You asked: How do I find a local tour guide I can trust?

By The Way Concierge asked tour guides and travel experts how they find guides on their own trips

tour guides reddit

Traveling has always come with complications. Our By The Way Concierge column will take your travel dilemmas to the experts to help you navigate the new normal. Want to see your question answered? Submit it here .

“We’re stopping in Casablanca, Morocco, for one day on an upcoming cruise. How can I find a reliable local guide? I’ve found several sites promoting local guides, but I don’t know whether any of them are trustworthy.” — Edith G., Laurel, Md.

A quick Google search will turn up the major tour companies operating in a city — or the ones paying for ads and searching juice — but you’re looking for the right guide to transform your understanding of a new place and avoid tourist traps .

This has become even more challenging as third-party companies and unauthorized guides have proliferated in tourism hot spots, scooping up tickets and driving up prices. Travel is already complicated; a guide should make it easier.

I’ve found plenty of reliable tour guides through social media and Airbnb Experiences . Before a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, I went down rabbit holes on Instagram , looking at local food influencers and tour companies. Along the way, I ended up on the account of Lily Palma, a guide who founded Zapotec Travel by Lily . We coordinated a custom experience over WhatsApp, I sent a deposit in advance and paid for the rest in person, and I had a magical time with one of her guides.

Third-party tours have made Europe a maze. Here’s how to avoid them.

Using Airbnb Experiences required far less trawling. For food tours on a trip to Southeast Asia , I looked for local guides and strong reviews in Phuket , Thailand, and Vietnam , and I was delighted with the outcomes. In Bangkok, I took a risk on a new tour that looked unique but had no reviews; it paid off, and I had a spectacular time learning to cook with Prawit “Wit” Chankasem and his mom, Maew, at their coconut farm.

To get you started on your hunt, I took a spin through the Casablanca Airbnb Experiences options and thought this history and food tour sounded like a solid pick. In the many detailed reviews, customers described the Moroccan guide as flexible, adaptable, informative and in-depth. You could go on one of his small group tours for $60 per person or book a private one for about $300. Another guide had similarly strong reviews, so strong that his tour is described by customers as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

I was curious what other travel professionals do, so I reached out to some hotel concierges, travel planners and tour guides for their advice. Multiple industry insiders warned against using mass-market sites such as Viator or Tripadvisor — which aren’t tour operators themselves but search aggregators.

“The challenge with some of those big-box operators is that it is hard for them to vet every experience provider, and so there’s a lack of consistency,” said Annie Sim, founder and CEO (chief eating officer) of the Table Less Traveled .

“We recently had a guest of who booked through a big website,” said Sue Yoon, VIP concierge supervisor at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver, Canada. “They prepaid and everything, and the driver never showed up.”

Yoon says her hotel always opts for local guides it has personally vetted and recommends travelers always ask their hotel for input — even if the traveler has already booked something. Many will be happy to double-check your pick. In your case, you could ask your cruise concierge.

Katie Parla, a tour guide in Rome and a cookbook author, says to seek out locals who specialize in a field that interests you. If you’re more into food than museums, search for a food historian or a food writer in town who may do tours on the side. Look for expert titles in your guide searches. “Certified guide” doesn’t tell you as much as “art historian” or “former chef.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natalie Compton (@natbco)

Aaron Millar, a British travel writer and the host of the “ Armchair Explorer ” podcast, said some of his best experiences were with people who were experts in their field, including a biologist in Costa Rica and a paleontologist in Utah.

“You’ll get next-level insight, but also passion,” Millar said in an email.

You can also skip the search yourself and turn to a well-established travel adviser or planner to help coordinate a custom trip with one of their preferred guides. Such companies tend to have decades-long relationships with independent guides and can vouch for their services, says Haisley Smith, vice president of product development at Internova Travel . They’ll be able to handpick the right guide for your travel style, “for example, one who specializes in food or architecture or history or maybe that is good with families,” Smith added in an email, recommending you try Abercrombie & Kent’s Morocco office .

It usually won’t cost you more to go through a professional. However, Clio Morichini, head of travel and events for Italy Segreta , a magazine and travel planning company, says you can usually expect a higher price point with a locally based or boutique operation vs. ones you might find on Viator. But you get what you pay for, Morichini says, because they’re more likely to have vetted their guides several times before — not only to be qualified, but also entertaining.

Lastly, Seda Meral, director of the front office for the Hotel Nikko San Francisco , recommends crowdsourcing information through Facebook travel groups or Reddit , or going to a city’s tourism office. She plans to check in with London’s to find tours for her upcoming trip to the United Kingdom.

tour guides reddit

Tour Scoop

How Much Should You Tip on a Guided Tour? All Your Gratuity Questions Answered

Everything you need to know about tipping on a guided tour..

Josh Roberts

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

When you book a guided tour , it may seem like you’re covering most of your vacation costs before you even depart. Most tours include accommodations, trip leaders, local guides, transportation during the trip, admission fees, and many meals all in the upfront cost. But the addd cost of tour leader tips and other customary gratuities can sneak up on you unless you’ve factored them in at the beginning.

Inspired by my own frustration about the vague information available about how much to tip on guided tours, I’ve compared tipping guidelines and recommendations from a dozen different tour companies to create this tipping guide for tours. You can use it to get a sense of tour operator tipping norms and then plan accordingly.

BEST OF THE BEST: 15 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours

Which Gratuities Are Covered in Most Tours?

tour buses waiting to take tour guests sightseeing in Peru's Sacred Valley

Many tour companies build tips for support staff into the tour price. That could include hotel staff, waiters, and sometimes (but not always) bus drivers. If your guided tour has a dedicated motor coach driver for the entire trip, for example, you may be expected to tip the driver in addition to your guides.

And almost none of the tour operators I spoke with include the priciest of all tips—tour leader gratuities—into the cost of a tour. The exception is Road Scholar , which includes group leader gratuities in the up-front tour cost. 

Which Gratuities Are Not Covered in Most Tours?

Beyond the above-mentioned exceptions, most tour companies do not include tips for guides and hotel housekeeping. Often, these people rely on tips as a vital part of their income, so it’s important to set your own budget accordingly to make sure you’re tipping at an appropriate level for their service.

  • Tour Leader/Director: I’ll go into more detail below about tipping tour leaders, but in terms of the biggest gratuity expense to budget for on a tour, this is it, since the customary amount may well be in the hundreds of dollars.
  • Local Tour Guides: Some tour companies will include local tour guides into the gratuities covered in the cost of the tour, while others say you should tip local tour guides individually. If you’re expected to tip local guides on your own, the daily amount usually falls somewhere in the $2 to $10 range. Local tour guides tend to be used for day tours, so you’ll want to tip them at the end of the day, as you may not see them again.
  • Hotel Housekeeping: In-room tips for the cleaning staff aren’t generally paid by tour companies. TourScoop’s sister site FamilyVacationist has an explainer about hotel housekeeping tipping etiquette , but generally speaking the customary range is $3 to $10 per day depending on the hotel class. 
  • Independent Meals: Learn tipping customs for your destinations before you go, since you’ll likely have some meals on your own and will want to be able to tip or not tip as the culture dictates. 

Why You Should Always Tip Your Tour Leaders

tour guide Rudy showing a flower pot in Cusco

Ask a tour company why you should tip your tour leader and you’ll likely get some version of, “Well, it’s the customary way to thank them for all their hard work” or “It’s how you show appreciation and gratitude.” 

Intrepid Travel goes a bit deeper on its explanation, noting that “tipping is still a big part of leaders’ overall income” and that tipping locals for their guiding services is actually a powerful way to inject cash into the local economy. Since tip money doesn’t pass through a third party, the money “either go[es] straight to the leader, or get[s] divided up among your porters and local guides.”

A great tour leader turns a good experience into a great one, and it’s natural to want to make sure they feel appreciated, even if you have some resistance to the structures that require guests to heavily subsidize these hard-working wonders.

How Much to Tip Your Tour Leaders

The less helpful but most accurate answer to the question of how much to tip your tour leader is that information about tipping is generally found in the final documents you receive before your trip, so be sure to read those pages carefully when you get them (usually somewhere between a month and two weeks before the start of a tour). To give you a ballpark estimate, though, the daily per person tip for a tour leader tip should be somewhere in the range of $7 to $12, with $10 per person per day being the most widely recommended amount. 

GO IT ALONE: 10 Best Travel Companies for Solo Travel Tours

That amount can add up quickly, especially if you have more than one tour leader and/or are traveling with a family group . For instance, Adventures by Disney (which is refreshingly up-front about its tipping recommendations) pencils out gratuities for a 10-day tour with a family of four at $720 to $880, since its family travel adventures always include two tour leaders. That can be sticker-shock territory, which is why I suspect so many tour companies are so cagey about how much to tip tour leaders. 

How and When to Tip on a Guided Tour

Some companies—including Trafalgar , Globus , and Collette —may give you the option to pre-pay tour leader tips with your credit card at the time of booking. On the one hand, that’s great, since it means you don’t need to carry around cash to give at the very end of the trip. On the other hand, it pokes holes in the industry-wide story that the tip is tied to the service you’ve received.

Most tour companies still recommend tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour. Plan to tip in either the local currency or U.S. dollars if it’s a widely accepted currency in the destination country. Some tour leaders also accept Venmo or PayPal.

More from TourScoop:

  • 8 Best Senior Travel Tour Companies
  • Plane Essentials: The 10 Carry-On Items I Always Pack
  • How to Choose the Best Walking Shoes for Tours

Josh Roberts

Outdoor Afro and REI Co-op Team Up on New Trips Celebrating Black Joy

two women eating gelato on a streetcorner in Sorrento

Road Scholar Debuts Special Trips for Retired Teachers

kids on a tauck bridges tour in Paris throwing their berets in the air in front of the Eiffel Tower

New Vacation Trend: European River Cruise Companies Are Now Targeting Family Travelers

What’s tourscoop.

Tour Scoop’s team of travel experts brings you in-depth tour company overviews, tour itinerary reviews, the latest tour news, and travel tips and advice written just for guided tour travelers like you.

More about us

Solo Travel News: Road Scholar Debuts Exclusive Trips

New solos-only tours unite solo travelers for group adventures.

Person stand up paddleboarding with the National Geographic Venture in the background

Tour Review: Lindblad Expeditions’ Baja California: Among the Great Whales

Whale watching is only the beginning.

whale breaching

Whale Photography Tips from an Expedition Cruise Photo Instructor

Taking great pics of whales is no easy task. Here are tips.

These tours celebrate Black joy through belonging, togetherness, and connection with nature.

Days to Come

Travelling Without a Passport

tour guides reddit

8 Reasons Why Being a Tour Guide is the Best Job

tour guides reddit

Everyone is telling you to quit your day job, live the dream, escape your office cubicle and travel the world, right? You’re sitting at your desk reading this, dreaming of open roads and stunning sights, but probably wondering ‘how the hell can anyone afford that?’

The answer, my friends, is to earn while you’re travelling.

There’s a number of different paths to earning as you travel; teaching English overseas, working remotely for your company, becoming a virtual assistant or even travel blogging – but only one option that will enrich your travel experience. Becoming a tour guide is one of the most rewarding and exhilarating ways to see the world, learn about a country’s culture and history while sharing your love of travel with people just like you.

Here’s 8 reasons why being a tour guide is the best way to travel the world and still earn a living.

Why being a guide is the best job

1. You’ll learn a valuable skill set for a future career

Tour Guides wear multiple ‘hats’ while running a trip. It may look like your guide is having a relaxed holiday alongside the group, but the reality is that a tour guide is a travel agent, therapist, accountant, event manager, historian, conflict resolution manager, tax and currency expert and professional public speaker. All skills which carry across impressively to any future career.

