a day in the life of a tour guide

What does a tour guide do?

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What is a Tour Guide?

A tour guide provides assistance, information, and guidance to individuals or groups of tourists during their travels. Their primary role is to enhance the travel experience by sharing knowledge and insights about the destinations, attractions, and cultural aspects of the places being visited. Tour guides are well-versed in the history, geography, culture, and traditions of the locations they cover, and they use their expertise to educate and entertain the tourists.

Tour guides are responsible for organizing and leading tours, ensuring that the itinerary is followed, and the group stays on schedule. They may work in various settings, including cities, historical sites, natural landscapes, or cultural landmarks. During tours, guides provide commentary, answer questions, and engage with the tourists, creating an interactive and immersive experience. They may also assist with logistical matters, such as arranging transportation, coordinating entry to attractions, and recommending places to eat or shop.

What does a Tour Guide do?

Tour guides bring destinations to life by providing valuable expertise and insights. While guidebooks and online resources can offer information, tour guides offer a unique and personalized experience that cannot be replicated.

Duties and Responsibilities Tour guides have a range of duties and responsibilities to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience for tourists. Some of the key responsibilities include:

• Planning and organizing: Tour guides research and plan tour itineraries, considering factors such as the duration of the tour, the interests of the group, and the availability of attractions. They arrange transportation, accommodation, meals, and any necessary permits or tickets, ensuring that everything is well-coordinated.
• Providing information and commentary: A primary role of tour guides is to offer informative and engaging commentary about the destinations being visited. They share historical facts, cultural insights, and interesting anecdotes to educate and entertain tourists. Guides should have a deep understanding of the locations, including their history, architecture, local customs, and traditions.
• Leading tours and managing groups: Tour guides are responsible for leading the group throughout the tour. They ensure that the group stays together, follows the itinerary, and adheres to any safety guidelines. Guides should have good organizational and leadership skills to manage groups of varying sizes and diverse backgrounds.
• Assisting with logistics: Tour guides handle practical aspects of the tour, such as coordinating transportation between sites, arranging entry to attractions, and managing timing to optimize the itinerary. They provide directions, answer questions, and offer recommendations for meals, shopping, and other activities.
• Ensuring safety and security: Guides prioritize the safety and security of the tourists. They inform the group about potential risks or hazards, and they take necessary precautions to prevent accidents or incidents. In emergency situations, guides should be prepared to provide assistance and follow appropriate protocols.
• Interacting and engaging with tourists: Tour guides create a welcoming and interactive environment for tourists. They foster a positive and friendly atmosphere, encourage questions, and actively engage with the group. Guides should be approachable and adaptable, catering to the needs and interests of the tourists.
• Resolving issues and addressing concerns: Tour guides act as a point of contact for tourists, addressing any concerns or issues that may arise during the tour. They handle complaints, resolve conflicts, and provide assistance or alternative solutions when needed.
• Promoting responsible and sustainable tourism: Guides play a crucial role in promoting responsible tourism practices. They educate tourists about local customs and cultural sensitivities, encourage respectful behavior towards local communities and the environment, and advocate for sustainable travel practices.

Types of Tour Guides There are various types of tour guides, each specializing in different areas and catering to specific types of tours. Here are some common types of tour guides and a brief description of what they do:

• City Tour Guides: City tour guides specialize in providing tours within a specific city or urban area. They are well-versed in the history, architecture, landmarks, and culture of the city. Their role is to guide tourists through popular attractions, historical sites, and local neighborhoods, offering insights and commentary along the way.
• Cultural Tour Guides: Cultural tour guides focus on highlighting the cultural aspects of a destination. They provide in-depth knowledge about local traditions, customs, festivals, and arts. These guides may accompany tourists to museums, art galleries, cultural events, or religious sites, helping them understand and appreciate the cultural significance of these places.
• Ecotourism Guides : Ecotourism guides are responsible for designing and planning itineraries that are environmentally and culturally responsible, researching the destination, developing educational materials, preparing necessary equipment, and coordinating logistics such as transportation, accommodation, and meals.
• Adventure Tour Guides: Adventure tour guides lead tours focused on outdoor activities and adventure sports such as hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, or skiing. They possess skills and knowledge in the specific activities offered, ensuring the safety of participants while providing guidance and instruction. Adventure guides may take tourists to remote and challenging locations, coordinating logistics and providing a thrilling experience.
• Historical Tour Guides: Historical tour guides specialize in providing detailed insights into the history of a destination. They are knowledgeable about specific historical periods, events, and significant landmarks. These guides often work in historical sites, monuments, or archaeological sites, sharing historical context and stories that bring the past to life for tourists.
• Specialized Tour Guides: Specialized tour guides cater to niche interests or specific types of tours. Examples include food tour guides who focus on culinary experiences, wine tour guides who provide expertise on vineyards and wine tasting, or art tour guides who lead tours in museums and art galleries, offering interpretations of artworks.

Are you suited to be a tour guide?

Tour guides have distinct personalities . They tend to be social individuals, which means they’re kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly. They excel at socializing, helping others, and teaching. Some of them are also enterprising, meaning they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if tour guide is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of a Tour Guide like?

The workplace of a tour guide can be quite diverse and dynamic, offering a mix of indoor and outdoor environments. One aspect of their workplace involves cultural and urban settings. City tour guides, for instance, operate within bustling cities, leading tourists through streets, squares, and iconic landmarks. They may work in vibrant neighborhoods, historic districts, or cosmopolitan areas, immersing tourists in the local culture and urban atmosphere. These guides navigate through crowded streets, interact with locals, and provide insights into the city's history, architecture, and vibrant lifestyle. They may also lead tours in museums, art galleries, or cultural centers, where they can showcase the city's artistic and cultural offerings.

Another significant aspect of a tour guide's workplace is outdoor settings. Nature and wildlife tour guides find themselves working in breathtaking natural landscapes, such as forests, mountains, or coastal areas. These guides lead groups on hikes, nature walks, or wildlife safaris, sharing their knowledge about the local flora, fauna, and ecosystems. Their workplace is characterized by stunning scenery, serene environments, and opportunities for visitors to connect with nature. Adventure tour guides also operate in outdoor settings, taking tourists on thrilling activities like rafting, rock climbing, or skiing. They work in adventurous and often remote locations, ensuring the safety of participants while providing an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Additionally, the workplace of a tour guide can extend to various modes of transportation. They may lead tours on buses, boats, trains, or even walking tours, utilizing different forms of transportation to explore diverse attractions and destinations. This allows guides to provide a comprehensive experience, showcasing various facets of a region while offering comfort and convenience to tourists.

Tour Guides are also known as: Tourist Guide

A Day In The Life Of An Adventure Travel Guide

Before each tour, our travel guides spend a few days checking out all of the details of the tour – every trail, hotel, restaurant, and activity. 

• Hike/bike/skate all of the routes to make sure they are safe and enjoyable
• Update directions with any detours, lunch spots, and points of interest
• Set the menus at each restaurant, making sure any special dietary needs are being met, and confirm hotel reservations in person, and if our reservations include varying room levels, inspecting rooms to make sure our High Rollers get the best rooms.
• Confirm equipment rentals
• Visit places along the route (wineries, cheese shops, museums, etc.) where we have appointments
• Organize and pack each traveler’s welcome packet

During the tour

• Meet and greet our travelers and hand out our welcome packets
• Maintain and repair equipment, helping when needed with flat tires, wheel changes
• Give details about the activities and timing of the day during morning route talk
• Keep the support van clean, tidy, and full of gas
• Ensure that all participants along the route are doing well and provide support for any incidents that occur
• Keep the first aid kit, tour snacks, and water well stocked
• Plan and provide a lovely picnic lunch

• Provide TLC for any boo-boos experienced by travelers (blisters, headaches, allergies)
• Check in with each guest to ensure their needs are being met and that they are having an enjoyable time
• Reconfirm all plans for the next day so the trip can continue to run smoothly
• Keep an eye on the weather and make decisions to alter activities as necessary
• Pay hotels, restaurants, activity and equipment providers, local guides, and transportation as necessary
• Check emails for any tour updates before going to bed
• Bid our travelers, now Zephyr alumni , farewell as we bring our tour to an end

So what do you think? Do you have what it takes to be an adventure travel guide?

