"Tours by locals alternative" is searched by people who saw the prices. Here is what ToursByLocals is and charges, when a licensed guide is worth every dollar, and when a local's time is the better buy.
What ToursByLocals is#
A Vancouver-based platform, operating since 2008, that connects travellers with licensed or professional private guides worldwide; it raised $33 million in 2020. TechCrunch reported a 20% commission on bookings, with guides keeping about 80%; review sites quote 20 to 25%, set guide by guide in the contract. Prices are guide-set and commonly $150 to $500 and more for a day, more with a vehicle. The guides are the real thing, and the reviews say so.
When you actually need a licensed guide#
- Monuments, museums and history told properly: the Vatican, Angkor, the Acropolis, a battlefield.
- A car and a driver for a day trip.
- A cruise day with a hard return time and a port that is hard to leave alone.
- Cities that license guiding at points of interest (New York is one); local tour guide in New York.
When you do not#
Eating where locals eat, getting around, a neighbourhood on foot, a market, a game, a night out, practising a language, a first weekend in a city you just moved to. That is company and local knowledge, not a tour, and paying tour prices for it is the mistake this search is trying to avoid. Roavi vs traditional tour guiding draws the line.
The cheaper options for a local's time#
| What you get | What it costs | Caveat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roavi (ours) | A resident by the hour, your plan, platonic, in public | Their own rate, most $15 to $50 an hour; no commission | Not a licensed guide; thin in many cities |
| Withlocals | Curated experiences with vetted hosts | Listed price plus 10% guest fee | Set menus |
| Showaround | A local by the hour | Local-set rate | Weak reviews |
| International Greeter Association | A volunteer local, two to three hours | Free | Book ahead |
Many travellers do both on one trip: a licensed guide for the one site that deserves it, a Local Friend for the evenings.
Browse local guides free, message free, pay only the person's own rate.
Meet local guidesFrequently Asked Questions
What is ToursByLocals and how much does it take?
A Vancouver-based platform for private tours with licensed or professional local guides, operating since 2008 with a $33 million funding round in 2020. TechCrunch reported it earns about a 20% commission on bookings, with guides keeping roughly 80%; review sites quote 20 to 25% set guide by guide. Prices are guide-set, commonly $150 to $500 and more for a day.Do I need a licensed tour guide?
For monuments, museums and history told well, for a car and a driver, or for a cruise-day excursion with a hard deadline, yes. For eating, getting around, a neighbourhood, a game or a night out with someone who lives there, no: that is company and local knowledge, which a Local Friend on Roavi provides by the hour at a lower price.