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Topdeck

Topdeck Travel (originally Top Deck Travel) is a tour operator providing trips for people aged 18 to 39 throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Egypt and the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Topdeck offers 330 different tours in 65 countries.[1]

Topdeck
Founded1973
ParentFlight Centre

History edit

Early days edit

The company was founded in 1973 and was officially named Argas Persicus Ltd trading as Topdeck Travel. The name was a reference to the turkey tick (Argas persicus), due to the founders having met in veterinary school. Transport was provided by Bristol K5 and Lodekka double-decker buses,[2] converted to a camper-van layout where passengers slept in the bus. The first trip was to Spain and Morocco.[3] From 1974 and right through the 1990s, these ‘deckers’ travelled Europe and further afield to the Middle East, and even overland between London and Kathmandu.

 
A Top Deck Travel bus crossing a creek in Northern India, 1983

In the early 1980s, the company expanded its operations into the United States, where it coined the name Decker Homes for its Bristol Lodekka buses. The company also ran trips from Sydney to London from 1980, with the final stretch using a converted Sydney double-decker. Coaches were introduced in the mid-1980s. primarily for winter ski holidays. The elderly Lodekkas, some over 40 years old, started to be retired in the early 1990s in great numbers, many heading abroad for an active retirement, and the focus shifted to camping and hard-top trips staying in European campsites. Later, hotel adventure trips were introduced.

Today, former Top Deck Lodekkas can be seen all over the world, with examples in France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and numerous other places. One former Southern Vectis example returned home, and is now on display at the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum.[2]

Topdeck, alongside Contiki Tours, is one of the few survivors of a period that saw several similar companies, such as Transit, Autotours and Sundowners, leave the business. The founders went on to set up Flight Centre, Australia's largest travel company.

Today edit

The company changed hands several times in the 1990s, and in 2003 was purchased by a consortium including Australian Pacific Touring and Connections Adventures.[4]

In 2005, a substantial hotel programme was introduced creating a range of products for all budgets. In 2007, smaller group trips under the "Explorer" banner were launched.

Since then, the company has grown into a strong competitor to Contiki Tours in the competitive youth travel market. Its target markets include Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada, South Africa, and increasingly emerging markets such as Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, and Singapore. Topdeck trips are primarily sold through budget and student travel outlets such as Flight Centre's youth brand Student Travel.

On 1 April 2010, Connections Adventures officially became Topdeck Australia. In Vietnam, Topdeck joins a venture with Buffalo tours to operate tours in Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia and Thailand. Their longest tour is 27 days.

Awards edit

In 2012, Topdeck won three awards at the TNT Golden Backpack Awards,[5] taking home first place as Favourite Big Tour Operator, Favourite Tour Operator in West Europe, and Favourite Ski/Winter Operator.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Topdeck Reviews and Tours". Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  2. ^ a b "Bristol LD6G - 559 (PDL 519) Tadpoles - Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum". Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  3. ^ James, Bill. Top Deck Daze.
  4. ^ What APT, Connections plan for rescued Top Deck. | Australasian Business Intelligence | Find Articles at BNET.com
  5. ^ Golden Backpack Awards – Winners 2012 http://www.goldenbackpackawards.co.uk/winners-2012 2013-05-12 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

  • Topdeck Travel - official website
  • Buspix photo site, containing Top Deck Bristol Lodekkas

topdeck, travel, originally, deck, travel, tour, operator, providing, trips, people, aged, throughout, europe, north, america, africa, egypt, middle, east, australia, zealand, asia, offers, different, tours, countries, founded1973parentflight, centre, contents. Topdeck Travel originally Top Deck Travel is a tour operator providing trips for people aged 18 to 39 throughout Europe North America Africa Egypt and the Middle East Australia New Zealand and Asia Topdeck offers 330 different tours in 65 countries 1 TopdeckFounded1973ParentFlight Centre Contents 1 History 1 1 Early days 1 2 Today 2 Awards 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEarly days edit The company was founded in 1973 and was officially named Argas Persicus Ltd trading as Topdeck Travel The name was a reference to the turkey tick Argas persicus due to the founders having met in veterinary school Transport was provided by Bristol K5 and Lodekka double decker buses 2 converted to a camper van layout where passengers slept in the bus The first trip was to Spain and Morocco 3 From 1974 and right through the 1990s these deckers travelled Europe and further afield to the Middle East and even overland between London and Kathmandu nbsp A Top Deck Travel bus crossing a creek in Northern India 1983In the early 1980s the company expanded its operations into the United States where it coined the name Decker Homes for its Bristol Lodekka buses The company also ran trips from Sydney to London from 1980 with the final stretch using a converted Sydney double decker Coaches were introduced in the mid 1980s primarily for winter ski holidays The elderly Lodekkas some over 40 years old started to be retired in the early 1990s in great numbers many heading abroad for an active retirement and the focus shifted to camping and hard top trips staying in European campsites Later hotel adventure trips were introduced Today former Top Deck Lodekkas can be seen all over the world with examples in France Italy Netherlands New Zealand and numerous other places One former Southern Vectis example returned home and is now on display at the Isle of Wight Bus amp Coach Museum 2 Topdeck alongside Contiki Tours is one of the few survivors of a period that saw several similar companies such as Transit Autotours and Sundowners leave the business The founders went on to set up Flight Centre Australia s largest travel company Today edit The company changed hands several times in the 1990s and in 2003 was purchased by a consortium including Australian Pacific Touring and Connections Adventures 4 In 2005 a substantial hotel programme was introduced creating a range of products for all budgets In 2007 smaller group trips under the Explorer banner were launched Since then the company has grown into a strong competitor to Contiki Tours in the competitive youth travel market Its target markets include Australia New Zealand the United States and Canada South Africa and increasingly emerging markets such as Colombia Mexico Brazil South Korea and Singapore Topdeck trips are primarily sold through budget and student travel outlets such as Flight Centre s youth brand Student Travel On 1 April 2010 Connections Adventures officially became Topdeck Australia In Vietnam Topdeck joins a venture with Buffalo tours to operate tours in Vietnam Lao Cambodia and Thailand Their longest tour is 27 days Awards editIn 2012 Topdeck won three awards at the TNT Golden Backpack Awards 5 taking home first place as Favourite Big Tour Operator Favourite Tour Operator in West Europe and Favourite Ski Winter Operator See also editBelmond Limited Road ScholarReferences edit Topdeck Reviews and Tours Retrieved 2015 06 29 a b Bristol LD6G 559 PDL 519 Tadpoles Isle of Wight Bus amp Coach Museum Isle of Wight Bus amp Coach Museum 2013 01 17 Retrieved 2017 03 29 James Bill Top Deck Daze What APT Connections plan for rescued Top Deck Australasian Business Intelligence Find Articles at BNET com Golden Backpack Awards Winners 2012 http www goldenbackpackawards co uk winners 2012 Archived 2013 05 12 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editTopdeck Travel official website Buspix photo site containing Top Deck Bristol Lodekkas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Topdeck amp oldid 1183508749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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