9 thoughts on “ A Day In The Life Of An Adventure Travel Guide ”

I think we could add a Post Tour section: – Return the rental van – Unpack and clean any gear – Send a trip summary to the Zephyr “office” – Complete the trip expense report – Start dreaming about your next guiding assignment!

Great additions, Allan!

Wow I think it would be fun to be an adventure tour guide for Zephyr. Mike M

I know you guides work very hard to make sure us travelers are happy! I prefer to be the customer! A big thanks to all of the Zephyr guides for making all of my adventures memorable! I’m looking forward to Slovenia this year!

Thanks, Heather! We love having you on our adventures 😉

Some guides make Montana monster cookies the day before the trip.

Yes! I just ate the last one!

Oh and some guides lend you a ski when you break the binding on yours and then they ski out on one ski.

Love your work ! I do the same job and it’s brilliant. Great blog 🙂

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The Little French Cottage

Bringing a little piece of France to the everyday. Travel, food and lifestyle with a French vibe.

A day in the life of a tour guide

Please note that all posts may contain affiliate links, and at no cost to you, we will earn a small commission that helps in running this site if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. .

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a tour guide? To be paid to wander the cobbled streets, browse the bustling markets and share with people the hidden gems of your favourite French region. Well, Dee from Jackdaw Journeys does just that. We reached out to her on Instagram to learn more about the life of a tour guide.

Dee instantly struck us as everything you hope your tour guide will be, warm, friendly and passionate about travel. She was happy to chat to us about her life and how she became a tour guide in Provence.

  It all started with my first cooking school in Tuscany, Italy in 2007. The experience was wonderful. In 2008 I had the privilege of returning to my second school but this time it was at the home of Julia Child in Plascassier, France. That did it. It was love at first sight. I feel in love with everything French and I’ve made it a point to return to Southern France as often as possible ever since.

How I became the tour guide was a leap of faith. After a couple of years of hiring other tour guides, I decided I wanted to do this on my own and launched Jackdaw Journeys Tours. The goal of the tours is to share this extraordinary corner of the world with my guests by exploring France’s sights, sounds, scents and flavors. We are a very small tour group, 10 guests or less. The small size of the tours allows me to truly expose the back roads of Provence like large tours groups can’t. Ours tours are popular with people who want to truly immerse themselves in the Provencal culture and I now offer trips 3-4 times a year.

What is my favorite thing about my job?  I absolutely love to share hidden gyms (back roads, antique markets, vineyards etc.) I have found over the years to first time guests. Many times, these guests have never travelled outside of the US let alone to France. In addition, many have no clue where Provence is or what to expect. It’s so much fun to see their faces light up when they see the colour of the Riviera waters or taste their first true baguette with butter or cheese!

There are challenges of course, such as finding reliable vendors abroad. I need English speaking drivers who will show up on time and return the next day. Many times, there are hidden expenses for me since I am dealing in a foreign currency. The trip cost changes yearly according to the exchange rate. Another challenge is social media. There are many companies out there with a lot of money and competition can be brutal. But there are also great perks to being a small tour group. I work with local vendors who are from the areas we explore so they know the regions well. Also, small groups allow me to really get to know and spend time with each guest.

We start early (out the door by 8:00am) whilst on tour because there is so much to see. Because Jackdaw is small, I do have some flex in my schedule if everyone agrees on the changes. If it is raining, we can go inside one of the wonderful museums or even a cookie factory. If we happen to pass a quaint antique store we can make an unexpected stop. Usually guests have the evenings to themselves to go out for dinner or to rest up for next day.

People always want to know what I pack. Well I always have my chargers, phone, laptop and passport. Then I pack scarves, a rain jacket, comfortable shoes and a small bit of cash. To be honest, I pack as little as possible because I am a big shopper and like to bring back many treasures for my house, family and friends.

Tips for someone starting out as tour guide. Know your area well is the best tip I can offer. Also, be prepared for anything. Sickness, accidents, travel issues. I always go over the day before my guests are due to arrive just to make sure the accomodation and goodie bags are ready. It also helps to know some of the language of the country you are in. It isn’t essential but it makes everything so much easier. And finally, a good tour guide is passionate about the area that they are sharing. Show your guests why you love your life as a tour guide.

Here is a snippet of what you can expect on our tours…

Provence, France Tour Highlights

French cooking classes with a Michelin Star-rated Chef in his magnificent garden kitchen… Open-air market shopping excursions in port cities and inland towns, where you can find everything from antiques and other treasures to regional delicacies…

Leisurely boat rides along the French Riviera—adding value on top of the already rich experience of touring Provence…

Wine tastings, sumptuous dining, spa pampering, back road exploring and more!

We really enjoyed chatting to Dee about her life of a tour guide. And with great reviews, it is clearly a life she is well suited to.

Learn more about Jackdaw Journeys

And don’t forget to quote littlefrench..

If you liked this read, then why not check out our post Areas of Provence

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Love this, so interesting! I love learning about people’s careers. Also looks like a beauritul place to be a tour guide! Thanks for sharing!

Hi Ellie, Thank you for your kind comment. Provence is definitely a must see! Abi x

Wow this post is like nothing I’ve read before! I love the idea of knowing the nooks and crannies of these amazing destinations. This post has made me miss summer holidays, sunshine and just having no time frame in mind. That holiday frame of mind! Rosie

Thank you so much.

Such amazing photos! I always admired the work of tour guides. Seemed their life is so perfect – constant travelling, fancy hotels. But its work 😉

I know! Thanks for commenting with such a lovely comment ?

While reading this post I felt jealous of the tour guide life. I have visited this side of France and it is absolutely beautiful and a place where I would love to visit again. It is important to work on something you love and enjoy doing it. It seems that the life she chose has everything! Great interview

Thank you so much Eri

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A Day in the Life of a Tour Guide

What does it take to be a frieze new york tour guide.

Paul Teasdale   What led you to give tours at the fair?

Christine Minas   I studied art in London – at University College London for my undergraduate and then the Courtauld Institute for my Masters – and after that I came back to New York and worked at the Frick Collection. I then moved to Canada to work at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, only to return in 2010 when I began working for a gallery that shows here in the fair: James Cohan in Chelsea. We actually participated in the first Frieze New York, so I’ve seen multiple sides of the fair.

Between then and now I started my own art consulting company so I often find myself at fairs – including this one – with my own clients. I was actually enquiring about obtaining tickets for a client of mine when a friend asked me: ‘Have you ever thought about giving tours, not just to your own clients?’

PT   Do people get the option about how they want the tour to be structured?

CM  Groups or individuals book tours online at frieze.com and request what kind of tour they’re interested in. The three main tours that are offered are highlights of the fair, contemporary masters, which focuses on the blue chip galleries, and a tour focusing on emerging artists.

PT   What’s the level of art expertise amongst the people who book tours?

CM   It really varies, but generally speaking I find that people who choose the highlights tour may have never been to Frieze New York before. First and foremost, they want to understand what a fair is all about. Generally, the people who choose the contemporary masters tour have some idea about the art market; they know some names of the major artists and galleries. 

PT   Is it tricky to know which level you should pitch at when discussing works?

CM   I get an idea right at the beginning of the tour, when we meet to gather headphones (which are great, by the way. They allow me to speak at a regular pitch and volume, and the tour party can hear me while moving around.) I ask them if they’ve been to a fair before, who their favourite artists are, and so on.

You have to actually see the work, how it all fits together, what speaks to what. It makes a big difference.

I then try and give an overview of the structure: information on the gallery world, the process of getting into Frieze, the curators involved, the fact that museum curators come through with a view to add to their own permanent collections, the way galleries network, etc. I also talk about things that are very visceral: works that are beautiful or exciting or offensive or interesting. I touch on the market but I don’t put a big emphasis on it; that’s the aspect that gets the played out the most in the mainstream press.

PT   How do you decide which works to highlight?

CM   We are given a bit of framework in terms of sections we should focus on. For example, we pay attention to Frame and Focus during the emerging artists tour, but beyond that the choice of which works we single out is ours. All of the tour guides come from different backgrounds – some are artists, others are from a curatorial background – so that informs the tours and makes each of them different. It’s a very live, organic process.

