As the popularity of travel continues to rise, so too does the popularity of free Oxford walking tours led by young, inexperienced, unqualified, untrained guides with no life experience. While these tours may seem like a fun and inexpensive way to explore a new city, they are often nothing more than a waste of time.
Even worse are the free tours offering everything, including entry to places which are just not accessible!
First and foremost, these so-called free walking tour “guides” lack the necessary knowledge and expertise to provide a truly informative and engaging tour. They may be enthusiastic about the city they’re showing you, but enthusiasm alone does not make for a good tour guide. Without the proper training and experience, they simply do not have the depth of knowledge required to give you a comprehensive understanding of the history, culture, and people of the place you’re visiting. They are like undisciplined, unruly puppies, fun maybe, but wearing after a time!
Furthermore, these guides often lack the life experience needed to make their tours truly engaging. While it’s true that young people can be knowledgeable and passionate about their interests, they often lack the depth of understanding that comes with years of experience. A guide who has only recently arrived in a city, like a new student, or who has never lived anywhere else, simply cannot provide the kind of in depth, nuanced and insightful commentary that a more seasoned guide can.
Moreover, many of these free walking tours can be nothing more than a ploy to sell you something. These young, inexperienced guides may work for tips or for commission from local businesses, and as a result, their tours may be little more than a thinly veiled advertisement for restaurants, shops, or other attractions. This can be frustrating for travelers who are looking for an authentic and unbiased experience.
In addition, these tours often lack the professionalism and organisation that you would expect from a paid tour company. With no oversight or regulation, it’s all too easy for these young, inexperienced guides to make mistakes, get lost, or simply fail to show up. This can be especially frustrating if you’ve made plans around the tour, or if you’re on a tight schedule.
Finally, it’s worth noting that these free walking tours can be dangerous. Without proper training, guides may not know how to navigate busy streets, how to keep groups safe, or how to handle emergencies. This can put both the guide and the participants at risk, and is not a risk worth taking.
So beware the naive, immature, wet behind the ears, unworldly, un-housetrained puppies. You can have more fun, dive deeper in to local culture, and be enthused by passionate, experienced wise old owls! Visit the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides for more info about qualified, trained, experienced, local Oxford guides. Or see my own About Page!
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