Topdeck Travel is a tour operator providing trips for passengers aged 18 to 30s throughout Europe, Africa and Egypt. The company was founded in 1973 by Graham "Skroo" Turner, who later went on to found Flight Centre in Australia.[1]
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To begin with, the company was named Argas Persicus Ltd (the name of a turkey tick, most meaningful as two of the founders had met in veterinary school), and transport was provided by Bristol K5 and Lodekka double decker buses. Later, the name was updated to a more meaningful "Top Deck Travel". From 1974 and right through the 1990s, these ‘deckers’ travelled Europe and further afield to Morocco, the Middle East and even overland between London and Kathmandu. 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 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 in the Isle of Wight Bus Museum near Newport, IOW
Top Deck Travel was one of the pioneers of camping holidays in Europe and with Contiki Tours it is one of the few survivors of an amazing period which saw companies like Transit, Autotours and Sundowners leave the business. Unlike other companies, Topdeck pitched itself at the budget traveller and went on to found one of Australia's iconic companies, Flight Centre.
The company changed hands several times in the 1990s, and in 2003 was purchased by a consortium including Australian Pacific Touring (APT) and Connections Adventures.[2]
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 18-30 market. Its target markets include Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand. Topdeck is primarily sold though budget and student travel outlets such as Flight Centre and STA Travel.
In 2008, the company was voted "Best Tour Operator" in the TravelMole 2008 Web Awards.[3]
In 2009, Topdeck won in the "Most Innovative Marketing Campaign" category at the British Youth Travel Awards sponsored by the British Educational Travel Association (BETA).[4]
On 1 April 2010, Connections Adventures officially became Topdeck Australia. Connections Adventures trips such as the Island Suntanner, Grand Kiwi and Grand Aussie carry on unchanged.