PT   How long does it take to gather all of the relevant background information?

CM   The longer you work in this business the more general knowledge you acquire with regards to which galleries show which artists, what those artists are doing, and so on, but until you see the works in real life you can’t plan anything. You have to actually see the work, how it all fits together, what speaks to what. It makes a big difference.

PT   Given the scale of the fair, and the number of exhibitors, do people find the tours at all taxing?

CM   The tent is as long as four football fields and one length usually lasts about one hour, so you have to make selections carefully, almost like a math equation. I often hear people saying they’re extremely tired and overwhelmed by the end of their visit, so it’s something I address at the beginning. I tell them: ‘You’re going to get overwhelmed, but that’s ok’. I remember the first art fair I went to and the feeling that there was so much visual information to take in, it was hard to see the wood for the trees. 

What makes art unique and what brings people to the fair is the enjoyment of art itself, and that quite often tends to been forgotten.

PT   What are your highlights from this year’s fair?

CM   What’s very special about Frieze New York is the Spotlight section, curated by Clara Kim who works for Tate in London. It’s like a little museum show in its own right, and I think that’s what makes the whole fair distinct: it has a curatorial rigour throughout. Spotlight highlights incredible period artists who would ordinarily appear in the Frieze Masters fair in London. Many of the other contemporary art fairs in the US don’t have that special component. It’s very distinctive.

PT   What kind of questions do you get asked during your tours?

CM   A common one is: ‘What’s the most expensive piece in the fair?’ And on every tour someone will ask what percentage of people here are buyers.

PT   What’s the most surprising question you’ve had?

CM   There’s one that I’m asked constantly, and it’s very simple: ‘Is it ok to just buy art that you like?’ I think that’s the biggest indicator of where the art world is right now. In the press there’s always such an emphasis placed on high end art works and auction prices – the business side of things – and that leads young or new collectors to think that they should primarily be concerned with those things as well and that if they can’t be part of it at that level they shouldn’t participate at all. It always surprises me. I always say, you know what, just buy what you like.                                  

PT   So the answer is yes?

CM   Yes! Especially at pricepoints that are not breaking the bank. Earlier this week I heard the artist Eric Fischl give a talk, and he asked: ‘Why does art have to be like the rest of business? Why can’t it be pleasure, why can’t it be enlightenment, why can’t it be annoyance? Why does it always have to be a business deal?’ Of course, people have to make money, and artists need to make a living, but that’s not what we’re talking about. What makes art unique and what brings people to the fair is the enjoyment of art itself, and that quite often tends to been forgotten.

Christine Minas is an art advisor based in New York. This is her first year giving tours for Frieze New York.

Paul Teasdale is editor of frieze.com. He is based in London.

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Walking backward: A day in the life of a tour guide

Ominously dark clouds swirled in the sky. A gentle drizzle that had kept up for several hours paused, as if holding its breath, before releasing another sweeping spray of rain. It wasn’t the most ideal weather for a campus tour.

Despite the dreary weather, a cluster of about 20 high school students trailed in front of Paige Romer ’12, who was calmly enumerating the five founding tenets of Stanford.

“We have 8,100 acres of land here,” Romer said, earning a multitude of raised eyebrows and an impressed whistle from the prospective students. “To put it in perspective of just how big our campus is, we can fit 26 Disneylands right here on campus.”

While passing through the Main Quad, Romer skillfully dodged a passing biker, maintaining her backward gait without missing a step.

It was just a typical day for Romer, one of the many Stanford student tour guides.

Being a tour guide is not an easy job, but students find it one of the most rewarding. That is, if you make the cut.

“It’s pretty hard to get in,” Romer said. “This year, I think we received almost 200 applications, and only about 30 people were accepted.”

The tour guide selection process is a lengthy one. First, students are expected to complete a very personal, written application. Questions are aimed to elicit more personal information from the potential guides, and some are so unusual that they often catch applicants off-guard.

“They ask really fun questions,” said Caleb Joseph ’12, a current tour guide. “[One of] last year’s questions was to draw a type of T-shirt that we should make for the tour guides. They ask questions to tease out your personality.”

Following the written application process, only a certain percentage of applicants progress to the next stage: the group interview. Byron Vosburg ’09, a student manager for the Stanford student tour guides, refused to reveal how many applicants were accepted into the next round, saying it varied from year to year.

Prospective tour guides are placed in groups of eight to 10, where they are all interviewed by a tour guide manager and several current tour guides. According to current tour guides, the group setting was a chance for the selection committee to assess the applicant’s ability to present well and respond quickly to various scenarios.

“Just like there is no set Stanford student, there is no set successful tour guide applicant,” Vosburg said. “What we’re looking for are people with effective communication skills.”

The last step of the application process is the private interview, where applicants’ memories are put to the test as they present a prepared talk on one of Stanford’s landmarks and recite Stanford trivia. However, there is more to being a tour guide than just memorizing the history of the school’s founding.

“It’s more about being able to recover from forgetting things,” Joseph explained. “If you’ve forgotten everything you’ve memorized, can you stay in control? It’s about wielding that information and knowing what to do when you forget it. If you have the right kind of personality for this, the facts aren’t that important.”

If an applicant makes it through the selection process, he or she is then deemed a Stanford tour guide. But they are not home free yet.

They must then undergo a rigorous training program. According to Joseph, two of the most critical skills are the ability to “feel out the crowd,” or assess the audience’s personality, and to field awkward questions.

Joseph was no stranger to being asked awkward questions, pointing to the time a parent asked him about student sex life.

In addition to gracefully handling persistent parents and speaking clearly, another important skill learned by all tour guides is the ability to walk backwards.

“Tourists are always impressed by the walking backwards trick,” Joseph said. “It’s really funny but for some reason they love it. Every time I hop upstairs backwards, they all gasp a little bit and then they applaud when I reach the top.”

Walking tour groups vary greatly in size, ranging from one person to a record-breaking party of 90 people. The largest tourist groups usually come in the summer, when the highest number of prospective students and tourists visit campus. Tour guides are equipped with megaphones for such occasions.

There are two kinds of walking tours conducted. One tour is geared toward tourists and features a general overview of the Stanford campus as well as a generous helping of Stanford trivia. Another tour is tailored to prospective students and their parents, supplemented with information on the application process.

With so much pressure riding on their shoulders in these situations, current guides realize that they have to perform well.

“We are their sole link, especially for tourists,” Joseph said. “We are the only information that they’re going to get while they’re here. What’s scary is if I sound stupid during my tour, if I stutter, I may as well be the only Stanford student that these people speak to in their entire lives.”

It seems that that pressure has yielded positive results so far. Priya Khangura, a junior at the University of Michigan, had already made her college choice, but nevertheless enjoyed the Stanford tour.

“It highlighted the important aspects of this school,” she said. “It’s pretty comparable to other campus tours, but I think I really like this campus.”

Bert Dempsey was on tour with his wife and two daughters, one of whom was two years away from making the college try.

“This is actually our first college tour, but I thought it was very good,” he said. “The length was right—it wasn’t too long, and we got to learn a lot of things about this campus.”

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Day in the life of a tour guide/Activities/Role plays

• 1 Objective
• 2.1 Role Play 1
• 2.2 Role Play 2
• 2.3 Role Play 3
• 3 Resources

Unit Standard 23759 - Provide customer service experiences in a tourism workplace - Level 3, Credit 10, Version 1 - Element 1 (PC 1.2 - 1.12)

Unit Standard 23763 - Describe and process retail payment in a tourism workplace - Level 3, Credit 3, Version 1 - Element 2.1 - Process payments (Credit Card, Cash)

Unit Standard 23764 - Demonstrate verbal communication skills in a wide range of tourism contexts. Level 3, Credit 2. Version 1 - Element 1 (PC 1.1-1.2)

• Providing excellent customer service - must be demonstrated over a minimum of 3 day period with the combined experiences totalling a minimum of 15 minutes
• Process payments
• Demonstrating verbal communication skills
• Demonstrating acceptable personal presentation

Role Play 1

A tour coordinator (Katie) from the company organising the NZ Wine Institute Conference, being held at Mission Estate Winery, has been in touch with you (by phone) regarding a booking you have made on behalf of them for one of the conference guests - Isobel Simmons, whose husband (George), wants to take a Gannet Tour at Cape Kidnappers.

