Memory Lane: 20 years and over 20 tours - A retirement we never imagined

A story from our customers, Nancy & Ray Cross

When my wife Nancy and I retired, we weren’t sure what we were going to do, to occupy ourselves. 

We didn’t have any great plans or scheduled hobbies - we just transitioned into this phase and enjoyed time together.

Then I saw that Langley’s was taking a tour up the north coast, through Queensland and up to Cairns. We had never really travelled for leisure before - I had seen some places with the military, having been posted to Vietnam, Hawaii and Fiji. But that was very different - you weren’t exactly there for a good time. We didn’t get a chance to look around.

So when I mentioned going on a coach tour through Australia to Nancy, it really was a new idea, something we hadn’t done before. But we said why not! And that is where our love affair with travel - and Langley’s - began. 

That first trip was a real eye opener to the joys of exploring new places, meeting new people and experiencing a different way of life. We also came to understand how much fun coach travel is. We came back with so many great stories - like when we were in Cairns and we found a heap of coconuts, we wanted to take home. A couple of us from the group collected them and our driver Tim graciously allowed us to keep them in the luggage compartment. 

But on our way back down the coast, the bus was parked on a slope. 

Up came the compartment door - and out came all the coconuts! 

Anyone watching would have seen a bunch of people, scurrying down a hill, frantically trying to gather coconuts! 

It’s these stories that we look back on and have a great laugh. And they usually involve a Langley’s staff member, who has helped us out - or even played a prank on us. 

We have now seen most of Australia and New Zealand with Langley’s. We have been on roughly one tour a year since 2000 - so we’re going on 20 years of travel with them. Early on in our retirement we did go on a trip with a different tour company, but it was a completely different experience - it just wasn’t the same.

With Langley’s - you feel safe and you feel looked after. Right from the booking process all the way through the tour until your back at your doorstep. The drivers are exceptional, not just with their skills but also with their knowledge! They are so experienced, they have done these tours before. They know the history, the stories and the people. They go above and beyond to make your trip unforgettable - if there’s something you want to see that's not on the itinerary, they will do their best to get you there. 

The way Langley’s do things is just different - the cost is very reasonable, all the accommodation is great and the itineraries are so well designed. They have been doing this so long, they know what needs to be included and the most efficient way to get it done. 

The culture of their company and their values has a flow on effect to their customers. We have made lifelong friends from the tours, because Langley’s attracts a ‘certain kind of people’ on their tours. Everyone is down to earth, wanting to get the most out of the trip, enthusiastic and relaxed. Ready for a great time!

In the 20 years and many, many tours we’ve been on - there has not been one complaint, not one thing I would change. And the same goes for everyone we have travelled with - on the home stretch all we do is sit and chat about how perfect everything has been.

We never envisioned we would be travel bugs in retirement - it just happened. Thanks to Langley’s! Right from that first tour, we could see this was going to be our second family. 

We can’t wait for our next adventure.