Whether you’re learning to rock climb in California or taking a ski tour of Norway, having a private guide for your trip can make all the difference. Private guides offer many pluses that group tours can’t:
A good guide knows the best times to avoid tourist hordes at key attractions and how to customize the itinerary.
Customized Itinerary
With a private tour, the guide is exclusively focused on your group and can tailor their approach to meet your needs. They can offer you tips and tricks to improve your technique, help you overcome a fear or encourage you to push yourself a little further than what you thought possible.
Private tours are ideal for travellers with limited time who want to experience authentic travel. Guides can explain cultural traditions, introduce you to new foods, show you off-the-beaten-path places and make sure that you have the most enjoyable trip possible.
It’s also a great option for families, because the guides can cater to suit kids’ interests, as well as the adults. This allows for more flexibility and reduces the risk of arguments among family members during a holiday.activities
Personal Attention
Many tour guides only work for private tours, which means you’ll get their full attention during your excursion. Whether you’re on a cultural walking tour of Mumbai, a wine tasting expedition on Bordeaux’s waterways, or an African safari, your guide will be at your beck and call.
They’ll be able to answer any questions you have, point out interesting sights that you may have missed, and show you hidden gems. They can also make recommendations for food and drink, or even suggest activities that aren’t included in your itinerary!
They’ll be there to help you understand and connect with far-off cultures, making for an unforgettable trip. Then you can return home with a newfound appreciation for the world around you. That’s a great feeling!
Flexibility
Unlike with small-group tours or self-guided trips, private tours can be tailored to suit your preferences and budget. Generally, private tours are more expensive than small-group tours, but they can also offer the most flexibility.
Your guide will be exclusively focused on you, which means they can make alterations to the itinerary on the fly without worrying about other travellers’ needs. They can also answer questions and take you to places off the beaten track that are harder to find in larger groups.
They can also recommend great local food, cultural traditions, and sustainable accommodations. They’ll know the best time to visit an attraction and can avoid tourist hordes whenever possible. This is especially important if you’re traveling with children. They can ask sensitive questions and learn about the culture in a safe environment.
Safety
There are a number of private tour companies that connect travelers with local guides. These tours are usually conducted by guides that have undergone a thorough criminal background check for traveler safety.
Private guided trips are also great for families with children or anyone who needs special accommodations during their trip, such as elderly relatives or those with mobility issues. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of both options before deciding what will work best for your vacation.
A private guided tour allows you to go deeper into a destination with your guide. They know the facts but can also share the stories behind them which will enrich your experience. They can take you places that you cannot access on public transportation or with large group tour buses.
Value
As the world slowly reopens and people begin to travel again, it’s important that tours offer strong value. Private guided trips do just that.
They allow travelers to meet locals, skip the line at a museum, and explore places that buses and public transport can’t reach. Private guides can also explain cultural traditions, recommend restaurants to try, and give an insider’s perspective on the history of a place.
Most operators we interviewed review and re-assess their pricing every year. They look at costs and margins, products that are power-performers, and the broader market. This can help them come to a clear picture of how many tours they need to sell per time frame in order to break even and be profitable. It’s a helpful exercise for anyone that sells private tours.