When Katie made the booking with you she did so for only one adult. Now it seems George will be bringing his 10 year old daughter (Shelley). He was previously booked on the Gannet Beach Adventure morning tour, next Wednesday (morning is the only free time he has on this day) at a cost of $38. This tour is now fully booked and Katie has asked you to find another tour on the same day, in the morning, to the same destination, for both George and Shelley, around the same price.

Katie has asked you to get back to her with an alternative within the hour as she will be unavailable after 4pm and Isobel (the client whom she is working for) has asked for this to be resolved today. US 23759 (PC 1.4) . Katie is not happy, when you explain that it may take longer than an hour to resolve this as the centre is very busy at present. She in turn has asked to speak to your supervisor - you feel you can resolve the situation successfully without this happening and proceed to do this...

Customer Profile

George is attending the conference with his wife Isobel who is a guest speaker. At the last minute child minding provisions for their 10 year old daughter, Shelley fell through. It was then decided that Shelley would attend the conference with them. Isobel has already spoken with the conference tour organiser, Katie, to arrange a trip to Cape Kidnappers for George (who loves the birdlife of the area).

Tour Coordinator Profile

(Katie) for the past few months have been organising activities for partners of guests, attending the wine conference, to take participate in. One of the guests Isobel, has asked you to organise a tour for her husband of a local bird in its natural habitat. It has been a really busy day and Isobel has now informed you that their 10 year old daughter, Shelley, who was a last minute addition, wants to go on the tour with her father. You are stretched for time and have one hour to organise this before attending a meeting. You ring the iSite centre, explain the situation and are told that this may take longer than an hour and as it is 3pm could take until tomorrow morning. You ask to speak to the supervisor. US 23759 (PC 1.4)

Role Play 2

A local woman "Cathy Saunders" has come to book a tour so that her aunty (who has a walking frame) can take a look at the Art Deco sights in Napier. Cathy informs you she has a slight hearing impairment and asks you to speak up when explaining what your plans for her auntie are. US 23764(PC 1.1)

Booking Reference: 3445X

Your auntie (Frida Mackie), whom you love dearly, is coming down from Auckland to visit you. This is the first time she has been to Napier as you have only recently moved here. Your auntie has a walking frame and finds it very tiring to walk any great distances. She has asked that you organise a tour of the Art Deco sights in town. You want to pay with cash.

Role Play 3

Katie (conference tour coordinator) has phoned again to request a wine tasting for a special group of delegates from the Barossa Valley. She has asked them to come in to see you.

The group (4) have arrived at the office to confirm and pay for the winetasting experience. You must process the credit card payment. US 23763 (PC 2.1)

Booking Reference: 4432X

Four delegates from the Barossa Valley, Amy Cresswell, Bill Sykes, Cody Williams and Simone Casey with a special interest in local wines of the area they are visiting. Bill is a pilot of small planes and a keen flyer.

Payment details:

American Express : 3887 7789 9989 0000, 12/11 - Bill Sykes

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• Observation - verbal communication
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Latest Journal

The best 11 experiences to see venice in a day: a local's guide.

Custom Vacations

Looking for a custom vacation in italy, tours straight to your inbox, a day in the life of a venice tour guide.

October 24th, 2020

7 Minutes Read

Kristina fell in love in, and with, Venice. She’s been a tour leader in Venice for almost 10 years! Read here what a day in the life of a Venice tour guide looks like.

My name is Kristina, I’m 40 years old. I was born and raised in Slovakia and during my university studies, I used to work as a tour leader traveling around Europe... In Venice, I met Riccardo and I never left. What a wonderful place to fall in love!

Now it’s been 20 years and I’m in love not only with Riccardo but with Venice as well.

I’ve been working for Avventure Bellissime as a tour leader for almost 10 years and I love my job! Here’s what a day in the life of  a Venice tour  guide looks like.

The morning starts with a quick coffee en route to St. Mark’s Basilica

My first tour of the day is our  Original Venice Walk , one of my favorites because I show our guests some of the city’s most beautiful sights. If you’ve never been inside St. Mark’s Basilica, you might be surprised to know there are over 8,000 square meters of mosaics inside—that enough to cover more than one-and-a-half American football fields!

And don’t forget the Pala D’Oro, a gold altar screen seeded with over 2,400 pearls, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious gems.

The lines to get in get crazy during much of the day, but we have skip-the-line tickets and get in before it’s packed.

“I stook in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and a prison on each hand.”

Lord Byron wrote that in a novel,  Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage . The Bridge of Sighs is  one of the most famous bridges  in the world and it’s on every tourist’s bucket list for good reason. It got its name from the sighs of prisoners who knew once they entered the prison, it was highly unlikely they’d ever come back out.

Now the bridge has a bit of a romance about it. Legend has it that if two lovers ride under it on a gondola at sunset and kiss, their love will last forever.

Need a lunch recommendation? Try Trattoria dalla Marisa.

I love giving food suggestions; how to discover places locals go, try dishes they have never had before, discovering new flavors.

When I’m asked about the best place for lunch, I often suggest getting off the beaten path to more humble spots like the family-owned  Trattoria dalla Marisa . There’s no paper menu because it changes every day depending on what’s fresh and available.

Try the price fixed worker’s lunch. It’s a local favorite and you’re sure to get something delicious and authentic (and it’s a great price by Venice standards).

While Venice naps, escape the heat on a Grand Canal tour

Riposo  is a real thing in Venice—many of the local restaurants and shops close down for a bit of rest after lunch. If you’re not feeling a nap, join us on  a Grand Canal tour.

I think it’s one of the most popular tours in Venice and our Grand Canal boat tour is a fabulous way to cool off and enjoy another side of the city. There are parts of this impressive, spectacular waterway you can only see by boat, and then there are some minor canals, sort of like  the secret corners of Venice , the less touristy areas. It's one hour tour but it covers a lot.

Gelato break!

Florence may be the gelato capital of Italy, but it’s got nothing on Venetian gelato. Gelato has such an amazing texture because there’s less butterfat than in American ice cream, so it freezes at a higher temperature. It also doesn’t store well, which is why it’s made in small batches, fresh every day.

There’s a definite way to  enjoy gelato like a local . Brush up on your flavors in Italian so you can order like a pro. Then try one of our favorites such as Gelateria Il Doge, Gelateria Da Nico, and Boutique del Gelato.

Everyone loves Murano glass

A  day trip to Murano and Burano  is a must for lovers of colorful Murano glass. It’s only made on the island of Murano, and it’s done using the same techniques as artisans from the Middle Ages.

Burano is equally magical. It’s an island known for its lace—take some home with you as a memento of your Venice holiday. You’ll want to bring your camera, as well, because the lovely brightly colored houses and emerald-green lagoon almost beg to be photographed.

Cicchetti and wine...the essence of Venice

The Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market  are emblems of Venice—and every time I have the opportunity, I encourage our visitors to try the local wine and Cicchetti or the best gelato in town.

If you haven’t indulged in a Cicchetti and wine crawl in Venice, you’re missing an amazing experience. Cicchetti is delectable finger-food, usually made with fresh seafood or vegetables, and served with a glass of wine called  Ombra.  Pop into a few  bacari  and sample as many different varieties as you can manage!

Meet the ghosts of Venice

Another great tour that has become very popular is the  evening ghost walking tour . The city is less crowded at that time, we go through some hidden peaceful places and people love to hear this  kind of stories . It's more fun than spending and an hour in a museum in front of a painting, especially after a full day sightseeing our ornate Venetian Gothic architecture.

An evening gondola ride is just the thing to relax before bed

Is there anything more iconic than a slender gondola with a stripe-shirted  gondolieri  plying his pole through the canals and waterways of Venice? It’s the  quintessential Venice experience , and one you absolutely shouldn’t miss on your tour of our city.

End your evening at one of the restaurants lining the Grand Canal and watch the lights flicker across the water. Truly, it’s one of the most romantic scenes in the world—no wonder Venice is the City of Love!

Visiting Venice?

I’d love to take you on one of our amazing Venice city tours. Why not get in touch today and let us help you plan the perfect itinerary?

