1
Search a destination or guide
Browse 60+ countries or jump straight to a guide you've heard about. Filter by language, specialty, group size, and price to narrow down quickly.
How GetGuide Works
From curious traveler to confident booking — in four simple steps.
Every guide on GetGuide is hand-vetted, every review is from a verified booking, and every payment is protected until the day your tour begins. Here's exactly how it works.
The Booking Process
Book your tour in four clear steps
No surprise fees, no last-minute emails, no unread fine print. We've designed the entire flow to take under three minutes from search to confirmation.
2
Compare verified reviews
Every review is tied to a real, completed booking. Read what past travelers actually said — not what a marketing team wanted you to hear.
3
Book securely online
Confirm your date, group size, and any custom requests. Payment is held in escrow and only released to your guide 24 hours after your tour starts.
4
Meet your guide and explore
Get a confirmation packet with meeting-point details, packing tips, and your guide's direct line. Show up, smile, and discover a place through local eyes.
Guide Verification
Real humans. Real credentials. No exceptions.
Less than 9% of guides who apply to GetGuide make it through. We verify identity, licenses, language fluency, and insurance — so you never roll the dice on a stranger.
Government ID & background check
Every guide submits passport or national ID, which we cross-check against international watchlists before approval.
Licensed & insured where required
For heritage sites, national parks, and adventure activities, we require proof of local operating licenses and liability coverage.
Live language assessment
Guides record a short video and complete a 15-minute fluency interview with a regional coordinator in their working languages.
Quality score on every guide
Each guide carries a public 0–100 quality score based on verified reviews, response time, and zero unresolved complaints.
Payment Protection
Your money stays safe until the tour happens
We use a model the industry calls "escrow-light": your card is charged at booking, but the funds are held by GetGuide and only released to the guide 24 hours after your tour begins.
Secure checkout
256-bit TLS encryption, PCI-DSS compliant processors, and support for all major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
- No charges until your booking is confirmed
- Currency displayed before you pay
- Instant email receipt with VAT details
Escrow until tour day
Your payment sits in a protected GetGuide account. We release 80% to the guide 24 hours after the tour starts, and the remaining 20% once you confirm everything went well.
- Guide never sees your card details
- Funds held by a regulated payment partner
- Disputes resolved in 5 business days
If something goes wrong
If your guide doesn't show, the tour doesn't match the listing, or the experience is unsafe, you can open a claim within 72 hours. Our team responds within one business day.
- Full or partial refund options
- Free rebooking with a different guide
- 24/7 emergency support line
Cancellation Policy
Plans change. We get it.
Our standard policy is the most generous you'll find on any tour platform. Cancel for any reason, with no paperwork and no support tickets.
When you cancel
Refund
Notes
30+ days before
100%
Full refund, returned to original payment method within 3–5 days.
15–29 days before
90%
10% retained to cover guide prep and any non-refundable bookings.
7–14 days before
75%
Free rebooking available for any future date with the same guide.
Less than 7 days
50%
We always try to recover funds from the guide on your behalf first.
No-show or same-day
0%
Travel insurance usually covers this — we provide all receipts on request.
Trust By The Numbers
Six years. 64 countries. One promise.
9%
of guide applicants accepted into the network
98.7%
of tours completed without a single dispute
$0
lost by travelers through GetGuide escrow since 2019
4.92
average rating across 84,000+ verified reviews
Common Questions
Frequently asked, honestly answered
Can I message a guide before booking?
Yes — and we encourage it. Every guide listing has a "Ask a question" button. Most guides reply within 4 hours during local business hours. You'll never be charged for messaging.
What happens if my guide cancels last-minute?
You get a 100% refund automatically, plus we'll offer free rebooking with another verified guide in the same city — usually within the same day. If we can't find a replacement, we also cover up to $200 in related expenses like rescheduled hotels or transport.
Do I have to pay the guide in cash on the day?
Never. Tips for great service are appreciated and can be added in the app after the tour, but the base price is fully covered by your booking payment. If anyone asks you for cash on the day, please report it immediately.
Are group sizes really as small as they advertise?
Yes. We cap group sizes in the listing, and guides can be suspended for overbooking. If your group arrives larger than booked, the guide is obligated to either upgrade you or refund the difference — your choice.
How are reviews kept honest?
We only publish reviews from travelers who actually completed a booking through GetGuide. We strip incentives, we don't allow guides to cherry-pick which reviews show, and our moderation team flags suspicious patterns monthly.
Ready When You Are
Find a guide you can trust today
From a 3-hour food walk in Lisbon to a 10-day overland expedition in Patagonia — there's a verified local waiting to show you around.