Travel industry share special travel moments with their mums
As we grow, we learn a lot from the mothers in our lives. And if we’re lucky, we get to share some incredible experiences around the world with them too.
So to celebrate Mother’s Day, some of The Travel Corporation’s staff members have shared some of their most treasured travel memories, as well as the wisdom learned from their mothers.
Alexandra O’Connor, Managing Director, Insight Vacations
“My Mum is infinitely practical so what I’ve learned travelling with her is that you’ll go a long way with a good pair of walking shoes, a raincoat and local currency for a glass of wine.
Mum can bargain the hind legs off a donkey – Turkish carpet salesmen end up paying her for their wares so any negotiating skills I have come from her.
“We’ve done plenty of amazing trips as a family but my favourites were the trips to Europe while I was living in London. Whether trawling through antique jewellery stores in Prague or enjoying a white Christmas in Austria, travelling with Mum is like having the best bits of home with you wherever you go.”
Katrina Barry, Managing Director, Contiki
“Take it easy – I always used to try and do too much in a day and my Mum would often get tired by the pace – so travelling with her has helped me learn to do less in a day, slow down, take more rests, and this has meant more relaxing holidays and more smelling of the roses!
“My mum is also big on planning, organisation, detail and safety. Even before being in the travel industry and realising the impact on people when bad things happen and you don’t have insurance, my Mum always impressed upon me the importance of travel insurance – so from my very first trip overseas when I was 18, I have always being covered.
“Her cautious approach has saved not only her and Dad thousands of $ and hassle over the year, but me too!”
Fiona Dalton, Managing Director, Uniworld
“I am quite sure I inherited my love for travel from my Mum. She is a great inspiration to me – having recently celebrated her 80th birthday and still managing at least 2-3 international trips a year with Dad.
“She’s never one to shirk a journey, and particularly not a journey to a new destination. Already this year they’ve sailed to Bali and later have booked to experience our beautiful River Queen on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers in Europe.
“Mum’s best asset is that she’ll strike up a conversation with literally anyone while she’s travelling –she’s interested in everyone’s story and it’s the people that bring a destination to life for her. I think that’s a great lesson , despite how embarrassing her grandchildren find it.
“For to her, the people are everything and she gives so much of herself in return. It makes travelling with Mum truly a gift.”
Neil Rodgers, Managing Director, Adventure World
“Growing up in Belfast I had a yearning to leave behind overcast grey skies and city life in favour of blue skies and adventure. I believe my mother had the same dream as my inspiration came from reading her old National Geographic magazines.
“She always encouraged and supported me to pursue my travel ambitions which has lead me across seven continents and settling in Australia.
“The trips I remember most are the ones we have done together in South America, Alaska and Africa. June will see us take an epic road trip together exploring Oregon.”
Tina McIntosh, General Manager, Busabout
“I’ve travelled the world with my best friend who also happens to be my mum. We share a passion for travel and we’ve been fortunate enough to share unforgettable adventures throughout Europe, India and Asia together.
“I lived in London for many years so Mum and I would plan an annual trip so we could spend quality time together and it was also an opportunity to show Mum snippets of my life ex-pat lifestyle of working hard during the week and then jetting off somewhere fabulous for the weekend.
“I love seeing the world through Mum’s eyes because she’s up for trying anything once and she’s open to pushing herself out of her comfort zone whilst maintaining her sense of humour at the same time. There are so many highlights to recall but being trackside at the Monaco Grand Prix and spending New Year’s Eve at the Maharaja’s Palace in Rajasthan would be up there with the unforgettable experiences we’ve shared.
“I hope that one day I can create more unforgettable travel memories with my own daughter and have the opportunity to see the world through her eyes.”
Vanessa Stavrou, Head of Marketing, Contiki
“I took my mum to Peru on a 5 day trek to Machu Pichu last year in April. And we definitely roughed it! Camping each night along the Salkantay trek. By the end of day 1 we had climbed to about 4600 m above sea level – no small feat!
“Memories are created from experiences, and taking mum on this holiday with me gave me the opportunity to create so many memories from one unforgettable experience. But above all I feel truly blessed to have a mum as strong as mine.
“A few weeks before we left for our trip she injured her knee and learnt she needed surgery… but nothing was going to stop my mum from coming with me, so she got a Cortisone shot, strapped it up and we set off on our adventure. It was tough but her resilience, determination and strength is what I truly admire!
“I hope when I become a mum I’m as inspirational as her. Through the pain and rough conditions she persevered and the rewards were great! My favourite photo is this one when she made it all the way to the top of Waynapicchu Mountain and back, considered the steepest mountain to climb at Machu Picchu!”
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