Traditionally, tour guides have given large groups of people cultural, historical, and contemporary heritage interpretation. To stay on schedule, these tours are usually rigidly structured. In recent years, an increasing number of travelers have opted for private tour guides, who offer the same basic service but on a more personal level. Itineraries are created by the travelers in collaboration with their guide. The schedule is more laid-back, allowing clients to fully appreciate each location they visit without feeling rushed.
A private tour guide can give private individual clients one-on-one tours or work with smaller groups. Private tour guides usually specialize in specific tour types. One guide might specialize in Hollywood history, while another might provide private boat tours of the Galapagos Islands, and yet another might take Beatles fans on custom guided tours of Liverpool, England. The majority of private tour guides are experts in their fields and are frequently authors, college professors, or retired teachers. A licensed or recognized tourist guide qualification is usually required of a private tour guide.
Many private tour guides can communicate with clients from all over the world and speak multiple languages. A private tour guide should have a genuine love for the community in which they live and be proud to share it with others. The majority of private tour guides are self-employed business owners. Private tour guides earn a part-time or full-time living by marketing themselves to potential clients and providing the exciting experiences that tourists seek.
A number of websites specialize in matching travelers with private tour guides in their local area. For the safety of the traveler, each guide listed on one of these sites has undergone a criminal background check, and the guide’s professional qualifications have been verified. Customers can read reviews of the guide written by other customers and learn about the different types of tours that the guide offers. Clients who want standardized policies, booking, and billing procedures will appreciate these tour guide matching services. The guides also benefit from the website’s free advertising and simple payment processing services.
Travelers who hire a private tour guide say they prefer riding with a small group of friends or family members to being stuck on a crowded tour bus with a lot of strangers because they have the freedom to choose their own traveling companions. Instead of taking them around the usual tourist traps, a private tour guide tailors the tour to the client’s needs and interests. This allows clients to set the pace of the tour and avoid attractions they don’t want to see. For groups of seniors, children, the handicapped, or people with limited mobility, this aspect is far more enjoyable.
Flexible travel times, departure and arrival dates, and plans tailored to the client’s budget and points of interest are all advantages of hiring a private tour guide. A benefit of private transportation is that the guide usually picks up the clients from their hotel and returns them to the same location when the tour is finished. Travelers also appreciate being able to eat at local restaurants recommended by their guides, which are usually off the beaten path and serve better food than typical tourist restaurants. For clients with special dietary needs or who want to sample a particular “local flavor,” meal plans can be prepared ahead of time.
Clients can also get show tickets and book entertainment packages with the help of a private tour guide. Based on personal experience, a personal tour guide will be able to recommend local nightclubs, amusement parks, museums, and festivals. Clients may also be taken on shopping excursions to local stores or malls that are relevant to their interests. However, all of this convenience and individual attention comes at a cost. Travelers who book a private tour guide should anticipate paying significantly more than they would on a traditional tour.