Wakatobi Island, The Heaven of Divers

A destination where you can dive the world's most pristine reefs and experience remoteness from everyday life in total comfort. Situated on a beautiful tropical island in the remote and peaceful Wakatobi archipelago in the Banda Sea, Wakatobi Dive Resort offers what many consider to be the best reef diving in the world. Blessed with a house reef where you can begin your dive only 20m (60 feet) from the dive center, Wakatobi is often described as a live aboard with a built-in beach! In addition to the spectacular house reef, there are several dozens of easily accessible dive sites offering incredible marine life diversity, color and natural splendor.

THE FACT OF THE ISLAND

Each island has its own distinct characteristics and as a second largest marine conservation area in the archipelago, Wakatobi covers an area of 1.4 million hectares giving you the contrast of an exotic and unique experience with its local inhabitants, culture and traditions as one of Indonesian’s jewels.

When marine tourism becomes a permanent and promising business sector, all the factors; including sport culture that has the highest commercial value of any marine tourism activity create a successful marine conservation program to be seen both chance and challenge. At Wakatobi, the program has turned to be equal in all sectors. It seems that people’s empowering program have run well in the area. The society becomes a powerful guardian protecting their underwater heritages.

The Collaborative Reef Conservation Program was developed by the founders of Wakatobi Dive Resort in consultation with local leaders and village elders. It was designed to motivate the people living within the region and to realize the genuine value of the reefs and inspire the villagers to be pro-active in protecting the marine ecosystem. The program achieves by providing the economic alternative sources that could help, protect the ecosystem and manage the reefs . It is a good example of how to do people’s empowerment by giving them the pattern with law enforcement. Cooperation between local fishermen and visiting divers is promoted by generating from tourism income that will return to the community

The best key to build deep trust and understanding amongst the community is to do the continuous and consistent efforts although the program took many years to reach the goals and the aim is there, where all members of the surrounding villages respect and honor the agreement. The Collaborative Reef Conservation Program was extended even further based on the success of a pilot project launched in 1998 that turned 6 km of reef into an effective no-fishing sanctuary. The program includes all 17 communities around the resort and the dive environment includes over 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) of some of the finest reefs of the world, including the protection of dozens of top dive sites for generations.

How to get there?

At this time, the access to Wakatobi can be reached either by air through Kendari using Susi Air
(10 times a week |Monday - Saturday|).

Time Schedule of Susi Air :
Morning Trip :
Trip : Kendari ---> Wakatobi 8:00 am

Wakatobi ---> Kendari 9:00 am


Afternoon Trip :
Trip : Kendari ---> Wakatobi 16:00 pm

Wakatobi ---> Kendari 17:00 pm


To get Kendari can be reach by
(Garuda Indonesia Air, Merpati Air,Sriwijaya Air, Batavia Air and Lion Air)
from Jakarta, Bali, Manado, and Surabaya as follow:

1. Jakarta – Makassar – Kendari - Wakatobi
2. Bali – Makassar – Kendari - Wakatobi
3. Manado – Makassar – Kendari - Wakatobi
4. Surabaya – Makassar – Kendari - Wakatobi

Time schedule of Garuda Indonesia Air :
Jakarta – Makassar (15:35 pm) – Kendari (16:00 pm) - Wakatobi (17:00 pm)

PEOPLE
Wakatobi has an amazing challeging dive sites and the island’s population of nearly 100,563 with their unique custom and culture encourages the people to promote their region to be the most popular marine tourism destination in the world.

Wakatobi consists of multi-ethnic society and Suku Bajo or Bajo Tribe who lives in the seashore, having a particular building architecture connected by the bridge and boats as their main transportation and basic livelihood as the fishermen.
The culinary art of the region serves you a delicious natural tasted food, traditionally made from generation by generation.

ACCOMODATION

The Island provides you in full comfort and distinct resort class although the site is in the most remote resort area. The villas and bungalows were built in a large space, tastefully decorated with the hospitality you would expect in the fine resort like Wakatobi Dive Resort, a Swiss-founded that has an international standard with some facilities in Tomia Island.

The Architecture is built in consideration with the preservation of the traditional building style, respect to the eco-tourism principles with the main building and bungalows crafted by local artisans and all using manual tools. Apart of their land-based resort, the world-renowned Pelagian Yacht now operates and takes the visitors in a local luxurious transportation. This Pelagian Yacht is fully integrated into Wakatobi’s award-winning marine conservation and community development program. It has an exclussive access to the diving sites within the extended Wakatobi region. Let’s try a trip to Wakatobi in a live-a-board adventure on the Pelagian at the same holiday!

Hoga Island with its white sandy beach and beautiful panorama offers you a place that can accommodate up to hundreds guests. There is also a moderate home stay for you to spend the time at Wanci in Wangi-Wangi Island, the capital city of the regency that keeps put in order providing all the facilities to the visitors needs.

There is no denying that Wakatobi is an excellent tourism destination with no less than 750 coral reef species from a total of 850 species in the world, comparing with the Caribbean owes only 50 species and other 300 species in the Red Sea.

AMENITIES

Local food always challenges you to experience unordinary flavour with a touch of magic while a journey in international cuisine will exclusively give you a different taste of seafood with imported ingredients. Guests will enjoy a food etalase from fresh sea fruits to a divine desert and a fresh coconut to a cup of hot local coffee. At Wakatobi Dive Resort the food even extremely served at the Jetty Bar where you can see the sunset of day and look forward to a new adventure tomorrow.

