Free Tour Concept

The Free Tour concept has been around for a while, but it's a relatively new way to explore cities compared to the traditional tour concept, which of course has a much longer history. Many of today's young travelers will be aware of or familiar with free walking tours, which have become increasingly popular in recent years and are always available in major destinations and even beyond.

While the word "free" has obvious appeal for budget-friendly travelers, it can also be a word that can set off alarm bells; especially when it comes to something like guided tours, which traditionally carry relatively high costs and form a significant part of a given industry. But when it comes to free tours, "free" doesn't mean there's no value. On the contrary, free tours are a concept that can be truly valuable, beneficial and rewarding for all types of travelers.

One of the frequently asked questions is “how can tours be free?” Tours are 'free' because with regular tour providers' services there is no set price for you to join the tour, there is no set fee to be paid for the tour experience itself. Instead, you have the freedom to 'tip' your guide as you wish after the tour.

This may perhaps be an 'odd' idea to get used to at first, but there are a number of reasons why these types of tours have become popular as a convenient way to explore cities. Since guides do not receive any other income (from any organization or local agency) for giving these tours, this means they must actually earn their tips. Since guides' income will often vary from tour to tour, guides are always motivated to deliver a quality tour; This means they may not be able to hold their own as easily as on paid guided tours. For the concept to work, the tour itself needs to be great.

Tip: Things to Consider When Getting a Free Tour

Moreover, tipping your guide at the end of the tour means that the power is in your hands. Although it is not required, you decide how much the tour is worth or how much you can afford to pay. There is no risk of being 'robbed' or not getting your money's worth, as you will determine the price-performance ratio yourself.

Tip for tipping: If you decide to tip, it's a good idea to divide your maximum tip budget into smaller portions. This way, when you give your guide your self-determined perfect amount (after the tour, of course), you won't fall short or have to pay them a huge bill if you think they deserve more. do it. Don't bother asking for the money back later.

Although they receive tips from tour participants, the risk factor is carried by tour guides since there is no obligation to tip. Fortunately, the growing popularity of free tours and the growing number of free tour providers around the world is proof that this 'non-traditional' style of city touring works; People see the value of this concept and the unique benefits it offers, meaning they will get great quality tour experiences and tip their guides accordingly, saving much more money than on paid tours.

In most cases, tour guides who offer free tours are independent, freelance tour guides. Young people are often attracted to free tours, which give them great flexibility in working and studying, and guides receive tips rather than a pittance for their efforts. Plus, these local freelance guides can really bring their own personality to their tours, show you their city and offer their best tours. The experience is often colored by the guide himself and is not based solely on a standardized 'tour' or 'script'. “This leads to a more authentic, passionate and rewarding impression of a place and its people, history and culture.”