Very rewarding. - Travel Consultant Trailfinders Employee Review

5.0
Dec 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I joined this role straight out of university after spending three months travelling around Southeast Asia, keen to start a career in an industry I love. Following a thorough interview process, I completed five weeks of training at the Kensington headquarters — and I can honestly say I’ve never learned so much in such a short space of time. The training programme is exceptional. Clare, Joe and Harry were highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and really motivating. Training covered systems, destination knowledge, and sales techniques, giving me a strong foundation before starting in the travel centre. Once in the travel centre, the support continued with constant guidance from senior team members. While it took a few months to fully get to grips with everything and build confidence, reaching that point felt incredibly rewarding. The team I work with is fantastic — everyone is like-minded, passionate about travel, and the day-to-day environment is fun and positive. Trailfinders also offers outstanding opportunities, from familiarisation trips to excellent staff discounts, which allow you to truly understand the product you’re selling. There are additional progression opportunities too, such as moving into specialist teams (e.g. first-class and business travel) or training/product/marketing roles. There’s also flexibility to work at other travel centres, which is a great added benefit.

Cons

The role involves shift work rather than fixed hours, with a mix of early and late finishes depending on the rota. While this becomes easier to manage over time, the later shifts can feel quite long. Lunch breaks are fairly short, although food is provided, which is a positive. The job can also be very challenging at times, particularly in the early stages when you’re still learning and building confidence. There’s a lot to take in, and it can feel overwhelming when navigating a new system, portal, or supplier while a client is sat in front of you or on the phone. With experience, this becomes far more manageable, but it’s something worth being aware of as a new starter.

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Trailfinders Response
4mo
Thank you for your very positive review. It is good to see you are enjoying your time here but thank you for being honest about what you consider the drawbacks of the role so it is transparent for any future applicants.

Explore other reviews about Trailfinders

4.0
Feb 20, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As others have mentioned there are great travel perks, the highest pay within the industry for front line sales staff coupled with rapid pay rises for top performers. That and the free lunches! There are those who will complain about the hours but this is a sales based job and Trailfinders are completely upfront as to what is expected of their staff. If you want 9-5 Monday to Friday you will struggle to be happy here. Personally, having come from the world of events found the hours to be shorter and kinder! I have been very impressive by how accommodating the company has been towards medical appointments, particularly its willingness to sort time off at short notice, something I have been very grateful for. Management has taken an active and positive interest in me and has continued to coach me to be a better sales person. This has led to better payouts and overall a nearly 30% increase in my sales figures. In other words, in my case at least, I feel that they have definitely helped me to earn more money.

Cons

Trailfinders definitely has an employee retention issue. Among a number of long term employees there is a feeling of not being valued which inevitably leads to an exodus of talent. This is also coupled with a lack career progression if you are not inclined to move/commute to London. The companies policy of hiring internal is a great strength and weakness to the firm. It needs to outsource areas such as marketing/advertising to a third party. A large pay cut was enacted for new hires at a number of branches. I can only think this was done to fund the expansionist policy for new stores. It does however stifle movement of people within the firm. Given Trailfinders is also enjoying a very healthy level of profitability it seems harsh to cut wages in areas where living costs are only ever rising. Attitude to maternity cover needs drastic improvement, a very common complaint by Trailfinders female sales staff is the companies inflexibility when it comes to returning to work after maternity leave. This must be improved

10
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Trailfinders Response
6y
Thanks for your post and constructive feedback.
1.0
Nov 12, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you are young with no responsibilities and love to travel then it enables you to travel a lot through decentstaff deals. The people are fabulous and make this company. Generous annual leave although good luck trying to use any of it. Encouraged career progression and can experience other departments easily. Generous starting salary for travel industry but you can make more commission working for Competitors. Social events. NEEDS CHANGE and modernising with the times immediately before they have no more staff left.

Cons

Trailfinders do NOT care for their staff. We work so hard (due to fear and extreme micromanagement) and are undervalued, never heard and treated like school children. Military, dictatorship culture with no work life balance Overworked with long hours. Constantly monitored. You can't even use the facilities in peace! Consultants are moulded to become micro managers and bullies. No flexible working, if you have a doctors appointment you will not be paid for it (illegal?) If you are a mother and decide to have children you have to quit as they offer no flexible options. Very little diversity within the company, for a travel company this is embarrassing. All white middle aged men at the top. The no wfh culture is completey ableist. They do not care for mental health. Police incidents have happened on the premises and we have been told to continue taking calls rather than go home Terrible sales culture filtered down from the top people are scared to stand up for themselves. Even as a top seller you are not exempt from the intimidating and demoralising behaviour of management. Inappropriate harassment from male managers not taken seriously and the feeling you can't report it No adequate HR department. Never taken seriously when you try to raise concerns. Only 3 days paid sick leave and if you are off sick you are penalised for taking it by getting none the following year. Only half hour lunch in a 9 hour day ( free lunch con) Covid - forced to attend work even when should of been isolating..no flexibility during strikes. You are nothing but a number to them They have no interest in retaining loyal staff and will replace you with cheap backpackers who no no different due to no work experience and the cycle continues. I could go on....

22
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Trailfinders Response
1y
Thank you for you review of your thoughts. Glad you have been able to travel so much during your last 20 years working at TF. Along with great career progression. We would really like to discuss your Cons thoughts so please feel free to call Peter Duckworth - Personnel Manager at any point to talk these through. There a few points you mentioned that we would like to address.
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