Why make you hurry from the paradise if you can benefit your time in beauty treatments to pamper you while taking a break from diving. Experience the Spa with a fully-trained staff and life can get any better than yesterday. Your day ends with a marvelous sunset watching while having a wonderful candle light dinner.


Source : www.wakatobi.info

Good sightseeing tours in bad weather - Tips

Travel is interesting because one is getting out of the daily routes. There are things to expect and unpredictable things to happen. For a tour guide, however, you try to have everything in control, from itinerary to transportation, from local meals to entertainment. Yet there is one thing completely uncontrollable - the weather.

You surely know the rainy season or hot periods in your city, but you can not decide if the sightseeing tours day is raining, snowing or even a freak storm. Can a tour guide fix the weather? No, but a tour guide can be prepared in advance for bad weather to prevent bad sightseeing tours. Here are some tips for city guiding in bad weather.

Be prepared. Check the weather forecast 3 days before and sightseeing tours. It is easy with the internet, mobile, television, newspaper… whatever methods convenient for you. If it is going to be a fair day, great! If it is going to rain, prepare umbrellas or rain coats accordingly.

Adjust the itinerary to make a better experience. Increase indoor activities to minimize the affect of the poor weather. Swap places to visit if it is a multi-day sightseeing tour. Offer new options for cancelled items due to the weather conditions. Do inform your clients in advance about the changes in itinerary, they will appreciate this. They will understand as weather is out of your control but not getting notified may annoy most travelers. If you are taking public transportation in the city, try to choose the closest bus/metro/taxi stand from the venue.

You are the guide and leader of the tour, so be great by keeping your clients in a good mood. Do you have jokes about such bad weather to lighten the mood and potential tension? Are there stories of interest that happened particularly in raining days? Is the snow bringing a different beauty of the local scenery?

What weather do you least expect on your sightseeing tours? Have you successfully coped with any extreme weather in your guiding career? Please share with the tour guide community on this blog.

Benefit of saying "thank you" at the end of sightseeing tours

It is nice to be nice and it costs nothing

Do not hold back your gratitude at end of the sightseeing tours. As a tour guide, you are probably a very hard working person. Surely you deserve the warmest thanks from everyone on your tour. You definitely will receive it if you have done an excellent job. Yet remember, a great successful tour can’t be completed by you alone.

If it is a private sightseeing tour just between you and your clients, thank them for their support and cooperation. For them being on time, listening to you attentively, following the rules in specific sights. Your clients also appreciate your gratitude and will think highly of you for offering it to them.

If it is a big tourist group, you need to publicly thank more people. Thank the driver for his safe driving and punctuate delivery. Thank the tour leader and organizing company, so that you have the opportunity to meet each other. Thank the national guide for his help and support during the tour. Any other parties that are relevant and deserve your appreciation? Please do.

What’s more, if you had a great time with your clients and co-workers, why not sing a farewell song to express your feeling?
A sightseeing tour closing speech with thanks can be quite sentimental.
Do you have anything special to show at end of the tour? Share with us.

Sightseeing tours from a coach

Coach tours are often route tours that a tour guide can easily get accustomed to. To be a master at guiding sightseeing tours on a coach, here are some tips for you.


Best coach and driver option available
Locate a good coach and cooperate with the driver at all times. The coach and driver are important supporters to ensure successful coach sightseeing tours. It is important to locate the best coach and driver before the sightseeing tours, booked in advance. During the tour - Take note of coach colour, number, and parking location. You don’t want to walk all around the parking lot just to find the coach stops at entrance for you, do you?


Clear communication via microphone
The microphone on the coach needs to be found and tested before you talk to the tourists. Take the guide’s seat at the front so that you can talk to the whole group easily. Ensure you have clear quality sound and no speaker feedback noise.


Planning with the driver
Communicate with the driver about itinerary, time, stops, and other things that relevant to the sightseeing tours. The driver knows the tour, but it is worthwhile confirming again in person. Exchanging mobile numbers between the driver and tour guide is also necessary.


Now let us focus on your clients. Besides tour introduction and sight commentary that a tour guide shall already be capable of, the following points will contribute to a successful coach tour.



Is everybody on the coach and safely seated? Count the heads before departure. If you are on a big coach that requires walking to the end for accurate counting, you may count once more from back to front ensuring all people are boarded. Have a quick look at overhead luggage. Make sure there is no easy-fall-off items. Remind the tourists of safety belts or other facilities. Ask them please not to walk when the coach is moving. Don’t forget to introduce the coach, its number, colour, etc.


A great comfortable tour is impossible without the support your clients. So do make a note in advance if you are on a non-smoking coach. Shall eating and drinking be avoided while on the coach? Where they can find the disposal bag or garbage bin?


Are there any tips you would like to share as an experienced tour guide on coach?

Tips to best present your sightseeing tours on OurExplorer

As you know, OurExplorer has launched a new product Sightseeing Tours last month. OurExplorer is happy to see now over 150 sightseeing tours already saved this website, provided by our tour guides all over the world. Some tours are well presented and very attractive, so we would like to share with all. It is not only about your sightseeing tours on OurExplorer, but can be generally applied online or offline.

