UPS AND BENEFITS OF HAVING A PRIVATE TOUR GUIDE IN ISTANBUL
It is clear that when you are travelling abroad, there are possibly uncountless things to see and discover. Your to-do list may extend forever and ever. It can be difficult to know where to start and how to start. In deed, chances are you can easily waste your time or get lost as you explore a city that you are not familiar with at all.
With that being said, considering how vast and how crowded a mega city İstanbul is, it would be impossible to navigate on your own through the hectic and chaotic life of Istanbul. With roughly 25 million inhabitants and 3 million tourists everyday commuting, Istanbul is always busy any time of the year and has a lot to offer to its visitors. Knowing that there are so many things to do and so a little time you have, hiring a private tour guide in İstanbul is one perfect solution to this problem.
ISTANBUL PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS
Istanbul local tour guides, first and foremost, help you discover the unexplored streets and corners, they take you to food joints from local to fancy, they show you architectural structures of Istanbul and lead you in the pathways of civilizations. They advise you the coolest art galleries. They company you to enjoy the night life of İstanbul. They help you for your shopping spree and give you bargaining insights. They convey cultural and historical information and help you understand the past. Altogether, a private tour guide can save you time and money, help you get the most out of your visit and see the best version of the city.
Especially, Istanbul tour guides are very capable in discovering the historical parts of Istanbul. Most tour guides are born and bred in the area, so they know the streets and neighborhoods like the backs of their hands. This makes them worth every dollar you spend hiring them. Your private tour guide will tell you all the history and importance of the monuments in detail.
Having a local tour guide comes in handy in many ways. Keep in mind that when you are on vacation, every hour counts. After all, time is limited and Istanbul is huge. For example, you will realize in situ that in front of every major museum in Istanbul, there are long queues. But, there is no need to panic; when you are under the umbrella of your private tour guide, you do not have to wait in long queues. You will jump ahead hassle-free and the guide will get you in rapidly. That will save you a lot of time and energy. Private tour guides and his/her people in the company are allowed to get to museums without waiting in long queues. Additionally, when you have your private guide, you do not have to wait for other people in the group as in regular tours that are oftentimes burdensome.
During the tour, it is suggested that you shall visit Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Obelisks, Cistern Basilica, Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, and Dolmabahçe Palace. There will be a lunch break any time you want. You will also be given free time at Grand Bazaar for shopping. Your guide will help you with some bargaining games which are part of the shopping in Turkey.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR GUIDE ?
It is safe to say that you can find private tour guide in every major language. From English to Spanish and from Chinese to Korean. We can easily claim that the price of the tour guides varies from language to language and it depends on time elapsed with the tour guide. On average, a tour guide who will be at your service for 7 hours and will ask a price between 150$ to 250$. Please note that it will be good gesture to offer your guide a meal during the tour and give him/her some tips at the end of the tour if you really liked his/her service.
There will be a small price difference for groups of more than 6 people. In addition, the fee for the guidance service in languages other than English is slightly different. For more detailed information and questions, please contact us.
You can expect numerous things from your tour guide and here are some of the vital ones:
1- Personalized Tour Design
Larger tours with dozens of tourists cover a broader list of destinations and topics, some which might not be of your interest. This can, at times, feel like a total waste of time. Private tour guides design sights and destinations with you and your interests in mind. This means you will only visit what you prefer and nothing else.
2- Flexibility
When you are travelling with a group, you do not have the flexibility to take spots and explore the more exciting places. You have to go with the plan that is finalized by the group’s guide. In private guided tours, the schedule and timing are more flexible.
3- Saving Time
With limited time, it becomes difficult to explore the best spots and experience the best things around the city. When you are travelling a large group, you tend to waste a lot of time as you are supposed to go with the entire group. Not only private guide is a well-informed local who makes informed decisions, but they even ask you questions to design tours with you in mind.
4- Communication
When you visit a new country, it becomes challenging to communicate if the language is totally unknown to you. Therefore, having a private tour guide who speaks the language can be a great help.
6- Cultural Insight and Protection
Every destination that you visit had its own distinct cultural traditions. For example, in İstanbul, the residents shake hands and bow a little when they meet you. That is their way to meet and greet you. If you do not do the same, they might find it rude. Or, barganing in Istanbul is part of the culture and it will not be misunderatood as in most parts of Europe. Apart from cultural expectations, you also need to be in line with the laws and rules of the state you are visiting. It is a good idea to have a tourist guide with you as they can offer added insights to save you from embarrassments or worse.
