No fixed routes, but going with the flow: Mandy about her life in Seville

Hello Mandy!

My name is Mandy Bombeeck. I was born in Helmond (North Brabant) and I now live in Seville, the sunny south of Spain. My love for travelling started as early as when I studied Reizen en Toeristische Informatie at De Rooi Pannen in Eindhoven. I decided to further specialise in Breda, and I was trained to be a tourism professional there. What I did not know at the time was that my heart would lead me abroad years later.

In 2011 I graduated from the Management Toerisme degree programme at Breda University of Applied Sciences, then known as NHTV. When looking back at my student days, I particularly enjoy remembering the inspiring projects I was able to do for Efteling and that fantastic study trip to the  most beautiful theme parks of Europe. Those were valuable years in which my passion for travel and hospitality only grew stronger.

Have you always wanted to live abroad?
Living abroad was never my dream. But when I discovered Seville, that feeling changed completely. The charm of Andalusia, the warmth of the people, the rich culture and the wonderful climate, it immediately felt like coming home. After exploring almost all provinces in the region I knew for sure: Seville is the place where I want to live.

Have you ever thought that you would return to the Netherlands?
In 2019 I moved to Seville and started a Bed & Breakfast with my then husband. It was an exciting step: leaving everything behind in the Netherlands, and starting over in a country with a different language, culture, and way of life. Since January 2023, I have been working as a self-employed  entrepreneur, organising personal city trips and private tours for Dutch guests in Seville.  

What’s more, I work as a Personal Travel Host. With my company Sevilla by Mandy I guide families, groups of friends, associations, schools and companies during their stay in Seville. The personal contact, attention to detail and sharing my love for the city are what make my work special every day.

How do you as an entrepreneur look at tourism in general?

I think it is important that visitors really experience the city, not as tourists, but as locals. I not only take my guests to the famous highlights, but also show them the hidden gems – those special places you would otherwise walk right past.

‘It is like a rollercoaster ride sometimes. But a very enjoyable one.’

I am often asked what it is like to run my own company in Seville. Well ... sometimes it is like a rollercoaster ride. But a very enjoyable one. With Sevilla by Mandy I was able to turn my passion into my job, and I am grateful for that every day.

Seville is a magical city, but also one with extreme sides. It is not without reason that it is one of the hottest cities in Europe. My year is therefore anything but evenly distributed: April, May, September and October are my peak months and I work seven days a week, while July and August come to a near standstill due to the heat.

But the most wonderful thing about this job? It is the people! I work almost exclusively with cheerful, curious travellers who want to discover the city with open eyes. I can travel with them for a while, literally and figuratively.

As a Personal Travel Host I want to make a difference. Not only by giving them information, but most of all, by creating a feeling: peace, relaxation, fun. No stress about tickets, routes or crowded places. Just follow me and enjoy yourselves.

Tourism has many opportunities, but also challenges. How do you cope with that?

Of course, there are challenges too. Like this year: March was literally a washout, with non-stop rain. And June was so hot that people cancelled their plans. As a self-employed person, I feel that immediately in my income. But I try to be creative about it. No fixed routes, but going with the flow of what the city and the season require. 

What helps me is that I consciously work on a small scale. My groups have no more than 12 people, which keeps it personal and ensures that we do not overwhelm the city. I do make sure that we do not bother the locals, and I take my guests to places where you can still feel the real Seville. No crowds, no standard sights, but rather hidden squares, local bars and stories you will not hear anywhere else.

Seville is becoming more popular every year, and I understand why. But I believe in tourism with a soul. That is what I want to do with Sevilla by Mandy: not sell as many tours as possible, but give people as many beautiful memories as possible. It is rewarding work, with ups and downs – but I would not trade it for the world.

And, you know, I have never felt homesick. Seville has become my home.

Planning to go to Sevilla?

Follow Sevilla by Mandy on instagram, linkedIN or visit the website sevillabymandy.com.