Tip 1: Shout out your specialty clearly. Why should travelers choose your sightseeing tour rather than anyone else’s? Because the sightseeing tour with you is unique. For example-
Barcelona Sightseeing Tour, Marta’s tapas tour for a delicious local experience!
Shanghai Sightseeing Tours with Jean, see how the old buildings, factories and houses have been fueled with new vitality by creative designs.
Prague Sightseeing Tours with Martina, look up for lady holding broom and lantern!

Tip 2: Photos are inspiring. Add photos to your sightseeing tour. Let travelers have a direct visual impression of what to see during the visit. See Classic City Tour in Buenos Aires.

Tip 3: Detailed and clear introduction. Clients can’t book your sightseeing tour if they are not clear about the tour length, price, routes…, right? So a clear introduction on tour details is critical. It actually saves a tour guide’s efforts by clarifying things in advance. See Acapulco Sightseeing Tours with Rudy!

Tip 4: Show your humor and wisdom!
Sightseeing Tours Exclusions: Bad tempered, no- sense of humor, it's-just-another-tour local guides. Isn’t it nice to experience a Zagreb sightseeing tour like this, More than an ordinary sightseeing tour?

Have you any suggestions on the best sightseeing tours?

Maximise Sightseeing Tour Length and Tour Guide Commentary

Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming. Are you as a tour guide designing a special program for the holiday period? Besides something specially related with Christmas, what else will you cover in your guiding commentary? A sightseeing spot may have dozens of stories or facts. Will you tell them all? Probably not. It is not necessary either.

A traveler once remarked on her day excursion in Shanghai (China),”The city is amazing. But for a city like this, I just feel there is too much to absorb and digest in a single day.” Not to mention shorter sightseeing tours e.g. a 3-hour walking tour. Avoid overloading with information is important.

Because of the limited time on a tour, a good tour guide will try to find the clients’ interest and thus focusing more on relevant aspects. How? Ask the client beforehand. Even with routine sightseeing tours, it could turn out differently with different travelers. Do not hesitate to add a simple question “Do you have any special interest?” Listen to them on the sightseeing tours. Listening is a kind of art. From the questions they asked and their personal backgrounds mentioned, you can detect what they might be more interested.

Sightseeing Tour length is an important element to consider when preparing commentary on a tour. If the travelers have a longer sightseeing tour with you, it is a good opportunity for you to share more knowledge and wisdom. Separate general information throughout days. Do not talk over all in one day and stay quiet in the other day. A day with certain theme requires commentary sticking to the same theme. Try different routes back to the accommodation, so that you won’t repeat similar contents.

One more point, when you are working together with another tour guide, e.g. national guide, local guide, or tour leader, cooperate in what to say in your commentary. Travelers don’t want repeated information.

Have you encountered similar problem, too less time but too much to say? Tips are welcome in comments.

Tour Guide Survey with Adolfo in Mexico

Tour Guide Adolfo Soberanis-Rios, Acapulco Sightseeing Tours


1. What is the best thing you like about being a tour guide?
Being able to “brag” about my Country and show our visitors the true colors of it, sharing our valuable History, customs, traditions and most important of all, helping them feel the warmth and heart-felt care of my people by taking them by the hand into their environment.

2. What is your most memorable moment in guiding so far?
When I took care of a famous blind golfer by the name of Charles Boswell (author of the book “Now I can see”) in the company of Late Mr. John P. Kern and I took them out for dinner at this fantastic Restaurant “El Campanario” (1988) which was located on the very summit of a high hill, overlooking a breathtaking view of Acapulco bay, & as we sat in our table, his expression turned very thoughtful as he turned to me and expressed: “Adolfo, this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my entire life” Needless to say, my jaw fell to the floor among the other diners !

3. What is most challenging for you in this career? Have you coped with it?
When I received an email requesting assistance for booking a private villa for a Jewish family visiting Acapulco for the first time. After exchanging many emails back and forth with several different options for this client to choose from, and just as I thought he finally agreed upon one, he disappeared, only to return about a week later to let me know he had found another villa for a lower price. Since I was aware of the lousy conditions of such villa, I sent him an email (after talking to the owner of the villa he had chosen previously and getting him the same rate as the other cheap one). Upon their arrival to Acapulco I pick them up at the airport and took them to the villa they have booked. Right then I offered my ground transportation service to his full party of 7 adults and 4 children and again had to agree on a much lower rate for him to accept such service.

One thing led to another and from then on, it was like pulling teeth to cop with him, so I finally decided to send him a colleague of mine, to drive them around on the same deal …but he wouldn’t hear of it and he demanded I was the one to do his driving. So I did and it was the longest week of my entire life !!!

At the end and as I saw them off at the departure gate at the airport, he came towards me, embraced me and thank me for everything I did for him and his family …and even gave me a tip.

4. What is your favorite place/thing that you want to show your travel clients?
Definitely the Culture, wonderful History, my charming/friendly fellow citizens, the close family bonds among our people, the colors, the delicious cuisine, the wonderful beaches, the archaeological sites nearby, Taxco (Silver capitol of the world) …and breathtaking sights. I could carry and rant on & on, but I’d basically love to at least show that much.


5. What if you were not a tour guide? What do you imagine yourself to be?
I was born into the Tourist Industry by having a father that became the first Federal Government Tourist Inspector in Acapulco, in the late 1950s-early 1960s. When he died in 1970, I inherited his job and was sent to Mexico City for 5 months to take Certification Course to become a Federal Tourist Inspector myself, which I did. Eventually I had the opportunity to move to San Francisco where I lived and studied to become a Certified Auto-mechanic, which I worked as one for about 12 years in my own auto repair shop.