Depending on what types of tours you decide to lead, you’ll also be required to become certified in a few different core competency areas which are irreplacable skills to possess for your own travels as well.

2. You will see more countries & cities than you ever thought possible

In most cases, a tour guide does not just do the same tour loop for an entire season. A fully trained tour guide will have the opportunity to guide many different itineraries for their tour company – meaning you will visit, study and experience new destinations multiple times! Start racking up that country count, you’re about to become a professional full-time traveller.

See Also: The Truth About Being a Tour Guide: Exposed

3. You will be living the dream

You will be paid to travel. Your job, every day, will be to show first-time travellers their way around a new destination. As a tour guide, ‘work’ means being a part of someone’s happiest holiday memories. You are actually required to have fun for a living while travelling! Be warned – most of your friends back at their desk jobs will be insanely jealous of your daily updates from Monaco, Barcelona and Bali.

Why being a guide is the best job

4. You’ll become an expert on history, art and architecture

To be a truly excellent tour guide, you need to know your stuff, which means studying up on architectural styles, historical fun facts and the best places to eat, drink and party. This isn’t your boring old history teacher studying – think researching the funniest stories of a royal family or the perfect recipe for goulash to share with your groups.

Pretty soon you will be an expert in Corinthian columns, traditional eating habits in multiple countries and the hilarious history of inter-country grudges. Your pub quiz score is going to go through the roof once you’ve become a tour guide!

Why being a guide is the best job

5. Your colleagues will be just like you!

Forget trying to make friends with Steve from HR who just doesn’t understand your wanderlust obsession. When you work in the travel industry, all your colleagues are as crazy about travel as you are! You will finally be surrounded by people who understand and encourage your need to see the world and experience new cultures. It will be a relief and inspiration all at once. (Sorry Steve)

See Also: The 11 Best Travel Jobs In The World

6. You can save while travelling

When you are guiding, your transport expenses, accommodation and some meals are all covered – meaning half of what you earn can be saved. With no rent, car payments or gas bills, you can accrue a decent amount in savings while you travel. This means that at the end of a season of guiding you will have some cash stashed for your own travel adventures!

Why being a guide is the best job

7. You will become a destination expert

Knowing a destination inside out means you’ll know all the best restaurants, bars, cafes and insider tips to maximize the fun you’ll have while also getting the best possible price on meals and drinks.

8. You’ll have friends all over the world

Just like anyone who takes a tour, at the end of a trip you are best friends with the other people who shared the experience with you. That means, as a tour guide, you will have hundreds of best friends who were on your tours scattered across the world.

Next time you go backpacking in Australia, Mexico, South Africa or Canada you’ll have local friends from your tours ready to show you their home towns, and maybe even a free couch to crash on. What an excellent excuse to do even more travelling!

Why being a guide is the best job

Becoming a tour guide isn’t easy, there are some intensive training and a long interview process, but if you manage to score the job, it is undoubtedly the best way to travel the world and still earn the cash you need to enjoy it! 

So, are you ready to abandon the 9 to 5?

tour guides reddit

Carly Hulls

Carly Hulls writes at Austrian Adaptation about her expat life in Vienna and the places she discovers on her part-time travels. She is an Australian writer, traveller, brunch-fiend and book-nerd who can’t resist a good castle or historic monument. After 5 years travelling to over 34 countries she currently calls Vienna home, facing the daily struggle of the German language! You can follow her adventures on Facebook , Twitter and Snapchat @CarlyHulls.

Related Articles

  • Food & Drink

Your Guide to Amsterdam’s Secret Bars and Speakeasies

One of the most popular cities in Europe, Amsterdam has no...

  • Tips & Tricks

Best Destinations for People with Disabilities

The world and its wonders should be available to one and...

The Seven Most Scenic Train Rides in Europe

Forget planes, buses or automobiles: 2024 is the year of the...

tour guides reddit

How to Make the Most Out of Luscious Laos

Get unlimited access to the world's best travel stories. subscribe now., privacy overview.

More From Forbes

Bucket list travel: the world’s best virtual tours.

  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Linkedin

Although the pandemic abruptly halted international travel, wanderlust never ceased. Forced to stay home, many people felt even more of an itch to explore new places and get out into the world. As a result, virtual tours surged in popularity over the past year as a welcome escape from life in lockdown. And while people are tip-toeing into travel again, there’s still a large portion of the population that loves to take a virtual experience from home without compromising safety.

A range of travel companies adapted during the course of the pandemic, acknowledging our collective reality. They began morphing guided trips into digital experiences available to anyone with a Wi-Fi connection. “We’re in an explosive period of virtual tourism,” says Bernard Frischer, founder of Flyover Zone , which isn’t new to the field. Flyover Zone has made a name for itself by creating “teletours” of cultural heritage sites. But with the pandemic, according to Frischer, people have gotten “used to these remote technologies that bring the world to their office or living room.”

Major event companies like Eventbrite, which connects creators with a broad community, introduced new technology to move events from in-person to online, and to attract and reach new audiences. “When the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, Eventbrite’s customers were put to the ultimate test—in-person events were paused and the world was told to stay home and apart,” says Tamara Mendelsohn, CMO at Eventbrite. “Yet, from March to April last year, we saw events related to virtual travel and virtual tours increase eight-fold on Eventbrite and show continuous growth throughout the year.”

Now with a virtual tour from Flyover Zone called Baalbek Reborn, you can tour one of the most ... [+] important locations in the Roman Empire. Pictured here: Baalbek's Temple of Jupiter.

By transitioning their events to virtual, event creators generated revenue they might have otherwise missed during the pandemic and they connected with new, global audiences. “In fact, of the virtual events hosted in the U.S. in 2020 on Eventbrite, one quarter of the audience came from overseas locations,” says Mendelsohn.

And while the pandemic won’t last forever, Flyover Zone’s Frischer sees virtual tours as a lasting effect that will whet people’s appetite for real-world tourism going forward. “We compare a virtual tour to a sample chapter of a book that you can download for your e-reader. It’s not designed to make you not want to explore the whole book,” says Frischer. “It’s designed to make you want to read it all.”

Best Travel Insurance Companies

Best covid-19 travel insurance plans.

This seems to be the sentiment across the virtual travel industry. “Even as conventional travel resumes, we continue to see a rise in Amazon Explore experiences booked and anticipate that the new service will continue to grow in popularity,” says an Amazon Explore spokesperson.

Travel the world from your couch through one of these fantastic virtual experiences.

An image from the virtual tour of Baalbek Reborn.

Flyover Zone

If history is your thing, you can’t miss one of Flyover Zone’s teletours—virtual visits to some of the world’s most important cultural heritage sites. Led by experts in the field, these teletours allow you to see details up close and show you the renderings of how the heritage sites originally looked through 3D modeling.

Try: Baalbek Reborn . Part of the ancient Rome Empire but built thousands of years before Rome, Baalbek is an historic site in Lebanon that is as significant as places like Pompeii and Machu Picchu (but far less well-known). Flyover Zone partnered with the German Archaeological Institute and the Ministry of Culture - Directorate General of Antiquities, Lebanon to create this free virtual experience, which is available on a number of platforms, from iPhone to Oculus. You can see areas that are off-limits and even travel back in time and see what this incredible site looked like in the year 215. The tour is hosted by the very people who excavated the site, bringing the ancient world to life. Cost: free.

With Amazon, you can explore Berowra Valley National Park in the North Shore region of Sydney, ... [+] Australia.

Amazon Explore

The company that sells pretty much everything recently added Amazon Explore —live virtual travel experiences like landmark walking tours and cooking classes—to its inventory. The experiences are livestreamed one-on-one with a host who is on location, and two-way audio allows for plenty of dialogue and question-asking. You’ll be able to browse by a variety of filters to find the virtual experience of your wanderlust dreams. Many experiences allow users to purchase artisan-made products, which supports small businesses and allows guests to shop for one-of-a-kind “souvenir” items. 

Try: Explore the Australian Wilderness . Find hidden natural treasures in the wild valleys that surround Sydney. You’ll learn about native flora and fauna and discover majestic sculptured cliffs and caves at Berowra Valley National Park. Cost: $40.

Now you can view the Aurora Borealis in Iceland on a virtual tour.

Airbnb Experiences

When the pandemic hit, Airbnb migrated its popular Experiences concept to a 100% virtual travel platform. Now, Online Experiences offers hundreds of sessions, allowing entrepreneurs from around the world to connect with and share their passions with the travel-hungry over Zoom.

Try: Aurora Hunting in Iceland . Spend two hours with your on-location host in search of the Northern Lights. As you go, your host will teach you all about the natural spectacle with enthusiasm and expertise. Cost: from $30.

Get a peek at Tutankhamun’s Tomb with Eventbrite.

Eventbrite allows businesses to share their events to a broad community. The service is home to millions of global events and experiences, but swiftly worked with event creators to add online experiences to the its platform. In 2020, Eventbrite’s digital platform soared for virtual experiences with over 1 million online events and over 75 million attendees worldwide.

Try: Tutankhamun’s Tomb: Ancient Egypt Virtual Tour . Interested in the story—and the curse— of Egypt’s most famous king? A licensed tour guide hosts this live event from Egypt with a local expert. Together, you’ll explore King Tut’s tomb, the Golden Mask, and treasures at the Cairo Museum. Cost: $10.

Have a virtual wine tasting in California.

 Indagare launched its Global Classroom to offer private classes for people seeking new experiences. The company offers a myriad of options, from cooking lessons to guided wine and mixology tastings to history tours.

Try: Wine Tasting with Schramsberg and Davies Vineyards . Virtually travel to Schramsberg, the second-oldest bonded winery in Napa Valley, and meet a second-generation vintner. He will talk you through a few bottlings and highlight the history of the vineyard, set in California’s North Coast. Cost: pricing upon request.

Listen to the sounds of Motu Tane Island in Bora Bora with Unify Cosmos.

Unify Cosmos

Listen to the most relaxing sounds in the world with Unify Cosmos , a new interactive soundboard featuring audio clips from faraway locales. Some psychologists assert that taking the time to stop and listen to the sounds of your surroundings can boost well-being, increase generosity, and enhance life satisfaction. So step away from the stresses of the pandemic and listen to natural, peaceful sounds from Bora Bora to Barbados.

Try: Motu Tane Island, Bora Bora . Drift away to Polynesia with the sounds of the sea. You’ll hear storm clouds roll in and the waves crashing down. The powerful hums of nature will take you far away. Cost: free.

Learn about green tea in Japan.

Arigato Japan Food Tours

 Arigato Japan Food Tours launched Online Experiences with local hosts and discovered that this is a great way to connect with future travelers. In fact, the company views these virtual tours as the newest way of travel planning and research—more than just a one-time experience. With each experience, you’ll make new friends in Japan and great local connections for future travel.

Try: Green Teatime in Shizuoka . Learn the magic of green tea, its important role in Japanese culture, and why Shizuoka is so famous for its green tea. You’ll also get all the tips to brew the perfect cup at home. Cost: $15.

See pierogis being made in Krakow, Poland.

Intrepid Urban Adventures

Intrepid’s new Urban Adventures online tours allows families who have been working and learning remotely to connect virtually with local tour guides and their families around the world through hands-on experiences that give a glimpse of local culture and traditions. The collection currently includes four experiences, with plans to expand to other experiences and destinations in the coming months. 

