Show your city - Become a Local Guide (2024)

FAQs

How do you become a local guide? ›

Become a Local Guide

Sign up with your Google Account and select your current location. Every place that you review, photograph, add, edit or provide additional info for on Google Maps earns you points towards unlocking something new.

These guides navigate through crowded streets, interact with locals, and provide insights into the city's history, architecture, and vibrant lifestyle. They may also lead tours in museums, art galleries, or cultural centers, where they can showcase the city's artistic and cultural offerings.

A half-day tour with a private guide usually costs $100–300. Guides generally don't charge per person, so hiring one isn't nearly as budget-straining if you can split the cost with fellow travelers. (To get some of the same local info for less, join a group walking tour or hop a sightseeing bus.)

Do Google local guides get paid? Google Local Guides do not receive direct cash payments, but they can earn rewards like Google Drive storage, hardware, and event invitations based on their contributions.

You can't get paid for being a local guide. Google Localguides is a volunteering program that you can share your knowledge about places you visit on Google Maps. Google may send you some perks for your adventures. Learn more about Localguides program here.

Driver Guide-also called as “city guide”. The tour guide drives while guiding. Community tour guide-local guide Staff guide-tour guide who works in a travel agency. Freelance guide-tour guide who is not connected with travel agency and paid per trip.

National average salary: $39,795 per year Primary duties: A tour guide takes people on sightseeing or travel tours. They show attendees popular attractions and points of interest. They may answer questions or inform participants of unique facts about the different destinations.

The majority of Outdoor Tour Guide salaries across the United States currently range between $32,000 (25th percentile) and $33,000 (75th percentile) annually. Most people working in this role make similar salaries regardless of skill level, location and years of experience.

What are the rewards for being a Local Guide? In the early days of the program, it was common to receive a reward (free Google products like socks or a tote bag) or perks (like early access to beta services or invitations to exclusive meetups) for answering questions and leaving reviews of local businesses.

How old do you have to be to be a local guide? ›

In order to participate on Connect as a Local Guide, you must be at least 18 years of age.

Local guides are local experts.

Guides know all the best haunts in their city and can provide insider access that enables you to experience a destination like a local. For European capitals like Venice, Paris and Munich, all of which are brimming with history and art, guides help put it all into context.

Drawbacks can include a lack of job security and benefits, variable income based on seasons or demand, and the responsibility for personal marketing and client acquisition. Freelance tour guides must also often manage their administrative tasks and may face competition in popular tourist areas.

For a tour that only lasts a few hours, tip your guide 10 percent to 20 percent the cost of the tour. How much you tip also depends on the size of your tour, so you should tip more for a more personalized experience. For a multi-day tour, you should tip your guide $5 to $10 per day on the last day.

At the end of your trip, plan on tipping out everybody in a service position. First, tip your guide 10 to 20 percent of the total cost. If you have multiple guides, you can tip the lead guide and they can split that up amongst the other guides.

Local Guides earn points for their contributions, which they can accumulate and use to unlock different levels within the program. Each level comes with various Local Guide benefits and perks, such as early access to new Google features, exclusive events, and special promotions or discounts.

Make Money with Google Maps Today

Offer to promote businesses on Google Maps by placing sponsored ads in the results bar and optimizing their listings with SEO. You can help businesses increase their revenue by using targeted local marketing services.