Just for anyone interested, I have been tour driving coaches now for 5 weeks and here are some highlights of the job.
Driven some beautiful coaches, luxurious to say the least. not really important but still nice, I have visited many places of interest and thoroughly enjoyed my role as a driver and get to see what others are paying to see. Staying in some superb hotels along with the odd one that is questionable. However I am not paying the hotel bills so I am not bothered either way. More good than bad here on this front. I am literally on holiday each working day and have met some great passengers who are pleasant and I enjoy their company. If I compare it to my HGV career then it is literally worlds apart. I am looking forward to next week and even excited to go on the 5 day tour of holy island and Alnwick castle, I have done a similar tour a few weeks ago and am staying in the Holiday Inn in Washington again. A great hotel with great coach facilities. Money is good as far as wages go, wished I had moved over to coaches much earlier but I listened to everyone telling me it was no good, incidently those giving the advice had never done it!!! In my 5 weeks of doing it, I still would not return to HGV driving. If you would like to see my pics you can do so on my twitter which is TheWanderingGazoo. It is interesting from the transition from HGV to Coach driving, I have my HGV pics on there too for comparison.
Yorkshire Tramper:
Just for anyone interested, I have been tour driving coaches now for 5 weeks and here are some highlights of the job.
Driven some beautiful coaches, luxurious to say the least. not really important but still nice, I have visited many places of interest and thoroughly enjoyed my role as a driver and get to see what others are paying to see. Staying in some superb hotels along with the odd one that is questionable. However I am not paying the hotel bills so I am not bothered either way. More good than bad here on this front. I am literally on holiday each working day and have met some great passengers who are pleasant and I enjoy their company. If I compare it to my HGV career then it is literally worlds apart. I am looking forward to next week and even excited to go on the 5 day tour of holy island and Alnwick castle, I have done a similar tour a few weeks ago and am staying in the Holiday Inn in Washington again. A great hotel with great coach facilities. Money is good as far as wages go, wished I had moved over to coaches much earlier but I listened to everyone telling me it was no good, incidently those giving the advice had never done it!!! In my 5 weeks of doing it, I still would not return to HGV driving. If you would like to see my pics you can do so on my twitter which is TheWanderingGazoo. It is interesting from the transition from HGV to Coach driving, I have my HGV pics on there too for comparison.
Up till 12 months ago I lived in very close proximity to that Holiday Inn. During the pandemic Sunderland Council took the homeless of the streets and put a lot of them up in the same hotel. The police were there several times a week sorting various incidents amongst the druggies. The same ones caused trouble in Lambton & Ayton Village centres.
Presume you have your visit to Holy Island timed to match the tide times on the causeway. I think about half a dozen motorists were caught out over the summer and had their cars wrecked. It’s the same every year. The Coastguard and RNLI put lots of warnings out but some people choose to ignore them. The North Sea always wins!!
Tyneside
Glad you are enjoying it, i would give it a try but I am not a people person, in fact i go out of my way to avoid people generally.
Each to their own and all that but happy for you, genuinely
In the words of…
Basil Fawlty, ‘a satisfied customer, we ought to have him stuffed’.
It’s refreshing to see such enthusiasm for the job.
tyneside:
Up till 12 months ago I lived in very close proximity to that Holiday Inn. During the pandemic Sunderland Council took the homeless of the streets and put a lot of them up in the same hotel. The police were there several times a week sorting various incidents amongst the druggies. The same ones caused trouble in Lambton & Ayton Village centres.
Presume you have your visit to Holy Island timed to match the tide times on the causeway. I think about half a dozen motorists were caught out over the summer and had their cars wrecked. It’s the same every year. The Coastguard and RNLI put lots of warnings out but some people choose to ignore them. The North Sea always wins!!
Tyneside
Hi mate, yes got the tidal times for the crossing on Tuesday, beatiful area you live in.
RIPPER:
Glad you are enjoying it, i would give it a try but I am not a people person, in fact i go out of my way to avoid people generally.
Each to their own and all that but happy for you, genuinely
I fully understand what you are saying. you do need to be a people person to do the job, some passengers are easier than others to deal with.
yourhavingalarf:
In the words of…Basil Fawlty, ‘a satisfied customer, we ought to have him stuffed’.
It’s refreshing to see such enthusiasm for the job.
ha ha good quote, thanks for the words.
Nice one! Good to hear you’re enjoying it!
md1987:
Nice one! Good to hear you’re enjoying it!
Thanks mate, I really am having a ball with the job. would reccommend anyone to make the switch who fancies a change.
ME: “it is working out for me and I also love it. I feel like I’m on holiday every day and can’t believe I’m getting paid for it.”
YT: “Jesus mate, your obviously in your honeymoon period. I certainly do not feel like I am on holiday every day, however I am an optimist and will pack a rubber ring and a deck chair in my bag next week and give it a go. Who knows I may lose that feeling of cant wait for my holidays to I am on it every day.”