Try: Online Krakow Experience: Traditional Pierogi Cooking Class . Learn to make authentic Polish pierogi from scratch. You’ll join a Krakow-based cook from your own kitchen to learn the tricks of the trade. Along the way, you’ll pick up some tidbits about Polish culture and language. Cost: from $29.

See street art in New York City.

Google Arts & Culture

Partnering with over 2,000 museums and archives around the world, Google Arts & Culture is an online platform that allows viewers to experience some of the world’s art and artifacts. High-resolution imagery, augmented reality, and interactive experiences bring these cultural highlights to life online.

Try: 9 Amazing Street Art Murals in New York. Visit the locations of stunning works of art along the streets of New York City. After all, there is no shortage of great street artists in the Big Apple. You’ll be able to “walk” along the streets with the virtual reality features. Cost: free.

Experience Tokyo's cherry blossoms with Tours by Locals.

ToursByLocals

This marketplace of tours connects travels with local guides in 193 countries. Until international travel is safe again, ToursByLocals has 175 live virtual private tours to choose from. You’ll be able to chat with a local guide in real-time over the course of your cooking class, history lesson, or walking tour.

Try: Tokyo Cherry Blossoms Tour . Japan’s national flower, Sakura (cherry blossom) is a symbol of renewal and optimism. Much of Japanese culture has been influenced by these beautiful flowers. Join your Tokyo-based guide as you virtually roam under cherry blossom trees followed by a virtual picnic as she shares her experiences in Japanese culture and cuisine. Cost: $125.

Tour Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton, England, from home.

Jane Austen’s House Museum

In some cases, individual tourism sites have transformed their usual tours into virtual reality. Jane Austen’s House Museum in the United Kingdom took matters into its own hands when the government ordered nonessential sites to shutter. Over many months, the site’s trustees discovered inventive ways to keep Jane Austen fans engaged with online events and a virtual tour of the famed writer’s home.

Try: 360-Degree Virtual Tour of the Jane Austen House. Launched last October, now anyone can explore Austen’s home without having to travel. The guided tours give avid fans an exciting resource to learn more about the life and times of Jane Austen. Cost: $7.

Take a virtual gog sled ride in Fairbanks, United States

Explore Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska, is among many cities around the world that have digitized some of its leading attractions—including, in Fairbanks’ case, dog sledding and the stunning Northern Lights. With Explore Fairbanks , these attractions are now available to explore as 360-degree “tours.”

Try: 360-Degree Dog Sled Ride . Available to view on YouTube, this digital dogsled ride can feel surprisingly life-like. Set it up to play on the biggest screen you have, and you’ll feel transported into a snow-covered forest. Cost: free.

A scene from The Other Art Fair LA in 2018. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Other ... [+] Art Fair)

The Other Art Fair Virtual Editions

The leading artist fair for discovering emerging artists has launched a new series of innovative virtual reality art fairs, The Other Art Fair Virtual Editions . These VR art fairs offer highly experiential programming for fair-goers, including the chance to explore artist booths, take part in a live video chat with artists for a one-on-one about the artist’s process and their work, and participate in live fair tours, workshops and lectures. Virtual Editions is making a worldwide tour in 2021, including dedicated VR art fairs in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, and Toronto, and each fair will feature artists and VR programming unique to that city. With Virtual Editions, you can now attend local art fairs from around the world, be in-the-know about new emerging artists, and update that Zoom background with new artwork while supporting local talents.

Try: At The Other Art Fair LA (March 30 to April 4), you can explore a curated selection of over 115 independent and emerging local artists with thousands of pieces to suit every budget. Next up after that is The Other Art Fair Brooklyn (May 6 to 9). Cost: free.

•  The 20 Happiest Countries In The World In 2021 (Guess Where The U.S. Ranked?)

•  $9,000 Houses In Italy? You Won’t Believe How Cheap It Is To Move To This Dreamy Town

Laura Begley Bloom

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reprints & Permissions

Suggested companies

Audley travel, firebird tours, jacada travel.

tour guides reddit

Kensington Tours   Reviews

In the Tour Operator category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Your profile picture

Write a review

Reviews 4.8.

1,391 total

Most relevant

Egypt/ Jordan April 28-May 11, 2024

Moe S. gave us the best 12 day trip to Egypt and Jordan. He had the best guides who educated us with all the history and culture. Our drivers were great and our airport connections- Heny in Egypt and Mohammed in Jordan helped us navigate through everything. Our point person, Mohammed in Egypt was fabulous. We have actually “adopted” Egypt Mohammed when he visits the Midwest. Moe was able to book us into the Old Cataract Sofitel Hotel in Aswan and it was truly an experience. He had a lovely dinner at a phenomenal restaurant, for us on our last night in Cairo, which was very much appreciated. I will recommend Kensington and Moe S. to everyone.

Date of experience : May 11, 2024

Golden Triangle of India

We did the Golden Triangle Tour of India. This was our fifth vacation arranged by Kensington and was simply the best. The sites, guides, tours, hotel accommodations, and pre trip logistics were outstanding. I highly recommend Kensington Tours.

Date of experience : April 19, 2024

Reply from Kensington Tours

Hello Mike Nissen, We're delighted you enjoyed your Golden Triangle Tour of India with us! Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're thrilled to have made your fifth vacation with Kensington the best yet. Thank you for recommending us—we can't wait to craft more unforgettable experiences for you in the future! -The Team at Kensington Tours

Outstanding Bolivia Trip

Stephany at Kensington Tours helped us plan a flawless 10 day trip to visit the highlights of Bolivia. She connected us with a local tour company that had fantastic, English speaking guides who made our visit authentic and special for us. La Paz area guide Grace was so knowledgable about all the local history, culture, and must see attractions, but also very personable (and FUNNY) Our main driver Wilson shared so much valuable information as well. We were blown away by our visit to the Uyuni Salt flats with Miguel and Jesus---they showed us all their favorite places. Pablo led us on an amazing day hike near Huayna Potosi. The hotels and restaurants chosen for us were all fabulous . They have unique opportunities no other lock tour companies offer(They also planned a wonderful trip to Morocco for us in 2019)

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

Hello Anne Noyes, Thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled Stephany and our local partners made your Bolivia trip exceptional. It's fantastic to hear about your memorable experiences with our knowledgeable and personable guides. We're delighted you enjoyed the unique opportunities we offer and look forward to crafting more unforgettable adventures for you in the future. -The Team at Kensington Tours

Amazing Tanzania Experience!! Timba-Best Safari Guide!

We enjoyed 17 amazing days in Tanzania, immersing ourselves in the culture and getting to meet many beautiful people that call Tanzania home! Kensington tours did a great job with all of our travel arrangements-our entire trip went very smoothly! Much of this was due to our incredible driver and Safari Guide Timba (Elisha). Timba was simply the BEST and we enjoyed every minute with him-we were with him for the first 11 days of this incredible trip until we headed to Zanzibar. Timba was very fun and interactive but also very professional, knowledgeable and dependable and we felt incredibly safe traveling with Timba. Our safari vehicle was always spotless and Timba showed up early every day for our pick up time. Timba found ALL of the animals for us-it was a dream come true and truly a trip of a life time and we owe it all to Timba! If you are booking a Safari with Kensington Tours do yourself a favor and request Timba (Elisha) as your safari guide-he will provide you with an incredible experience! We highly recommend Kensington Tours and Timba-it was the perfect combination for an AMAZING trip of a lifetime! THANK YOU TIMBA for all of the Fun and Memories! Can't wait to travel with you again someday!

Date of experience : February 07, 2024

Hello Lisa Ruchti, Thank you for sharing your incredible Tanzania experience! We're thrilled Timba made your safari unforgettable. His professionalism, knowledge, and friendliness indeed make him exceptional. We're delighted your trip went smoothly, and we appreciate your recommendation. We look forward to creating more amazing memories with you in the future! -The Team at Kensington Tours

Communication is Key

Having an organization that communicates well not only with us but also with each other makes all the difference. I had to talk to several different people at Kensington during our trip and everyone seemed to be aware of everything that was going on. Minor things that could have mushroomed into a disaster were resolved quickly and dealt with professionally. A great team effort! Thank you!

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

Dear Robin, Thank you so much for taking the time to write your review. We strive to provide consistency throughout our growing organization, and are so glad you experienced that. Travel always comes with unexpected instances, and we are thrilled our teams were there for support right away. Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Egypt,never visit alone without proper guides.

Jovita Jarrell from Hyssop travel made our itinerary for Egypt thru Kensington tours as per our custom dates due to our daughter school schedule.We were really happy we did arrange it well.Egypt is not a country to be visited without proper and knowledgeable guides. Tourist traps are in every inch of Egypt.All the guides thru Kensington tours were excellent and saved us from getting into trouble with the hawkers.Every tour attendant from the airport or the drivers in Cairo,Aswan,Luxor or Hurghada were great.Always on time.Even on cruise St Sonesta attendants were great.There are too many to name.Bottom line is this,according to the guides Kensington and one other tour company are the most respected in Egypt.Better to be prepared when you go to this historically rich but economically very poor country. Thanks again to Joivita Jarrell to make out trip great.

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Dear Harpreet, We thank you for taking the time to post your review for your trip with Kensington Tours to Egypt. We are so glad to read that our guides and drivers were particularly helpful in avoiding tourist traps throughout your trip. It makes a huge difference to the experience, especially in places far from home. We hope to be able to assist you on your next trip someday. Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

A Trip of a Lifetime

My wife and 3 of my adult children just got back from a 12 day tour through Japan. Our travel agent recommended Kensington and that was the best recommendation she could ever have given us. Loann was fantastic and she organized a trip itinerary that we fell in love with. It gave us a true taste of Japan without running us into the ground. All of the guides on the ground in Japan were fantastic. They were enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. All the sites and excursions were that we saw were simply breathtaking. We wouldn’t have changed one thing that Kensington provided for us. Thank you so much for making this trip an unforgettable experience of a lifetime!

Dear Rob, Thank you for taking the time to write your review for Kensington Tours. We are excited to read that your experiences in Japan were breathtaking and authentic. We aim to find the true taste of all destinations we work in. We hope to be able to provide you with our services in a future trip for you and your family! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

John Dawson

The agent assigned to my vacation was friendly, helpful, and efficient. There were no package tours that travelled to the various spots where I wanted to go in South America. He put together a wonderful custom itinerary, and took into consideration all my preferences along the way. This was truly a job well done! Thank you, John, and thank you Kensington!

Date of experience : February 24, 2024

Dear John, We thank you for your great review for John Dawson and Kensington Tours. We love to be able to customize itineraries for our clients' exciting ideas and wishes. Hope to see you again soon! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Egypt = Trip of Lifetime!

We are so beyond grateful that we chose to work with Kensington Tours on our recent family trip to Egypt. This is a destination where you need to have seamless arrangements in advance and Kensington absolutely delivered! We worked with travel expert, Moe S. to make all of our trip arrangements for Egypt and without any hesitation, we highly recommend him for planning any of your travel needs. Moe was extremely knowledgeable, prompt in answering any questions and providing any helpful information prior to traveling to Egypt. The hotels we stayed at were great and our Nile Cruise was outstanding, as well! Our airport handlers, drivers and city guides were all exceptional and our entire family enjoyed their knowledge, humor and professionalism.

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

Dear Christine, Thank you for your wonderful review. It is great to read about Moe's services for you and your family, as we aim to deliver a totally seamless experience for whatever it is you and your family look for in travel. We are so happy you enjoyed all of the people and places on your trip. Hopefully we can work with you again soon for another family adventure! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

We have used Kensington Tours twice…

We have used Kensington Tours twice now, once for Iceland and more recently Paris. I can’t say enough good things about both experiences. Each trip was expertly catered to our interests and they do an amazing job vetting the private guides…above and beyond expectations both times and we will be sure to use Kensington Tours again !

