Why You Need to Skip the Group and Book a Private Tour

Every day, our staff have the pleasure of speaking to travellers about their tour experiences. From first time ToursByLocals users, the most common post-tour reaction is often surprise: "We weren't expecting this tour to be the highlight of our trip, but it was! We're done with big group tours."

There are some amazing perks to touring with a private guide that you just won’t find when you're trying to play follow the leader on a big group tour. What makes private tours in a small group so appealing? Read on to find out!

Seven Things To Love About Private Tours

1. Their amazing value.

While "private" has connotations of "luxury", don't assume it's more expensive than a group tour. Consider that you're paying a total price per tour, rather than price per person, and once your group size reaches 3 or 4 people, the cost of hiring a private guide and vehicle is often no more expensive than purchasing 4 seats on a standard bus tour. And while it often doesn't cost more, the personalized experience is unmatched!

2. You get to go at your own pace.

Since it’s just you, your group and the guide, you have the benefit of taking the tour at your own pace. With a flexible Itinerary you’re able to go with the flow, see where the day takes you and travel at a relaxed pace. On the other hand, you’re also able to schedule in as many sights as you can squeeze in if that’s your preference! The pace and scheduling is entirely up to you.

3. No need to board a tour bus, ever again.

Dreading that big, sweaty, 40+ person tour bus? Private tours can include clean and comfortable private transportation to accommodate your group. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery while getting from point A to point B, C and D. In addition, when booking a private tour, you can work with the guide to figure out a convenient start and end time that works for everyone. This can take a lot of stress off when trying to pencil in your travel activities. You control the schedule, not the other way around.

4. You can have a real conversation.

Ever tried to talk to a tour guide leading a big group tour? They'll quickly be distracted by the need to herd everyone along; their job is to dispense information, not be your new friend. But with a private tour guide, you'll never spend the day being lectured to; they welcome questions, and conversation flows back and forth. It really unlocks the ability to have a conversation anywhere in the world.

5. The entertainment factor!

Ditch your guidebooks and lift your head from your phone. A private guide comes jam-packed with information and stories you simply won’t find published anywhere else. Private guides love to share their personal stories, experiences and recommendations with you which makes for a more entertaining, interactive and enriching travel experience. Plus, you won't have to open Google Maps once when you're on tour.

6. You won't feel like a tourist.

We've all seen (and maybe been a part of) a large gaggle of tourists walking through a city, following a leader with a badge and maybe an umbrella lifted high, so no one gets lost. It's a pretty conspicuous sight. For those of us who prefer to blend in more when we travel, a private tour is ideal. It looks more like a group of friends walking around, relaxed and conversational, and helps you feel more a part of your surroundings.

7. Contribute to more sustainable travel.

Lastly, ToursByLocals pairs you with a local guide, which means that when you visit a destination, you’re putting money back into the local community and are travelling more sustainably. Many private guides make a living off this profession; they also take care to bring you to smaller local businesses that benefit from your patronage, so you can sleep easy knowing your dollars are being spent where it counts!

If you're interested in a more personal style of travel, consider a private tour on your next trip. We're pretty sure it will launch a new era of travel for you!