Vicky Edwards recently joined Not in the Guidebooks as Business Development Manager. She started her career in travel as an apprentice with TUI at the age of 16, progressing to become a store manager, before later moving into an on-the-road role with Jet2holidays. Travel Gossip found out more…
I never travel without… my hair straighteners – or at the very least a tight bobble. Otherwise, I resemble Monica from Friends having a full-on frizz moment.
The famous person (dead or alive) I’d most like to sit next to on a plane is… Ryan Reynolds, especially since he took over Wrexham Football Club (my son would never forgive me if I didn’t say this), he seems genuinely funny.
My weakness is… chocolates or biscuits.
The last place I visited was… I’ve just returned from one of our immersive trips to Morocco. From staying in a desert star camp to watching breathtaking sunrises and sunsets in the Sahara, it was unforgettable.
The worst thing I ate or drank abroad was… firewater. I can still taste it. I’m still traumatised.
My bucket-list destination is…I’ve been lucky enough to visit some amazing places, but the Galápagos is still high on my list.
Born and brought up in…I was born just outside Glasgow but brought up in Shropshire.
Live in… Shropshire, in a tiny village right on the Welsh border (very scenic, very quiet).
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is… never underestimate the relationships you build. In the travel industry, colleagues quickly become friends, and some of the people I’ve met throughout my career are still my best friends to this day.
If I could eat one meal for the rest of my life it would be… my mum’s ham, dauphinoise potatoes and peas. Total comfort food.
The emoji I use most often is… the laughing-crying face 😂.
The thing I miss most while travelling is… my dog, Mylo.
When I left school, I wanted to be… In the RAF. I always wanted to fly planes – and it’s still on my bucket list.
The thing I’m most proud of is… my career and all the travel that comes with it. I’ve been lucky enough to explore New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, the USA, you name it. And yet, when I tell people back in my tiny Shropshire village that I’m popping over to Ireland for a meeting or driving to Scotland for a couple of days, they look at me like I’m crazy. For them, leaving Shropshire is a shock to the system.
In my new role, I’ll be… helping to promote an exciting new trade programme with even more fam trips – from immersive city experiences to wilderness adventures – alongside fresh marketing tools, resources, and both virtual and in-person agent training. This year Not in the Guidebooks will be expanding across some of our favourite destinations, including Sri Lanka, Morocco, Costa Rica, and Lapland.
What attracted me to the job was… it’s an exciting brand with brilliant opportunities for growth. I love introducing agents to the brand and showcasing the truly unique, immersive products we offer.
The first thing I notice about a person when I meet them is… their perfume or aftershave.
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would… travel the world and eat my way through every restaurant I can find. Bonus points for a giant glass of red wine in hand while watching sunsets in exotic locations. Basically, I’d be living my very best, slightly overindulgent, completely fabulous life.
