| Guide or Companion? | |
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| Feb 6, 2006 20:38 |   |
 | I am planning to see mainland China this year, and before I found this site I came across a few sites that had tour guides available. (Great idea!) However, the price seems to reflect a big difference if they are a Companion vs. a Guide. This has been bugging me and at the risk of it Being a Stupid Question...what is the difference between a travel Guide and a Companion? Is it the same thing? |
| Feb 6, 2006 20:42 | #1 |
| Haha,saberxlcr, Usually they are different,but they are some in some way! If you have a local friend in your destination,and he or she was a guide and a companion when you visit there! |
| Feb 6, 2006 21:11 | #2 |
| Well, guide and travel companion are quite different. In present day China, all the licenced tour guides have to work for travel agencies, free lance tour guides are not legal by this time. They work for travel agencies and are responsible for their companies, service qualities thus can be guaranteed. In case there is anything or accidents, you get somewhere and could find some one to claim a refund or a reasonable resolution. There are quite a number of 'underground' tour guides seeking business by themselves around almost all the major travel attactions. There are lots of Hidden troubles. If the Travel Companion you mean happens to be your friend/s or people you've known, that's very good, even better than tour guides. But if that is not the case, to tell the truth, 'travel companion' is not a good word. It indicates something bad behind its literal meaning. Such as they yeah extremely high prices and offer some 'special' services. Most of them are not professional guides, they might not have much knowledge about the places you'll visit. They earn money by companion, it has nothing to do with 'travel'. Like California said, they are same in some way, 'some' here means 'little'. That's my understanding of tour guides and travel companions. :-) Good luck! |
| Feb 6, 2006 21:26 | #3 |
| California & Rita: You have very diplomatically answered my question, thank you! I think this is a good thing for people to know when travelling to China. I had a suspicion but was not sure: the 'Companion' always had very nice photos/very attractive and no real detail of what their tour expertise was about. So I guess in western terms they are...an Escort. |
| Feb 6, 2006 21:30 | #4 |
| Hi,Saberxlcr, Actually,I love meeting companions when I was travelling alone.You can meet many different persons,have different ideas in the same thing or place. It was also made my mind and eyes were opened a lot,I love to meet companions during travelling. |
| Feb 6, 2006 21:35 | #5 |
| Hey California, When I said 'Travel Companions', I meant '伴游', I am not sure if it became a kind of 'career'. Of course travel with companions are good. :-) |
| Feb 6, 2006 21:40 | #6 |
| Hello! From my understanding of these two words: Travel guide: You don't have to worry about getting lost because they have professionals showing you various attractions (depending on which travel plans you purchase). You get three meals a day plus accomadations. Also, the service of the guides depends on how much your package is worth. They also offer travel insurance if the plan is purchased weeks ahead. The down-side: When you travel alone in a tour, you have to pay supplemental fees (up to $300 more USD) for sleeping in a hotel room fit for two person. Travel companion: As Rita mention, depending on how you term "companion". If it's someone you don't know who offers their time for a certain amount, it's not a good bet. Best to stick with a licensed agency if you really want that kind of travel companion. If the companion is a friend, then you'll save on your travel. You don't need to purchase package deals to have them take you around. You and your friend can do the exploring yourself. Just buy the airfare and the accomandations. However, with tour packages today, it's really affordable to join travel tours. From my experience, buying tickets alone versus buying package deal is just a couple of hundred dollars difference. Imagine all the other good stuff included in the package! |
| Feb 7, 2006 02:35 | #7 |
| Hi,Rita, Maybe it becomes a career in the future! |
| Feb 7, 2006 03:13 | #8 |
| You guy's are all so very.....滑稽滑稽滑稽!!! :) :) Another reason this site is such a joy !!! :) :) |
| Apr 5, 2006 14:31 | #9 |
| Hi, A little about my modest experience. First time I visit China, my travel agent provide me a private guide. It was not so expensive even she was graduate and very professional. Mostly she explain me many interesting things about place we visited and I can see she know deeply story about China country and culture. For me, she's really a guide as serious job. Second time, I find by myself companions here: http://www.viplily.com/ and http://www.kanxiqi.com/ It was very cheap maybe because girls not graduate as travel guide. But they know very well their city and they are smart. Also, they are very friendly and our relationship become close quickly. Finaly, at the end of the day, she's propose me special service for xxxx RMB. For me, it's difference between guide and companion, depend what we need and...mood... |
| Apr 5, 2006 21:06 | #10 |
| Haha,Flav, You have got "luck of peach blossom":-)But unlucky,you have to pay!!! Funny! |
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