In 1983 I decided I wanted to do a different job for about a year (sort of giving me a little room to breath) & went to work for a local travel agency. At the end of two seasons I just knew this was it for me and I applied for my Government-licensed as a Certified Tour Guide and became one in October 1985. Since then (only after the birth of my 3 children), this has been the most important and happiest thing to happen in my life.

What would I be if I were not a Tour guide …I just can not picture my life in any other way !!!

New Sightseeing Tours Product - Launched on OurExplorer

OurExplorer launched a new product range for tour guides in October 2009 - Sightseeing Tours with specific prices and photos. Click here to see a sample sightseeing tour

OurExplorer tour guides can now upload and save their top 4 sightseeing tours onto their OurExplorer webpage profile.

Why Upload Your Sightseeing Tours? - Benefits

- Increase your product range for clients to book
- Easy for clients to make direct booking on specific sightseeing tours
- More photos displayed to your clients

How to Add a Sightseeing Tour to your OurExplorer webpage?

1. Login to your profile
2. Click tab “Sightseeing Tours”
3. Click blue button “Add Sightseeing Tours”
4. Add tour details left of the page
5. Click button “Save”
6. Add sightseeing photos right of the page
7. Click tab “Back to sightseeing list” to add more tours.

Contact OurExplorer for more help with Sightseeing Tours Uploading

Add Your Best Sightseeing Tours Today

Tour Guide Survey with Rudy in Mexico

Tour Guide Rudy Fregoso - Acapulco Sightseeing Tours



1. What is the best thing you like being a tour guide?
I think there is nothing better than being able to show your own country to foreigner and getting them acquainted of what it really take place in the nation, helping them, guiding them, making them realizing about the reality of my home!


2. What is your most memorable moment in guiding so far?
I still remember the face of a Latin American lady who when being a little child used to see Mexican movies and started dreaming coming to Acapulco, Mexico. I rembember the impression, the impact that the bay of Acapulco caused to the woman, her face is something that made thinking willing to pay "mucho dinero", making me think my KINGDOM for a camera at that time.


3. What is most challenging for you in this career? Have you coped with it?
Everyday is a fun challenge but to me is a pleasure!


4. What is your favorite place/thing that you want to show your travel clients?
I always like better what people, my customers like the most, and the positive feedback I get from my tourist make like even better that given place....!


5. What if you were not a tour guide? What do you imagine yourself to be?
I think of myself as a chemically pure Tour Guide, And IF I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A TOUR GUIDE.... I WOULD IMAGINE MYSELF WILLING TO BE ONE.

GRACIAS.

Getting your sightseeing tours to be client perfect

When it comes to private sightseeing tours, the tour guide can be challenged to provide an interesting initial program. How can you design great sightseeing tours program that is desirable to your specific clients everytime?

Ask and listen

You may have guided the classic/common sightseeing tours in your city hundreds of times but remember, every person has their own travel needs. Especially with clients who require a private sightseeing tour. So take the effort to confirm: Is it your first time to the city? Do you have any special interests e.g. art, history, nature, local market? Are you ok with long-hour walking or alert to any foods ……

Q. Do listen to your clients’ needs, otherwise you won’t be successful with the sightseeing tours proposal.


Design the sightseeing tours program

Now that you know your clients interests and requirements, you can start to design a tailor-made program. Here are some tips when putting together the “things to do”. Try to put all information on one page. It is like resume, simple and clear is the best. Make a short note besides the scenic spot name e.g. (Shanghai, China) Yuyuan Garden, traditional Chinese garden established 400 years ago. A tour guide is familiar with all sites. Yet your client may not.

Do not put very similar sites or activities in the same day tour unless your client required so E.g. visiting the history museum in the morning and art museum in the afternoon may be too much museum activity in the same day. Balance walking with driving time. Long hour walking will fatigue travelers as well as the tour guide. Too much time on transportation will make people boring. Do the distant sites first and nearby sites later. It is not clever to visit far away sites while your clients are catching a flight/train on the same day - stress in not fun for any person.

Leave the evening free. You may suggest activities, but do not make a program detailed into 24 hours. Leave some free time for the travelers to enjoy themselves. Tour guides also need a break and prepare for the next day - refreshed and full of energy.


Alternatives and Cancellation

Offer alternatives. People like to have choices. E.g. select their preferred local performance among several options. Tour guides also need to consider activities limited by weather or other conditions. E.g. the outdoor activity not fit for raining days. Notify your clients of cancellation rules if any. It is better to inform in advance, avoiding conflicts or displeasure.


Confirm signtseeing tours in advance

When you are responsible for a sightseeing tour with everything included, do confirm all the details in advance. Confirm with travel clients the program details in full. Book the car and driver earlier when required. Check with restaurant availability and order the table if it is a popular place.


No. 1 = Clarify the needs of clients.

No. 2 = Then build the tour towards meeting these needs.

Then you will come out with a great and workable sightseeing tours program.

Client Feedback - How to ensure a superb sightseeing tour

Happy clients recommend great tour guides and sightseeing tours to friends. How can you ensure you have a happy client willing to recommend your services after the sightseeing tours are complete?

ACTUAL FEEDBACK FROM A REAL CLIENT

Before the sightseeing tour

As previously mentioned, the tour guide did contact me within a few hours of me sending a question and booking the tour. This seemed very professional to me.
I also mentioned that she contacted me via Instant Messaging soon after the booking. You may want to recommend this to other tour guides as it did help made build trust in her as a tour guide and the fact that she was going to turn up on the day … definitely help me feel that I was not going to get "stood up" on the day of the tour.

