Tour Guide Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Do you need a tour guide travelling on eurostar from london to paris? My family is thinking about a trip to London. We'd like to take a train to Paris for a day- we know, we know, "You can't do Paris in a day", whatever. If we book a train from london to paris, it sometimes sounds like a tour guide cost is included in the cost of the train. Can you choose to go without a tour guide?

Answer: I'm not sure where you found this information, but a ticket on the Eurostar is just that, a ticket to travel on the train from London to Paris. There is no tour guide, or anything else, included. Suggest you check the Eurostar website: http://www.eurostar.com

Question: How to find a good tour guide for Varanasi in India? the varanasi tour guide shud b able to speak good english? I have read a lot about varanasi and am completely fascinated. so I am planning to be there in a few weeks. I plan to hire a tour guide in varanasi to help me explore the place completely. I want someone who speaks and understands Americans, sign language wont work. shud have great knowledge of varanasi, anyone with suggestions may please oblige

Answer: I dont know about others but we had been lucky to have had the company of Prateek. You may ask him if he is available. the guy is really an authority on the city and its places. he blogs at varanasiblogger dot com and you may write to him directly. good luck!

Question: What kind of insurance would a Bicycle Tour Guide need in NYC? I am in the very early stages of planning a tour guide company that offers themed tours throughout NYC. Any lawyers or insurance people out there? Any idea what kind of insurance I'd need. I'll have a fleet of 15-20 bikes, everyone wearing helmets and operating mainly in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Thanks!

Answer: You are going to have to contact a local insurance broker in your area. The property coverage, the coverage for the bicycles, won't be big problem however the liability exposure of taking people on a bicycle tour of a busy, major metropolitan city is HUGE. No standard insurer is going to look at this (forget State Farm), so you're going to need the services of an insurance broker.

Question: How can I find a good tourist guide in Varanasi? Need a good varanasi tour guide? I intend to travel to Varanasi in India and would need the services of a good tourist guide in Varanasi. The varanasi tour guide should be knowledgeable and must have good communication skills

Answer: If you can trust my word and if you are in luck, you should try to ask this guy by the name Prateek in Varanasi. I had written to him after having read his blog, varanasiblogger dot com, and he graciously agreed. though he isn't a regular tourist guide, he is more than that, a sort of amateur historian on varanasi. he is extremely passionate about the city. his knowledge of the place is encyclopaedic and our group from the university(Texas) was lucky to have him show us around. you can reach him through his blog or email him. mind you though he is pricey for a tour guide, twenty usd for a day.but i wouldn't mind if i were you.

Question: What is the best way to tip a European tour guide? I am taking a large group and will have about $4000 in tip money to give to the guide, but I don't want to carry around that much money and can only withdraw $300 per 24 hours from my ATM. I'm thinking traveler's cheques, but my tour consultant keeps saying not to give the guide traveler's cheques but rather to give a "check card," which would debit funds from MY account. HELP!

Answer: A check card is just a prepaid debit card. It doesn't come from your bank account, but rather from a separate account maintained by Visa. If you give the card to a guide, the guide can use it like any other Visa card up to the value that is placed on the card. You could theoretically give a card to each guide as a tip. You could also use the same sort of card to get money from ATMs in addition to the amount your bank account will give you. It will work exactly like your normal ATM card, and the guides will almost certainly prefer cash payment in euros to any other form of tip.

Question: How can i start as a tour guide for foreign agent? I am a tour guide in Viet Nam, I am looking for some foreign travel agents or traveller who wants to visit my place so i can organise tours for them. Pls send me some. Thnks

Answer: Go to your favorite search engine, get a list of travel agents in New York City, Atlanta, Ga.,Orlando,Fl.,San Fransisco, Ca., and email them your Plans for their guests. The traveller begins here with an idea. They go to their travel agent and ask what they have to offer. You must sell your idea to agents around this country by making a PowerPoint presentation you can email them showing the beauty and history of your area, with sound of your voice as you make a small virtual tour. You must have destinations, accomodations and activities for the traveller in several 'packages' of different price ranges. You can't give the same package to everyone or there will be no interest to those who pride themselves in affording the BEST. Fisrt, you must plan, then prepare, then research then sell this idea of your idea. You must have references and insurance and safety measures in place to assure your agent of a good time. If you let a single traveller come home unhappy you can kiss that agent good-bye.

Question: Where can I find the best tour guide for Upper Michigan? I need to find the best tour guide that has the most options for lodging, restuarants, entertainment, ext.

Answer: Go to http://www.exploringthenorth.com/mich/mich.html they seem to cover everything anyone would want to know.

Question: What are the answers to be able to become a tour guide on Club Penguin? I tried to think of the answers on Club Penguin to become a tour guide but I can't seem to find the answers. Please help!

