Become a Professional Tour Escort

Do you possess a love of travel, a good memory, sense of humor, and ability to speak in front of a group? If so, then working as a travel or tour guide could be the ticket for you! CruiseJobFinder profiles travel companies that hire guides throughout the world and you'll find that their jobs are posted in our members only job center. Join today and gain immediate access to our Members Section.

Living day to day in different locations and traveling all over beautiful countrysides, is what being a tour guide is all about. Our members only job board includes land tour company profiles as well as their job openings. Not only can you apply for lots of land tour guide jobs, but you will also find exclusive information and tips for working as a tour guide and what is required when you apply.

Escorted Tour Overview

Being a tour guide involves taking groups of tourists into certain areas as part of their vacation. Perhaps to a botanical garden, up the Empire State Building, or on a nature walk. You will teach them about the different areas you are taking them, and give them opportunities to visit interesting places and the best attractions in the area. For these escorted tours, you will have to have extensive knowledge about each area and understand how to make your tour feel comfortable and excited. You should have a friendly and approachable personality and be a good speaker. Tour guide employment can be found all over the world, and if you want to explore other countries yourself, then this type of work is perfect for you, as you get to explore and visit all the attractions while getting paid for it. Tour guide employment will keep you very busy and you may only get a day or two to yourself within a month. If you don't mind constantly being on the move and traveling, you should log in to our Members Area and check out the JobCenter.

Travel Guide Responsibilities

When you are a travel guide and lead an escorted tour, you will be the medium between the visitors and the country you are in. You will need to have extensive knowledge of the areas you are touring, which may be hard if you are also a visitor. Well, you will undergo training and you will need to explore on your own for a period of time and brush up on your history, geography, and culture of the area in order to be a successful tour guide. You will serve as an ambassador for others from your country and worldwide, so the ability to speak certain common languages, especially English is a must. You will also need to be able to deal with lots of people, sometimes up to 40 or 50 are in a tour, caring for them, answering questions, and handling emergencies, creating safety procedures and taking charge.

Types of Tour Guide Employment

Coach Narrating: One of the most common types of land tour jobs is that of a coach tour. This is where the tour group steps onto a special coach that takes them on a tour of the city or state. This can last anywhere from 1 day to 10 or more, so extensive knowledge of a large area is required. You will get specific information from the tour company and eventually you will narrate the tour by heart, sometimes improvising along the way.

Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Tour: Instead of a traditional land tour, you may find yourself leading a group of passengers on a cruise ship. You will get to experience life on a cruise ship will all the finest cuisine and accommodation while you get paid. When the cruise ship pulls into a port, you will lead the group onshore to see the sights and discover the exotic destinations that lie before you.

Adventure Travel Jobs: If you are an excellent horse rider, mountain biker, or enjoy hiking, then you can lead a group of adventure travelers on cross country trips and outdoor adventure tours in beautiful destinations. You can also find tour guide jobs on Quad Biking tours in Namibia, Safari tours in Botswana, Glacier tours in Alaska, and wine tours in many of the stunning wine regions of the world including Italy, France, and Argentina, and South Africa.

You can find plenty of travel guide jobs like this when you become a member, so don't hesitate to take a trip, explore the world, and earn a great living! Learn about what qualifications you need, tips before you start your tour, and how to apply.

Seasonal Travel Guide Work

If you want to get the best of all areas and experience part of the country during certain seasons, then taking on seasonal travel guide work is an excellent choice. Most travel and tour companies offer transfers so that you can work in one place during the summer season and then move onto to another destination during the winter months. You could for example work in Africa during the winter months of April to October, where it is fairly warm and there are lots of animals to see, and then switch to working in Europe during their winter season for the skiing tours in Switzerland and Austria.

Living life as a tour guide is not for everyone, but if you love the adventure and don't mind having a different home all the time, you will find this industry to be perfect!