Another good point is that she promised to call my hotel the day before the sightseeing tours to confirm the meeting place and time, which she did.



At the start of the sightseeing tours

The tour guide was punctual, which is very important.As soon as we met, the guide was instantly very friendly.
The tour guide had the good sense to first sit with me, before we went out, to confirm what I wanted to do and we discussed a rough itinerary. Again, good another tip to suggest for tour guides, because if she did not know my expectations, then I might not be satisfied at the end.

The tour guide also confirmed that my clothing was suitable, since we were visiting temples etc. Another possible hint tip is to get guides to recommend appropriate clothing etc before the day of meeting.

The tour guide also allowed me to decide if I wanted them to pay for things along the way (and I pay at the end) or if I simply wanted to pay as we go. It was nice that they offered this option.

[Advise Summary: Be punctual. Attentive to details. Mind the cultural background of your clients.]


During the sightseeing tours

The tour guide did seem to know her city and was quite confident in showing me around. She was constantly talking and telling me information and was answering most of my questions.

In fact, I think she was so enthusiastic to tell me what she knew, that she often quickly dismissed or brushed over what I really wanted to know. Tip: tell your tour guides to "listen" to the customer as it will be the customer that that will ultimately evaluate them on the website and with their tip.

A tip might be how to handle the situation when the sightseeing tours finishes early (not getting the full value) or if the guest wants to spend more time … I guess an hourly rate could be suitable in this case.

[Advise Summary: Be knowledgeable but not overwhelming with everything. Listen to your clients and focus on their interest.]


At the end of the sightseeing tours

The next day (after the tour), the tour guide called my hotel room at approximately 8:30am to follow up and see if they could help in any other way. Some people may have found this very professional, but since I had a very big night in Bangkok the night before and arrived to the hotel late, I was a little annoyed that they rang me so early on my holiday when I was actually relaxing and sleeping in.


[Advise Summary: Follow up in the right time. Provide your full contacts to your clients, so they can find you when they need. Offer further help at end of the tour when you are with the clients. An email follow up with thank and feedback request is a good option.]

Tour Guide Survey - Martina Gregorcova, Prague Sightseeing Tours

1. What is the best thing you like being a tour guide? – I like to be tour guide because I meet people from all over the world, I am freelance and my work is my hobby!
2. What is your most memorable moment in guiding so far? – The most amazing experience is – I took around a family from LA in my Trabant Car, 3 weeks after they returned from Prague back to USA, they sent me a little car toy – which looks exactly like mine – Trabant Junior! – I have it in my car till today and I show it to everyone.
3. What is most challenging for you in this career? Have you coped with it? – my dream is to be private guide for Beyonce Giselle Knowles – because I am her really big fan, she performed in Prague April 2009, went for short sightseeing but without tour guide, I would like to be her private guide if she comes back to Prague.
4. What is your favorite place/thing that you want to show your travel clients? – Hidden parts of Prague Castle
5. What if you were not a Prague tour guide? What do you imagine yourself to be? – I studied in Art & Music school in Slovakia, I would be definitely doing something with design or singing and dancing.

Knowledge Preparation for City Sightseeing Tours

City sightseeing tours are different from safari travel or mountain trips. On one hand, it has less physical requirements on travelers but on the other, it demands a tour guide of a deeper knowledge level about the city and sights.

So what shall a tour guide prepare before offering city sightseeing tours? Place names and local terminologies are the basics. You are familiar with the local name of a place, but be aware that your clients may call it differently based on their knowledge. For instance, the famous steel bridge in Shanghai with over 100 years history was known as “Wai Bai Du Qiao” among citizens. However, it was originally named as “Garden Bridge” by the British. Do some research in advance, and try to avoid a misunderstanding for such cases. For basic background information like the name, location, establishment date, history, etc. - a tour guide needs to stick to facts and be as accurate as possible.

But the travelers are not coming for a lesson, are they? Therefore, a great tour guide tells interesting stories and anecdotes during the sightseeing tours. These stories may be true or partly true. They help to arouse interest of travelers and make the place fondly remembered.

City sightseeing tours can not be complete without noticing people and the life in and around the city. At the sightseeing spot, or during transportation in the city, tour guides can introduce how people live and work here. Local traditions and customs are often welcomed. It is best to combine such introduction with what you see along the way. Offer some fair and mutual opinions by yourself, as you are a local fully engaged in the daily life.

There is other general knowledge a tour guide should prepare, either for city tours or other sightseeing tours. For instance, toilets in each stop, taxi stands or public transportation you need to take, entrances/exits of scenic spots…

Good tour guides welcome all questions from travelers. The more knowledge you have, the better travelers will experience your city tours. But don’t worry. Rome was not built in one day. With proactive study and practical experiences, you will be a great city tour guide.

Have you any top tips to share with OurExplorer please?

The perfect greeting to start sightseeing tours

Your method of greeting your clients is very important for a tour guide. The client gets a direct first impression of you and perhaps even of your city, from this initial greeting. It is not as simply as a basic introduction. A tour guide should consider timing, boby language and the surroundings in which to present a customized greeting to your travel clients.