Answer: NOTE: Cutie101 and Daniel has copied my answer!!! That's against the Yahoo Guidelines!!! They are cheating!!! X( Please don't vote them that is my answer that they copied and it is unfair!!! Here are the answers!!! How many Sled Racing courses are there? 4 How does the pink puffle play? Skips with skipping rope What is the name of the big fish in Ice Fishing? Mullet What day does the newspaper come out? Thursday Which of these games has a shark in it? Ice Fishing What color of puffle can catch on fire? Black How many coins does it cost to buy a player card background? 60 What is thrown out of the truck in level 4 of bean counters? A Flowerpot In what room can you find old copies of The Penguin Times? The Boiler Room What is the name of Captain Rockhopper’s ship? The Migrator Which of these rooms does not have a game in it? Beach Which room has a cuckoo clock? Ski Lodge How do you get a pin? Walk on top of it Which of these places doesn’t have music playing in the background? Pet Shop Hope that helps!!!

Question: How can i find a good varanasi tourist guide, suggest good varanasi tour guide please? We are a school group planning to go to varanasi. we would need a good varanasi tourist guide to show us around. the varanasi tour guide should be learned and able to understand americans

Answer: you guys should reach out to this guy who blogs at varanasiblogger dot com. this guy we found has really good knowledge of the place is highly educated and well travelled. he understands foreigners and their special needs. you should write to him and ask him if he is available. you shud be able to find his contact through his blog, i seem to have forgotten his email. good luck

Question: What do you know about being a tour guide for Science and History Musems? I enjoy learnning and informing others about this or that. What are the pros and cons of working as a tour guide for Science and History Musems and what are the requirements of schooling and so forth to attain such a job? What is the pay like and are volunteer positions avialable?

Answer: I did it when I was 16 at Fort Lincoln State Park in North Dakota. The pros was meeting people from all over the world. This was back in the 60's and not many people from far away come to North Dakota back then so it was a thrill for me to meet lots of people. I once sold a bunch of tickets and helped explain the exhibits in the museum to a bunch of tourists from Turkey. It was a hoot. They were friendly, didn't speak any English so I worked through an interpreter and it was exciting as hell, to me anyway. As part of the job, we had to take a sample tour and we had to know how to answer all the questions asked of us, so we had to know all about the museum and the whole park itself, its history, etc. The park was where Gerner George Custer was stationed before leaving for Little Big Horn in Montana for Custers last stand so it is a very history soaked area, so to speak and I loved the whole experience.

Question: What would be the customary tip for a tour guide and charter bus driver? More specifically, what would be the tip for a tour of Thailand (Pattaya/Bangkok) run by and catered to Chinese-Americans? We were told by the tour guide that tip is customarily $8 USD per day per person ($5 for tour guide and $3 for driver), which seems somewhat expensive for a tip.

Answer: i typically tip taxi drivers around 100 baht, if ive chartered a car ill tip the driver anywhere between 500 - 1000 baht, depending on how far the trip is. considering ill never sign up for a "tour" or be caught dead on any type of tour bus, ive never had to tip a tour guide. i understand most people dont tip this much, but making a strangers day typically doesnt rank too high on the average Americans list, as evident by the comments on this thread saying $8 is a rip off.

Question: What does it take to be a tour guide in disneyland? I want to apply to work in Disneyland but would only want to be a tour guide/ guest relations... does anyone have any information on this?

Answer: I'm guessing you're talking about the cast members wearing the plaid vests. To become a guide, you used to have to be a seasoned CM already, but that may have changed. And then there is an "audition" for the role of guide. Basically they test your communication and interaction skills, knowledge of all things Disney (not just DL or DCA), etc. It isn't easy, I'll tell you that (sorry, just having a pulse won't cut it). If you're serious, i would suggest talking to one of the CMs about the full application process. Good luck!!!

Question: How can I become a tour guide in Chicago? Where would I go to look for a job as a tour guide?

Answer: I imagine that to get a paying gig as a tour guide, you would first have to prove your chops. You can accomplish this by volunteering your services for a while. The Chicago Greeters program is well known. Participating is a great way to show off your civic pride and meet visitors to our fair city. Hostelling International Chicago also has a need for volunteer guides.

Question: How much to tip a tour guide in Athens? How much is it appropriate to tip a professional tour guide in Athens when we are satisfied about her work? Thanks.

Answer: Cpinatsi has given you sound advice. You did not state if she is guiding a private party of few people in which case you are obliged apart from her daily re-compensation, to buy her lunch and dinner if it is a multi day tour. In this case an extra 20 € will be sufficient. In the case she is guiding a group the extra bonus the group may want to give her is absolutely on your prerogative. Usually a collection is made by the participants and the proceeds are given to her, even though a tip it used to be included in the price of the journey and it was given by the group leader to the guide.

Question: How do I find a reliable tour guide in Shanghai? I want to visit Shanghai some time in 2007. I am looking for an English-speaking tour guide who can show me the city, dine with me, and show me some of the night life. I' d prefer somebody who has studied Chinese culture or the history of Shanghai. I am a USA citizen, from New Orleans.

Answer: any

Question: How do i become a freelance tour guide? I'm an engineering student. I've heard of a tour guide course which last for 5 months. Only on weekends, and after 5 months, i'll be able to be a tour guide, is tat true???

Answer: I think there are different ways to become tour guides. I'm sure there are courses you can take--independently or through a company (once hired). Also, check out www.viamigo.com It's a forum I just discovered that connects locals with travelers to customize a unique travel/tour experience. I don't think you need any special training, and it's free for tour guides to post now. So, you could start right away, I guess, Hope this helps!