I was absolutely fascinated by the idea of everything free in this world and especially such opportunities in travel! Only if recently I myself “ate free cheese”, now I decided to return the favor to the dear Universe and do something good, of course, for free!
Get approval by e-mail "from above" and beyond follow the news in a group where announcements of applications for greasers periodically appear;
First "catch" an interesting foreigner for you(not forgetting to correlate your language and other abilities with the wishes of the guest) and declare your desire to become a greeter for him on certain days and hours;
From the project coordinator get guest contacts, promptly write to him and arrange a meeting, not forgetting about the feedback from the coordinator, so that he is aware of what is happening;
meet a guest, take a walk, chat, enjoy mutual acquaintance, and also take a joint photo (even if it’s a selfie) and ask for feedback about a walk on the Tripadvisor website: link for St. Petersburg and for Moscow;
keep hunting for new foreign guests in your city!
Directly about your experience of participating in this project I can tell you a little for now, since my greeter debut was quite recent. I was going to show Dostoevsky's Petersburg to an aspiring Italian photographer, but in the end we went around, it seems, the whole history Center city, good weather and free time allowed it. In addition to traditional conversations about Russian culture (vodka-girls-bears), during the walk I took my new friend to the famous Pyshechnaya on Bolshaya Konyushennaya, and the tour ended with a delicious dinner, which I got as a “thank you” for the hospitality. I won't lie, it was nice)
She shared with me a much richer experience of "guest farming" one of the most active Moscow greasers Vera Kukoleva…
Vera, please tell us what funny things happened to your sightseers in Russia?
It is very touching to watch how foreigners diligently try to learn how to read Russian and remember basic expressions. Instead of a long and terribly difficult "hello", sometimes the familiar "hello!" is obtained, with which tourists intend to demonstrate their politeness in shops and hotels. Well, "Pestopakh" instead of "Restaurant" is a well-known story.
Once, sightseers from America asked where I usually buy matryoshkas. I immediately imagined how every weekend I go to the sales of Russian folk toys at a student discount. I had to tell you that practically only tourists buy nesting dolls.
And what negative emotions can you get from greetering?
Negative impressions from excursions are extremely rare. They are rather exceptions, confirming the rule that greetering always brings only joy. Sometimes it's a shame when guests are not at all interested in anything related to the history of the city, its architecture. Such people just want to “talk about life”, and the preparation of the excursion turns out to be useless. And for each walk I carefully prepare in advance: I select the material, I try to find something new and interesting.
The project is free, but it's always nice to get a "thank you" for your work. In what ways did foreign guests thank you?
It is very nice when guests bring me souvenirs from their country. Once a group from Brussels presented a box of real Belgian chocolate (delicious, delicious!), and tourists from Italy brought a traditional Neapolitan pendant for good luck. Some foreigners, knowing that the program is free, want to tip their thanks and pay for the tour, but I never take money: for me it spoils the whole charm of the walk.
Meeting a greeter with tourists is like meeting good friends. We communicate easily, exchange stories about life in Russia and abroad. I give guests advice on how best to spend time in Moscow, where to go, how not to get lost in the subway. Often we maintain relationships after a walk and really remain friends for a long time. And who would think of taking money from friends? Therefore, I fundamentally refuse to "pay".
I thank Vera for a piece of her experience that she shared with us, and I hasten to torment questions more and more creator of the Moscow greeter community Alexei Sotskov…
Alexey, please tell us about how the idea of creating such a project was born?
A few years ago I was going to go to New York and I was looking for free tours carried out by the residents themselves. I came across the Big Apple Greeter community, created to combat the stereotype that New York is a gangster city. Local volunteers showed the guests not famous sights, but the real life of the American metropolis, which turned out to be not so dangerous.
I really liked the idea of this project and I decided to organize something similar in Moscow. The emphasis was on linguistic students who lack language practice. There are a lot of conversation clubs and thematic lectures in foreign languages, but you usually have to pay to participate in them. And excursions for foreign guests are a free conversational practice, and even in an extremely informal setting. Greeters in many cities are mostly older people who have a lot of free time, while in Russia, on the contrary, there are more young people.
To what extent is it an official organization and does it have some kind of “head unit” that manages all regional ones?
So far, everything is managed by the virtual Global Greeter Network, which, however, has its own real president and even several departments responsible for marketing, accepting new members, etc. Annual meetings of the worldwide guitar community are held in various cities. There are plans to transfer the activities of the organization to the "official channel", but so far this is all at the design stage. It's funny, but some members of the Global Greeter Network, for example, all the same Greeters of the Big Apple (Big Apple Greeter) exist in a completely official form and are even sponsored by the city hall.
With this kind of support, I suspect that the New York greeter community is the most developed among its counterparts from other countries.
