Are you planning your next adventure but don’t know where to start? Afraid you might get lost or miss out on hidden gems? Why risk all that you can simply enjoy your trip by hiring a local expert guide?

Gone are the days of cookie-cutter tours offered by global operators, now passionate locals are curating experiences for travellers to get the most out of their trip - not to mention, it’s also a more authentic and immersive way to travel. Sure, there are tons of resources on the world wide web and you may save a few bucks planning your own trip - but is it worth the stress and time spent on researching and filtering out information? Let’s admit it, wandering around unfamiliar territory can get a little overwhelming.

If you’ve never considered hiring a travel guide, here are some benefits you stand to gain.

1. You can go off the beaten track and uncover lesser known places.

It’s totally fine if you want to visit the generic tourist hot spots and tick the major attractions off your list, but if you had the chance, wouldn’t you rather uncover hidden gems and have a more local experience? It’s why local travel experts are available for you to hire, to help you experience more of the destination, discover places of interest you wouldn’t otherwise learn about. A local can help you navigate off the beaten path and make your trip more unique and personal. Imagine the thrill of finding places beyond the obvious, tasting new foods at secret local spots and learning about the history of a place on a deeper level.

Even if you spend hours deep diving on the Internet and reading travel blogs, you will probably never uncover the lesser-known gems. A good local guide can give you personalised suggestions and insights on how to experience a place like a true insider.

2. They are not only passionate and resourceful, they will offer a unique perspective.

Your travel guide is more than just a travel guide. They are not just professionals, they are passionate locals who know everything about their home country - take advantage of their knowledge! Learn about the culture and the history behind every attraction, a local expert can give you an interpretive description of what you are seeing instead of plainly looking at a monument. Through the eyes of a local, you stand to benefit from their unique insights about a destination. With a native guide, you get to experience the real deal and acquire first-hand knowledge rather than reading it up on the Internet.

If you’re not a fan of walking tours, you could consider other types of experiences, such as cooking classes, arts and craft workshops or even outdoor adventures. At Buddyz, we work with local travel experts to provide you with the most authentic and immersive travel experiences. Can’t travel now? Check out our virtual experiences here!

3. You get the stories and the facts.

The local travel experts are usually passionate and they really know their stuff. It’s not just facts, they know the who, what, when, where, why and how - plus they can offer their own unique perspective. If you ask us, it’s the stories that really make a destination come alive. Sure, it’s easy to look up everything on the Internet and you’ll find all the information you need - but, you will be missing out on actually enjoying the scenes and sights because you’re too busy on your phone. Isn’t the point of travelling to get off your devices?

A private tour offers much more than just a running list of facts, it’s about the stories behind the facts. You get to learn about the unique details and untold stories about your destinations - ones that you can go home and tell your friends about.

4. They’ll point out things that you may not pay attention to.

A travel guide will explain and make sense of what you are looking at, they will point out things that you would never have noticed. You will end up with a richer and deeper understanding of the places you visit.

They can also be a huge help when there are significant cultural differences between where you’re travelling and what you’re used to at home. For instance, they can tell you what to wear - or what not to wear. These etiquettes and behaviours are especially important at religious sites. A local can help us to be more mindful and respectful of religious traditions and not stand out as a tourist. Having someone on hand to help you understand these differences can be well worth the cost.

5. You can ask as many questions as you want.

Have you ever been on a trip, spotted something interesting and wondered what it was, or why it’s there? If you’re nosy like us, an educated travel guide can answer your burning questions about anything that sparks your curiosity. They will be able to tell you about their personal experience growing up in the country, the culture and customs, as well as what makes the country different from yours. And just because you are on a tour doesn’t mean you can’t also ask them for their favourite restaurants, local hangouts, or hidden spots for photographs. So ask away!

A local travel expert is your personal resource. They can offer a depth of experience and knowledge to which no guidebook or blog will come even close. Some of these locals are actual experts offering valuable insights - you can shadow the footsteps of a wildlife researcher, or discover wild dolphins with marine biologists. These are the kind of experiences you won’t be able to have on your own.

6. You get to connect with other travellers and make new friends.

Perhaps the best part about travelling - meeting new people. Your local travel guide is like a new-found friend in a foreign country. They are more than just a walking and talking encyclopaedia, they tend to share their insights and take you through their daily lives on a personal, relatable level.

Plus, you get to meet fellow travellers and share experiences. Hiring a guide allows you to relax and get to know the people you are spending your day with. And if you’re lucky, it could be the start of real, lasting friendships.

7. You’re supporting the local community.

When you hire a local travel expert instead of a global tour operator, you’re contributing directly to the local economy. This means your travel spend is directly impacting the local community. Surely you’ve heard of the saying, “when you support a small business, you’re supporting a dream”. So why not put your hard-earned money to good use? Local guides love what they do and they enjoy seeing your faces light up when you discover something you haven't seen and heard about before.

Locals also know the best local artisans, where you’ll be supporting local businesses. Unless you really do your homework, finding quality items from reputable local artisans can be tough. But a local can steer you toward crafts that are unique to their hometown. These souvenirs will remind you of your trip for decades to come.

8. It’s just more fun!

We can all agree that when travelling, we want to experience the place as best and as much as possible. But what’s holding you back is trying to figure out all the small details. Where to go? What’s the most efficient route? Did we check everything off our list? Yep, it can be really stressful, especially since you’re in unfamiliar territory.

Take advantage of hiring a local travel guide - it just makes things so much easier and hassle-free. You can simply take in the views from the passenger seat. Not to mention, you get to be in all the pictures. Having a local by your side can really enhance your travel experience. They don’t only take you around, they can also teach you a thing or two. Pick up a new skill in your next trip - learn to make a local cuisine, try an art class or do both!

As you can see, hiring a local travel expert has its perks - even for the most seasoned travellers. That local perspective really brings so much more out of a destination. Give it a try, you won’t regret it!

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Buddyz is an experiential travel platform powered by locals, a.k.a. the most knowledgeable and interesting experts, the ones that know the country best! We want to encourage people to travel more meaningfully, to immerse themselves in local culture, and to connect with people from the places they visit.

 So on our platform, you will find what we call ‘Experiences’ for every interest - ranging from cultural walks, intimate meals at secluded local eateries to creative workshops and classes. All of which are led by locals and are vetted for quality.

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