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.

8 Ways A Local Travel Expert Can Enrich Your Trip