That's right, Big Apple Greeter is the most advanced, because they stood at the origins of a movement that originated as early as 1992, while their "official bosses" of the Global Greeter Network appeared only in 2005. On the this moment The New York Greeters Association has more than 70 members and conducts approximately 150 tours per month. True, it should be noted that such a high figure is achieved due to domestic tourists, that is, Americans from other states. We, unlike Big Apple Greeter, are more focused on working with guests from abroad.
Then let's just move on to the Russian greeter movement, tell us a little about its performance.
The Moscow community of greeters will soon be 4 years old, while the St. Petersburg community has been functioning for only 10 months. There are 70 participants registered in the capital, about 40 in the Northern capital. As for the number of excursions, it very much depends on the time of year. During the season in Moscow, about 50 walks are held per month with foreign guests, and in winter - only 20. In St. Petersburg, the numbers are still quite modest: only 40 excursions since the creation of the community. However, it should be noted that the number of interested tourists is increasing every year, so we hope that we will continue to grow and develop!
I can only thank Alexey for an interesting conversation and wish the Greeters of both capitals more interesting guests from all over the world!
Standard excursions are becoming a thing of the past, when a crowd of tourists is trying to keep up with the guide, take pictures, remember at least something from the speech, full of numbers, dates, historical references. In the 21st century, an individual approach that takes into account the needs of each client wins, which it can boast of. Clients are offered an exclusive created by a person who knows everything about his city and is able to captivate and intrigue the traveler.
Who is doing the tour
In places of congestion of tourists, both in megacities and in small towns, there will certainly be people of a creative warehouse who have a considerable store of knowledge. Among them may be professional historians and local historians, librarians, journalists and architects, teachers and art historians. The main thing is that these are caring, enthusiastic, sociable people with whom it is very interesting to spend time.
The future guide registers on the Tripster.ru website, passes an interview, presents a topic, and receives assistance in creating a unique project. The authors themselves set prices, but the competition is very high, so it is not in their interests to overestimate the cost of the service.
Reviews of people about excursion trips are full of gratitude and appreciation, allow you to better understand the specifics of the project.
Project Features
Created in 2013, the Tripster project began as a communication club where tourists exchanged experiences and shared valuable advice. As the community grew, it switched to autonomy, and in a few years it turned into a kind of travel club. Customers who have registered on the site are offered unusual excursions, the authors of which are local residents.
Indeed, who else can tell about the history, customs, curious facts from the life of the city and its inhabitants in such a fascinating, knowledgeable way? A walk organized according to the author's scenario will show local sights from an unexpected angle. From local residents the tourist learns information that guides from hotels or tour agencies never tell.
The first experiences of amateur excursions were successful and brought new customers. Wanted in all corners of the world Russian speaking guides well versed in various fields - from wine and coffee to high art. If you have something to tell about your city, you can try your hand and earn some money.
In addition to standard trips to places of worship, tourists:
- explore hidden corners cities;
- rise to rooftops and descend underground;
- tasting different varieties of coffee and tea;
- get acquainted with the technology of wine production;
- try their hand at pottery and painting;
- attend master classes in national dances;
- go backstage at the theatre.
Family excursions, interesting to all family members, regardless of age, turned out to be very popular. These are walks for inquisitive why-do-it-yourselfers, the wonders of the Moscow Kremlin, the skyscrapers of Moscow City. For children from 14 years old, exciting quests with treasure hunting, riddles and prizes are offered.
Tripster provides the client with new opportunities:
- non-standard approach;
- individual programs;
- an extensive selection of excursions around the world (409 cities);
- preliminary online booking;
- payment on the spot;
- security guarantee.
Service designed for solo travelers. Mass excursions with a large number of people are not provided. Everything is purely individual. The group includes only you and your companions. The guide himself sets the maximum number of wards, as a rule, no more than 10 people.
© evergreenkamal / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0
How to choose and book a tour
So, you have decided to travel and want to make it interesting and meaningful. Your actions:
- go to the official website;
- enter the selected city or country in the window;
- take a look at the offers and mark the option you like - look at the number of stars and read reviews;
- select a free day in the calendar and set a convenient time;
- contact the guide and discuss the details;
- enter your data (last name, first name, phone number, e-mail address);
- pay 16-20% of the total cost;
- The rest of the amount you give personally to the guide.
Users highly appreciated the benefits of buying excursions online. You get freedom of action, do not depend on the tour operator, save time and save your nerves. The agreement, which is concluded between the client and the site administration, guarantees security and is legally binding.
Payment Details
People don't like to pay in advance for services. The service provides the user with the opportunity to first get acquainted with the future guide and make sure that the excursion program suits him.