Pick Up Location
First, consider the pick-up location. When you meet your clients at the airport, it is usually a long-drive to the city centre. In that case, a tour guide shall prepare enough content to introduce themselves. Besides the basic facts of the city, you may talk some more about local culture, customs, upcoming events etc. Choose some fun topics, so that the travelers do not get bored after the flight. When you meet at the railway station, bus station, or cruise port, the driving routes are different from each other. It is best that a tour guide combines their prepared greeting with the sights along the way.

Another common meeting point is the hotel lobby where your clients are staying. This can be very broad and you may not know every hotel in the city. Do some homework before meeting the client. Know the distance from their hotel to the first sight, and the route you are going to cover.

Time of the Day
Timing is also a consideration of your greeting speech length. When a tour guide picks up clients at day time to start some sightseeing tours, you are often expected to talk more. Your clients are excited to hear about this new place. If you meet travelers at night time, you talk less and give your clients time to rest. Save the best for the following morning when they are refreshed. If even later, it’s a mid-night arrival- perhaps ask them are they tired, if yes, will you keep silent completely? No, it is recommended to give a brief greeting. With just one or two sentences, your clients will appreciate your greeting in a strange place.


So how do you start your greeting speech, with a big smile and welcome or something extraordinary and eye-catching. Let us know some of your techniques?

Tour Guide Industry trends & Events Update

Here are a selection of tour guide and sightseeing tours trends

First Tour Guide in Xitang (China)
Xitang, the thousand-year old town located in eastern China's Zhejiang Province had just started to develop tourism in that year.
"People asked who that girl was and why she was always shouting with a loudspeaker, followed by a group of strangers," she said, recalling the first year of her career life as a tour guide when reporters from CRI interviewed her on Monday.
The reaction was understandable since before 1997 only peddlers who collected used bottles and old newspaper used loudspeaker to attract new business. Tour Guide details

Get paid to travel (Malaysia)
How many of us dream of having a fun job where we get to travel to interesting places, make new international friends and get a healthy sum of money for doing so?
"But overall, it's a fun, rewarding and an eye-opening job, so I'd give it a try if I were you!"

Australia's most eccentric tour guides (Australia)
Sometimes on a tour, it's not about the where or the what, but the who. A good, entertaining tour guide can make all the difference, and some of them become legends in their own right.

Responsible Tourism Day (Worldwide)
WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, the only global day of action of its kind, is being supported by the UNWTO and leading industry associations. The day is vital – for business, for profitability and for our planet. It means taking care of a world that we seek to promote, preserving our heritage and cultures and taking into account the views and needs of local communities.

How Search Is Key To Booking Travel Plans (Worldwide)
The majority of personal travelers still plan to travel just as much or more throughout 2009, compared with 2008. Booking behavior has changed, however. Travelers will shop around more and wait for the best deal before they book.

Interview with Tour Guide - Flora Lin from Shanghai

Shanghai Tour Guide Flora Lin


1. What is the best thing you like being a tour guide?

Travel, Freedom, Meet and interact with people from all over the world and have good friendship. It’s a happy job.


2. What is your most memorable moment in guiding so far?

Once I had several days sightseeing tours with a US family, when i take them to the airport and say goodbye,everyone didn't wanna me to leave and they told me I would be their family member and they invited me to visit them in US.
When the earthquake happened in May last year,one of my guests sent me an email at once and was worried about me - "r u ok?".
I also received the gifts,postcards and thanks letters from some guests after the trip,sending by post from Egypt, US, Sweden etc.,which all make me so moved.


3. What is most challenging for you in this career? Have you coped with it?

Actually I enjoy this job a lot and always having good time with guests.
I think the most challenging is the different inquiries and demands from the guest.
Good communication,updating my knowledge all the time,understanding and devoted by the heart helps a lot.


4. What is your favorite place/thing that you want to show your travel clients?

The best thing is to get into the local life while you travel.The old town,local stone-framed gate houses,alleyways,watching people cooking,playing mahjongg game,visiting the wet market,flea market will be fun things to do in shanghai.


5. What if you were not a tour guide? What do you imagine yourself to be?

G.O.at Club Med. Tour Leader. I love travelling,will do anything related with travel.

Tips to get more clients on your OurExplorer webpage

Here are 6 of the best tips from a Tour Guide so you get enjoy more client bookings.

Name: Jean Liu
Occupation: Shanghai Tour Guide

1. Ensure you have a clear and detailed profile page. Who you are & what you offer, a smiling and welcoming photo, qualification proof like tour guide license/certificate.

2. Google and Search Engines - Promote your webpage with these keywords - "{INSERT YOUR CITY} tour guide" and "{INSERT YOUR CITY} sightseeing tours" e.g. Shanghai tour guide, Shanghai sightseeing tours.
A. On your webpage profile. Include keywords on your personal introduction and guide service, wherever applicable and readable.
B. On other travel websites. Put your OurExplorer webpage url in other websites and blogs. Even better, use keywords as anchor text for the links.

3. External link building methods.
a) Add your webpage to your own website, or profiles on other networks. E.g. business network like LinkedIn, Xing, and personal connection like Facebook.
b) If you write blogs, add your webpage to your blog. There are big blog providers like Wordpress, Blogpost. Also the lately popular mini-blog Twitter.
c) Promote your personal page on forums and communities. Add contents to your frequently visited forums, or popular travel sites like TripAdvisor. Add url to your member signature when allowed.
d) Multi-media share. Share photos, podcasts and videos, e.g. Flickr, PodOmatic, YouTube. Add your webpage to descriptions or replies.
e) Bookmark your webpage and share in social media news sites. The popular ones are Del.icio.us, Digg, StumbleUpon, etc. There is a button “bookmark” on your profile page, which includes most of the popular bookmark and social media news sites.
f) Writer something and share your knowledge. Write tour guide and sightseeing tour articles and publish on article databases like EzineArticles Share your knowledge on advising sites like HubPages. Answer other people on YahooAnswers.