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Dear Laura, We thank you so much for your lovely review. We do take pride in our partnerships with local guides and experts. It is so great to read your experience was well catered to your needs. We can't wait to host you on your next journey! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

This is the 4th time we have used the…

This is the 4th time we have used the services of Kensington Tours. They have very knowledgeable people with any country you may be interested in visiting and will then customize an experience for you based on your interests and budget. Also you have a 24 hour contact wherever you are if you encounter any issues or have any questions. All tour guides were very professional and personable which created a very memorable and enjoyable experience.

Date of experience : February 19, 2024

Dear Glenn, We thank you so much for being a loyal repeating client at Kensington Tours! We are glad to read about your experience with us in all areas such as budget, itinerary and support. Thank you for taking the time to write such a great review. We look forward to working with you soon! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Kensington & Aileen always do an amazing job!

Kensington always does an amazing job! They are so specialized in the destination, you always feel in great hands. Aileen was a miracle worker, and we managed to put together a wonderful, last-minute trip to Norway, for my clients. I know they'll have the best time, and there will be lots of personal Kensington touches, they can look forward to! Thank you!!

Date of experience : April 17, 2024

Dear cmachotka, We are thrilled to read that your clients received our personal, customized service for an epic journey ahead. We really cherish our relationships with Travel Agents, and we look forward to working with you again in the future. Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Personal Heritage Journey to Okinawa

This was a joint venture between Kensington Tours and Ancestry.com, and the main purpose was to visit my grandparents' ancestral villages in Okinawa and potentially meet distant relatives. I had high expectations going into the trip, and my expectations were exceeded. Everyone involved, from Jeremy (Kensington), Kyle (Ancestry), Yuzo (genealogist), Suiko (guide), the drivers, etc., all worked to ensure this was a trip of a lifetime. The hotel (Double Tree by Hilton, Naha) was also in a great location. I give the Personal Heritage Journeys program my highest recommendation.

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Dear Jon, We are so happy to read your review. It is wonderful to know Jeremy was such a big part of exceeding your expectations for your ancestry trip. As well as all parties involved that made your experience special. Thank you for taking the time to write your review, and ultimately, your praise and recommendation. Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Working with Caroline Flarty is a Joy

Working with Caroline Flarty is a Joy Caroline helped me with a family trip to Paris, Annecy & Chamonix and it was amazing. She was very knowledgeable and redirected this family to alternative areas when their desired locations were not seasonal. They LOVED their trip and their daughter got to celebrate her sweet 16 in the most magical way. I can't say enough about her thorough communication style and look forward to working with her again. She is the best.

Dear Laura, Thank you for your kind words for Caroline. We are so happy to read about how integral she was to your family's experience in France. We hope to host you for other memorable family trips in the future! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Customized & Help for Us

Really enjoyed how the experience was customized for our needs and wish list. Securing the right show tickets, helping with city/museum tours, and restaurant experiences. The price was competitive with a large high end group tour but just for us. Every trip there will be an issue. What was impressive was the help on the other end of the phone to make sure we had the right flight, insurance or last minute tour change. Our family was a teen (new to overseas travel) with 2 adults (its been 20+ years)

Date of experience : March 20, 2024

Dear Sandra, Thank you so much for taking the time to post your review. We are elated to read how you found our services to be customizable to what you and your family needed. It is also great to hear you received assistance smoothly through our 24/7 phone line. We hope to work with you again one day on another special family vacation! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Anit Singh and Kensington do an…

Anit Singh and Kensington do an outstanding job! This was our second trip with Kensington, and if you wish to travel in comfort and security and have a great adventure, this is the best company to use. Many thanks for all your effort Anit!

Date of experience : January 17, 2024

Dear Eric, Thank you for taking the time to tell us about Anit's outstanding work for your second trip with us. We really appreciate your kind recommendation. Looking forward to hearing from you again soon! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Vietnam and China Two Week Trip

Vietnam and China Two Week Trip: Kevin Smith of Kensington Travel did an excellent job of setting up a fantastic itinerary and making sure we were supported every step of the way. Trip of a lifetime.

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Dear C Busbee, Thank you so much for your review. We are so happy to read about your great experience with us and Kevin. We hope to host you on your next trip of a lifetime! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Costa Rica - Great trip and Kensington great tour

Camila Rico did a great job in planning our trip to Costa Rica. She listened to what we wanted and planned the trip around our interests and lifestyle. We spent 4 nights at The Springs Resort in Arenal. The staff at the hotel were outstanding, remembering our names, and always friendly. Our guide for 3 days was Diego Ramirez. He was knowledgeable, prompt and took us to some out of the way places. Guillermo Vargas was our guide and Waddy was our driver in Monteverde. We stayed at the Senda Monteverde. The rooms are comfortable and updated. Here too the staff were great, helpful, and friendly. Our last 3 nights were at the Arenas del Mar. This is a must visit hotel. The rooms overlook the ocean, the staff, like at all the other hotels, was outstanding. Very friendly and caring. We had a guide to Manuel Antonio Park one day. Camila booked us a catamaran ride with Planet Dolphin cruises. This was a fun morning relaxing, eating, and drinking on the catamaran. I would recommend Kensington Tours and Camila Rico for Costa Rica

Date of experience : April 05, 2024

Dear Barbara, Thank you for taking the time to write your review for Camila and Kensington Tours. It is what we hope for our clients to receive a personalized and customized experience for their desires. We also love to read that our local partners provided the service we know them for, and all other great service provided to you in destination. We thank you so much for your recommendation, and we look forward to your next trip! Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Great trip to Port Douglas thanks to Emma with Kensington Tours

Emma our tour planner was able to quickly put together a package trip to Cairns / Port Douglas which worked perfectly for our last week in Australia. We stayed in a darling boutique hotel, had prompt/fun drivers and knowledgeable tour guides who made our trip a success. Thank you Emma and Kensington Tours!

Date of experience : March 11, 2024

Hello Corina, Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted you had a great trip to Port Douglas with Kensington Tours and Emma as your Destination Expert. Your kind words mean a lot to us, we'll be sure to share this Emma and the rest of the team. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure with us in the future! - The Team at Kensington Tours

If I could give a zero I would

If I could give a zero I would. Very over priced, ( $500 more for airline tickets) no communication,( takes days to get an answer) no confirmation of tours. Nothing is ever their fault. We have answers back from the hotel immediately. They claim no one answers The calls. I finally had to forget Kensington and book it all myself.

Dear Claudia, Thank you for expressing your concerns in your review. Our sincere apologies go out to you for the mistakes you have found during your experience. Our sales directors are in touch with you and your Travel Agent to hopefully assist however we can. We look forward to being in touch with you when you return home, to hear more about your experience and hopefully come to a fair resolution for you. We take your feedback very seriously. Sincerely, -The Team at Kensington Tours

Get Your Guide or Viator Cover

Get Your Guide or Viator – Which One Is Best?

Want to schedule an excursion or tour guide? The two largest online providers of travel experiences around the world are probably Viator or Get Your Guide (GetYourGuide). Here, we explore the pros and cons of each.

Viator and Get Your Guide are both online booking platforms offering tours and excursions around the globe. Tours aren’t organized by the companies but are resold by local operators.  They earn a commission whenever a tour is booked through a booking platform. 

When you use Get Your Guide or Viator, you use a third-party provider to arrange the tour with the local provider.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our  disclosure and privacy policy  for more information.

There is no learning curve for either platform. You can browse tours and excursions by typing in your destination and dates. Additionally, you can search for ‘small tour groups,’ ‘skip-the-line,’ or a specific tour.

Like Uber, Booking.com, or Airbnb , fellow travelers rate the experiences.

Britonthemove.com partners with both and earn commissions on all tours booked from our site. Thankfully, both platforms offer good consumer protection in case something goes wrong, and we are pleased that they are both reliable. Nikki, the owner of Britonthemove.com , frequently uses both platforms.

Despite their similarities, there are differences; one is a better overall experience.

So which one is best? Get Your Guide or Viator – let’s review both.

About viator.

Viator is a travel company that offers tours, activities, and experiences in destinations around the world. It operates as a subsidiary of TripAdvisor , offering booking services for sightseeing tours, cultural experiences, and outdoor adventures.

Viator-Logo

Customers can book their travel activities in advance and have access to a wide selection of options with the assurance of secure and reliable bookings.

Viator is the largest online platform for tours and excursions, with over 20 million monthly visitors. Founded in 1995, Tripadvisor acquired the platform in 2014. TripAdvisor’s excursions and tours are, in fact, also coming from Viator.com. As Tripadvisor drives a lot of traffic to Viator, Viator, and Tripadvisor are a powerful combination. As a result, Viator has an advantage over its competitors, such as Get Your Guide.

You’ll always find what you’re looking for, no matter where you go. When there are so many tours available, it can be overwhelming, but you can filter them using handy filters.

The company has a strong presence worldwide, making it a convenient option for travelers seeking to make the most of their trips.

Pros of Viator

  • Book now and pay later
  • 24/7 Live Support
  • Price match guarantee

Cons of Viator

  • There is an overwhelming amount of suppliers. It can be challenging to widdle it down to a specific tour.

About Get Your Guide (GetYourGuide)

Get Your Guide is a travel company that provides booking services for various tourist activities, such as guided tours, attraction tickets, and experiences.

It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The company offers a wide range of travel activities in destinations worldwide, focusing on creating unique, memorable experiences for travelers. Get Your Guide aims to make it easy for travelers to find, book, and enjoy local experiences, and it is known for its user-friendly website and mobile app.

Get Your Guide Logo

About 13 million people visit Get Your Guide monthly, but local websites provide support. There are fewer tours and excursions available on this booking platform than on Viator. Tours with good ratings and reviews are usually of higher quality. As a result, you can find what you’re looking for more easily.

 Get Your Guide is much smaller than Viator, and they focus on sustainable tourism: small groups and limited impact on the destination are favored over mass tourism. This not only makes your destination more appealing for some but also makes the experience more enjoyable.

Pros of Get Your Guide (GetYourGuide)

  • Focus on sustainable experiences
  • Unusual local tours exclusive to Get Your Guide

Cons Of Get Your Guide

  • Focus on European travelers
  • Less choice
  • No book now and pay later
  • Limited live support
  • No price match guarantee

Get Your Guide and Viator Side-By-Side Comparison

So which one is best get your guide or viator.

Both a great, but there are a few things that make Viator stand out:

  • Overall availability of tours around the world. 
  • Their “book now pay later” feature.
  •  The price match guarantee.
  • 24/7 live support.

Lastly, we’ve personally experienced the customer of both companies when things go wrong. While Get Your Guide will work with you, they are stringent. For example, once booked, for the most part, they will direct you to work with the local tour company vs. assist, whereas Viator will jump in directly even after the 24 hours of cancellation.

One thing that Gets Your Guide has that Viator does not is access to some weird and wonderful tours that are off the beaten track. If you’re searching for the obscure, you will likely find it on Get Your Guide vs. Viator.

Get Your Guide vs Viator

What is the difference between Viator, Tripadvisor, and Get Your Guide?

There are many similarities between Viator and Get Your Guide. Both platforms provide tours and excursions offered by local operators. You can choose from countless activities when you enter your destination and travel dates. In contrast, Tripadvisor offers user feedback on hotels, restaurants, and activities in all travel destinations.

What is the difference between Viator and TripAdvisor?

