Safety Guidelines: Know If Your Tour Guide Is On Point

There’s nothing quite like traveling by yourself. But sometimes having a travel tour guide is of great help. When you are hard pressed for time, when you are in a relatively unsafe place and don’t know the language, or on an adventure trip, having a guide showing you the ropes will be a huge asset. But with numerous tour guides available, and each offering their own unique travel deals, how do you ensure that the choice you have made is the right one?

Here are some tips and tour guide answers to help you stay on track

• Know your guide’s qualifications- Choose a certified guide. Most guides are highly qualified and licensed. Ask for your guide’s qualifications before you make a choice.

• Have your smartphone apps ready – Make notes on your maps and city guides as you go along with your tour guide. This helps keep you have a reference, and alerts you to the possibility of any foul play regarding mislabeling or misdirection.

• Feeling Pressurized – Do you feel that you’re being pressurized to buy any goods/services? Watch out. In many places tour guides earn a commission for bringing in customers, so be alert and make sure you do not waste your money on overpriced souvenirs which may not be as “locally special” as your guide claims them to be (this is especially valid in lesser developed countries in south America, south east asia and africa)

•  Free Is Not Necessarily Gratis – Many hostels and hotels announce a free walking tours or free pub crawls for their patrons, but be aware of them. If you’re taking these up, just be informed that usually, at the end of the tour, the guides ask you for tips. A genial approach is fine but some guides try to force or guilt you into paying them for the services. Clarify things with your guide before you embark upon that long walking tour.

• Going Outdoors? – In developing nations, you shall have to negotiate a lot of bureaucracy to obtain permits for fishing, trekking, camping etc, so having a local guide may be an asset since he speaks the local language and understands the terrain better. But be warned, sometimes the fees and charges applicable for all those services may include a hidden surcharge on the part of the guide. In order to make sure you are not being overpriced, discuss upfront with your guide about his charges.
• Currency exchange – In some countries, tour guides offer to get you great deals for currency exchange, generally through “contacts” or “friends”.  Even though the deal looks promising, be wary, because transacting on the black market with unauthorized dealers can bring in more trouble than you’re looking for. There have been cases of theft and blackmail.

• Local Flavor – If you’re invited to a special local ceremony or private function, take it with a pinch of salt. It might sound all exciting and adventurous, but there are always few hidden caveats. For example, in China there is a popular local tea party scam where the guide takes you to a local tea shop and helps you taste the recipes after which you’re presented with a bill which may run into hundreds of dollars.  Clarify with your guide before you decide to indulge in any such treats.