Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Laura Cooper

We talked with Kees Schueler, a tour director with Globus Tours, about what travellers can expect from a Globus Family of Brands tour or vacation. With tours in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and the South Pacific, Globus tours the whole world and makes the world accessible for travellers looking to experience something different. We asked Kees the questions you might have when considering a tour package or vacation package, so you don’t have to wonder.

What makes Globus Family of Brands different than other travel companies?

One of the big things about Globus tours is that we value trains and fast transportation, so when we go on our continental tours, like from London to Paris and on to Brussels or Amsterdam which we’re introducing next year, we always take the Eurostar train. We travel in style, we say. Our coaches are tri-axle coaches so there is more room all around, and with a maximum off 44 passengers, there are sometimes free seats so a single passenger isn’t having to share a seat with someone they don’t know.

We also make sure that our tour directors are multi-lingual, so you’d never be on a regional tour with directors that aren’t familiar with the area or able to understand what’s going on and be able to communicate strongly: we look for tour directors that have 8-10 years’ experience in that territory so you, the client, has the best experience.

What are some of the key differences between Globus tours and Cosmos tours?

Cosmos is our affordable program; we started this and the idea was to offer the same type of product but one level down, let’s say. With Cosmos, you have more optionals rather than inclusions. You’re still getting a great tour and going to see great things, but not the same type of service, really. You’ll see good hotels, but not superior like you’d see with Globus. Right now, we have around 10 tours all under $1,000. With some as low as $77/day.

What are some of the most popular itineraries for 2016?

One of our most popular tours is the same each year…our tour from Rome to London. It’s a really nice tour, and great for if you want a change, and it’s great for families and children ages 8 onwards, really. It’s perfect, it’s not too short and not too long: it’s one of our best selling tours. On the whole, our best selling tours are the ones that are 14-16 days.

What’s your favourite Globus tour?

I personally love tours that are under 14 days. I think they have a nice rhythm and afterwards people are starting to get tired with that. But another great one that is longer, if that’s what you’re looking for, is the Grand European which is 31 days. That has a lot of 2-night stays in cities and you do all the capitals of Europe: it’s a really great tour, a very nice tour for the price.

What has been your most rewarding experience abroad?

Well as a tour director, I see the questions and comments people have at the end of the tour where they say they’ll be back, and really, that’s what’s rewarding is when I get to talk to different people. When I get to tell stories about Europe and different countries, and of course we always do a little language course before different countries and people really love that and get into it. But personally, I just love to travel. I love seeing different parts of the world and I think that’s what clients want to see too when they come on tour: to just have that passion for travel.

Right now, I’m in Canada. I’ve been to a lot of the U.S. before but I was lucky enough to visit Niagara Falls earlier and it was just really something magical. It was one of those moments.

Is there one destination you’ve never been to but that’s on your bucket list?

India! I’ve never been to India even though I’ve been all around Asia.

Kees’ favourite photo from his travels: in Matterhorn, Switzerland

VIEW GLOBUS TOURS