This is an exchange we had in August 2022 on a different thread YT. Now look at you! Your optimism has paid off. Really pleased to hear it’s all working out for you.
driveress:
ME: “it is working out for me and I also love it. I feel like I’m on holiday every day and can’t believe I’m getting paid for it.”YT: “Jesus mate, your obviously in your honeymoon period. I certainly do not feel like I am on holiday every day, however I am an optimist and will pack a rubber ring and a deck chair in my bag next week and give it a go. Who knows I may lose that feeling of cant wait for my holidays to I am on it every day.”
This is an exchange we had in August 2022 on a different thread YT. Now look at you! Your optimism has paid off. Really pleased to hear it’s all working out for you.
Funny how things work out, only a few weeks ago I was very dispondent with the job of driving hgv, then I decided to change direction and use my PCV licence that I took a few years ago and never did anything with. Now the happiest person I have ever been with a job. Who would have thought.
Glad you are enjoying it. I found it a refreshing change after years of trucks but retirement is better than both. 
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.
Sploom:
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.
Just out of interest Sploom, why did you feel awkward with all the people?
jakethesnake:
Sploom:
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.Just out of interest Sploom, why did you feel awkward with all the people?
Some people just don’t like people and prefer their own company etc.
toonsy:
jakethesnake:
Sploom:
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.Just out of interest Sploom, why did you feel awkward with all the people?
Some people just don’t like people and prefer their own company etc.
Its not that I dont like them.I think you have to have an outgoing personality to do coach touring.
And when I had to use the microphone to talk to them,it sounded really naff.
Sploom:
toonsy:
jakethesnake:
Sploom:
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.Just out of interest Sploom, why did you feel awkward with all the people?
Some people just don’t like people and prefer their own company etc.
Its not that I dont like them.I think you have to have an outgoing personality to do coach touring.
And when I had to use the microphone to talk to them,it sounded really naff.
Isn’t there usually someone from the coach firm on board with the tour to look after the people ? The tour coaches that come around here usually have a lady in charge of them so they leave the driver alone.
remy:
Sploom:
toonsy:
jakethesnake:
Sploom:
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.Just out of interest Sploom, why did you feel awkward with all the people?
Some people just don’t like people and prefer their own company etc.
Its not that I dont like them.I think you have to have an outgoing personality to do coach touring.
And when I had to use the microphone to talk to them,it sounded really naff.Isn’t there usually someone from the coach firm on board with the tour to look after the people ? The tour coaches that come around here usually have a lady in charge of them so they leave the driver alone.
The good bit about that is the “lady” smiles and is diplomatic. The bad bit is she steals all of the tips.
Sploom:
toonsy:
jakethesnake:
Sploom:
Very good.
I did a bit of coaches but felt awkward with all the people but if you are good with people then thats great.Just out of interest Sploom, why did you feel awkward with all the people?
Some people just don’t like people and prefer their own company etc.
Its not that I dont like them.I think you have to have an outgoing personality to do coach touring.
And when I had to use the microphone to talk to them,it sounded really naff.
I understand completely Sploom. I’m not particularly a people person either but if people are fine with me then I am fine as well. I also understand the mircophone bit, been there, done that.
Not many like hearing their own voice but it does get easier and I bet you didn’t sound naff. Try standing on a stage and talking to over 500 people. It’s intimidating at first but it gets better.
I thoroughly enjoyed my younger days up and down the motorways on my own in my truck but I also enjoy interacting with people as well. Not everyone’s cup of tea but anyone who puts down coach driving without trying it should not knock it.
Thanks for your reply.
Yorkshire Tramper:
Just for anyone interested, I have been tour driving coaches now for 5 weeks and here are some highlights of the job.
Driven some beautiful coaches, luxurious to say the least. not really important but still nice, I have visited many places of interest and thoroughly enjoyed my role as a driver and get to see what others are paying to see. Staying in some superb hotels along with the odd one that is questionable. However I am not paying the hotel bills so I am not bothered either way. More good than bad here on this front. I am literally on holiday each working day and have met some great passengers who are pleasant and I enjoy their company. If I compare it to my HGV career then it is literally worlds apart. I am looking forward to next week and even excited to go on the 5 day tour of holy island and Alnwick castle, I have done a similar tour a few weeks ago and am staying in the Holiday Inn in Washington again. A great hotel with great coach facilities. Money is good as far as wages go, wished I had moved over to coaches much earlier but I listened to everyone telling me it was no good, incidently those giving the advice had never done it!!! In my 5 weeks of doing it, I still would not return to HGV driving. If you would like to see my pics you can do so on my twitter which is TheWanderingGazoo. It is interesting from the transition from HGV to Coach driving, I have my HGV pics on there too for comparison.
I’ve had your feelings in new jobs many times , how great is this , give it a few months & it changed to how quick can I get out of here
All these firms are all the same at first , best jobs , morning with a smile , few months & they think they’ve trapped you & you know the rest of the story , maybe I’m old and cynical/ ready for retirement ,
But hopefully you’ll still be trying to convince yourself &us it’s a good job in a few months !!