10 Tips to Make Your Private Tour Unforgettable

So you’ve decided a private tour is the way to go on your next trip. Great! You’re going to have a terrific time seeing the sights, exploring the local culture and making a new friend in a foreign place. And to get you started on the right foot, the experts at ToursByLocals have compiled ten tips to ensure your tour is truly memorable – for all the right reasons.

Ten Tips For a Truly Great Tour!

1. One of the best things about a private tour is you get to customize the experience! Take advantage of being able to communicate with your guide in advance to set expectations before your tour. This is your time and your guide wants you to be interested in what you’re seeing. So use the messaging system to share your interests, likes and dislikes in advance of the tour – guides love this feature too, as it helps them to customize the perfect tour for you.

2. Be prepared for poor weather and don’t let it get you down! Unfortunately, not every day is going to be a sunny day. But bad weather is actually a great time to have a private guide. Big bus tours have a hard time changing their itineraries, but your guide can alter your schedule at a moment’s notice, and will have all sorts of ideas for making the most of your time in their city, even with rain. You might end up seeing something fascinating you otherwise would have missed.3. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, and dress appropriately - for weather, activity level and to respect local customs. Your guide can advise you on suitable clothing in advance of your tour. It’s always a good idea to have both a sunhat and light jacket on hand.

4. Instead of exclusively using a car and driver to get around a city, if you are healthy and mobile consider exploring with your guide on foot, by bike or by public transit. A car can be convenient, but sometimes driving from place to place can leave you cut off from the things going on around you. Walking or cycling is slower and allows you to feel more a part of your surroundings. European cities tend to be compact and easy to explore without a vehicle. And many of the world’s major cities are also becoming more bike-friendly, offering dedicated cycling lanes and bike share programs. Rio, Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo and New York City are all leading the cycling charge.5. Be open-minded and respect the local culture. We hear this advice a lot, but what exactly does it mean? In a nutshell, it means understanding that things are likely going to be different than at home – and that’s OK. Travellers who spend their whole time in judgment of different customs and behaviours end up complaining more about their trip than enjoying it. It’s rare to see this attitude with ToursByLocals travellers, who actively seek to learn more about the things that make a destination unique and different, rather than hope it will conform to home.

6. ...and in a similar vein, try something new! Whether it’s a new food, drink or activity, challenge yourself to do one small thing on your tour that you’ve never done before. These are the sorts of experiences that create the memories you'll want to talk about back home.7. Take the time to research where you’re going and let your guide know if there’s a particular place you want to see that might not be on everyone’s radar. One really interesting way of complimenting this sort of research is by reading a novel or short story by a local author, set in the location you’re traveling to. It will help you tap into the local cultural scene and get you inspired to see the places in the book!

8. Once you’ve met your guide, ask questions and get the conversation flowing! Your guide has lots of knowledge to share, and it’s often more enjoyable and natural to learn through a conversation rather than as a passive listener. Your guide will appreciate not having to deliver a non-stop lecture to a silent audience.9. Ask your guide to take photos of your group so no one’s missing from the picture. Chances are you won't even have to ask, as they know the best photo spots and will offer to capture the moment. But don’t forget to take a photo with your guide too, to help you remember the person you spent this special day with. (We love it when travellers share these photos with us! Feel free to post your snapshots on our Facebook page anytime.)10. Benefit from your guide’s knowledge of their city and region for the rest of your time there. Before your tour is done, get recommendations for great neighbourhood restaurants, shops and entertainment – places to enjoy in the evening or the next day. If you're going to be at a destination for a few days, we always recommend taking your tour near the beginning of your stay, so you can use your guide's tips for the rest of your time there.One final (post-tour) tip: make sure you take a couple minutes to leave a star rating and review for your guide once you get home. This will help other travellers choose which guide to hire for their own unique tour experience.