At the first stage, communication takes place in the form of correspondence on the site. Having finally decided, you transfer the advance payment to the guide. You can do this with Visa or Mastercard.
After this operation, you will receive the guide's phone number. He, in turn, opens your number, and you can keep in touch until the appointed time.
The main payment occurs immediately before the tour. If for some reason the meeting does not take place, the money will be returned to the card in full.
© [email protected]/flickr.com/CCBY 2.0
Promotions from Tripster
To return part of the money spent on the purchase of an excursion, Authorization on the site allows you to use promotions, discounts, often timed to coincide with a significant date or before holidays.
Promotional codes of both periodic and permanent action are laid out on the site.
If you set a goal and keep track of information about discounts, you can save from 5% to 10%. To use a nice gift:
- come in ;
- select a tour by clicking the "Order" button;
- specify the date and time;
- enter the currently valid promo code in the box at the bottom of the page.
The decision must be made quickly. Short promotional codes are valid for a short period of time - from 2 days to a week. The exception is long-term promotions, but the percentage of the discount will be less.
The project continues to develop, covering new, unknown corners of the planet. As a result, you will fill your vacation with new impressions and meet smart, enthusiastic people. You won't be bored!
In recent years, startups have been rapidly conquering the travel market: Uber has long been conquering a niche from the traditional taxi, and vacation rentals are taking the place of familiar hotels. But that's not all - with the help of online platforms, travelers can easily find a guide among locals who are willing to introduce the country from the inside. We have selected seven of the most interesting online services and applications.
Tours by Locals
Online platform Tours by Locals over the nine years of its existence, it managed to unite more than 2,000 guides and cover 159 countries. Only very small areas of shallow lagoons remain undeveloped, for example, Crooked Island, an island that is part of the Bahamas.
Here, travelers can either offer their own route to the guide, or choose an existing one. For example, for those who prefer quiet and secluded places, the service offers an eight-hour excursion to picturesque lands South Island New Zealand. Your journey will begin at the Akaroa Cruise Port, meeting your local guide. The program includes a tour of almost all the picturesque landscapes of the Canterbury region - in eight hours, tourists will see Rakaia Gorge, Coleridge Lake, Porter Pass and Crustchurch, New Zealand's third largest city. In addition to getting to know Southern region The program also includes a traditional dinner. National cuisine The country is represented by exotic Maori dishes - fried scorpions and larvae, snails and sheep's eyes.
Also on the online platform there are less intricate routes - for example, excursions to the main attractions of Western Europe. The website has the option to order group tour as well as individual. Accordingly, the price will depend on the choice - usually it does not exceed $ 100 per person.
Show Around
The Show Around online platform is considered one of the leading travel startups: the service has gathered more than 80,000 local residents under its wing and is already available in 204 countries.
Unlike a number of other similar services, Show Around performs only one function - it finds a guide. The tour route is planned after the choice of a temporary satellite, there are no ready-made options here.
Perhaps the main advantage of the platform is the calling cards of local guides. Here you can find literally everything - detailed information about the interests and knowledge of the culture of the region of each registered guide.
A tourist can rate his guide, as well as write a comment. “It keeps the guides on their toes and creates healthy competition that motivates people to work hard,” says Show Around founder Lynas Szablowski.
The average cost of a tour is about $15 per hour.
Show Around has had an iOS app for a long time, and recently the mobile service was made available to Android users as well.
Shiroube
The approach of the Japanese online service Shiroube is somewhat different from the rest - first of all, the tourist chooses the section of interest, for example, "Art and History", "Nature and Adventure", "Food and Wine", and only then begins to look for a guide. Using the site is very simple: there is an advanced search that allows you to select the language, age and even the gender of the guide. Each guide has its own profile, where tourists can see photos, main interests and offers.
There is no base of ready-made excursions here - the local guide comes up with a personal route for each client. However, the developers of the service still collect some statistics, for example, lists with the most common locations and recommendations are regularly updated on the site. So, during a trip to Shanghai, locals offer to walk along Nanjing Street and try dumplings - a dish similar to dumplings, but cooked according to an old Chinese recipe.
The service is focused on a fun pastime with visits to nightclubs, various workshops and non-tourist pubs, and the price of the tour usually does not exceed $ 400 for a group of four people.
The creators of Embark.org have chosen a narrower niche for themselves - the service is suitable for lovers of outdoor activities and extreme sports. As the developers note, the platform is more focused on creating a community with one common interest - a passion for active travel. As a result, the creators managed to combine business with pleasure - to unite fans extreme tourism and enable non-professional guides to earn.
