There are a couple of different types of jobs that fall under the "tour guide" title. On the one hand, there are "tour escort" jobs. These positions usually involve simply traveling with the tour and dealing with any problems that may arise. On the other hand there are "tour director" jobs. These positions involve a greater amount of skill and experience, as tour directors actually book lodging and decide which sights the tour will visit. Tour directors may or may not travel with the group. Most first-time employees work as tour escorts and are promoted to tour director when they are experienced.
Tour escort jobs do involve the fun and excitement of traveling, but you shouldn't forget that it is a real job. Tour escorts are basically responsible for seeing to all passengers' needs - period. Whether it's dealing with an emergency like finding a drugstore for a passenger who needs a fresh supply of Depends undergarments, or finding an extra room in an over-booked hotel, it's all up to you. But most tour guide duties are not quite so dramatic - usually tour guides spend their days answering general questions about places on the trip itinerary, making sure clients arrive at museums or guided tours on time, and confirming hotel and restaurant reservations. But every day is a potential challenge because of factors beyond the guide's control. For example, say your group has a walking tour of a Civil War site scheduled for two o'clock, a part of the tour that's been planned for months. But at two, it's raining like cats and dogs. What are you going to do? Wait it out, risking that the rain may not stop, or do something else?
In addition to dealing with the logistics of the trip, tour guides also act as traveling companions for the clients. Almost all waking hours are spent with passengers - meals, entertainment, and riding on the motor coach. A real ability to communicate with people of different ages and backgrounds is essential if you want to be a successful, happy tour guide.
Within the general category of tour escort jobs, there are several variations:
Land Tour Guide
Land tour jobs are the most common positions among tour escorts. These jobs typically involve meeting a group of passengers at an airport, giving them a general orientation to the trip, and taking them to the selected destinations by bus. Along the way, you spend the night in hotels. Side trips may involve travel by boat, airplane, or helicopter. Some of the more popular designations include the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Florida, and New England.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of land tour guides is keeping up-to-date on all the different areas included in the tour itinerary. Because land tours typically involve a number of destinations, guides are not expected to be experts, but a solid knowledge is required. Most tour guides read a couple of books on their destinations before embarking on the trip.
Shore Excursion Guide
As mentioned in the cruise line section of this manual, shore excursions are side trips taken by cruise line passengers. Besides giving them an opportunity to get off of the boat for a few hours, shore excursions are popular for their educational and entertainment value. Shore excursion guides typically give walking and/or bus tours of a relatively small area. One of the most popular destinations for land tour companies is Alaska, which is now one of the most traveled destinations for cruise line passengers. In fact, shore excursions in Alaska can be quite extensive, even involving overnight stays in places such as Denali which are hundred of miles inland.
There are a couple of potential advantages to working as a shore excursion guide, as opposed to a land tour guide. For one, shore excursion guides live in the same place for the entire season. If you think constant traveling may not be your cup of tea, but you still want to visit an interesting place, working as a shore excursion guide may be a good option. Also, shore excursion guides, especially in Alaska, can easily be hired for a short, summer season that does not necessitate taking time off from school (as a few land tour jobs may, especially when traveling overseas).
"Step- On" Tour Guide
Throughout a cross-country land tour trip, step-on guides are frequently used to provide in-depth information about cities, parks, and historic sites along the way. These employees basically take over the tour from the land tour guide (giving him or her a break from being in the spotlight), while providing narration and possibly walking tours. The lifestyle of the step-on guide is similar to that of the shore excursion guide mentioned above. Step-on jobs are good opportunities if you want to stay near home for the season and happen to live near a major park or other point of interest.
Specialty Tour Guide
While the specialty tour business is constantly changing, there are a couple of main types - eco-tours and adventure tours. Eco-tours specialize in showing customers unspoiled wilderness with an emphasis on ecology and environmental preservation. These tours are typically small ship cruises with extensive shore excursions. Guides work onboard and may have several different duties to perform. However, first-year employees are frequently hired for kitchen and maintenance positions - not especially enticing jobs, but you should keep in mind the places you will visit and that you will have a good chance of advancing to a guide position for the next season.
The other type of specialty excursions are called "adventure tours," which include both rafting and bicycle tours. Guides are responsible for the safety of customers, especially when rafting, so related experience is usually required for guide positions. Guide applicants should get first aid and CPR certification at a local YMCA or Red Cross. The courses are free, quick and easy. Certification also makes a big difference when you apply for a job. However, many companies offer training courses for new guides that will qualify even inexperienced rafters for employment. If your schedule doesn't permit taking the course (which usually lasts about a month), there are other positions available such a drivers and base camp workers that also offer a good opportunity to work in an interesting location.
Other Opportunities
The rigors of life on the road are usually too much for most people to enjoy for more than a few years. However, the experience gained in working in the tour guide business has definite career advantages. After guides have gained a real understanding of how the land tour industry works, common career paths take them into tour management. These managers can be responsible for everything from scheduling and planning itineraries, to sales and marketing. Most tour managers also take occasional trips as guides, so there are still excellent travel opportunities. Still other guides work for shore excursion companies and live in the Caribbean, Bahamas, or even abroad. Who knows, you may even start your own tour business! On the other hand, many tour guide pros continue to work as guides on a freelance basis. After a guide has proven him or herself with a company, it is possible to lead tours during vacation from a regular job or over summer break.
