how we do it.Hassle Free TravellingHands up who likes struggling with a heavy backpack at a train or bus station? Anyone love the knot in their stomach as they worry about whether their bag will still be in the luggage rack at journey's end? How about the long walk in 35° heat while you try and find your accommodation? No takers.? We didn't think so! On our trips, Topdeck takes the strain so you can enjoy the sites.Fellow TravellersSharing your travel experiences with like-minded people is one of the best parts of the journey. With all of our passengers aged between 18 and 39, you'll be surrounded by soon-to-be friends with the same aim in mind - enjoying a trip of a lifetime. So whether it's watching a sunset in Greece, sailing in Croatia or cycling the streets of Paris, it's always better with mates around. And if you're travelling alone? No worries - more than half of our passengers do. It costs no more to go solo and by the end of the trip, you'll have more friends than you'll know what to do with!Passionate staff At Topdeck, we know how hard it is to kick the travel bug - our staff get withdrawal symptoms if they're in one place for too long! All of our team are great travellers whose top priority is to ensure you have the holiday of a lifetime. Our training is no picnic: an intense, industry-renowned seven-week course ensures the team is knowledgeable and professional. And while the course has its challenges, it results in a group of highly motivated staff that can't wait to share their passion for travel with you.CultureOur culture is something we're extremely proud of but what does that mean for you? Most importantly, we're not in the business of 'managed tours' - at Topdeck it's trips, not tours and Trip Leaders, not Tour Managers. We also believe our trips should cater to all expectations. As well as enjoying the hassle-free comforts you would expect from an industry leading travel company, you will be given the time and space to enjoy each destination in your own way. Your European trip will be hosted in an enjoyable, friendly and laid-back manner by experienced staff that love nothing more than showing you the best the continent has to offer.Free TimeYou love visiting museums but your travel buddy can't stand them? We recognise even best friends want different things from a trip and at Topdeck we believe in the importance of giving you the time and space to enjoy what you want from a destination. You might want to discover the wonders of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, hang out with the beautiful people in Nice or simply practice some Spanish at a tapas bar. By giving you as much free time as possible, you will be able to enjoy your trip at your own pace.Hassle free and more fun!Relaxing aboard a Croatian boat"My trip with Topdeck was the best 28 days of my life!"- Jacob, Australia (after the EuroClub 28 Day Grand European)

10|11Our crew is really what Topdeck is all about and they are what helps to make us unique. We see them as 'our people, your mates' and they will share their passion and knowledge of Europe with you, giving you a unique insight into every destination you visit. Our crew are there to do all they can to help you realise your dreams, sort of like very knowledgeable mates who are with you every step of the way. In fact, most passengers stay in touch with their Trip Leaders and Drivers well after the trip is over, catching up on Facebook and exchanging photos of their adventure together. Oh, and as your mates, they don't expect any tips.Leticia Prieto - Trip LeaderSports mad Leticia has a dream of taking fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal on a Topdeck trip around Europe, and while the tennis star has yet to hop on board, we reckon it's his loss as she's pretty good at serving up ace trips (see what we did there?). Her favourite European destinations - Italy, Greece, Croatia and Spain (naturally) - all allow her chill out and top up her tan but when it comes to eating, she recommends heading to an Apertivo Bar in Northern Italy, where you can order a cocktail and the food is free! Chris 'Welshy' Wilkinson - 'On Road Chef'No prizes for guessing where Welshy comes from! After backpacking around New Zealand, he heard about a 'too good to be true' opportunity to work with Topdeck, and after five years he is still pinching himself to see if it's real. With a background in catering, Welshy has cooked up authentic dishes in almost every European country we visit and loves watching people try his escargot (snails) for the first time. Welshy looks forward to sharing his dishes with Topdeck travellers and will reveal some secret recipes so you can take a little bit of Europe back home to impress the family and friends. Matty Bangma - DriverEx-PE teacher Matty - or Matthew when he's in trouble - hails from Christchurch, New Zealand and has been a Driver for Topdeck for four years. With so many amazing experiences, Matty finds it hard to pin down exactly what draws him to Europe but he does have a few personal highlights when on tour - the history of Berlin, the friendliness of the Irish, the food of the Spaniards and the drive through Trolls Pass in Norway. For Matty, every day brings a new adventure and he'd like nothing more than for you to come and join him on a few!Marty Sebova - 'On Road' Crew ManagerNo one better embodies the spirit of Topdeck than Marty. Over the last seven years, she's spent her summers travelling Europe - looking after more than 1000 passengers as a Topdeck Trip Leader - and her winters exploring the rest of the globe, hoping to hit 100 countries this year. Now that's what we call someone with a love of travel! Born in the heart of Europe in Slovakia, Marty is now our 'On Road' Crew Manager. When she's not floating around Europe ensuring our passengers and crew are all tip-top, you might find her taking in the view on the Charles Bridge in Prague after a night out on the town.Barry Mahon - Crew ManagerBarry likes to be where the action is. After joining the Irish Army and serving the United Nations in South Lebanon, he joined Topdeck as a Driver, before moving to our operations department as Crew Manager. During his time behind the wheel, Barry racked up 180,000km - or more than four times around the world - and still fondly remembers the amazed looks on the faces of his passengers as he showed them the wonders of Europe. One of Barry's travel ambitions is to conquer a 1kg Florentine steak in the Italian city of Florence - he's failed once but sees it as a good excuse to try again. and again. and again.meet the crew."Our Trip Leader and Driver did such a great job and fully deserve a lot of credit for going the extra mile in every way"- Paulie, South AfricaMATTYMARTYBARRYWELSHYLETICIA