How to choose a great tour guide

How to Choose a Great Tour Guide
by Lucy Lazarony

The right tour guide can make any location come to life.
Whether you’re a Civil War buff, a food lover eating your way around New York City or a nature lover eager to explore the natural wonders of a national park, a good tour guide can deepen and enrich the experience.
“It makes all the difference in the world,” says Bob Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, “because of their knowledge and because of their care in handling you and in making sure everything is right.”
But how can you find a tour guide who will enhance your next vacation or weekend getaway?
The first step is taking some time to really think about your goals for the trip. Ask yourself these questions:
Why are you traveling? Are you mainly looking to relax and maybe see a few sights? Or you do want a more intensive type of trip that will take you deep into a particular culture or location?
Do you want every second of your vacation devoted to the tour? Or just an afternoon or morning?
Are you traveling alone? Depending on whether you’re traveling with friends or family, children, or aging relatives, different tours might appeal to different people. What kind of tour would everyone in your group enjoy?
Will a larger, more general tour do, or would you prefer a smaller, special-interest tour? A custom tour, designed specifically for your family, help you get more for your money.
The second step is research. A little bit of research can ensure that your vacation and tour goes off without a hitch.
“It really pays to do some research in advance, have some plans in advance,” says Jennifer Paull, a senior editor at Fodor’s Travel.
A good place to start is the visitors’ bureau, tourist office or local chamber of commerce for the place you’ll be traveling. They can point you to local tour companies and the tour companies will connect you with a guide.
“You can do it in advance on the Web. It’s so easy,” says Ted Bravos, co-founder of the International Tour Management Institute in San Francisco.
Several major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., have their own professional tour guide associations. These associations may lead you to just the guide you’re looking for.
You can search for professional tour guide associations in the U.S. and around the world by visiting the online.
Refer to guidebooks such as Fodor’s, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet for recommendations of local tour companies. The travel guide companies also host forums on their Web sites where you can consult other travelers about their travel and tour experiences. You may be able to get some great advice from a fellow traveler just back from the kind of trip that you’re planning.
Another way to find the perfect tour for your upcoming vacation may be to simply search the Web.
As impressive as a tour company’s Web site may be, it’s just a starting point. You’ll need to do some additional research to make sure the company is solid. Is the company endorsed by the local tourist office or a particular guidebook? If the company is based in the U.S., what’s its record with the Better Business Bureau?
“Has it been recommended by a publication that you trust?” Paul asks. “You’re looking for a third-party objective assessment. What you’re trying to do is filter out self-promotion.”
Once you find a tour company that you like, here are some specific questions to ask before signing up for a tour.
How long has the tour company been in business? Find out what are its credentials. If it’s a member of a tour guide association, has the association received any complaints?
What are the credentials of the individual tour guide who will be leading your trip? You may not need someone with a doctorate, but you might want someone who leads dozens of tours each year, and has a reputation for keeping it informative, fast-moving and fun.
What specific sights and activities will be included in the tour? Make sure you find out how much time is spent on each activity. Ask about free time and how everyone will meet up with the tour guide later in the day.
What is the cost of the tour? Ask if the cost is per person or per group. Does the cost include meals and transportation? Does the cost include admission to a park, museum or historical site? Tour guides expect to be tipped, so be sure to ask what is the tipping policy before signing on.
What is the size of the tour group? Will you be traveling with a group of five or six other people or two dozen? Ask what is the minimum number of people required to book a private tour.
What is the refund policy? If you wind up not traveling for any reason, find out how much notice you have to give to get your cash back.
After finding out all these details, it’s up to you to weigh the cost against the experience level of the tour guide and the kind of trip you’re seeking.