Hey there!
You may ask yourself, do I want to use a driver or guide? What’s the difference? What’s the best fit for me?
Turning a transfer day into a day trip is a great way to maximize your time and see more locations. These locations don’t necessarily require a full day and you can choose your stops or have a good conversation with a guide to help you choose the best possible stops, aligned with your interests.
The comparison of prices becomes difficult, as there are a lot of factors involved. This includes distance, tolls, time on the road, time at each location, inclusions, type of vehicle used, etc. If you want a better understanding of the price breakdown for guides, check out this post.
The type of service you get is also different between drivers and guides:
- The driver will only drive you through the locations of your choice. It’s a more affordable service, but if you are well prepared in advance it pays off, as you can visit what you want and at the pace you previously established.
- The guide will make suggestions on locations that you are potentially interested in, season, time of day, etc. They will also be by your side the entire day. It’s substantially more involved for the guide, due to all the preparation work beforehand and during the day. Hence, there will be a premium when compared to the driver.
Some general tips:
- For safety concerns, make sure you are on par with local regulations. For example, a tour operator with only the RNAAT license is NOT legally authorized to perform direct transfers. Only companies and/or individuals with the RNAVT license can perform direct transfers. Always inquire with your guides about these licenses, as one is more comprehensive than the other.
- Don’t compare just based on price and know there is a difference between a driver and a tour guide; and the cost of the licenses – and consequently the coverage different guides offer.
- Always get personal recommendations from group members or others on guides. With our guide directory, you have a completely unbiased tool to help you choose your guide and read reviews from people who have previously hired them (don’t hire from an “influencer” who keeps on reciting the same names, as there is certainly a bias, etc.)
- Book well in advance (2-3 months minimum) so you can get the best guides.
I hope this gives you a better understanding of drivers and tour guides. Leave a comment if you have any questions.
Bom Viagem 🇵🇹☀️
