What Do Travel Guides Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Travel Guides plan, organize, and conduct long distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups. They also plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.

Other tasks include:

• Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
• Sell travel packages.
• Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
• Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
• Lead individuals or groups to tour site locations and describe points of interest.
• Verify amounts and quality of equipment prior to expeditions or tours.

We asked Travel Guides how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Travel Guides sell travel packages. They give advice on sightseeing and shopping.

A typical day for a Travel Guide will also include:

• Set up camps, and prepare meals for tour group members.
• Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.
• Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
• Attend to special needs of tour participants.
• Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.

We asked some Travel Guides a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	68% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	75% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	79% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Travel Guides also explain hunting and fishing laws to groups to ensure compliance. They may also pay bills and record checks issued.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Travel Guides Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites. They might also Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.

In addition, they Sell or rent equipment, clothing, and supplies related to expeditions.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.

To some Travel Guides, it is also their responsibility to Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Travel Guide, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/sales/travel-agents.htm

http://www.asta.org/

http://www.cruising.org/

http://www.iata.org/Pages/default.aspx