4. Add your profile page to your Email sign off (signature). It helps the email recipient to know more about you.

5. Tell your friends, family, colleagues and prospect clients your OurExplorer URL address. On your non-logged in profile page you can - "Send page to a friend". Your webpage is one of your profession presentations.

6. Use your OurExplorer page as a testimonial to build client trust. Your webpage gets stronger with more real client ratings and comments.

Directing your clients during sightseeing tours

When you are still seated in the car/coach before entering a site during sightseeing tours, what should a tour guide inform her clients about? You need to leave enough time to inform them of the basic information and rules of the site you are going to enter. Let’s take a real example and see what your clients need to know.

Sightseeing Tour: Yaolin Wonderland, limestone caves in Hangzhou, China.

Time of Visit: July.
Tour Guide Commentary:
Hello everyone, we will arrive at Yaolin Wonderland in 15 minutes. (Inform them of where you will visit and the time of arrival)
The visit will take around 1.5 hours. (Inform the length of visit.)
It is composed of several limestone caves with an average temperature of 18℃. As it’s 30℃ outside, you may need a coat with you. Take some water with you. You can leave your luggage and umbrella on the car/coach. (Inform what to bring and what’s not necessary - limits grumy and complaining clients after the tour.)

But do not leave your valuables. Bring with you your passport, wallet, mobile, camera, and other valuable things. (Always remind about safety concerns)

Yaolin Wonderland has its own sightseeing tours guides. They are knowledgeable with the history and formation of the caves. We will have a site guide for our group. So please stay together and follow that guide. I will also accompany you during the visit.
(Explain if the tour is self-guided, guided by you, or guided by a specific site guide. Make clear to the clients who to follow in the coming visit.)


When you are in the caves, it’s a one-way path. You can not go backwards. Just move forward and you will find the exit. Our car/coach will wait in the parking space at exit. You will have free time after we finished the main caves. It is 13:00 now, and we will leave at 15:00. Please do not miss the time. Reach our car/coach in the parking space before 15:00. (Make clear of the departure time and pick up location. Make a special note if drop-off and pick-up are in different places. Do repeat the departure time and location, especially when you are guiding a big group of travelers.)

Have you any sightseeing tours stories you would liek to share with us?

Sightseeing Tours with Foreign Languages

Language is the key communication between a tour guide and sightseeing tourists. When guiding foreign clients for sightseeing tours, fluent spoken language is very important to ensure a satisfactory experience. Even better, if you can use proper guiding languages.

Avoid using ambiguous pointing words like “here”, “there”, “in front”. A tour guide should point out more clearly to your clients. Perhaps try this method instead - “Look at XXX on your left side.” “You can see XXX next to the clock tower.” If you are facing your clients, be aware that your left side is their right.

Use descriptive languages when talking about something. For instance, don’t simply say “look at the building on your left.” You can present in a higher quality by saying “Look at the tall red brick building with the USA flag, on your left.” The clients will be clearer as to what you are going to talk about.

We all know that language is often associated with culture background and regional characters. Your commentary in guiding will receive a better result if you refer to what would be familiar to your clients. When introducing the Lujiazui Financial Centre in Shanghai, a guide may refer to “Manhattan” in New York with American travelers. Easier for them to know the function and importance of Lujiazui in the city if they have something to relate it too.

Some tour guides can speak several foreign languages in their sightseeing tours, especially with European guides. Usually a tour guide shows around in only one language at a time with one group but there may be exceptional sightseeing tours that require introducing in two languages. If this is the case, balance the time you talk in the two languages. Alternate the starting language each time you speak so that the clients feel equally valued. Have a short break when you change to another language.

Fluent in a language is one thing, while mastering the language of guiding needs more effort. Good tour guides can speak the language of clients, and make their sightseeing tours a great experience in a local way.

Perfect timing in sightseeing tours - It's in the delivery

Being a tour guide, the content of your sightseeing tour introduction is a kind of art. Is it accurate, vivid, humourous, easy to understand? That’s all important for the travelers with your group. There’s also one more critical thing – the time you deliver the words of wisdom to your clients. Timing can be positive as well as negative to what you say. Manage the art of timing marks your success on your sightseeing tours.

The basic rule is to comment when all clients can see you so you engage them in the conversation. Of course, a brief mention is necessary at the itinerary introduction. You may also do a pre-intro to arouse the interest of traveler. OurExplorer suggest you save the best for on-the-spot commentary during the actual sightseeing tours. When people see in their own eyes, they will have a more vivid memory of what you said.

There are often sceneries or interesting things on the road if you are travelling with the client group. In this case, be prepared for it in advance and proactively point out the event before passing. Travelers may easily miss the scene as they are new in the location. By introducing it in advance, a tour guide has actually shown his knowledge of the place and familiarity with the route. However, don’t point out if you have already passed the site. Never say “we just passed … and it is …”, as you won’t turn around and the client will feel they missed something nice in your sightseeing tours.

