Bill Hill's blog

I was asked this week to provide a tour for Howard, who is a partner in a company which puts together VIP packages for discerning clients who are prepared to pay for a superior product. The company has used me on a number of occasions and I have always greatly enjoyed working for them.

I picked Howard up from the Balmoral Hotel and things got off to a good start when the Head Concierge told Him he was in good hands with me. On to the Castle and KIrsty at the ticket desk gave me a very cheery 'hi Bill, how are you?'

Now that I'm able to upload pictures to my blog, It is only fitting that I revisit an experience I had with 2 of my earliest clients (friends), Bob and Melina Fox.

Yesterday I met the Duncan family from Ohio. Dave, Lynne and their daughter, Samantha. The weather was fine except for a chilly westerly wind so we were able to undertake a thorough look at the old and new towns. The state of Ohio is known as The Birthplace Of Presidents and I was able to show them Edinburgh University, Old College whre one of those presidents, Ulysses S Grant had studied. The whole afternoon focussed on the links between Scottish and American history and they were very enthusiastic and stimulating people to be with.

Total strangers, mostly beautiful females such as this real English rose, she was called Rose too, want their pictures taken with men in kilts

Need I say more?

This week an enquiry came in for a family who will be visiting Edinburgh as part of a cruise itinerary. I had a few of these last year, most around August and all were enjoyable. Depending on the size of the ship, it might berth at Ocean Terminal or, if it is too big for there, South Queensferry. The August cruises, usually have a visit to the Military Tattoo as part of their Edinburgh visit, so I'd like to give some tips to anyone reading my blog and planning a tour of the city during the day.

Yesterday I spent a great few hours on a coach with 20 or so members of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. I was working for Creative Travel Connections, who are always a pleasure to work with and Alex, my driver, is an old friend and colleague. The weather was perfect for a coach tour, blue skies but a cold wind so the photo stops were brief. Neverthelass, the Americans were enchanted by Edinburgh and particularly the views as we drove around the Queens Park.

I just received a call from Liliane Bois-Simon of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines in France to ask If i would conduct a tour for this year's batch of students like I did last year. I remember it well because of the intelligence and courtesy of last year's group and I'm sure the latest crop[ will be the same. Of all the many pleasures I get doing what I do, nothing is quite as good as a former client coming back.

I spent 4 days over a long weekend in the company of a group of 12 and 13 year old Spanish children with their teachers. It was my first time working with a company from Peterborough which organises educational tours so it was important to make a good impression. We had 2 half day walking tours and 2 day tours by coach planned. The first walking tour, in the Old Town was conducted in the teeth of a North Easterly wind and sleet, but the kids and their teachers fell in love with Edinburgh anyway.

http://www.ceilidhculture.co.uk/index.asp This festival is held in various venues in Edinburgh from 26 March until 18 April,2010. It is a celebration of Scottish music and culture. If You are going to be in Edinburgh at that time, be sure to visit the above web address to see what's going on. Enjoy, Bill

I did a step on on Monday for a coach company called Majestic Tours, based in Taunton, Somerset. The group were all from Wales so the Celtic connection was not difficult to establish. They were a very enthusiastic and receptive group and Roger, the driver, was super to work with. Its always good to get positive feedbach from the clients but when the driver says that it was the best tour he has ever been on, well that'[s a bit special!