Bournemouth. “Normally, I take over 30 people on my overseas trips and we often go away with Uxbridge-based Collette Worldwide Holidays, calling the group Joan’s Tours. It was a pity that only nine of us went with the company to New Zealand recently but it was a fantastic holiday – really worthwhile. They are very flexible and we can use their services however many we are. The hotels we stayed in were super and the trips were excellent.”

The group went away for just over three weeks and travelled right round the world. They stopped over in Singapore for two nights on the way out before continuing to New Zealand and then staying in Los Angeles for a night en route home.

Excursions in New Zealand included a sightseeing tour of Auckland including a visit to the top of Mount Eden as well as a tour of Wellington. A day at leisure in Queenstown was also part of the holiday as well as a cruise of Milford Haven. They also spent time in the idyllic Bay of Islands. Joan enthuses, “We had an excellent and well trained tour manager and we all loved every minute of this special holiday. We could not fault anything. It is always the same with Collette! Even though the tours may be a little more expensive, many meals are included and my area representative is very good at visiting me and giving me all the help he can. We were certainly fortunate on this occasion with such a wonderful holiday!”