Taking a  trip to Italy  t hi s ye a r?   Lucky you!

It’s one of the top travel destinations in the world. But if you’re traveling in summer, there are a few things you should know.

For instance... summer in Italy  gets hot, occasionally  really  hot when the warm breezes blow over from Africa.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy every minute of your summer holiday. We’ve put together our top tips to beat the heat and make the most of your time in Italy wherever you go.

Don’t expect air conditioning

First, the bad news: Many top attractions, such as  the Vatican  and  the Uffizi , for example, aren’t air-conditioned.

Same goes for many local restaurants, businesses, and shops. It can get uncomfortable if you’re in a crowded environment.

The good news is that most hotels, however, do have air conditioning, so you’ll be comfortable when you’re hanging out in your room.

That said, however, Italians are very energy conscious so the air conditioning might not be quite what you’re used to at home. Still,  some  AC is better than  no  AC when you’re  traveling in Rome  or  Florence  in the summer.

Avoid standing in lines

Summer heat is only mildly unpleasant when you’re walking about the city enjoying a passing breeze.

It’s downright awful when you’re standing in line in the afternoon sun. Buy tickets in advance for the museums and attractions you know you want to see so you can skip the line and get out of the heat.

If you forgot to get your tickets in advance, or your preferred date is sold out, all is not lost. Italy is packed with incredible smaller museums and galleries.

Why not visit  a hidden gem  and skip the crowds entirely?

Visit a church

Churches are a two-for-one destination in an Italian summer—not only do you get to see  incredible art , architecture, and religious icons, you get to enjoy the “natural” air conditioning of a cool, dark building.

Do remember to dress appropriately if you’re visiting any churches, basilicas, or cathedrals. For women, that means no bared backs or midriffs, covered shoulders, and skirts or shorts that hit just above the knee. Men should wear trousers or long shorts with a short- or long-sleeved shirt.

Rome’s Christian Catacombs  are another naturally air-conditioned attraction worthy of a visit. If you’re looking for a great way to spend a couple of hours out of the Italian sun, you’ll love a  tour of the Catacombs and the Capuchin Crypt.

Related Tour - Book Now

Best of Venice Tour – Small Group Walking Tour with St.Mark's Basilica

Indulge in the splendor of Venice with our Small Group Tour that showcases the best of this romantic city. Traverse the windi

Embrace riposo

Chiusa  means “closed” in Italian—and you can expect most restaurants, shops, and businesses to lock their doors and settle down for a rest after lunch.  Riposo ,  that two- to four-hour afternoon break, is a time-honored tradition in Italy.

Our advice? Don’t fight it—embrace it! Retreat to your air-conditioned room during the hottest afternoon hours and use the time to nap, read a book, or  journal about your travels . You’ll be fresh and well-rested for  an evening of dining , exploring the city, or enjoying the nightlife.

Find the fountains

Rome is famous for  its beautiful fountains —as are most cities in Italy.

The public water systems date back to the earliest days of the Roman Republic; at one point, ancient Rome even appointed a guardian of the water to ensure a steady supply of clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. You’ll love the cool mist from the Trevi or the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.

Feeling thirsty or want to splash your face with cool water? Look for the  nasoni,  or public water fountains. The water is clean and perfectly fine for drinking—save some money and refill your water bottle.

Get to know granita

Everyone knows Italy is  famous for gelato , but when it’s really hot, there’s nothing like an icy granita to help you cool down.

Granita, or Italian ice, is simply shaved ice with flavoring poured over it. It’s fat-free, so you can enjoy it as often as you like.

Our favorite tip for beating the summer heat?

Skip your morning espresso and have a coffee-flavored granita instead! You’ll be refreshed and ready for the day (and you’ll still get your morning jolt of caffeine). What could be more perfect?

Learn to love dining late

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Italians love long, leisurely meals with lots of  excellent Italian wine  and lively conversation—and if you want to  dine like an Italian , you won’t sit down to eat before 8 or 9 pm. In fact, most restaurants don’t even open for the evening meal before 7:30 or 8 pm.

Dining late is the Italian way, and it’s even better when you enjoy your dinner  al fresco  in a hidden terrace bathed by cool evening breezes. You won’t be tired if you embrace  riposo— you’ll be rested and ready for an evening of  la dolce vita.

Look for extended hours

Summer is a top tourist season in Italy, and many major attractions operate with extended hours during the summer months. Some museums, galleries, and cultural attractions are open as late as 9 pm so you can avoid the afternoon heat.

The Uffizi in Florence , for example, stays open until 9 pm two nights a week from July through September.

Try to plan your itinerary around attractions with extended evening hours to minimize your time outdoors in the afternoon sun. The great thing is that most Italian cities come to life after dark, so you’ll find plenty of things to see and do even after 9 pm.

Beware the August closures

August 15th is Ferragosto , a national holiday, and pretty much everything shuts down, including banks, businesses, attractions, and even public transportation. The good news is that many museums and galleries remain open, so you can visit without the usual crowds.

On the other hand, it’s not uncommon for many local restaurants and shops to close for the  entire week,  especially in the less touristy areas. Depending on your travel plans, you may need to adjust your expectations and your itinerary in August.

Head for the hills (or the beach)

Although Italy’s “ Big Three ” get the most attention from first-time visitors, there’s so much more to Italy than just Rome, Florence, and Venice.  The Dolomites  and Cortina are an easy (and fun) day trip from Venice—and the cool mountain air is balm to a summer-weary soul.

There are also incredible beaches and seaside resorts in Italy when you want to escape the heat.  The Cinque Terre  is a short trip from Florence; there’s nothing more refreshing than a day at the sea sipping wine and sampling incredible seafood.

And if you want a true beach escape, you can’t miss the Amalfi Coast.  Sorrento , Positano, and Ravello are absolutely stunning villages, and the  hidden beaches , flanked by magnificent rocky cliffs, are some of the most beautiful places in the world.

Ready to experience Italy in summer?

We’d love to help you put together the perfect summer itinerary. Whether you’re dying to explore Venice and Rome, the Mediterranean coast, or the bustling and fascinating  cities in Northern Italy , we’re here to help you plan the perfect trip. Why not get in touch today to bring your summer leave to Italy to life?

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A day in the life of a college tour guide

Have you ever wondered what it is like to have a full day of bragging about your college and walking backward? College tour guides can be a crucial component in choosing a university. They help guide that process in the middle of the school day. Giving tours can undoubtedly be a rewarding experience; however, funny stories and strange encounters are sure to be expected.

Jacob Durbin, a fifth-year studying civil engineering, loves his job as a college tour guide and has been doing it since his freshman year. Being a tour guide has numerous opportunities and Durbin makes that point very clear.

"I love meeting people," he said. "It's a great way to do it because every tour, you meet different people, and most of the time, it's not the same people."

Durbin additionally pointed out how well one gets to know campus locations and Ohio University's many resources. He also mentioned the benefit of having a support group through the other tour guides and the good connections he has made. 

Chole Hendrikse, a senior studying plant biology, has been giving tours around OU's campus for over two years. She knows the path well and really enjoys showing students what OU has to offer.

On a chilly early morning, Hendrikse pregames her upcoming tour with an iced coffee from Court Street Coffee. The journey across campus starts in Baker University Center, where each tour guide lines up one by one, stating their name, year and major. Afterward, each tour guide is paired with a group of visiting families, and the tour is underway.

Many students who become tour guides have interesting reasons for doing so, whether they just need some extra cash for the weekend or they are getting over a fear. 

"I actually have really … terrible public speaking anxiety," said Hendrikse. "I figured this would be a great way … to get better at public speaking."

Another student tour guide, Mara Labedz, a junior studying psychology, was interested in the job because of her love for history.

"I love learning information," she said. "I am a massive history nerd, so I was like, 'Wow, oldest college in Ohio, I want to find out a bunch of information.'"

Labedz is approaching her first full year as a tour guide at OU. She talks highly about her experience and has plenty of funny stories to tell.

"Honestly, if you're going to get a campus job, it should be a tour guide," she said.

Hendriske begins her tour outside of Baker Center, walking up to Court Street, through Alumni Gate and across College Green. At each stop, she provides information about the buildings in the area, pausing for questions and entertaining stories that will hopefully bring out some smiles and laughs from the crowd.

