Sometimes hiring a tour guide can dramatically improve a trip -- even for go-it-alone travelers who value independence. On the other hand, certain kinds of trips are best suited to freewheeling exploration, and a tour guide might just spoil the fun. These are three suggestions why you should hire a guide:
1. When you have very little time.
A knowledgeable guide can give a laser focus to any sightseeing visit, and this may never be so valuable as when you have very little time in one place. This is a very common occurrence in modern life -- hence the popular "36 hours in..." features in the New York Times every week. If you don't have a copy of the Times' recommendations, or you want to go off the beaten path they have cleared, the right guide can give you a customized and thrilling blitz through the destination of your choice.
2. When language barriers are likely to be severe.
When visiting a place where you do not speak the language and the locals are extremely unlikely to speak yours -- for most of our readers, that will mean places where exposure to the English language is minimal -- a local tour guide who does speak your language can be invaluable in countless ways. When choosing a guide, try to chat with the guide on the phone to determine how strong his or her command of your language really is.
3. To hand off the logistics of travel.
The hassles of obtaining tickets, making reservations, checking operating hours, figuring out options when you have problems -- all of this is easy stuff to a good tour guide. If you are on vacation and don't want to have these mundane tasks on your plate while traveling, a tour guide may be a good option.
Think about it and contact me if you need assistance with any arrangements: tourguide@ok.de
