Travel while an art of planning, spontaneity and choosing the right company is what makes the travel beautiful and memorable. But what if you make one small mistake (like, say, you hire the wrong tour guide)? And this is how one traveler learned this lesson the hard way, and a guide to those who want to better make use of their adventures.

The Wrong Guide, the Wrong Experience

For as long as our traveler, Sarah, could remember, she had dreamed of experiencing the cultural riches of a bustling metropolis. She researched and planned her trip to the last detail, from looking up the best time to reserve a hotel room in Las Vegas to having an itinerary that offered a glimpse of the best the city has to offer. But she made one decision that altered the course of the trip — she chose a cheaper, less-reviewed tour guide.

The guide, while being a very charismatic gentleman, did not seem to have the professionalism and know how Sarah was expecting. The guide had a gimmicky approach and rushed through each of the attractions while skipping the highlights on the itinerary, instead of really immersing the experience in the rich culture and history of this city. It was a disappointment for someone like Sarah, who wanted a combination of education and fun.

What Went Wrong? | the traveler hired the wrong tour guide

Lack of Research: Without cross-referencing reviews or verifying credentials, Sarah booked the guide.

Mismatched expectations: The description was for a best of all worlds tour. In reality, it was a disaster.

Cost Over Value: Although it doesn’t cost much to buy the guidebook, not avoiding the pitfalls laid out above meant that Sarah had to spend a lot more rectifying mistakes by booking other tours.

How to Find the Right Guide and Avoid the Wrong One | the traveler hired the wrong tour guide

• Read Reviews: Honest reviews from fellow travelers on trip advisor and yelp.
• Ask Questions: Make sure you know the guide’s experience, language skills and knowledge of where you’re headed.
• Compare Options: Just don’t go with the cheapest option, evaluate the cost versus the value you get.

So Let’s Start With Creating a Travel Plan With No Stress | the traveler hired the wrong tour guide

Although Sarah’s trip began on the wrong foot, she was able to turn things around by taking control over the rest of the days. Here are her tips on bouncing back from such blunders:

• Flexible Accommodation Plans: Learning when to try to book a Las Vegas hotel room at a good price gave her flexibility in switching hotels when necessary.
• Rent Agree: To refresh her schedule, Sarah researched the rental fee per day and selected a service within the payment range.
• Choose Reputable Services — On her next trip, she made sure to select tour companies that have proven credentials and good reviews.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught Sarah and her fellow travelers an important lesson: The quality of your guide can make or break your trip. Budget constraints may be real, but cutting corners in the quality of services ultimately costs more over time. So plan well and research well to get the best of all worlds tour.

So, the next time time you’re planning your dream trip, think of Sarah’s story. Make sure you have the right guide, book your accommodation at the perfect time and if required, take control of your time by travelling around your destinations independently. Follow these steps, and your trip will be truly memorable — for all the right reasons.