Viator is a tour and activity booking platform that allows you to book experiences and attractions worldwide. It acts as a middleman between travelers and tour operators, providing a platform for customers to find and book various activities and experiences.

TripAdvisor , on the other hand, is a comprehensive travel platform that offers various services beyond just tour bookings. In addition to tours and activities, TripAdvisor provides hotel and flight bookings, restaurant reviews, and travel forums where travelers can ask questions and get advice from other travelers. TripAdvisor also has a review and rating system for various travel-related products and services, making it a valuable resource for travelers looking for information about destinations and travel experiences.

In summary, Viator specializes in tour and activity bookings, while TripAdvisor is a more comprehensive travel platform that includes tour bookings and other travel services.

Is Viator a reliable company?

Viator is generally considered to be a reliable company. They are a well-established tour and activity booking platform that has been in business for over 20 years and has a reputation for providing quality tours and activities in destinations worldwide. 

Is booking through Get Your Guide legit?

Get Your Guide is a legitimate platform for booking tours and activities. It is a well-established online travel company that provides a wide range of travel experiences in cities worldwide. Get Your Guide offers booking protection, customer support, and secure payment options to ensure customers have a positive experience.

Looking For Other Unusual Stays? Start Here:

  • 20 Best Ways to Earn Lots of Credit Card Rewards Points
  • Airline Passenger Rights – The 12 Steps to Handle Flight Cancellations
  • Best Travel Apps For 2023
  • Disney World Resorts on A Dime
  • Eight Travel Hacks That Are Bull
  • Multi-City Flights – A Travel Hack You Need to Know!
  • Timeshare Resale – Why You Should Buy One
  • Wrapping Luggage In Plastic – What Benefits, If Any, Are There?

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Share with others!

tour guides reddit

Nikki Webster is a travel writer who covers how to travel while grinding a day job without breaking the bank. Nikki is always in search of off-the-beaten-track experiences and unique stays. She is particularly fond of Florida and writes extensively about the state. She flies around 60,000 miles annually and has visited 74 countries, 50 states, and six continents. You can read all about her travels at www.britonthemove.com or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Similar Posts

Easter In Florida – The 2023 Guide Of Things To Do

Easter In Florida – The 2023 Guide Of Things To Do

Easter marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. Easter marks the end of the Lenten season of fasting and repentance in many Christian churches. The Easter holiday is primarily associated with family celebrations, Easter egg hunts, chocolate Easter bunnies, and colorful eggs in Florida. Easter is one of the Christian…

Things To Do In Kansas City Missouri – The Most Captivating Ones!

Things To Do In Kansas City Missouri – The Most Captivating Ones!

Things to do in Kansas City, Missouri, is not a tough nut to crack. Kansas is a beautiful city with so much to offer, and it’s easy to get lost in this metropolitan area’s sights and sounds. From its vibrant art and culture to its world-class museums and landmarks, there is something for everyone in…

The Dream Solo Trip – Why You Need To Explore These Top Destinations

The Dream Solo Trip – Why You Need To Explore These Top Destinations

Thankfully, there is no longer a stigma around a solo trip, and more people are considering visiting the world without a companion. The world has never been more accommodating for those who want to travel alone, and travel agencies have special programs meant to combat loneliness.  If you want to explore the world without a…

Explore England’s Historic Whitby Abbey

Explore England’s Historic Whitby Abbey

Perched atop the cliffs and gazing out over the sea, Whitby Abbey appears frozen in time. But this site has a long and rich history, dating back some 3000 years ago. It has been a sacred place for many different communities and a seat of power for centuries. Today, the ruined Abbey stands as a…

An Adults Guide To Things To Do In Daytona Beach

An Adults Guide To Things To Do In Daytona Beach

Finding typical things to do In Daytona Beach is relatively straightforward. Finding off-the-beaten-track things to do requires some local knowledge. Daytona Beach is a popular tourist destination in Florida, offering a diverse mix of adult-focused entertainment and leisure activities. Whether you’re looking for long walks on one of Florida’s most pristine coastlines, a diverse culinary…

Inside Hohenschwangau Castle – The Mad Kings Childhood Home

Inside Hohenschwangau Castle – The Mad Kings Childhood Home

Shadowed by the fame of Neuschwanstein Castle, many tourists skip visiting Hohenschwangau Castle. For the life of me, I can’t understand why. If you like castles, why would you not go inside both? Fortunately, people have stated that Hohenschwangau Castle is more beautiful than the famous neighbor in recent years. Here are a few reasons…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Flightdeck Powered by Pilot logo

GetYourGuide Review [2024]: Are they legit? My thoughts

GetYourGuide Review [2024]: Are they legit? My thoughts

GetYourGuide sets out to help travelers find highly rated tours and itineraries to popular destinations around the world. But is it legit, and does it hold up to its claims? I checked them out to find out. Explore my review and avoid booking until you find out what I know.

tour guides reddit

They say you don’t get rich by earning, but by traveling. The world is like a round canvas that serves you with colorful stories. The story changes at every turn, with unknown alleys, changing faces, and shifting cultures.

However, I find it all looks dreamy until reality hits you with the complicated planning of trips. Most of us give up on the idea of a trip because searching for all the details, including accommodations, tour guides, and transportation, is very stressful.

That’s when I turned to a travel agency that would guide me on what to see and how to see the place the best. The Pilot team has reviewed similar services like G Adventures and Viator , but how about GetYourGuide?

That's what I'm getting into today!

GetYourGuide gives you the right kind of travel experience with its efficient touring solutions considering your needs. Here is my GetYourGuide review to help you choose the unmissable things in your travel destination. I'll talk about what I like and what I don't like about GetYourGuide.

Let's get into it...

GetYourGuide Logo

What Is GetYourGuide?

GetYourGuide is an online tour-organizing company that thrives globally and operates from Germany. It stepped into the scene in 2009 with 4 enthusiastic classmates Johannes Reck, Tao Tao, Tobias Rein, and Martin Sieber.

The squad started off as local guides and, within a decade, expanded to what the company is now.

You can reach out to GetYourGuide through its official website or mobile app for Android and iOS. You can check the right time to travel to your favorite destination, what are the fun things to see, and what places you cannot miss. GetYourGuide has you covered.

The company also serves you with mobile ticketing, discounts, and offers on flight bookings, hotel bookings, and an easy cancellation process.

GetYourGuide .com homepage

How Does GetYourGuide Work?

Now you might ask how do I join my guide via GetYourGuide or how it works. Well, I found it works in a pretty simplified manner:

  • Check if your desired destination is in the places where GetYourGuide has its services.
  • Register through their website or download the GetYourGuide app.
  • Specify your travel destination and dates. Also, enter other specifications, like your interests and what kind of places you wish to visit. Remember that GetYourGuide offers simplified filter options like activities, cuisines, outdoors, local sightseeing, nightlife, rentals, etc. You can choose according to your preference.
  • Book your activities in advance by selecting from their list.
  • Go to checkout, where you must fill in your name, email ID, and credit card details. You'll also enter any GetYourGuide coupon and GetYourGuide promo code to get fun discounts.

What Destinations Does GetYourGuide Cover?

GetYourGuide covers pretty much all the top destinations in the world. This includes places like New York City in the States, Bali in Indonesia, and Paris in France.

I've highlighted a few of the popular countries here:

  • From North America , GetYourGuide covers: United States, Mexico, Canada, Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama.
  • From South America , GetYourGuide covers: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador
  • From Europe , GetYourGuide covers: Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Russia, United Kingdom
  • From Africa , GetYourGuide covers: South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe
  • From Asia , GetYourGuide covers: Japan, India, China, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates
  • From Oceania , GetYourGuide covers: Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa, Fiji.

GetYourGuide top destinations New York city

What's Great About GetYourGuide

So I enjoy that GetYourGuide touts comprehensive features with additional perks and benefits. Here are just a few points to showcase the benefits:

  • A Wide Range of Activities : GetYourGuide includes more than 50,000 tours and activities worldwide. It also provides attraction tickets, city tours, food and cultural experiences, and many more. There's always something to do.
  • User-Friendly Interface : GetYourGuide makes your booking experience so much more enjoyable. It takes me no time to find and book tours with a user-friendly and streamlined interface.
  • Check the Customer Reviews : I'm the type of person that needs to know what the reviews say. These reviews help me understand people's previous experiences with bookings and activity tours.
  • Get the Tickets on Your Mobile : Once you book your tickets, you can directly get them on your mobile instead of getting your tickets printed. Paper-free, baby!
  • No Booking Fee : I love this! You have to pay the cost of your tours and activities, but that's it. GetYourGuide doesn’t charge any booking fees.
  • Free Cancellation : If you change your plan, GetYourGuide offers free cancellation without any hustle. But the offer is valid up to 24 hours before the event, so you still have to be on your best planning behavior.

What’s Not So Great About GetYourGuide

I've talked about what's excellent about GetYourGuide, but nothing's without flaws. I've combed through GetYourGuide reviews, so you wouldn't have to.

Let's discuss some of the problems with GetYourGuide.

  • One Location and Multiple Tours : GetYourGuide can showcase one tourist attraction multiple times. It happens mainly because various suppliers offer various touring options and prices for one tourist attraction. Even though it’s a good thing because you can choose from multiple options, it can also confuse people.
  • Confusion in Meeting Point : Sometimes, the meeting point can get confusing. However, it's not GetYourGuide’s fault since the tour organizer didn’t explain the description correctly.
  • Many Options for Tours and Sights : Since GetYourGuide offers multiple tours and activities for any city, people often get confused. For people who only want to do the must-do things, GetYourGuide is not a suitable option.
  • Not Useful for Asian Tours and Sightseeing : GetYourGuide works fine for European sightseeing. But for Asian tours and activities, it's not that useful. It happens mainly because, unlike most Asian tours, European tours require pre-booking.

GetYourGuide guided tours

GetYourGuide Reviews

As I mentioned earlier, I have to know what those reviews say. So, what exactly are people saying about GetYourGuide?

There are many mixed reviews online about the company, ranging from a horrible experience on Tripadvisor to one of the best tour companies around. Great, a mixed bag, haha.

Let's talk about the bad stuff first. Previous customers who had a poor experience with GetYourGuide recommend reading all of the fine print before booking. Others have commented that scheduled tours are canceled at the last minute, which would surely spoil your trip.

Hasn't been my experience, but I agree this would be a big bummer for my trip.

However, most of the reviews on Trustpilot tend to skew positive as reviewers mention how knowledgeable and professional the local experts at GetYourGuide are.

What's also great is how easy it is to book tours with banging deals and no hidden fees. People also seem to be rather content with the customer service, mentioning that GetYourGuide is reliable.

Is GetYourGuide Legit?

That would be most peoples' biggest concern, and it was also my first question... "Is GetYourGuide Legit?"

The short answer is yes , GetYourGuide is definitely legit! You're getting experts that know what they're talking about and decent transparency about the operation.

Is GetYourGuide Worth It?

This is the most challenging question to answer because each traveler is unique. If you're headed to Europe, I've found GetYourGuide to be worthwhile.

While its range of activities, zero booking fees, and operation in many countries, the company provides an excellent incentive for budget travelers. That being said, if cost isn't an option, it may be worth more research into local companies.

Certainly, I recommend you exercise caution and read the terms and conditions before you book the tickets. GetYourGuide specifies that it holds no liability for any third-party errors.

Also, if the tour description is confusing, turn around! The reviews show that these have underwhelmed many travelers.

Remember, each booking requires your valid email ID and proper credit card information. You must fulfill their age criteria of 18 years and above.