"I'm really clumsy," she said. 

She tells families how she will occasionally trip over a stick on tours. Despite this, she gets back up and continues the tour as normal. 

Durbin shared his very first tour experience, which turned out to be one of the most memorable. 

"We get outside, I introduce myself and say, 'Alright this is my first ever tour,' and some kid asks, 'Where's Court Street?' right out of the gate," Durbin said.

Ladebz said she had an interesting experience with a tour group and a teacher's aide who wanted to view a unique piece of  history .

"She was like, 'I came to the library to see a piece of Hitler's urinal,'" she said. "I was like, 'What?' because I thought she said journal. She did not." 

Hendriske continues her tour through Alden Library, jokingly making sure the group knows the dangers of raspberry croissants and the reality of the "freshman fifteen." The group makes their way into Shively Hall, where Hendriske answers several questions about living on campus. 

Through Nelson Dining Hall and Ping Recreation Center, the tour comes to a close. Hendriske finishes her job and prepares for her classes for the day—just another day of persuading potentially the next generation of Bobcats. 

"I've yet to meet somebody that I haven't enjoyed," said Labedz. "All of these families are so excited to be here and I'm like, 'On my tour, I could have a future Bobcat.'"

[email protected]

@abbyjenks18

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12 reasons why good tour guides are so important

Ah, the tour guide. That special person who welcomes you to their country and looks after you, ensuring you have a fabulous trip! But how and why exactly are they a great addition to a trip? We enumerate ...

1. Tour guides navigate for you

Wondering if you've missed your bus connection is frustrating. So too is getting off at the wrong stop. And fuming at a loss of signal at the very moment you need your app to tell you which exit to take ... nobody needs that.

So yes, primary among the benefits of a tour guide is having someone to do all the navigating for you.

Navigating can include:

• Getting your from the airport to your hotel without hiccough.
• Leading you through the warren of streets in an old town.
• Taking the lead on a trek so you don't go in a circle.
• Even just ensuring you find your way out of that enormous botanic garden.

Some of our trekkers with their selfie-taking guide Angelu on the EBC trek

Navigating can include driving you

A tour guide also often drives you around. Or in some cases, they'll acquire a vehicle and driver for you.

This is a big help, saving your from the hassle of a car hire. You also won't have any heart-stopping moments when you pull out and realise you're facing oncoming traffic. And you won't ever come back to your vehicle to discover you didn't feed a hidden parking meter.

On safari, your tour guide is also your driver

2. Tour guides do your admin for you

This is a biggie. Tour guides take care of all of your admin for you, like:

• Preordering permits and pre-booking accommodation.
• Paying admittance fees beforehand, saving you the need to queue.
• Coordinating travel times for buses, trains, flights, etc.
• Overseeing the transfer of luggage.
• Ordering and collecting packed lunches, drinking water and the like.

Some of our trips, like Kilimanjaro climbs, involve a LOT of admin!

3. Tour guides keep you safe

If safety was the only benefit of a tour guide, we think it would be enough for us to be super pro tour guides! A tour guide looks after you from arrival to departure.

It's worth pointing out that at Follow Alice we believe tour guides should be locals. One of the reasons for this (although there are certainly others as well) is that only locals can truly know the do's and don'ts of their society and environments in order to keep you safe.

Mario is our Cusco and Inca Trail lead guide

Local tour guides are there with you to ensure:

• You don't go into any dangerous areas.
• You're not accosted by overly zealous vendors.
• Your belongings are kept safe.
• You don't get bamboozled by shysters.
• You don't pick a poisonous plant, or pet a treacherous animal.

The list could go on.

Tour guides also ensure you don't get 'little things' wrong, like wearing sandals on a day when they know you need closed, sturdy shoes.

Adventure tour guides are especially important

The adventure tour guide offers a whole other level of safety and security. Whether it's guiding you safely through islands on a kayaking adventure, or leading you through thick forest on a trekking trip, they're there to ensure you:

• Set out with the right clobber to protect you from the elements.
• Stay on path and don't get lost.
• Don't push yourself too hard (sometimes by monitoring your vitals).
• Receive timely and appropriate treatment (medical or otherwise) should you need it.

Chris, our Tanzania local leader, doing his refresher mountain first aid course

It's impossible to overstate the value of a tour guide in keeping you safe, especially on an adventure trip.

4. Tour guides are interpreters

A tour guide speaks the language of the locals, and as such is your ever-present translator. Without a tour guide, you wouldn't be able to communicate with some locals. You'd also miss out on many interesting insights and some beautiful moments of connection.

Brad and Rebecca opted to do a homestay in Rwanda through Azizi Life

Remember to always ask before taking photos of locals; your tour guide can assist in this to ensure nothing is lost in translation.

5. Good tour guides explain things to you

It's easy to find out the name of the bridge you're walking over. But do you want to know why it's called that? And yes, you can take a pic of a gorgeous tree and use an app to tell you it's name. But do you want someone there to explain why, for instance, the bark is stripped away near the base?

Tour guides are there to answer your questions, and also supply answers to questions you hadn't even thought to ask!

An Annapurna Circuit trek guide explaining tomorrow's route

Tour guides have intimate knowledge of the area and can drop all sorts of fabulous knowledge bombs.

Tour guides also give you insights into how locals feel about what's going on in their country and around the world. So from them you get to learn about some truly local perspectives. And we all know that logic isn't universal – what seems logical to one culture can be very different in another, and it helps to have a guide with you to illuminate such things.

A Follow Alice group with their Bhutanese tour guide

Finally, tour guides are there to ensure you don't blunder unnecessarily in terms of local customs and sensitivities. They can also advise you ahead of time if you need to dress smartly or cover up in order to enter certain places.

6. Good tour guides get you good deals

When you travel with a tour guide, they (and the tour company they work for) are able to get you the best deals. They know which days have cheaper admittance fees, for instance. They can also sometimes get tour guide discounts that aren't available to tourists.

Finally, when you join a tour guide who's leading a large group, they're often able to get some sweet group discounts.

7. Good tour guides are photographers

Sometimes it's great to hand the camera to someone else to take a photo with you in it. 📸

They can take a snap for you ...

... or a selfie with all of you in it!

8. Good tour guides encourage you

On tough adventures like high-altitude trekking, most of us end up in need of some encouragement when the legs tire and the mind starts to tell you sneaky lies like you can't keep going. Your guide is invaluable is encouraging you in such moments. They can also provide little tips for the mind and body to help you to keep going.

One of our groups tackling the tough Kala Patthar near Everest Base Camp

A good tour guide believes in you and knows how to help you to believe in yourself.

We can't tell you how many folks have told us that they would literally not have made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro if it hadn't been for the support of their guides.

Our client George K. took this fab pic of two of his Kilimanjaro crew members

9. Good tour guides ensure you miss nothing

A tour guide knows the area intimately and knows of people, quiet spots and experiences that aren't discussed on any website. They're there to ensure you get the most out of your time, and have the most authentic experience possible.

Dean with his safari guide Heri on a walk near Lake Natron

This includes seeing animals!

Safari guides are trained to spot hard-to-see animals that city-dwelling mortals would surely miss. It's amazing the number of camouflaged animals and birds that safari guides are able to point out to clients.

Dannielle took this pic with her group's safari guide in Tanzania

They give you recommendations

A tour guide can also be invaluable in terms of recommendations for markets and shops to pop into, museums, galleries and palaces to visit, gardens and parks to explore, and so on.

And the reverse is true too. They know what places to avoid because they're actually letdowns, overcrowded or overpriced.

Amber on a chimp trek in Uganda

Tour guides also know where the locals like to eat – and those are often the places with the tastiest and best-prices meals. And when you have a local with you, there's no possibility of feeling awkward, like not knowing if you should seat yourself or wait to be seated. (Your tour guide is also a good person to ask about tipping customs.)

10. Good tour guides pivot when necessary

If you arrive somewhere and it's closed for renovations, or unexpectedly overcrowded, then your tour guide is able to pivot and suggest the next best option, or an alternative, to ensure you still maximise your time in the destination.

They really do take the headache out of travelling!

