<div id="attachment_153292" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-full wp-image-153292" src="http://www.moneysense.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tour-Guides.jpg" alt="(Cultura RM Exclusive/Matt Dutile/Getty Images)" width="800" height="500" srcset="http://www.moneysense.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tour-Guides-300x188.jpg 300w, http://www.moneysense.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tour-Guides-768x480.jpg 768w, http://www.moneysense.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tour-Guides-660x413.jpg 660w, http://www.moneysense.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tour-Guides.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><p class="wp-caption-text">(Cultura RM Exclusive/Matt Dutile/Getty Images)</p></div>
<p>The first time I travelled to Europe I joined a tour, which was easily one of my worst travel experiences ever. The guide was excellent, but it was the set schedule that sucked; there was limited time to explore things on our own and going off the beaten path was not an option.</p>
<p>In hindsight it was my own fault for not doing my own research. I chose a coach tour where the average size was 40 and they weren’t exactly aiming for the mid 20’s demographic. After that experience I swore off organized tours for quite a few years, but does that mean tour guides have become a thing of the past?</p>
<p>Absolutely not! When I travelled to the Middle East, I decided to book a tour through Intrepid Travel which ended up being one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. In certain situations hiring a professional guide or joining a tour are totally worth it since they can save you time and money.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/shopping/travel/let-a-city-local-be-your-travel-guide/">Let a city local be your travel guide » </a></p>
<h2>When to use a tour guide</h2>
<p><strong>When you have limited time</strong> – We don’t always have the luxury of exploring new locations for an extended period of time so hiring a guide in these situations can be extremely beneficial. Before you depart hire a guide who can meet you in a convenient location when you arrive so you can maximize your time.</p>
<p><strong>Historical sites</strong> – There’s so much history all around the world that you may want to hire an expert to give you the rundown of the site you’ve travelling to. The Pyramids of Giza, the Vatican Museums, and Jerusalem are all places where having a knowledgeable guide is invaluable. Keep in mind that in many places if you’ve hired a guide, you can skip the lines which will give you more time to explore the sites.</p>
<p><strong>Adventure travel</strong> – Adventure travel can mean anything to anyone, but if you’re looking for a different experience, or you’re travelling to an area where safety is a concern then having a guide will give you piece of mind. Many adventure travel companies do small groups only and use local guides so right away you’re getting a different experience.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/shopping/travel/the-top-adventure-tour-companie/">The top adventure tour companies » </a></p>
<p><strong>Cruise ports</strong> – Cruises are appealing since you get to see quite a few different locations while enjoying the amenities of a big ship. The problem is that port stops tend to give you limited time and often where you dock may be far from the city. Hiring a local guide who specializes in cruise stops are good way to save money compared to the official guides that your cruise lines recommends. The locals know exactly what time you need to be back so there should be no worries about missing your deadlines.</p>
<p><strong>When language is an issue</strong> – Although communicating around the world is not as big of an obstacle these days with data plans and sign language, many travellers still prefer the company of a guide who can help translate. These guides are extremely helpful when visiting sites where English is very limited and there are no other translations available.</p>
<p><strong>When transportation is limited</strong> – There’s plenty of sites near major cities worth visiting but often getting to them can be a serious issue. Hiring a private driver / guide will take all the hassle out of planning your transportation routes. Even if they can’t give you detailed descriptions of what you’re seeing, they’ll probably know of attractions worth seeing that you’ve never even heard of.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/shopping/travel/food-glorious-food-tours/">Ever been on a food tour? » </a></p>
<p><strong>Final word</strong></p>
<p>With so many tours out there it may seem impossible to figure out which one to go with, but it’s incredible easy these days. Try <a href="http://www.tourradar.com/" >TourRadar</a>, a site that makes booking tours easy. With all their different filter options, you can easily narrow down which tour is best suited for you.</p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">Barry Choi is a personal finance and budget travel expert at Moneywehave.com.  He has been quoted by media in Canada and the United States including The Financial Post, The Toronto Star, Business Insider, The Globe and Mail, and has appeared on HuffPost Live. You can follow him on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/barrychoi"><span class="s3">@barrychoi</span></a> </span></em></p>
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