I was a holiday rep - AMA

[Caligal]

Just that really

[Hottubtimemachine]

Did you enjoy talking on the Mike at the front of the bus? That’s my only memory of holiday reps- do they still exist?

[Caligal]

I actually didn’t mind that, I felt quite knowledgeable about my locations and when I could sit at the front of the coach i didn’t feel nervous so got into a good flow. Welcome meetings were more nerve wracking - 250 people sometimes

[Caligal]

Haha they do still exist, they are called holiday advisors or resort helpers now!

[Hottubtimemachine]

Were the welcome meetings ever to actually welcome? We’re you told to say they were compulsory but were really just a hard sell?

[TheVolturi]

Did all the lads try it on with you?

[AppleKatie]

How much time off did you get?

[Caligal]

They were 50/50 - for my company they prided themselves on genuine holiday experiences and supporting our guests and making it magical. So yes, we wanted to welcome and help her our guests settled in. But yes, we were also expected to sell excursions absolutely!

[Caligal]

A day and half a week off. And that half day could be followed by an 8 hour airport shift so it wasn’t really a half day, more a late shift

[Caligal]

Haha I wish, most of the holiday reps I worked with were gay, great friends but no romance. I was never hit on by a dad (I worked more in family hotels mostly) but some of the girls were

[mnahmnah]

Hi! I was a rep for one season in Spain. I loved talking on the mic on the coach! But not being on the coach all night for the night flights, getting little sleep, then back in the hotel first thing. My company was very big on us selling excursions. We had to come up with ridiculous ways of selling them to hit targets, including dressing up and doing re-enactments of the trips. Totally cringeworthy.

[Caligal]

I did have a nice romance with a Spanish receptionist though

[mnahmnah]

I had a romance with the Spanish sports guy from the ents team

[Caligal]

Ahhh great memories I bet though!! Yes you had to leave your ego at the door and cringe daily!!

[mnahmnah]

Funnily enough, I was criticised for not being enthusiastic enough in the excursion sales. It’s because I was dying inside!

[AppleKatie]

Sounds similar to a seasonal job (not holiday rep) that I did as a student. Was your accommodation nice or grotty?

[Northernsoullover]

I used to be tour rep. We had to do a party night which was a shit production of Grease. We used to lip sync to the soundtrack. I couldn't believe it would sell out every week! People loved it.
After party night we'd get home at 12 30am, get ready to go out at one a.m. Those were the days.

[Caligal]

My accommodation was mixed...lived in a beautiful hotel with air con for my first season, had an ok place but a bit grotty and very hot with no air con one season, amazing seafront apartment in Minorca and lovely place in Tenerife too with own pool, so I think it depends on the country/island and your employer!

[Caligal]

Same! Headed straight out at 1am after a 12 hour shift in 90 degree heat after rep show. What a life though, felt tired but alive!!

[BonnesVacances]

I used to be friends with a load of holiday reps on a campsite in the South of France. One guy used to pick the girls he was going to cop off with as they all got off the coach. He rarely failed. They all had a ball but it was hard work during the peak holiday season. I can see why they did it though.

Sorry no question, just adding to the discussion, hopefully!

[mnahmnah]

Ah yes, permanently tired because I would go out after work. The party really started when the tourists went home. The Spanish dance music would come on and it would just be locals and workers. Walk along the beach home as the sun came up. Then back to the hotel shift at 8am

[pegboardsu]

I worked in customer relations for a global travel firm.

I used to get lots of letters detailing the things that the reps used to get up to.

After a while, you knew instantly which rep it was based on the moves described...

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

@Caligal Love this thread! My mum
and dad met when she was a holiday rep and he was running a very trendy bar on a Greek island. It was 1982 and they're still married .

She always takes great pains to point out that she was a rep for a villa company though, so it was all very classy. She still had to do 8 hour days at the airport though...

[mnahmnah]

@allfurcoatnoknickers

Yes, there was definitely some snobbishness about which company reps worked for! The Thomson reps were apparently told not to associate with the rest of us, so they never spoke or mixed. I was with Cosmos and there was very much the attitude that the Airtours reps were at Tempe bottom of the hierarchy they were definitely the partiers