International rail travel is gathering steam as a favourite way to travel – just ask alumna Mia Palmer-Wildin, who is building a flourishing career as a Travel Consultant with rail holiday specialists Tailor Made Rail.
Mia graduated from the University of Bristol in 2023 with a degree in History and French and joined the company soon afterwards, organising holidays to multiple destinations across the world. A fluent French speaker, she is responsible for designing complex itineraries, booking trains, buses and transfers and arranging accommodation. Popular options include the famous Glacier Express through Switzerland, the most beautiful cities of Italy and the perennial favourite London to Istanbul, which can be completed entirely by rail.
Said Mia: “We’ve just come out of our busiest ever season where in September alone, we had over 366 clients travelling across 20 countries. I’m glad to say that most holidays went without a hitch, but the floods in central Europe did affect some of our customers and when something unexpected like that happens, we have to move quickly to make alternative arrangements so that their holidays can continue as planned.”
Mia always dreamt of a career in travel and cut her teeth organising interrailing trips with friends when she was still at Notre Dame. Five years later, her most ambitious professional itinerary was for a coast to coast rail adventure across the US, finishing in Los Angeles: “The client spent nearly four weeks taking multiple trains across different states, finishing with a three-day sleeper train from New Orleans to LA. Attention to detail was crucial in order for the itinerary to go smoothly but I’m proud to say that everything went well and he had a wonderful holiday,” she said. Indeed, the firm regularly gets five-star reviews on Trustpilot with clients praising Mia and her colleagues for their ‘friendly, knowledgeable and responsive’ service.
As well as being full of variety, the job comes with very attractive perks. Mia has already completed a return trip to Budapest by rail and is off on a six-day trip to Switzerland later this month.
Mia advises Notre Dame students interested in a travel career to learn a language, do a placement year abroad and travel as much as possible: “As well as being great fun to do, those early interrailing trips with friends were a brilliant introduction to the industry. I’ve really enjoyed my career so far and can’t wait to see – literally – where it takes me,” added Mia.
With travel experts heralding a new ‘golden age’ of rail travel thanks to surging flight prices and climate change awareness, that is sure to be a very long way. We congratulate Mia on her success to date and if you’d like her help to organise an adventure by rail, check out the company’s website at www.tailormaderail.com.
