Sabina Lucarelli
Sabina Lucarelli, who is based in Northern Italy, enrolled in the National Tour Guide course at Portobello Institute, to fulfil a dream of working as a tour guide in Ireland.
Sabina came to the course already deeply immersed in the travel industry, having worked as a tour leader for over 25 years, accompanying Italian groups globally. Ireland, however, had always held a special place in her heart. She is a Tour Manager and Tour Guide at Boscolo Tours who wanted to upskill and follow her passion.
“I’ve been a tour leader since 1998 and I’ve travelled the globe extensively. I mainly work with Italian groups, accompanying them on various cultural tours.
“Ireland has always been my favourite destination, and I’ve always actively pushed to get in as many tours of the Emerald Isle as possible.”
“I have always held a special place in my heart because I first visited it 30 years ago as a student learning English and those wonderful memories have stayed with me. So, in order to guarantee myself work predominantly in Ireland, I decided to enrol in the tour guide course. This led to me becoming the tour operator’s first choice over my colleagues who lack this qualification,” she said.
The course came highly recommended to her from a friend who had also studied at Portobello Institute, and she was happy to be able to study flexibly from a distance through our blended learning delivery.
“The two biggest positives for me were the short duration of four months and the ability to attend lessons remotely. Since I am based in Italy and I’m constantly travelling for my job of tour leader, I was able to take the course with me wherever I went. I only had to fly over Dublin for the assessments, but in the end, it was absolutely worth it,” she said.
Overcoming Nerves For a Rewarding Experience
“Initially, I was terrified, especially about the language barrier. After all, that course is designed for aspiring Irish guides, so everything moved at a typical Irish speed. However, the subject matter was so genuinely interesting to me and the atmosphere was so relaxed that I just led myself be carried away thinking “it’s now or never!”.
“The entire history and geography section was already well known to me, as I had studied it for years.”
“The true opportunity for me was dealing with so many Irish people who shared their knowledge of daily life and current affairs, which tourists are often much more interested in than endless historical facts.”
“I met so many nice and supportive people who helped me overcome my mental block when I thought I wouldn’t make it because of the language. In the end, my love for your country and the desire to make this a deep learning experience were stronger than any fear,” she said.
A Transformative Experience
Studying at Portobello proved to be both life-changing and rewarding combining flexibility, expert teaching, and authentic cultural immersion to help them achieve their professional goals in Ireland.
“I can honestly say my time studying at Portobello was an incredibly positive and transformative experience.”
“I chose the course for its flexibility because I could balance my engaging job of tour leader and pursue my dream without interruption.”
“This logistical freedom was a major benefit. However, the real value came from the quality of the tuition and the rich learning environment; despite the challenge of the course being conducted at Irish speed, the insider knowledge shared by local experts kept my interest sky-high.”
“That gave me crucial cultural insights that no textbook could offer. Ultimately, completing the course gave me the qualification and confidence to secure my preferred work here on the Emerald Isle. It was a worthwhile investment that paid off completely!”
Flexibility Supporting Learning
Like many learners, Sabina had not studied for a long time and was worried about returning to education while working and travelling. The flexibility and supportive environment at Portobello Institute, plus her own passion and determination led to her success.
“Definitely the unparalleled flexibility and support offered by the platform. First and foremost, having all the instructional material readily available on the learning platform was a massive advantage.”
“Crucially, the recorded lessons meant I could revisit complex topics anytime, anywhere. Since I was often traveling for work, this ability to watch lessons back at my own pace and schedule was essential to my success.”
“Beyond the technology, the personal support from the tutors was outstanding. Adam and Brandon in particular were incredibly generous with their time. They were always available to answer every question even outside of scheduled class times.”
“I would absolutely recommend Portobello Institute to anyone. Just as the course was suggested to me, I would gladly pass this opportunity on to anyone interested in significantly expanding their knowledge and cultural horizons.”
“But here’s the most important reason: I’m nearing 50 and my brain isn’t as fresh as it was when I was a teenager! Successfully achieving the tour guide certification might have seemed like a ‘mission impossible’ at this stage in my life. The fact that I did succeed is a testament to how capable and supportive the Institute truly is.”
“Both the front-line staff and the back-office team excelled at proving all the necessary resources and encouragement to help students overcome any challenge. So, there’s no reason in the world not to recommend this school to friends,” she said.
The Right Course For Her Career
The National Tourist Guiding Programme is a QQI level 6 qualification that meets the criteria for the Failte Ireland Industry Qualified Tour Guide Directory. This course was right for Sabina and what she needed to broaden her career into Ireland.
“Considering that my aim was to become a National Tour Guide, that course was perfectly suited for this goal. I proudly wear my badge every tour I lead.”
“I have evolved from being a global tour leader to covering the dual role of tour manager and tour guide exclusively in Ireland. The ultimate goal is to settle down and perhaps relocate myself in Dublin permanently. In the meanwhile, however, I would like to get a degree in history for my own personal satisfaction,” she said.
After years of nurturing a deep connection to Ireland and its rich culture, Sabina finally had the opportunity to turn her lifelong passion into a professional endeavour. What began as a personal dream evolved into a defining moment in her career—one that validated her dedication and showcased her talent as a guide.
The experience marked a turning point, allowing Sabina to merge her love for Ireland with a fulfilling professional path that continues to inspire her pursuit of lasting growth and success on Irish soil.
“The entire experience was a huge success because it validated my dedication and allowed me to transition my deep, decades-long passion for Ireland into a guaranteed professional role. That swift transition from tour leader to tour guide is certainly my most rewarding highlight. This helped me secure a remarkable 22 back-to-back-8-day tours around the island last summer, which gave me the opportunity to stay on Irish soil for six months straight. I was more than happy with the start of my guiding career. Hopefully, from 2026 onwards, my professional commitment in Ireland will be even more lasting and rewarding,” she said.
If you are interested in studying Tour Guide at Portobello Institute, visit the course page here.
