Are Free Walking Tours Really Free?
When a person is organizing a trip or travelling to a new city, it is possible to stumble upon such service as free walking tour. The concept of using a tour guide yet not pay for it at the onset may seem quite appealing however you may be discouraged by thinking whether or not there are some tricks that you need to pay for later. However, this article will seek to find out whether the walking tours are indeed free or not.
What are Free Walking Tours?
Free walking tours are referred to as pay as you go or pay as you wish tours are walking tours tours designed such that people who want to enjoy the tours do not have to pay before joining the tour. They normally feature qualified local guides who provide informative information as well as historical facts as they accompany you within town on foot.
- First of all, free walking tours are conducted like any other walking tours which means they follow a set itinerary and the company or guide and the client or customer interact one-on-one.
- Free walking tours do not charge the clients any fee to be paid in advance but the guides depend on the tips given at the end of the tour. After the tour is over, the participants have the pleasant option to give the guide a tip in relation to the satisfaction and the value gotten from the tour.
- The tipping is also discretionary in the sense that as a tourist he or she is not forced to tip especially if he or she was not satisfied with the tour. The tip amount depends on the participants and they may offer whatever amount they desire to offer.
Advantages of Free Walking Tours
However, some of the advantages of free walking tour to the travelers include;
- Not costly: With free walking tours one does not spend a lot of money to adventure a city in his or her own way.
- Expert in the cultural and social aspect details: Local guides provide essential information; they are able to show you extraordinary places and such insignificant but significant aspects of the city as well.
- They are flexible: Free walking tours are usually provided at different times in a single day; therefore, clients can join at their convenient time.
- Historical background of the city: Before going deeper into the site, you should familiarize yourself with the location, explore the essence of the city.
Disadvantages of Free Walking Tours
However, there are a few disadvantageous associated with free walking tours as follows;
- They survive on tips: As discussed, guides are paid by tips, which means that if you do not like giving tips or you have a small budget, then a free walking tour may be unsuitable for you.
- Larger groups: Since ‘free’ walking tours are popular, the sizes of the groups that are usually formed may not be small, and this may influence the experience in some way.
- People’s experiences may differ: As expected from any service industry, there is a possibility that the quality of the free walking tours depend on the tour guide assigned to a certain group. And, last but not the least, when reading the reviews, special attention has to be paid to choosing an experienced tour operator and guide.
Tips for Enjoying Free Walking Tours
Here are some guidelines in case you choose the kind of tour which is the free walking tour:
- Research tours: It is recommendable to work with those travel companies and guides or porters that have many favorable comments on the internet.
- Take a chance on a free tour: Due to its economy, many tourists turn up for the walking tours hence would be best to be on the early side.
- Arrive comfortably: Men should wear comfortable shoes for walking around and should dress according to the climatic conditions of the country.
- Interact with this guide: As much as possible, do not hesitate to question the guide and learn from his/her experience as a local.
- The tips are welcome: It’ll be quite appropriate if you decide to give a tip to the guide because of the knowledge that you gained through the tour.
Conclusion
Guided walks are one of the best ways to move through a new city while seeking cheap means of getting around besides knowing more about the city from local guides. Note that even though the tours are considered free, it is proper to tip the guide because mainly, they earn from the tips garnered on the tours. To enjoy the trip and gain valuable knowledge, do your research on the available companies and try to find out their reviews. It is very important to be aware of what is being offered when engaging in free walking tours and what the expectations from the tour are so as to allow for an enriching experience to be offered by the walking tour.
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