Jodie
Our trip‑planning powerhouse who loves a good itinerary, a great gig, and discovering somewhere new whenever she gets the chance.
months in the Esto team
countries visited
Meet Jodie
“Hi, I’m Jodie, and I’m a Tour Designer at Esto. I spend my days planning itineraries, booking visits and transport, and making sure school trips aren’t just smooth – but really exciting too.
My favourite part of the job is learning about new places and hearing tour and destination feedback. I love knowing what made a trip memorable and what students and teachers enjoyed most. I also really enjoy building relationships with the people I work with – colleagues, teachers and suppliers – and no two days are ever the same, which suits me perfectly.
I’m a very organised person and absolutely love a list. There’s nothing better than ticking things off and knowing everything is coming together as it should. As a Tour Designer, I like to know plans as early as possible so I can make sure I’m meeting each group’s needs – and if something needs changing, I’ll always find the best possible alternative. Creating itineraries and seeing the whole tour come together is genuinely one of my favourite parts of the role.
Esto really does feel like a family. There’s a great mix of teamwork and banter, and everyone pulls together when it matters. My biggest tip for planning trips is to just pick up the phone. A proper conversation clears things up so much quicker, builds trust, and saves emails clogging up your inbox.
Outside of work, I’m very social – usually seeing friends, heading to gigs, going out for food, or exploring somewhere new just for the fun of it.”
Jodie
Jodie’s favourite destinations
Vietnam
Vietnam is one of my favourite places I’ve ever been. I travelled there back in 2017 and still find myself thinking about it now and then. Every day felt different — some days were full‑on and busy in the cities, others were much slower, sitting with great food and just watching everything happen around you. It had such a friendly, lively feel, but also those quieter moments I really loved. It’s definitely one of those trips that sticks with you, and I’d love to go back and do it all again
Jodie
“Esto is a bit of a family – there’s a good mix of banter and teamwork, and everyone pulls together when it matters.”
Jodie
Jodie’s top tips
Tell us what you’re into
Having your input helps us tailor a trip that suits your group, and balancing learning with a bit of fun keeps students interested all the way through.
Hit the West End
For London tours, have a few different theatre shows in mind while planning the itinerary and ask students to vote. Sharing a top three helps involve everyone in the decision making
Let’s talk trips
Our team of expert Tour Designers love to talk school travel. They’re ready and waiting to get to know you, your students, and what you really need from a trip. So let’s chat! Drop us a message or give us a call, we’re ready to help.
