Should You Hire a Tour Guide?.
I'll cut to the chase,YES! Here's 4 reasons why...
1. You don't have much time
If you are visiting a place for a short amount of time, you can be sure that you see and learn about the best sights during a pre-planned tour. You can usually find tours that range between 1 to 3 hours for walking tours and longer all-day tours which can include meals in addition to seeing many points of interest.
2. You REALLY want to know all there is about a place
When you meet a *professional tour guide, you are guaranteed to learn ALOT. *to keep the industry honest, I recommend only booking/paying a licensed Professional tour guide as they invest a large amount of time in tour guide courses. They learn and memorize history then relay that information back to you in engaging ways. I know for me, I remember the historical facts told to me through a story of a professional tour guide rather than after reading a guide book.
3. You prefer to pay the price of your choice
In most major cities around the World, there are "*FREE" walking tours available from various tour operators and independent tour guides. If you google Free Tour when in the are you are visiting, you can see multiple options with reviews. I have never not enjoyed a free walking tour in any international city. 100% of the guides have been super informed and entertaining. *At the end of your tour, and after sharing a few extra gems, your tour guide will explain to you that if you enjoyed their tour, that they accept donations.
4. You like insider tips
During the tour, most guides will share "insider info": lesser known facts, untold historical events, point out obscure details and inform you of recent updates. Usually at the very end, the guide will also share discounts to local venues. No one is obligated to stay until the end of a free walking tour but it usually worth it to stick around. Everyone gets a tip -- get it? ;-)
These are just a few reasons why I found choosing a tour guide useful. Perhaps you will agree!
The above pics are from a recent guided tour I took in Florence, Italy. You can find this company by searching for "La Bussola Free Walking Tour".