An experienced guide can pivot when necessary in a way that still gives you a memorable trip

11. Great tour guides celebrate your wins with you

A really great tour guide is invested in your trip. They want you to get the most out of the experience. And if it's an adventure trip with a set goal in mind, they want you to succeed in that!

Then, when you reach your mark, or push yourself beyond what you thought possible, a great tour guide is there to celebrate with you! They add to the victory moment by high-fiving you and generally making a fuss. 😄

Also, if you're a solo traveller, then it's especially wonderful to have another person there to make a noise about your win with you.

Tour guides are there to celebrate your achievements with you!

12. Great tour guides can even become friends

Sometimes, your tour guide adds so much to your trip, and you spend so much time together, that you end up becoming friends!

We cannot begin to tell you how many times this has happened on our trips. In their post-trip feedback, our clients often express not just gratitude for the encouragement and support of their guides, but also a genuine affection for these special people with whom they bonded and shared an incredible adventure.

One picture that perhaps best sums this up is this one below of Jack with one of his Kilimanjaro crew members at the end of the climb ...

Jack and David celebrating with Jack's summit certificate

A Day In The Life Of An Island Tour Guide

by Nieuwenhoven/Jackson

My nationality is Dutch, I am 53 years young, blonde with a history as a bar and hotel-restaurant owner along with a variety of other careers along the way. Seven years ago, I moved to St. Martin from The Netherlands/Holland. (We have such a small country, we have multiple names for it. And no, I do not wear wooden shoes.)

One of my jobs on the rock is playing tour guide. Since I live on Great Bay beach (yeah, I know, lucky me), I can bicycle to my “office” – the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facility aka The Cruise Pier or simply The Pier. I also am able to watch the cruise ships come into the port from my house. This is a wonderful sight, especially in high season (December – May), when we can have as many as six ships per day. I stand on my deck drinking coffee and take in the most beautiful traffic jam in the world. The most to ever dock/anchor in Great Bay at one time was nine, though six a day is pretty typical for at least two days out of each week. Just think: with about 4,000 passengers per ship with 2,000 crew each multiplied by six is a whole lot of people to suddenly arrive on a 37 square mile island!

My bicycle is the only handmade Batavus on the island, so I take really good care of it. It has little green and black leopard skin socks on the handlebars and a very long, steel-wired lock. When I first moved to the island, I always had this black, sticky stuff on my hands after cycling. This turned out to be the rubber of the handlebars that melts in the sun (a problem I had never encountered back home!). Green is my favorite color, hence the green socks, as well as the green horn it sports up front. Everyone on island uses their horns ferociously to say hello , thank you , and to generally make some noise, and my bike is no exception. I usually cycle over to the Pier via The Boardwalk. It is nice to see the beach boys setting up each morning. They range from dope-smoking, yelling, rude ones to very nice, happy guys. One of them calls me “Duchess,” for instance. Either way, I am usually stoned by the time I reach The Cruise Pier. (Just a little joke, haha, but I could be if I wanted to be!)

At the main entrance of The Cruise Pier is a security booth manned by about four security officers. I always take off my sunglasses – because I was brought up that way – and hold out my pass for one of the officers to scan. Once all is approved, I get back on the bike, hoping it’s not going to be one of those days when I’m held up. Somedays, I am stopped and informed that there is “No driving on the pier.” It is a two lane road which leads to the parking lot where busses, taxis, and people who work on the Pier park. These instances, I am told to “walk it to the parking lot” and all I want to reply is, “You have got to be kidding me, it’s a bike, not a bus!” But I know I have to keep my cool and play the game; the worst way to handle security here is sarcasm, lest they think I am undermining their intelligence. And so in these times, I simply walk my bike until I am out of sight, then get back on to cycle the rest of the way to the parking lot where I lock my bicycle.

On a six ship day, arriving to the port is is like being transported to Hong Kong, New York City, London, or pretty much any major metropolis. Crazy busy, bustling, and fun! The energy is contagious as most of the guides know each other and everyone is ready to make some money. To gather your people, you must first go to the “Shore Ex” (the Shore Excursion Manager), to report that you are so and so from such and such company and what time your tour is and find out how many guests are on your list. You then go to your designated spot and hold up your sign and wait for the guests to arrive. Meanwhile, you shoot the bull with some colleagues and tourists and generally have some fun.

Upon arrival, some guests will be there already waiting because they want the front of the bus. Being on the Pier first does not necessarily mean that you have the front seat since they are for the older and disabled passengers, but many a visitor does not understand that logic. Once my guests arrive, we make our way to the bus. Now, a cruise ship is about 800 ft in length and they are able to dock two in a row on The Pier, which means a walk is in order. Let me tell you, the majority of the people that book a cruise do not like to walk! “It’s sooo hot!” they whine. My advice? “Go to Alaska next time.”

Once we get to the bus, the fighting over the seats begins. When there is a problem and guests ask me to sort it out, I always have my answer ready: “Considering that we are all adults and I am not a Kindergarten teacher, I do not get involved in your seating choices, unless it comes to the disabled or the elderly.” I realize you have to be very careful how you say this kind of thing because cruise ship people expect to be bowed to and treated with the utmost respect, but once they start acting like children, all bets are off in my book. The key, I’ve found, is to be humorous and overpowering at the same time. Keep smiling and remember that they are our guests who may have saved up a lifetime to come to the Caribbean. This is all easily managed at the beginning of the season, say December. Though I must admit that when it gets to be March, it takes all my willpower to not become the drill sergeant from Hell.

We move about our day, throughout which the guests pepper me with questions , most being the same ones I heard the day before.The number one question I always get is, “Do you like living here?”

“Of course!” I answer affirmatively while thinking: No, I hate it here, sunshine all year long, flip flops all year, no winter coats, and beer that is cheaper than water. Pure awful. Obviously.

Another favorite, more of an observation than a question, is: “It must be great to be able to go to the beach every day!” Little do they know that we island girls also have to do grocery shopping, house cleaning, laundry, cooking, children stuff, bill payments, and all the other things that pretty much every person in the world must do. The business of living is still the same on an island. But I don’t want to burst their vacation bubble, so I just give them another cheerful, “Of course!”

Though there are some exhausting aspects to spending your days tour guiding, the one consistent benefit that keeps me going day in and day out is the reminder that, of course, they are so right. It IS great to live on Sint Martin! The friendly island, the noisy island, the gourmet capital of the Caribbean island. And it sure beats sitting in traffic in Europe, or wherever, to go to work each day. Give me the sunshine and the beach boys along the boardwalk any day.

And as for the tourists, without them I would not have a job. Besides – let’s be honest – it is sort of gratifying to be the envy of 54 guests a day!

Written By:

Ankie nieuwenhoven/jackson.

Current Rock of Residence:

Island girl since:, originally hails from:.

All over - Air Force brat but originally Dutch

Honky or Donkey – whichever you prefer – is how you pronounce Ankie, a Dutch nickname chosen for her since her real name is sooo long. Annemarijke was far too difficult to pronounce at roll call on the American Air Force base, Ramstein, in Germany where she grew up. Being an Air Force brat, she was used to moving around. She called Amsterdam home for a long time and operated a bar there (which is where she left a lot of her brain cells). Then, she moved to the north of the Netherlands for a while to operate a small hotel/restaurant. But her move to Sint Maarten, D.W.I. has been something else entirely. Ankie came to SXM to manage a well-known French restaurant for a couple of months in 2007 and moved into Ocean’s on Great Bay Beach….well, the landlord is now her partner and she moved from the 4th floor to the PH. Not bad, eh? But before Ankie and Dave were able to continue their life together, they both had to turn the world upside down (another story for another time). Let’s just say Dave did end up being her “knight in shining armor”. Not on a horse, but in a beat up Nissan Murano… still, it’s the thought that counts, right? So beginning in 2009, Ankie could officially call herself an island girl – just a very green, naive, unknowing, and gullible one. There is nothing that can prepare you for life in the Caribbean… Now, after 7 years, Ankie is a true island girl and loving every minute of it! Swimming is her Zen, cooking her hobby, and her Dave is her sexy rock on the rock. All brown pelicans are called Gerald and anything below 85 degrees is cold. She is known as The Dutch Girl, Queen of Ocean’s, or Duchess when she rides her Dutch-made bicycle along the boardwalk at terrifying speeds. Managing their Ocean’s condos, working as location manager for Flavors of St. Martin Food tours and senior epicurean guide keeps her in tune with her ROCK. After 12 years on SXM Ankie and Dave moved to a larger Rock….St. Lucia! Officially retired, married to her Dave and working on their project Jasdip. The magic inside-outside house! No more bicycles but back to riding horses. St. Lucia has the most amazing selection of food of  which many are healing and a whole new, massive door has opened for me to explore making teas, toothpaste and cooking fusion SLU. Many new stories in the making about this wonderful Belle Helene and getting older and hopefully wiser! Stay tuned!

