Using local guides.

Angrycat · Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 2 Location: UK

I have travelled extensively around the world, primarily in Europe and the Middle East.

The best single piece of advice I can offer is to get a local guide.

When I have been travelling money has often been tight, and so hiring a guide for the full duration my trip was never an option.

Hire a guide for a day, maybe two. Insist on meeting the guide before you pay, make sure that you get along with them and communication is effective.

During your short time together, ask the guide every question that pops into your mind. You can learn a great deal in a short time and at a low cost.

In Kosovo I was visiting one of the well publicised 'mass grave' sites, and all around were small piles of stones. It was my guide who told me that they represented a warning the area had land mines in it! That in itself made me thankful I spent a few extra $ on some local expertise.

I wonder if anyone else here has used the same method and saved themselves subsequent cost or embarrassment.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Yes, hiring a local guide in places, especially if you are going off the beaten path or are in a country where, say, the only language they speak is Arabic- is a good idea and I have done it many times. Morocco, for instance, if you are trying to get through that maze of a market in the old town part of Fez, for example! The guidebooks warn against "faux guides", guides who are not recognized by the tourist board, but the best guide I had in Morocco was a little 12-year-old boy who spoke, besides his native Arabic, both fluent English and French, showed us around all day, and didn't expect any kickbacks nor did he try to take us to expensive souvenir shops.

In my city, Kurashiki, there are the "Goodwill Guides", a volunteer group of Japanese guides who will take you through our beautiful historical area known as "Bikanchiku", and explain some of the history of the buildings, the willow-lined canal and show you around. I met up with them at a banquet last week and I asked them to prepare a site in Enlgish so when it is ready, I will post it.

mdenisefern · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 19 Location: margarita island

wow thanks that is some real good advice ..I wondered if any of you have done so when traveling in South America where they speak more spanish ....well in some places. In Brazil they speak Portuguese.

just curious :D thanks

marsha