Generally, the legitimacy of GetYourGuide is entirely dependent on individual experiences and activities. Absolutely, worth a try if you find something that sounds amazing.

My Rating: 3.7/5

  • Free, flexible cancellation policy
  • Variety of activities
  • No booking fees
  • Mobile-friendly tickets
  • Numerous poorly described tours
  • Great only in European Countries
  • Confusing tour logistics

General GetYourGuide FAQs

Does getyourguide offer price guarantee.

Yes! In their commitment to ensuring you always get the best value for your money, GetYourGuide has a Best Price Matching policy.

Have you found the exact same activity you've booked via GetYourGuide on another online platform for a lower price? Well, you're in for a treat!

GetYourGuide will refund the difference between what you paid and the lower price you found, provided that certain conditions are met. The conditions you must meet are as follows:

  • The activity needs to be identical in terms of conditions, like the date, city, and number of participants.
  • The services offered in the activity must be the same.
  • It should be bookable with the same supplier.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, you only need to send GetYourGuide the link or a screenshot of the cheaper offer. After they verify that the offer is cheaper, the customer service team will refund the difference, which could even be in the form of a voucher.

It's important to note that offers that are part of loyalty or trust programs aren't eligible for this price match. Keep an eye out for special deals and discount promotions from GetYourGuide, which are always clearly marked.

Is This Platform Good for Last Minute Tickets?

Yes, GetYourGuide can be a good platform for booking last-minute tickets. Many tours and activities offer availability up to the last minute.

Please note that this can vary based on the specific kind of tour or activity, and availability can change quickly.

Can I Change My Booking?

Changes to your booking can often be made, but it depends on the specific terms and conditions of the tour or activity you've booked.

What Happens If the Operator Cancels a Tour or Activity I've Booked?

If the operator cancels a tour or activity, GetYourGuide will typically offer a full refund or try to reschedule your booking, depending on your preference.

How Will I Receive My Tickets?

After booking with GetYourGuide, you'll typically receive a confirmation email with a voucher or ticket that you can print or show on your mobile device.

What Should I Do if I Have Issues With a Tour or Activity I booked Through GetYourGuide?

If you have any problems with a booking, you should contact GetYourGuide's customer service. They can help resolve issues or answer any questions you have.

What Are Alternatives to GetYourGuide?

There are many other platforms offering similar services to GetYourGuide. Some of the popular ones include Viator, Klook, Expedia, and Airbnb Experiences.

Plan Your Trip With Pilot!

After reading this review, you might consider GetYourGuide booking some of your upcoming excursions. Whatever platform you use, you'll want a plan to keep your travels organized, and Pilot is here to help with that!

Pilot - A Social Trip Planner - Banner

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

Mousumi Gharami Blog

Satisfy your wanderlust

Get Pilot. The travel planner that takes fun and convenience to a whole other level. Try it out yourself.

Trending Travel Stories

Discover new places and be inspired by stories from our traveller community.

What to Buy in Japan: 13 Souvenirs You’ll Actually Want!

Related Travel Guides

SnapTravel (SuperTravel) Review [2024]: Scam or Bargain?

SnapTravel (SuperTravel) Review [2024]: Scam or Bargain?

G Adventures: Is It Worth the Money? Our Honest Review

G Adventures: Is It Worth the Money? Our Honest Review

Viator Tours Review [2024]: Are Their Tours Any Good?

Viator Tours Review [2024]: Are Their Tours Any Good?

Trafalgar Tours Review [2024]: Are they worth it?

Trafalgar Tours Review [2024]: Are they worth it?

GuruWalk Review [2024]: Are The Free Walking Tours Legit?

GuruWalk Review [2024]: Are The Free Walking Tours Legit?

Make the most of every trip.

Pilot Plans web app product images

You won’t want to plan trips any other way!

The trip planner that puts everything in one place, making planning your trip easier, quicker, and more fun.

Close button

Protect Your Trip »

19 best rome tours of 2024: food, the vatican & more.

These top-rated Rome tours are led by experts who bring the city's history to life.

The Best Rome Tours

roman fountain in twilight

Getty Images

Considered one of the world's best places to visit , Rome offers countless things to do and an endless selection of delicious cuisine. But given the overwhelming crowds and restricted access to ancient sites, it can be difficult to fully enjoy all that Italy's capital has to offer on your own. That's where a guided tour can help.

Based on recent traveler reviews and expert opinion, we've selected the best tours in Rome. Whether you're gliding past the Colosseum on a Segway or savoring Italian wine in the countryside, you'll benefit from fun and informative guides leading the way.

Fat Tire Tours Rome – Rome Day Segway Tour

Price: From 73 euros (around $79) Duration: 3 hours

Hop on a Segway to see the Eternal City's many sights. After receiving your helmet and tuning in to a quick training session, you'll receive a headset to follow the lively commentary from the experienced Fat Tire Tours guide. Along the three-hour ride, you'll glide past sights like Trajan's Forum, Capitoline Hill and more. Plus, you'll don a virtual reality headset during your stop outside the Colosseum that reconstructs the famous arena's past grandeur. Travelers appreciate that Segways make getting around and seeing Rome's sights easier and more fun, especially for families with older teens. Reviewers also appreciate the engaging local guides.

Tours run daily at 9:30 a.m. Participants must be at least 16 years old and weigh between 100 and 260 pounds. Pregnant women are not permitted on this tour. The company also leads a night tour, which visits the city's illuminated monuments after sundown, among other outings.

Check prices & availability on:

LivItaly Tours – Colosseum Underground Tour with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum

Price: Adults from 159 euros (around $173); kids from 144 euros (around $156) Duration: 3 hours

Enjoy swift entry to the Colosseum underground and see the arena floor, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum on this small-group tour. LivItaly leads up to six travelers to the restricted lower level of the Colosseum, where dungeons once confined gladiators and their opponents. In three hours, learn about ancient Rome's social order on Palatine Hill and everyday life at the forum. Travelers, especially those with children, agree that having a passionate guide with a deep knowledge of Roman history enriched the experience. Reviewers also appreciate the small size of the tour group.

Tours depart daily at multiple times beginning at 12:15 p.m. Book the company's 90-minute Express Colosseum Underground & Arena Tour if you're short on time.

The Best Rome Colosseum Tours

Laura Itzkowitz April 17, 2024

Rome Colosseum views from an ArcheoRunning tour.

TopBike Rental and Tours – Ancient Appian Way, Catacombs and Aqueducts Park

Price: From 65 euros (about $71) to 89 euros (about $97) Duration: 4 or 6 hours

Travelers have been using the Ancient Appian Way for 2,300 years and you'll traverse it with a friendly, knowledgeable local on this electric bike excursion. Along the ride, you'll pass archeological sites, Christian catacombs and picturesque Roman aqueducts framing the unspoiled countryside. The tour covers roughly 17 miles, 60% of which requires off-road cycling, so TopBike recommends this tour for intermediate riders. Some tourgoers say you might not even break a sweat though, thanks to the ease of the electric bikes.

Tourgoers can opt for the Short Tour (four hours) or the Plus Tour (six hours), the latter of which follows the same path as the shorter excursion and also includes a guided tour of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus (or Saint Sebastian) and a stop at the Baths of Caracalla. Exact tour departure times vary by season, but you can expect to start around 9 a.m. TopBike also leads cycling tours within the city center.

Gourmetaly – Campo de' Fiori, Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Rome Food Tour

Price: Adults from 93 euros (around $101); kids from 65 euros (around $71) Duration: 3.5 hours

Tantalize your taste buds on this Rome food tour, which covers three distinct neighborhoods known for their cuisine. As your local guide leads you through the Jewish ghetto, Campo de' Fiori and Trastevere, you'll stop by top-rated food markets, grocery stores, coffee shops, gelaterias and restaurants. Among the food samples included in the tour are fried artichokes, pizza, mozzarella, fresh pasta and gelato. Tours are capped at 12 participants. Reviewers call this a delightful experience thanks to the informative guides who offer an interesting lesson on Roman history, food and culture. They also recommend taking this tour on your first day in Rome to make the most of the guides' recommendations.

Tours are offered several times each day in the morning and afternoon. Note that the afternoon tour does not visit the Campo de' Fiori market (a highlight for many recent tourgoers). In addition to food tours, Gourmetaly also hosts cooking classes.

Eyes of Rome – Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour

Price: Adults from 453 euros (around $491); kids from 35 euros (around $38) Duration: 3 hours

With your private guide leading the way, you'll visit the Colosseum, explore the ancient city along paths that served the Roman Senate and learn the legends of the House of the Vestal Virgins. Tourgoers value the attentive guides who share history and lore in an entertaining way. They also say the tour is well-paced.

Tickets cover pick up at centrally located hotels and skip-the-line admission. Note that prices can vary significantly depending on the number of people in your party. A couple can expect to pay roughly $500 for tickets. Eyes of Rome also conducts private walking tours of the Vatican.

Private Tours of Rome – Vatican & Sistine Chapel Private Tour

Price: From $364 Duration: 3 hours

One of the best tours of the Vatican , this intimate excursion includes skip-the-line access to the complex and a guide who shares the Vatican Museums' top attractions in just three hours. See the artistic highlights in the   Gallery of Ancient Roman Sculptures, the Gallery of Tapestries and famous Raphael paintings. You'll then experience Michelangelo's masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel. Your guide will ensure you see the Pietà   in St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace and the famous balcony where the pope delivers his blessings. Travelers praise the excellent guides who tailor the tour to groups' interests and keep children engaged.

Tours operate Monday through Saturday in the morning and afternoon. Ticket prices vary depending on your itinerary and group size. The company suggests you book at least one month in advance to ensure a specialist authorized by the Vatican is available. Private Tours of Rome also offers tours of the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery, among others.

Best Rome Tours

Courtesy of Roman Food Tours

The Roman Food Tour – Prati By Sunset

Price: Adults from 99 euro (about $107); kids from 90 euros (about $98) Duration: 4 hours

Devoted foodies skip lunch for the more than 20 food and wine pairings on this four-hour evening tour of some of Rome's top eateries. Throughout the tour, you'll feast on gourmet delights, such as homemade pasta, pizza, fresh cheeses and gelato. More importantly, you'll learn tips to enhance your knowledge and pleasure in Italian cuisine. Travelers praise the expertise of the fun guides who explain each dish's origin and quality with gusto.

Tours, which are offered daily multiple times starting at 3:30 p.m. The Roman Food Tour also offers day tours and cooking classes.

Rex-Tours – Rome City Segway Tour

Price: From 79 euros (about $86) Duration: 3 hours

Roll in comfort past many of ancient Rome's major sights on this three-hour Segway tour. Rex-Tours' expert guides lead up to eight travelers for an effortless overview of must-see landmarks, such as Capitoline Hill and the Colosseum. Reviewers applaud the knowledgeable guides who offer a wealth of information without overwhelming travelers. What's more, guides provide restaurant recommendations and tips for making the most of your visit to Rome, according to tourgoers.

The Rome City Segway Tour departs twice daily at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Travelers also recommend enjoying the company's evening Segway tour if you're visiting during the summer and need a break from the peak daytime heat.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Eating Europe – Twilight Trastevere Rome Food Tour

Price: Adults from 114 euros (about $123); kids from 81 euros (about $88) Duration: 4 hours

Travelers suggest you skip lunch before this evening walking tour of Trastevere, so that you can savor the street food and sweet treats served at each stop. As you meander through the neighborhood (often compared to New York City's Greenwich Village), you'll enjoy mouthwatering bites of everything from classic supplì , or fried risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella, to porchetta, homemade pasta and gelato. Foodie guides share each chef's story and culinary traditions, along with tips on how to find and make the best Roman cuisine on your own. Reviewers praise the guides for their insider knowledge and gush about the quality of the food and wine featured on the tour.