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A Day in the Life | Freelance Tour Guide

     I realised recently that I’ve mentioned the fact that I’m working as a tour guide in a few posts , but I’ve never really written about it properly or anything. It’s been a long time since I did my last ‘day in the life’, back when I was working multiple jobs , so it seemed like a good time to update with my current situation.

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A Day in the Life of a Tour de France Rider

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The Commute

The wake-up alarm goes off about three hours before the stage start, explained Simon Gerrans of the Orica-BikeExchange team. Once out of bed, it’s off to breakfast and then onto the team bus for the commute. “Sometimes the transfers are under an hour, sometimes they're longer,” added Gerrans, who sadly dropped out of the race a few days after this interview when he suffered a broken collarbone after a Stage 12 crash.

During the bus ride (or soon after arrival at the start site), it’s time for the team meeting, when the day’s strategy is hashed out. “It takes about 1.5 hours to do the team meeting, get kitted up, head over to the sign on, talk to some fans , and hopefully get mentally prepared for the stage,” said Alex Howes, who rides for the U.S.-based Cannondale-Drapac team. 

Minus the fans, we're looking at a fairly regular work day so far. A commute , some meetings—sure, you're kitting up in spandex rather than business casual, but you like stretchy pants more, right?

The Daily Grind

After the start, it’s time to get to work, with each stage lasting in the neighborhood of five hours. What occupies that time on the bike varies dramatically, depending on how the day's race is going. If the race is “on,” then smashing the pedals will be your singular focus. But if there’s a breakaway up the road and calm in the bunch, you might have time to zone out or even chat with fellow racers. 

     Related: A Fan's Guide to Tour de France Breakaways

“I think about my home in Texas a lot,” said Lawson Craddock, a teammate of Howes. “But if I’m talking to other riders it’s usually about how are we ever going to get to Paris, or how many more days to Paris—it’s all about Paris…” 

And you can forget corporate-speak. Howes and Craddock’s boss, team general manager (and former Tour pro) Jonathan Vaughters, says the peloton has its own language; some combination of English, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and sometimes Russian. “The most common opening question is, ‘What’s your race schedule after this is over?’” said Vaughters. “It’s the pro cycling equivalent of, ‘What’s your sign?’”  

The Breakroom

Of course, there's time on each stage for a few bathroom breaks and a meal or two, albeit a little different than the ones you might take in the office.

“Generally, the big pee break of the day occurs when the breakaway of the day is finally established, sometimes after five minutes, sometimes after two hours,” said Vaughters. “The yellow jersey will roll to the front and make everyone see he's peeing. That's like a truce flag on a battlefield. Although sometimes it's a bit of a tactic to get things to calm down, too.” 

“Usually there’s at least two, sometimes three pee breaks,” said Howes. “Typically we all stop. It looks dumb to crash with your wiener in your hands.”

Lunch typically comes about halfway through the stage, though it varies depending on the day’s profile. And just like in grade school, if you don’t like what’s in your musette bag, you might find a friend to trade with.

“On long days I’ll eat six rice cakes, three paninis, a couple waffle things, a banana and three gels,” said Howes.  “And yes, sometimes we trade lunches with guys from other teams.”

“Basically we want the guys to eat as much as they can without bloating,” added Vaughters. “The rule of thumb is 100 grams of carbohydrates per hour. Hopefully they get a little fat and protein, too. But the pace needs to be a bit slower for that.”

     Related: Great Sandwiches for On and Off the Bike

Drinks are primarily self-serve, requiring one rider to drop back to the team car, load up with water bottles, and then deliver them to his teammates back in the bunch.

“Each one of us has to do it at least twice per stage,” said Craddock. “If you bring a friend you each carry five up. If you go it alone it’s ten. That happens about once an hour on hot days.”

Not Your Average Performance Review

As with any job, there’s a certain amount of anxiety included. Indeed, sometimes racing bikes is downright terrifying. So what worries these guys?

“ Spectators standing on the road or leaving things on the road,” said Gerrans.

“The climbs scare me the most,” added Craddock.

“Speed,” revealed Howes. “Nothing is scary standing still. A crouching tiger is harmless until it springs.”

“Everything,” lamented Vaughters. “Professional cycling is so amazingly dangerous. When we insiders hear of riders getting seriously injured or worse, unfortunately the thought in our head is usually, ‘It's a miracle this doesn't happen more often.’”

Sure, you're shuttling bottles instead of coffee, and bathroom breaks involve significantly more tactics—but at the end of the day, pro bike racers are a lot like the rest of us: just watching the clock and trying to get through the work day without crashing. Still think you want the job?

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Racing

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Mother’s Day 2024 is on Sunday, May 12, which means this holiday is quickly approaching! From the best candle I’ve burned lately to loungewear that feels like a soft breeze on the skin, here are my picks for our 2024 Mother’s Day gift guide . I’ve included a couple of my wish list items as well—hint, hint to the people in my life! 

These are my favorite Mother’s Day gift ideas for 2024…

1. follain candle #2.

I recently had this candle burning in my kitchen and entryway and it felt like a little trip to the spa. It’s a nice little pick-me-up that would be a perfect gift. The vessel is beautiful and it burns for a long time.

2. Gardening Gift Card

All I want for Mother’s Day are plants for my garden —and to look cute while gardening. Terrain is a great place to shop for gardening essentials online . Your local nursery is bound to have beautiful items as well—and in doing so, you’re supporting a local business. My favorite is Tonkadale .

3. Wit & Delight Striped Spiral Notepad

Our popular spiral notepads made a colorful debut at Anthropologie this month! They’re great for keeping on a desk or in the kitchen for jotting notes down. 

4. J.Crew Woven Straw Tote

$ 118 currently on sale for $85

A carry-all tote in a classic woven material stands the test of time and will get used year after year. 

5. L’Occitane Shea Nourishing Trio Set

My skin is dry year-round and high-quality hand cream from L’Occitane is always a welcome gift. 

6. Roxanne Assoulin Heart Necklace

This is a big statement necklace they can wear proudly with a simple white tee or their favorite dress. 

7. MERIT Summer Set

MERIT makeup is a dream for no-fuss beauty lovers. The summer set is a great gift for the upcoming warmer months, designed for glowy skin that doesn’t look glittery. 

8. Another Feather Platter Ring

I love an heirloom piece that is understated yet special and easy to wear daily.  Another Feather specializes in that kind of jewelry. Any one of their pieces would make a great gift, with my personal favorites being the Platter ring , Vase and Urn necklaces, and Natica earrings . 

9. Fortune Frame

A little frame to hold their favorite fortune cookie message? I think this is such a cute gift idea! I want one. 

10. Berti Red-Handled Italian Kitchen Knives

If the mom in your life loves to cook, good knives make the task a wonderfully meditative process. Handmade in Italy since 1895, these Berti knives are incredibly high-quality and would make an amazing gift.

11. Negative Underwear Whipped Track Pant & Henley

$185 & $125

The Whipped collection feels like wearing nothing! The material is so soft and supple. Any piece from this collection would make a great gift for someone who loves to get into their comfies at the end of the workday or linger in them long into a weekend afternoon. 

12. Anthropologie Wine Glasses

$ 72 currently on sale for $57

These wine glasses are fun and festive and make a great gift for a mother who loves to entertain. 

13. PASCAL Oval Bubble Diamond Watch

A cute little watch that is on the top of my wish list. 

Editor’s Note: This article contains affiliate links. Wit & Delight uses affiliate links as a source of revenue to fund the operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. Wit & Delight stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to  email us.

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle . Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_ .

BY Kate Arends - April 25, 2024

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