Thinking About Becoming a Tour Guide?
My book TOUR GUIDING USA & CANADA is designed to help anyone consider this exciting career.
Hi - Below is my personal advice and encouragement on why you should pursue this path — along with a glimpse of the lifestyle, perks, and career opportunities ahead.Eligibility: Who Can Be a Tour Guide?You must be of legal age; minors cannot guide tours. However, there is no upper age limit. In fact, older guides often bring valuable experience and maturity, especially for international visitors. Whatever your stage in life, guiding can be a realistic career.Education and Local KnowledgeYou don’t need a college or university degree to guide tours. What matters is knowing your city or region. To an out-of-town visitor, your everyday surroundings are new and fascinating. If your city requires a guide license, be prepared to take an exam — New York City, for example, is known for its strict licensing rules. Check with local authorities to see what’s required where you live.Licensing Beyond the City LimitsA lack of a city license won’t stop you from leading trips outside town. Another guide can handle the city tour, while you take over for longer excursions, cross-country trips, or day tours starting elsewhere.Professional Appearance and First Impressions.Two groups matter: Your employer or HR rep — dress professionally for interviews and first assignments. Your travelers — they notice your presentation and may report back to the tour operator. Keep tattoos and piercings subtle, opt for neat hair and makeup, and consider a TV news anchor as a guide for what's considered “normal.” Dressing professionally for interviews increases your chances of getting hired; once on the road, you can relax your style somewhat, but still maintain a clean, approachable look.Lifestyle Considerations:Long tours can mean days or weeks away from home. If you’re married or in a relationship, consider the impact of travel. Bringing a partner on tour is generally not allowed.
City guides, by contrast, often return home each evening, making the schedule easier to combine with family life.Perks of the JobTravel and Exploration: Front-row views of landmarks and scenic routes while seated at the front of the bus.Free Meals and Stays: Breakfasts, hotel perks, and often free entry to attractions.Commissions: Earn a commission at restaurants, shops, and optional tours you arrange.Free Time During Tours: While your group explores on their own — say at a Disney park — you have hours to enjoy the venue yourself.Tips: Many guests show appreciation at the end of a tour. A polite thank-you envelope can encourage tips for you and your driver.Career Growth and Future OpportunitiesGuiding is not just a job, it's a career. It can lead to roles such as tour director, event coordinator, or positions in cruise lines, resorts, or destination management. Each step up means broader responsibility and usually higher pay. Even if you choose to stay a guide, the skills you develop make you valuable across the travel and hospitality industry.Final Thoughts and a Personal Invitation:Tour guiding offers freedom, variety, and memorable experiences. You decide when to start, stop, and arrive — and no two days are alike. You meet new people every day, stay in quality hotels, and experience places and sights that many only dream about. If you’re intrigued by the possibilities, you’ll find detailed guidance, insider tips, and practical tools in my book:
TOUR GUIDING USA & CANADA
Nicco Schaal is the author of "Tour Guiding USA & Canada" and trivia books from around the world. Hi, I’m Nicco Schaal, the writer of this book that guides you on your journey to becoming a tour guide.
✈️ Tour Guiding USA & Canada – tourguidingusacanada.comAbout the Author
Drawing on decades of experience as a professional tour director, Nicco Schaal wrote Tour Guiding USA & Canada as a practical, inspiring manual for newcomers to the travel industry. His experience leading tours across the continent offers readers an authentic, behind-the-scenes view of life on the road.
I’d love to hear your thoughts — especially from fellow tour guides and directors! Feel free to share your comments in the box below.