Tours run daily at multiple times and there is a maximum of 12 people per tour. Eating Europe also operates a tour that explores Testaccio, considered Rome's "original foodie neighborhood."

Rolling Rome – Rome Squares & Fountains Golf Cart Tour

Price: From 100 euros (about $108) Duration: 3 hours

Avoid Rome's congested traffic and keep the family entertained on this three-hour, private golf cart tour of the city. Whizz past major sights in the historical center and piazzas Venezia, Navona and del Popolo, plus the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and more. Since the tour is customizable, you can also ask the guide to take you to lesser-known spots in the city – a highlight for reviewers. Along with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, reviewers appreciate the golf cart's ability to avoid traffic using Rome's narrow back lanes.

Tours, which can accommodate up to seven participants, depart daily at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. One week's advance reservation is recommended. Rolling Rome also offers daylong golf cart tours, as well as a variety of Segway and electric bike tours.

Food Tours of Rome – Jewish Ghetto and Campo de' Fiori by Night Food Tour

Price: Adults from 89 euros (about $96); kids from 75 euros (about $81) Duration: 4 hours

Combine sightseeing with snacking and drinking on this evening tour of the Jewish ghetto and the Campo Marzio area. Fun, knowledgeable guides make seven stops for food and wine between explaining major historic attractions like Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori. Stop in delis, family-run shops and restaurants to sample gourmet cheeses and hams, pasta, espresso, and gelato. First-time visitors especially appreciate this informative introduction to the city and the family-run vendors featured on the tour.

Tours depart nightly at 6 p.m. Food Tours of Rome can accommodate some special diets with advance notice. The company also offers a dessert and sightseeing tour of Rome, among various other options.

What A Life Tours – Skip-the-line Vatican Small Group Tour

Price: Adults from $87; kids from $82 Duration: 3 hours

Travelers say this tour is worthwhile thanks to the personable guides, who bring the history of the Vatican Museums to life. Reviewers also appreciate that groups are capped at 12 participants, which they say creates an intimate experience that fosters engagement between guides and tourgoers. You'll start the three-hour tour with skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums to admire highlights like the Gallery of Maps and the Pinecone Courtyard. Then, you'll head to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica to marvel at Michelangelo’s Pietà. Along the way, your guide will share commentary that you'll be able to hear via an audio headset.

Tours generally operate Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m.; tours depart at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. In addition to its variety of Vatican tours, the company also offers tours of the Colosseum and daylong tours of Rome.

Rome's Ultimate Free Walking Tour

Price: Free Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours

According to reviewers, this free walking tour is a great way to start your visit in Rome. During the nearly three-hour stroll, you'll visit several photo-worthy piazzas, the Pantheon, Ponte Sant'Angelo and Castel Sant'Angelo, among other sights. Guides, who have backgrounds in subjects like history and architecture, earn praise from reviewers for their entertaining storytelling and thoughtful restaurant and activity recommendations.

Tours, which are limited to 15 participants, operate twice daily at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. In total, you'll walk less than 2 miles. According to the company, the tour is suitable for travel strollers and wheelchairs. Though the tour is free, it's recommended that you reserve your spot in advance via the company's website (guides do not wait at the departure point unless reservations are booked). At the end of the tour, you can tip your guide based on your experience.

Check availability on:

Best Rome Tours

Courtesy of Secret Food Tours Rome

Secret Food Tours – Rome Food Tour

Price: Adults from 79 euros (about $86); kids from 69 euros (about $75) Duration: 3 to 3.5 hours

Dine your way through the historical center of Rome, visiting cafes, markets and shops for a total of up to seven stops. During the tour, you'll walk through neighborhoods like the Campo de' Fiori and the Jewish quarter with an enthusiastic guide who ties together history and insights about traditional dishes. The focus is on Italian-style dining: savoring the perfect cappuccino, sampling fresh pizzas and homemade pastas, pairing wines with a variety of cheeses, gelato and more. Travelers praise the guides' knowledge of Roman cuisine and the amount and quality of the food.

Tours depart daily at 11 and 11:30 a.m. An additional 5 p.m. tour may be available depending on the day. Private tours are also an option.

The Roman Guy – Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel

Price: Adults from $119; kids from $56 Duration: 3 hours

Hoping to see the Vatican sans enormous crowds? This three-hour tour from The Roman Guy convenes at 7:45 a.m., allowing you to enter the Vatican Museums an hour before they open to the general public. First, relish the tranquil Sistine Chapel, which welcomes upward of 25,000 visitors daily during the summer. Afterward, follow your guide to museum highlights, including Raphael's paintings, the Borgia Apartments and the Gallery of the Maps. Travelers rave about the knowledgeable guides and say the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds is worth the tour price (though reviewers warn that you will still encounter quite a few other tour groups enjoying early access to the site).

Tours are available Monday through Saturday. Groups are capped at 14 people. If you're short on time, consider The Roman Guy's abridged Vatican Highlights tour, which last 2.5 hours.

City Wonders – Tuscan Countryside Day Trip from Rome with 3-Course Lunch & Wine Tasting

Price: Adults from $112; kids from $102 Duration: 12 hours

If you want to visit Tuscany while in Rome, but don't want to drive the approximately 175-mile journey yourself, consider this 12-hour excursion from City Wonders. You'll depart from Rome at 7:30 a.m. via an air-conditioned coach bus to see famous hilltop towns, such as Montepulciano and Pienza. You'll also visit the Renaissance church of St. Biagio before enjoying a three-course lunch and wine pairing in the famed Montalcino. Travelers say guides are informative and thoughtful, giving tourists ample time to explore the towns and take pictures. All agree that leaving the driving to a professional made the trip worthwhile.

Tours are offered daily. City Wonders also offers a variety of tours in Rome, including tours of the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Borghese Gallery.

Through Eternity Tours – Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Sistine Chapel: Essential Experience

Price: From 1,345 euros (about $1,458) Duration: 6 hours

Conquer Rome in six hours with Through Eternity Tours. With your skip-the-line tickets , you'll visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Professional, engaging guides – all fluent English speakers – allow you to set the pace, absorbing as much history and archeology as you want at each stop. Travelers say you'll see much more on this half-day tour than you would if you were to visit each site on your own, as guides point out unexpected gems along the way.

Rates can vary considerably depending on the number in your party, and the company offers discounts for students and children. Bring stamina, a water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes . When you're ready for more, try one of Through Eternity's other tours, such as its evening tour of Rome's piazzas and fountains.

Walks of Italy – Gladiator's Gate: Special Access Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor

Price: Adults from $105; kids from $99 Duration: 3 hours

On this three-hour tour, you'll enter the Colosseum through the "Gladiator's Gate" – the entrance that was once used exclusively for gladiators 2,000 years ago. Once inside, you'll enjoy 360-degree views of the Colosseum on the reconstructed arena floor as your guide shares the gory history of this famous landmark . Then, you'll bypass the lines to tour the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Highlights include the cremation point of Julius Caesar, senate buildings and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. Guides win kudos from travelers for their ability to discuss dense history topics in an engaging manner. Reviewers say the tour flies by thanks to the guides' entertaining storytelling. They also appreciate the skip-the-line access to these must-see sights.

Tours, which are capped at 25 participants, are offered three times daily at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Rates may vary based on the time of year, and they include all entrance tickets and the use of audio headsets during the tour. Walks of Italy also hosts cooking classes in Rome and organizes day trips to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

Maya Tours – Skip-the-Line Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Group Tour

Price: Adults from 45 euros (about $49); kids from 35 euros (about $38) Duration: 2 hours

If you're interested in visiting the Vatican Museums, but don't want to devote more than a couple hours of your Rome vacation to the experience, consider this kid-friendly tour. In addition to skip-the-line access, your guide will show you the must-see artworks, several courtyards and galleries, and the Sistine Chapel. Reviewers praise guides for their interesting and informed commentary (which tourgoers can hear via audio headsets). Parents are particularly impressed with guides' ability to engage children.

Tours are offered Monday through Saturday multiple times in the morning and afternoon. Maya Tours also operates longer, semiprivate tours of the Vatican.

You may also be interested in:

  • The Best Hotels in Rome
  • The Best Places to Visit in Italy
  • The Best Italy Tours + Small-Group Trips
  • The Best International Travel Insurance

Tags: Italy , Tours , Travel , Vacations , food and drink , Europe Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

  • # 1 South Island, New Zealand
  • # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best baseball stadium trips.

Rachael Hood May 13, 2024

tour guides reddit

Icon of the Seas

Skye Sherman May 10, 2024

tour guides reddit

The Best New York City Tours

John Rodwan and Ann Henson May 9, 2024

tour guides reddit

The Best Cheap Luggage

Erin Vasta and Amanda Norcross May 9, 2024

tour guides reddit

Top-Rated St. Augustine Ghost Tours

Holly Johnson May 9, 2024

tour guides reddit

The Best San Francisco Tours

Lyn Mettler May 8, 2024

tour guides reddit

The Best Water Parks in the U.S.

May 8, 2024

tour guides reddit

Top Adults-Only Cruises

Gwen Pratesi May 6, 2024

tour guides reddit

Top-Rated Newport Mansion Tours

Andrea McHugh May 6, 2024

tour guides reddit

The 9 New York City Boat Tours

Lyn Mettler May 6, 2024

tour guides reddit

  • How to get tickets

Need travel arrangements?

  • How much are tickets?
  • Who is opening?

How to get Billie Eilish tickets for the 2024-2025 world tour

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Billie Eilish is coming off quite a thrilling couple of years, and it looks like she's gearing up to continue the excitement through 2025. The Grammy and Oscar Award-winning singer-songwriter just announced the "Hit Me Hard and Soft" world tour, and tickets go on sale to the general public very soon. Below, we'll show you everything you need to know about how to get Billie Eilish tickets.

Eilish has already won nine Grammy Awards at just 22 years old, and she added a second Oscar to the mix earlier this year when she won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards for her work on "What Was I Made For?" in the Barbie movie, alongside her brother Finneas. The duo previously won the Oscar in 2022 for their "No Time To Die" song in the most recent James Bond movie.

Eilish announced the "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour in celebration of her forthcoming album of the same name, which will be released on May 17. This will be Eilish's third studio album, following "Happier Than Ever" and "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?"

We've got you covered if you're looking for tickets to Billie Eilish's 2024-2025 concert tour. Here's our breakdown of Billie Eilish's tour schedule, purchasing details, and anticipated pricing. Plus, we'll show you everything you need to know about the Ticketmaster pre-sale, general public sale, and exchange program.

  • See also: Taylor Swift tickets | Olivia Rodrigo tickets | Zach Bryan tickets | Bad Bunny tickets | Stevie Nicks tickets

How to get Billie Eilish tickets

Initial Billie Eilish tickets are sold through Ticketmaster . Tickets were first sold through a pre-sale from Tuesday, April 30 at 12 p.m. ET to Friday, May 3 at 11 a.m. ET. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Ticketmaster starting on Friday, May 3 at 12 p.m. ET. Historically, Billie Eilish tickets are snapped up pretty quickly, so fans will want to be waiting in the queue as soon as the sale starts.

Listings for Eilish's shows through resale websites like StubHub and Vivid Seats popped up before the pre-sale even started. People are welcome to browse those sites as well, although resale tickets come with some stipulations for Eilish's tour.

