by Brinda Fuller Willis
In her business, More Than a Tourist, LLC, Jane Halbert Jones wants to help facilitate a good travel experience for people, and to also help them get a taste of the local culture. She can organize tours and vacations around the world, and also does tours of Jackson. Photo by Stephen Wilson
On Sept. 23, people gathered on a bus for a sightseeing tour of Jackson, stopping in neighborhoods such as Fondren, midtown and downtown.
The tour was part of Jane Halbert Jones' business, More Than a Tourist, LLC.
The tour was part of Jane Halbert Jones' business, More Than a Tourist, LLC.
She says the idea for the company popped into her head while she was sitting at her desk at a 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. job, wondering what she could do to continue her travels and to facilitate easier trips for other people.
While attending Mississippi College, Jones spent two semesters abroad—one in England in 1999, and then in 2000 she spent a semester in France and then went to work in Greece. "I was able to see what most people never get to see," she says.
Jones then received a bachelor's degree in French with a minor in business from Mississippi College in 2001. After graduation, she taught English in France for a year. Since her first time abroad in 1999, she spent time off and on in Europe, mostly in France, until 2009.
In 2011, she started More Than A Tourist as a travel service that, in addition to going to tourist sights, would also let people find local places to eat and things to do.
"I took my first group of adventurists to France shortly after I started the business, and it was a smash hit for everyone on the trip," she says. "I showed the group (local) places to dine and explore that I discovered when I (lived in) France."
In 2016, she took specialty travel courses online to enhance her knowledge of customized public and private tours, and vacations around the world. The Greenville, Miss., native's mission is to help people explore the local points of interest and to make their trips easier by being their guide, translator and planner.
Jones, who is the general manager for Underground 119, says she wants to develop specific itineraries such as foodie tours and blues tours around the state.
"Clarksdale, Greenville and Vicksburg are attractive blues tours for international travelers who come to Mississippi because Mississippi has such a great blues heritage, as so many blues legends were born in the state," she says.
She has tours planned for 2018 that will include "Paris in Spring" around Memorial Day and the "French Riviera Tour" Aug. 26-Sept. 4.
Jones has also developed the Jackson City Highlight Tours as part of "Local Tours for Locals." Participants walk, drive or tour on the Mississippi Party Bus, and see and do local things in the city's neighborhoods. She also organizes "progressive dinners," with or without transportation, where tourists stop at the three local restaurants for an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. She also wants to organize "Local Tours for Locals" for surrounding cities such as Vicksburg.
Jones is organizing the next Jackson City Highlight Tour for Dec. 9, 2017, following the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History. She will organize another tour in the spring.
For more information about Jones' tours, visit morethanatourist.net or find the business on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
While attending Mississippi College, Jones spent two semesters abroad—one in England in 1999, and then in 2000 she spent a semester in France and then went to work in Greece. "I was able to see what most people never get to see," she says.
Jones then received a bachelor's degree in French with a minor in business from Mississippi College in 2001. After graduation, she taught English in France for a year. Since her first time abroad in 1999, she spent time off and on in Europe, mostly in France, until 2009.
In 2011, she started More Than A Tourist as a travel service that, in addition to going to tourist sights, would also let people find local places to eat and things to do.
"I took my first group of adventurists to France shortly after I started the business, and it was a smash hit for everyone on the trip," she says. "I showed the group (local) places to dine and explore that I discovered when I (lived in) France."
In 2016, she took specialty travel courses online to enhance her knowledge of customized public and private tours, and vacations around the world. The Greenville, Miss., native's mission is to help people explore the local points of interest and to make their trips easier by being their guide, translator and planner.
Jones, who is the general manager for Underground 119, says she wants to develop specific itineraries such as foodie tours and blues tours around the state.
"Clarksdale, Greenville and Vicksburg are attractive blues tours for international travelers who come to Mississippi because Mississippi has such a great blues heritage, as so many blues legends were born in the state," she says.
She has tours planned for 2018 that will include "Paris in Spring" around Memorial Day and the "French Riviera Tour" Aug. 26-Sept. 4.
Jones has also developed the Jackson City Highlight Tours as part of "Local Tours for Locals." Participants walk, drive or tour on the Mississippi Party Bus, and see and do local things in the city's neighborhoods. She also organizes "progressive dinners," with or without transportation, where tourists stop at the three local restaurants for an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. She also wants to organize "Local Tours for Locals" for surrounding cities such as Vicksburg.
Jones is organizing the next Jackson City Highlight Tour for Dec. 9, 2017, following the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History. She will organize another tour in the spring.
For more information about Jones' tours, visit morethanatourist.net or find the business on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
RSS Feed