This platform is good because it makes it possible to find a person who organizes for you leisure even in the center big city. For example, together with a guide, you can try yourself in rock climbing in the forest of Fontainebleau, the road to which from Paris will take no more than 40 minutes. Half of all offers are excursions for several days. The service offers extreme activities such as three-day rafting in India, kayak racing in Croatia and an eight-day hike to the peak on the border of Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont in Italy. All in the company of a local guide who knows his business.
The site also has a blog where travelers share their experiences, which will help you choose from a variety of options that is right for you.
Prices for guide services start at $80 per person for one day.
Launched just last year, the Vayable online platform has already earned the attention of The New York Times, CNN and The Wall Street Journal.
The service is focused on the central cities of Western Europe and the UK. The developers approached the project thoroughly: local guides will not only tell, but also teach. For example, one of the proposals is a course on photography at night in Paris. The guide will take tourists through the Latin Quarter and the Seine, as well as tell you how to take good night portraits.
Rent a guide
German start-up Rent a Guide offers guides for everything from dining at the best national traditions on the 123rd floor of the Burj Khalifa before flying to hot-air balloon or a jeep safari in the Arabian deserts. For those who love walking, Rent a Guide will prepare tourist excursions to the capital cities of Western and Eastern Europe.
The hot air balloon ride will cost $300 and the jeep safari will cost $45.
Airbnb, an online rental platform, launched the Trips project relatively recently - last fall. At the moment, the service operates in 12 cities and offers more than 500 excursions. The startup is more focused on leisure activities that locals can talk about. For example, you can visit a violin workshop in Paris, ride vintage cars, and even take part in a marathon in Kenya.
“We want to bring back the element of magic to travel, in the center of which is people,” said the head of the company, Brian Chesky.
In addition, here you can try your hand at charity work and take part in socially significant events, such as helping stray dogs and a workshop on creating art from garbage.
Unlike other online platforms, Trips has a very functional application, so with the help of Airbnb and its new service, you can literally plan your trip from start to finish.
Our turbulent 21st century dictates its own rules to us. Before our eyes, a generation of people who prefer to order everything directly to their homes is growing. Whether it's food from the supermarket or paying for plane or train tickets. At the box office of airports and railway stations, the queue is getting smaller every year, because all tickets can be ordered and paid online, the same thing happens with excursions.
At the moment, there are several services with which you can order and pay for excursions online without leaving your home. And in this note, as it is not difficult to guess from the title, we will tell you about one of the most popular excursion services -.
Tripster.ru is a project that, since 2013, has been individual excursions in 300 cities around the world. During this time, the site has earned a reliable reputation and literally overgrown with positive reviews from enthusiastic customers. The creators of the project conceived it as a service of unusual excursions with an individual approach to each traveler.
Tripster is ready to offer you:
- Guides whose eyes burn from their own tours. Among them are only interesting enthusiastic people: historians, art critics, architects, journalists. They themselves, “from and to”, specially develop their routes so that you are breathtaking from the impressions!
- Original excursions. “No banal excursions” is the motto of the Tripster.ru team. Each path contains mystery and adventure. Whether it's a trip on the rooftops of the city or museums of modern art.
- Individual approach. The service does not conduct tours for a crowd of tourists with a banal memorized historical reference. Everything is different here. All the attention of the guide is only for you and your companions.
Tripster News: Black Friday with Tripster
From 23 to 26 November 2017, Tripster offers discounts to numerous destinations, including almost all European capitals and not only!
You can find out more about the promotion.
Tripster official website
Tripster.ru official website (Tripster.ru)- . Answers to frequently asked questions and customer reviews -.
Tripster.ru service allows you to:
- Choose on the site a unique author's tour, which was invented by the guide himself. Read more about it and the guide, get acquainted with the reviews of those who have already visited it.
- In advance, online, book a date and time that is convenient for you.
- Chat with the guide before paying for the tour without leaving home.
- Pay immediately not the entire amount, but only 16% of the cost of the tour. The rest is paid on the spot to the guide. Moreover, if your tour for one reason or another does not take place, the money will be fully returned to you.
As you can see, the conditions of the site are transparent and very simple, and the services are designed to provide an individual approach to each customer.
Advantages of booking excursions online on Tripster.ru
If to speak in a broad sense about the advantages of buying excursions online, we highlight the following:
- it gives you freedom, which is very suitable for people who like to plan their own trip and not depend on tour operators.
- it saves you time– you no longer need to surf the Internet for hours collecting information about excursions, the entire list with a description and cost is already on the site in front of your eyes.
- it saves your nerves in peace - you no longer need to bargain with local sellers of tickets for excursions and worry that you can be deceived (whoever bought an excursion from the hands of local residents at least once knows well what they are talking about).
In the case of Tripster, it is also important to understand one more thing - the site presents a unique product that you simply will not find in tour operators!