For the "Hit Me Hard and Soft" world tour, tickets on many dates are not eligible for transfer outside the official Ticketmaster Face Value Exchange program. States like New York, Illinois, Colorado, Virginia, Utah, and Connecticut have laws that don't limit ticket resale, so people can purchase tickets through resale websites for concerts in those regions. For shows outside those states, you'll probably want to stick with buying from the Ticketmaster Face Value Exchange if you cannot get your hands on original standard tickets during the initial sale.

Below are the cheapest starting prices on StubHub and Vivid Seats for Eilish's tour stops in states where ticket transfer is eligible, including her three Madison Square Garden shows.

Billie Eilish schedule

Billie Eilish's "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour will run through North America, including stops in Canada and the US, from September 29, 2024, to December 17, 2024. Then, she'll embark on the international legs of her tour, starting in Australia on February 18, 2025, and ending in Ireland on July 27, 2025. Below, we've compiled all of her North American tour dates. You can check Ticketmaster for a full list of global tour stops and additional ticketing information.

  • Québec, QC (September 29, 2024)
  • Toronto, ON (October 1, 2024)
  • Toronto, ON (October 2, 2024)
  • Baltimore, MD (October 4, 2024)
  • Philadelphia, PA (October 5, 2024)
  • Detroit, MI (October 7, 2024)
  • Newark, NJ (October 9, 2024)
  • Boston, MA (October 11, 2024)
  • Pittsburgh, PA (October 13, 2024)
  • New York, NY (October 16, 2024)
  • New York, NY (October 17, 2024)
  • New York, NY (October 18, 2024)
  • Atlanta, GA (November 2, 2024)
  • Atlanta, GA (November 3, 2024)
  • Nashville, TN (November 6, 2024)
  • Cincinnati, OH (November 8, 2024)
  • Saint Paul, MN (November 10, 2024)
  • Saint Paul, MN (November 11, 2024)
  • Chicago, IL (November 13, 2024)
  • Chicago, IL (November 14, 2024)
  • Kansas City, MO (November 16, 2024)
  • Omaha, NE (November 17, 2024)
  • Denver, CO (November 19, 2024)
  • Denver, CO (November 20, 2024)
  • Vancouver, BC (December 3, 2024)
  • Seattle, WA (December 5, 2024)
  • Seattle, WA (December 6, 2024)
  • Portland, OR (December 8, 2024)
  • San Jose, CA (December 10, 2024)
  • San Jose, CA (December 11, 2024)
  • Glendale, AZ (December 13, 2024)
  • Los Angeles, CA (December 15, 2024)
  • Los Angeles, CA (December 16, 2024)
  • Los Angeles, CA (December 17, 2024)
  • Flights & hotel:  Booking.com  |  Expedia  
  • Flights:  Booking.com  |  Expedia  
  • Accommodation:  Booking.com  |  Expedia  |  Airbnb  
  • Parking:  Spot Hero  |  The Parking Spot

How much are Billie Eilish tickets?

Original Billie Eilish ticket prices vary depending on the date and location within a venue. While you'll need to get through the Ticketmaster queue to see the exact price ranges for your specific venue, the Heritage Bank Center website (which will host Eilish's Cincinnati, Ohio show on November 8) shared a range of prices. According to the venue's website , tickets start at $59.50 and go up to $499.50.

At the time of writing, the cheapest eligible resale listings can be found on Vivid Seats . The cheapest listings start at $120 in Denver, CO on November 20, $110 in Chicago, IL on November 14, and $138 in New York, NY on October 17.

Who is opening for Billie Eilish?

So far, Billie Eilish hasn't announced any opening acts for the "Hit Me Hard and Soft" world tour. For Eilish's "Happier Than Ever World Tour," WILLOW, Arlo Parks, girl in red, DUCKWRTH, Jungle, and Jessie Reyez were all opening acts. In other tours, she has brought along Denzel Curry and MadeinTYO, among other openers.

Note: Certain services and regions prohibit the resale of tickets. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal reselling of tickets, and entry into an event is at the venue's discretion.

tour guides reddit

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

tour guides reddit

  • Main content

IMAGES

  1. Tour Guides

    tour guides reddit

  2. 5 Hal yang Kamu Dapatkan Ketika Menjadi Tour Guide

    tour guides reddit

  3. Become a Local Tour Guide: 4 Websites That Connect You With Tourists

    tour guides reddit

  4. Common mistakes of tour guides (+ how to avoid them)

    tour guides reddit

  5. Top 15 Tour Guide Interview Questions and Answers

    tour guides reddit

  6. My tour guides

    tour guides reddit

VIDEO

  1. convinced the tour guides are making them up on the spot at this point #collegelife #funfact #campus

  2. TourGuide-04 #travel #tourguiding #love #viator #guidedtour #tour

  3. reddit us lowpop base tour

  4. Exclusive: Player's HQ Tour, First Reaction to New Heroes

  5. [Street Fighter 6] SF6 Avatar combos

  6. Tour Guides has the knowledge about our history

COMMENTS

  1. Traveling like it's our job

    We have a new remote study over Private Services and you will earn $150 for a 60 minute one on one interview about the private services you provide. We are seeking Personal Chefs and Private Tour Guides. This study applies to Male and Females, over the age of 18, in any location residing in the US.

  2. What are your thoughts on tour guides? : r/travel

    The only tour guides I do are the free walking tour guides, you can find them in most major European cities. As the name suggests they are free but they do ask for voluntary donation at the end, it's totally up to you if you want to pay! These walking tour guides are totally relaxed and usually great time to kill 2-3 hours.

  3. Do you prefer to book a lot of tour guides to explore a new ...

    Tours to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian said I could see the whole thing in an hour. We did it independently and spent 6. The tour to Austwitz was half a day and that was super rushed. It was a good tour to be fair but very rushed and I ditched it at the end so that I could spend the full day there. Took the local bus back to Krakow.

  4. Tour guides of Reddit, what's the worst thing a tourist has ever done

    Not a tour guide, but was doing an English language camp for foreign kids. Took the kids on a day trip to London, which involved going up the London Eye. While in the queue, one of the kids started shouting that he had a bomb in his bag and he was going to blow everyone up. Almost got all 20 kids in the group kicked out.

  5. Professional Tour Guides: what are the pros and cons of your job?

    Pros: Riding and experiences. If you enjoy bike touring it's great. With the right clients it makes for an extra special experience. You get to share something you love with others and it makes for a super positive vibe. Half of the experience for me in touring is the camaraderie built with clients over the duration of the trips.

  6. Starting a tour guides business : r/TourGuides

    Start small and aim for just 'sole trader' level where you can do everything yourself, employing others increases costs hugely in-terms of paying taxes and businesses insurance etc. remember you will need public liability insurance even if it's just free walking tours.

  7. Which guided tour from LV should I choose? : r/grandcanyon

    I want to take a one day trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. I am browsing through the guided tours offers and I found two that look really intersting: Antelope Canyon Tour. Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam, and Seven Magic Mountains. Any recommendations on which one you think is better?

  8. Tips for finding a local tour guide for your next trip

    By The Way Concierge asked tour guides and travel experts how they find guides on their own trips. Advice by Natalie B. Compton. Staff writer. August 24, 2023 at 1:20 p.m. EDT. (Illustration by ...

  9. I Tried Viator, Trip Advisor's Tour and Excursion Booking Platform

    Viator is Trip Advisor's platform for booking all kinds of activities during travel. Consider you might find 4x4 and camel tours in Dubai, a skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum in Rome, or a tour ...

  10. Gratuity Guide: How Much Should You Tip on a Guided Tour

    Local Tour Guides: Some tour companies will include local tour guides into the gratuities covered in the cost of the tour, while others say you should tip local tour guides individually. If you're expected to tip local guides on your own, the daily amount usually falls somewhere in the $2 to $10 range. Local tour guides tend to be used for ...

  11. 8 Reasons Why Being a Tour Guide is the Best Job

    Here's 8 reasons why being a tour guide is the best way to travel the world and still earn a living. A tour group travelling through Morocco. 1. You'll learn a valuable skill set for a future career. Tour Guides wear multiple 'hats' while running a trip. It may look like your guide is having a relaxed holiday alongside the group, but ...

  12. 11 Best Travel Companies for Guided Tours

    Tauck caters to families, couples, and solo travelers (Photo courtesy of Tauck. Guided tour operator Tauck has been a leader in high-end group tours since its founding in 1925. Operating land-based group tours on all seven continents (as well as river tours in Europe and small-ship tours around the world), Tauck caters to families, couples, and solo travelers.

  13. ToursByLocals Review: Can You Trust Their Tour guides? [2024]

    The tour guides are all local people that just so happen to have expert knowledge of the ins and outs of their hometown. Taking a tour from a local is one of the best ways to learn more about historical events that took place in a certain city, explore specific neighborhoods, or just find out about the best things to do while you're traveling.

  14. 17 Best Iceland Tours of 2024: Northern Lights & More

    Arctic Adventures - Crystal Ice Cave Tour Iceland. Price: Adults from about $161; kids from around $137. Duration: 2 to 3 hours. Take a ride in an off-roading vehicle from the Jökulsárlón ...

  15. Bucket List Travel: The World's Best Virtual Tours

    Try: 360-Degree Virtual Tour of the Jane Austen House. Launched last October, now anyone can explore Austen's home without having to travel. The guided tours give avid fans an exciting resource ...

  16. Kensington Tours Reviews

    Kensington Tours is an award-winning tour operator offering tailor-made, privately guide tours to the world's most extraordinary destinations. Every itinerary is curated by a destination specialist to fit your unique travel style. In addition, Kensington Tours offers cruise, villa and yacht-based travel experiences perfectly designed for you ...

  17. Anyone heard of Collette for tours.

    Hi, Collette Tours is based in Rhode Island, USA. They have offices in other parts of the World too. Collette is a third generation, family-owned company with offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. They have been around for eons. At times, they do mailers to certain demographic areas to amp up interest or business.

  18. How to Visit the Colosseum in 2024: Tickets, Best Tours & Tips

    This allows you to visit the Underground, but if you visit the Colosseum with a guide, you also learn a lot about the history here (and the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, if you add those to your tour). The cheapest "tour" is to book a standard ticket into the Colosseum plus the audioguide (€23.50).

  19. Get Your Guide or Viator

    Get Your Guide is a travel company that provides booking services for various tourist activities, such as guided tours, attraction tickets, and experiences. It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The company offers a wide range of travel activities in destinations worldwide, focusing on creating unique, memorable ...

  20. GetYourGuide Review [2024]: Are they legit? My thoughts

    GetYourGuide is an online tour-organizing company that thrives globally and operates from Germany. It stepped into the scene in 2009 with 4 enthusiastic classmates Johannes Reck, Tao Tao, Tobias Rein, and Martin Sieber. The squad started off as local guides and, within a decade, expanded to what the company is now.

  21. Odynovo Tours

    April 29, 2024. Perfect! Our Odynovo tour to Vietnam and Cambodia We are just back from our Odynovo tour curated by Mia Wang, an Odynovo Senior Travel Consultant. Mia put together our preferred package of hotels and destinations as well as all the connecting transport and local guides.

  22. 19 Best Rome Tours of 2024: Food, The Vatican & More

    Rex-Tours - Rome City Segway Tour. Price: From 79 euros (about $86) Duration: 3 hours. Roll in comfort past many of ancient Rome's major sights on this three-hour Segway tour. Rex-Tours' expert ...

  23. How to Get Billie Eilish Tickets for the 2024-2025 World Tour

    According to the venue's website, tickets start at $59.50 and go up to $499.50. At the time of writing, the cheapest eligible resale listings can be found on Vivid Seats. The cheapest listings ...