The value of local guides

In my early days of travel I never entertained the thought of hiring a local guide. Too expensive, and anyhow we had the guide book with us. Over time, I have learned that this small investment can provide so much more than simple historical information; it can bring you an insight into the life and work of people in the place that you might otherwise have missed. While we still visit most places by ourselves, from time to time we do enjoy taking on a local guide to learn a little about not just where we are, but also about the people who call it home.

We used the services of this lady in the Roman city of Jerash in northern Jordan. For a few dollars she showed us around the ancient complex and told us the stories of its rise and fall; facts that we could have got from the LP book in our daysack, and in any case facts that we readily forgot. But what she also did was to share stories of her life in Jordan, her family and the challenges in raising children here and seeing them go to work all over the world, and her thoughts of modern society in Jordan. These are the stories that we will remember from Jerash.

Of course not all guides are made the same. We have had some who show little interest in us and who are only motivated by their commision arrangements to take you to various shops or restaurants. These are also the ones who typically drop none-too-subtle hints about the level of tipping they are expecting (it is ironic that the best guides never need to drop hints; they do a job that secures them regular decent tips, even from us Brits) A clear setting out of expectations at the start of a tour can prevent this.

But the negative experiences are the exception. In China we had a guide in each city we visited (as independent tourists in the early 1990s the Chinese insisted on it). Most were students, and while some stuck to the party line and told us how perfect a place China was, quite a few gave us an honest view of their hopes, dreams, frustrations and disappointments. It provided us with an insight into Chinese life that we couldn’t have got from a book. Similarly in India, we experienced the best and the worst of guides; those who became friends (for the day at least) and those who had no interest apart from lightening the load of our wallets.

Of course, for those who spend a long time in a place they can have far more meaningful encounters with people they meet along the way without having to pay for their time. But for the short-term visitor who is passing through only briefly, taking on their own local guide can provide an memorable benefit by giving an personal insight into life in that place.