Why you must hire a Private Tour Guide

Private Tour Guide

Why you must hire a Private Tour Guide
I am a strong advocate of hiring a local guide when touring. I know some of you are thinking ..."I paid all this money for this Lonely Planet/Frommers guide book, why do I need a human guide?"


When I first started traveling I felt the same way. Why spend the money when I am an educated woman who can figure things out on my own.. It's crazy that money I save ,I can now spend the gift shops. Who wants to follow some silly know-it-all guide waving a a umbrella around?

Private Tour Guide

When touring a site there is much more to see and experience then what it in the guide books. I found myself ease dropping in on other guided tours. I was dismayed to hear tidbits not found it my books. The last time I visited Versailles I hired a private guide. It was money well spent,even though I had been before,at which time I paid for one of those audioguided tours. An audio tour or audio guide provides a recorded spoken commentary, normally through a handheld device. I remember being very stressed out during my self guided tour because of the crowds and fiddling with the headset.

Private Tour Guide

Having my own private guide was like night and day. My guide Antonio not only knew how to navigate the crowds (it was even more crowded that day)  he also was able to answer any questions I had at the moment. What a relief not having to try and find the answer in a guide book. He was also able to make the tour more interesting  because of his endless knowledge on the history of Versailles. He could gage my reactions and go in depth on the the things that I was interested in and skim over what was boring to me. I was so happy with Antonio I also hired him to show me the Louvre.


As far as the cost , yes it was more than an audio tour but there was a group of us that chipped in so it helped with the cost. Remember, you get what you pay for.There was other ways he saved us money. We where going to take a private car to the Louvre not being comfortable with the train system. He told us to meet him at  certain metro stop  he would show us the way.  It was so easy we felt silly afterwards  thinking about the money we would of wasted on a car.


Still not convinced...here are my reasons for hiring a private guide.

• Their Brains..what they know

Private Tour Guide

 You see a building and want to know more about it. A guide book will give the facts in black and white. A good guide will tell you anecdotes about the building and its history in color.  You see the building in a new light, your guide has given it a soul. They will tell you facts that you will find interesting that you would not of even known to ask. I find that every place has its tantalizing secrets ... the local tourism board doesn't like to advertise but your guide will tell you.

• Saves you time

 You will not waste your time reading plaques or trying to decider maps . Your guide will know where he/she is going and will guide you around in a efficient manor. While doing this they make sure that you don't miss out on anything of importance. You should never feel rushed because the guide knows how to get you the information you need in a timely manner.

• Helps with other aspects of your journey

Private Tour Guide

A good guide will question you on your trip. They will want to know where you have seen and what you plan on seeing. Partly yes, to see if they can maybe pick up more business guiding you again. You know that as much enthusiasm as they have for guiding it is not a hobby. For many guides this is the way they support their family. Even if you don't hire them again they are usually more than willing to give you free advice on your itinerary. Most guides will tell you about the best ways to exchange money. Where it's not safe to venture on your own. They will give suggestions for dining, shopping and entertainment. Remember that sometimes the guides do make commission these tips. I found though that they usually don't steer you wrong because their reputation is also on the line. They also realize that word of month is how they get a huge share of clients.


You spent a lot of money and time to get to your destination. While you do not need a  private guide 24/7, but just  for a couple of hours a day. You will find that hiring a private guide will greatly increase the value of your trip. Finding a good guide can be tricky. I think the best way is word of mouth. Ask around, do your research, get referrals. After all that has been said... some of the best guides I had... I just picked up along the way.

Senegal Food

Senegal Food

Senegal Food and Dining

The cuisine of Senegal has been influenced by nations like France, Portugal, and those of North Africa, and also by many ethnic groups, the largest being the Wolof; 

Cuisine from all over the world can be found in Senegal, including Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and other international tastes. Fast food chains are rising in popularity due to convenience and their family oriented style.

Because Senegal borders the Atlantic Ocean, fish is an important staple. Chicken, lamb, pea, eggs, and beef are also used in Senegalese cooking, but not pork, due to the nation’s largely Muslim population. Peanuts, the primary crop, as well as couscous, white rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, black-eyed peas and various vegetables, are also found into many recipes. Meats and vegetables are typically stewed or marinated in herbs and spices, and then poured over rice or couscous or simply eaten with bread.

Drinks

Senegal Food

• 
  Toufam (a kind of yogurt thinned with sugared water).
• Mint tea, the first cup drunk slightly bitter, the second with more sugar and the third very sweet.
• Palm wine, which is drunk either fresh or fermented.
• Home-roasted coffee with pimento.
• Popular fresh juices are made from bissap, ginger, Buy (pronounced bouy) which is the fruit of the baobab tree and mango. 

National specialties

• Thiéboudienne or Ceebu jën, flavorsome marinated fish cooked with tomato paste and a variety of vegetables, the national dish of Senegal.
•  Yassa, chicken or fish simmered in onion with a garlic, mustard, and lemon sauce.
•  Tiebou dienne (herb-stuffed fishcakes with rice).
•   Maafe, seasoned fish, chicken, lamb, or beef cooked with vegetables in a peanut sauce.
• Dem à la St Louis (stuffed mullet). 
• Avocat au Crevettes (avocado stuffed with shrimp).
• Bassi-salté, seasoned meat cooked with tomato paste and vegetables over a local couscous called "cere".
• Sombi, sweet milk-rice soup.
• Capitaine à la Saint-Louisienne, perch stuffed with spices.
• Poisson à la braise, grilled fish flavored with lemon, garlic, and black pepper.
• Dibi, simmered, grilled lamb.
• Thiou, a bouillabaisse with vegetables.
• Fondé, rolled millet-balls in sour cream.

 Desserts

• Thiakry, a couscous pudding.
• Cinq Centimes, the Five-Cent Cookie, a peanut cookie popular in marketplaces.
• Banana Glace, a sophisticated banana dessert . Mamadou is the young owner of Les Cannibales Deux Restaurant in Dakar who went to Paris to learn French cooking techniques. The Banana Glace is his own creation and his most popular dessert. Click here for recipe

How a Dinner is Served out  in Senegal

When dining in one of the excellent Senegalese restaurants, you will select an appetizer from a list of twenty or twenty-five, all prepared with great care. The soups will be rich and full-bodied. There will be entrees in abundance; Yassa, Mate, and beautiful Couscous among them. Then a long list of fancy desserts, all served with great flair.

Or you might be served at one of the open-air restaurants where food is cooked on small tournieres, or broilers, which look like hibachis. They average about 15 inches in diameter and are sometimes round and sometimes square. The fourniere has a grate at the bottom and heat is regulated by adding or removing hot charcoal with tongs as required.

Senegal Market

Tipping: A service charge of 10 to 15% is included in all hotel and restaurant bills.

At Home 

Senegalese table manners can be somewhat formal. Wait to be shown to your seat. Seating is often a matter of hierarchy. A washing basin will be brought out before the meal is served for people to wash their hands. Woman and men may eat at separate tables in the same room or they may eat in separate rooms.  If the meal is served on the floor or a low table, sit cross-legged. Try not let your feet touch the food mat.  Do not begin eating until the eldest male does.  Food is often served from a communal bowl.  Eat from the section of the bowl in front of you. Never reach across the bowl to get something from the other side. Eat only with the right hand.Expect to be urged to take second helpings. Sample each dish.Leaving a little bit of food on your plate or your section of the communal bowl indicates that you have been looked after.

I

It is customary to give a small gift when invited to someone’s home for a meal.If invited to someone’s home, take a box of chocolates, French pastries or a nicely packaged fresh fruit.Gifts should be given with both hands. Never use the left hand.