Selecting the Right Travel Guide

By Pamela Sucharat


So you have finally decided to visit a another country for the first time.Hunting for uk cheap holidays 2013 has been done and you have now packed your bags and are ready to go. Next stop is destination holiday. What to do now? You are now contemplating where you want to go that's amenable both to your interest and preference. Which activities do you want to try out? How much should you shell out for these activities? Your Lonely Planet guidebook all of a sudden seemed to contain ver little information.

No website or travel guidebook information is more comprehensive than that of a reliable travel guide. A good guide is more than just your companion. He is a bank of information, who explains to you the story behind each attraction, natural wonder, or cultural activity you encounter. He is a consultant, who can recommend you good places to visit, restaurants to dine in, places to stay, or activities to enjoy. He is your security officer, who makes sure that you are protected from scams. And these are just some of the benefits you get from a trustworthy guide.

Hold on a sec, was trustworthy mentioned? Yes, you can only maximize the benefits of guideship services if you get a guide whom you can truly rely on. But with the hundreds of guides, and people who proclaim themselves to be guide, how are you going to choose the right one?

1. A guide with a license is preferable. A certified guide can offer excelent guideship services. He does not only represent himself but also the company he works for. Thus, he won't be content at giving mediocre services because he has names to protect.

2. Not all parts of the world have travel guides. Some countries only have native residents as tour guides. These makes them even better than licensed guides. Quality of service may not be a guarantee however as they are not certified. If you are planning to hire an unlicensed guide, make sure to take note of these signs.

* Having you pay for every service given - unconscionable guides tend to ask you to pay for every service given, no matter how trivial. He will ask payment from you even for the simplest littlest things. Things that need to paid for should be specified and made clear prior to hiring the guide.

* Making you pay every step of the way - guides who are not legitimate can be spotted right away with the way they regard money and payment. If he asks you to pay up every step you take, then that definitely is a neon warning sign. You have to keep in mind though that you don't have any obligation to pay him for services that were not expressly specified and made clear before he was getting hired. You should make sure that terms and conditions are made clear prior to hiring him.

* Large gap in language barrier - go for a guide who talks and understands English; communicating with him would be so much easier that way. Furthermore, it is important to know and understand a few local phrases even if the guide will do all the talking for you. It helps to know what you say yes to.

* Asking for money during a free event - be wary of local guides who ask you for settlement if you wish to attend a supposedly free local ceremony. For instance, do not give in to a guide who demands money if you want to get involved in a supposedly free wine tasting or tea tasting event.

* Off the beaten path appears too "off"- some unscrupulous tour guides formulate sites of interest to satisfy your excitement for adventure and seeing something unique and different. Steer clear! These may just be money-making schemes, and the supposed "site of attraction" is a sub-par or uninteresting one.




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