Another timing management tip is the time on the coach, car, or any other vehicle. Know how long is takes from one stop to the next and prepare your length of talking in accordance. Avoid talking of the last item when you arrived at the next new destination. Also avoid long silence on the way but do give the clients a break from all your information and knowledge.

Do you manage your timing well as a tour guide? Please share your top tips...

Bandung Shopping Guide

Bandung is very popular and known as a shopping city, or Kota Wisata Belanja. There are many lots of shopping spots in Bandung. Bandung Shopping the right place for shoppers where you can find and buy clothes, shoes, handbags and souvenirs in Bandung. Since Bandung has otonomy right to build their own city, they now build lots of shopping center, The fashion stores now grow so fast, they sell various stuff like quality clothes, and rejected export products which is alot cheaper rather then the price in the malls. You also can find Distro (distribution outlets). Distro is an interesting place to shop in Bandung because they produce their own fashion design which is very unique and cannot be found in other shopping place. There are also several factory outlet shops around Bandung. The shops are mainly found along the streets of Juanda (known as Dago area), Cipaganti area, Martadinata Street (known as Riau) and Cihampelas street. Bandung Shopping is one of the primary attractions for Indonesians visiting Bandung. The other reason is culinary food.


Where to Shop in Bandung?

* Alun-alun area (city square) is surrounded by shopping centers, particularly on Dalem Kaum Street. Facility: Shopping center (available for bargain), food court, mosque.

Cihampelas Bandung

Cihampelas or popular called as The Street of 1001 Jeans is best known for jeans. You can find denim (jeans) stores along the street. Here you can buy literally any type as well as any size of jeans, in addition to a very large selection of casual wear, all at very reasonable prices. The jeans here are mostly copies. The shops here boast huge fantastical statues of comic book or movie characters on their roofs and shop fronts such as Superman, Goku, Rambo and others.

Cibaduyut Bandung:

If you have sometime to explore shopping in Bandung, you can try to go to Cibaduyut. Cibaduyut is the center of shoe sellers. The statue of two bronze shoes at the beginning of the street conveys it all: shoes of all sorts and sizes make up the bulk of what this street sells. If you are keen on shoes and like a bargain, Cibaduyut street will both satisfy your feet as your wallet. To get there, either take a taxi or hop on one of the angkots that states Cibaduyut, and get off past the shoe statue. Most of the branded shoes might not be the real thing even though, many still are of good quality and it is hard to tell if it concerns the real thing or not. Other than that most shoes are Indonesian brands, again of good enough quality and economically priced.

* Factory outlets: Mostly Factory outlets are concentrated along the streets of Juanda (Dago), Cipaganti, and Martadinata (Riau). You can just walk along the streets. Such as The Summit Factory Outlet and Herittage Factory Outlet which are located at Martadinata (Riau) Street. Just ask away how to get there.

* Distros (Distribution Outlets) are a new phenomenon in Bandung where a shop sells stylish products that were made by local designers. They are served as a distribution store, because these local designers do not have their own marketing label yet. One thing that makes distros stand out from factory outlet is that distros come from individual designers and young entrepeneurs, while factory outlet products come from a garment factory.
Some of Bandung distros: EAT, Jl. Trunojoyo 4, Invictus, Jl.Pager gunung 13 and Jl.Trunojoyo 6 also you can check their website www.invcts.com Ouval Research, Jl. Buah Batu 64, No Label, Jl. Sumatra 24, etc.

Note: be careful when buying in distros as the prices are increasing to a level almost the same as at boutique shops.


Mall and Shopping Center in Bandung :

Bandung ELectronic Centre (BEC)
Purnawarman Street
Facility: Electronic, Computer & Hand phone retails, food court.

Bandung Indah Plaza (BIP)
Merdeka Street
Facility: Shopping center, food court, cafe, cinema

Bandung Super Mall (BSM)
Gatot Subroto Street
Facility: Shopping center, food court, cafe, cinema

BE-mall
Naripan Street
Facility: Facility: Electronic retails, food court

Braga City Walk
Braga Street
Facility: Shopping center, food court, cafe, cinema

Bandung Trade Center (BTC)
Pasteur Street
Facility: Shopping center (available for bargain), Food court

Cihampelas Walk (Ciwalk)
Cihampelas Street
Facility: Shopping center, food court, cafe, cinema, billiard, nightlife

Hyper Square
Pasirkaliki Street
Facility: Outdoor Food court, discotheque, FO, Ruko

IBCC (Istana Building Commodities Center)
Ahmad Yani Street
Facility: Electronic center, Food court

Istana Plaza
Pasirkaliki Street in Pajajaran area
Facility: Shopping center, Food court, Cafe, Ice skating

ITC Kebon Kelapa
Moh. Toha Street, Pungkur are
Facility: Shopping center (available for bargain), Food court

Kings Shopping Center
This is a very popular shopping spot for local shoppers
Kepatihan Street
Facility: Shopping center (available for bargain), Food court, Cinema

Palaguna
It is one of old shopping center in Bandung
Dalem Kaum Street
Facility: Shopping center (available for bargain)

Paris Van Java Mall
Sukajadi Street
Facility: Shopping center, Food court, Cafe, Cinema

Pasar Baru
Otto Iskandar Dinata or known as Otista Street
Facility: Shopping center (available for bargain), Food court

Planet Dago
It's in front of Indmaret supermarket, there you can find a popular Cafe "O la la"
Juanda Street, Dago area
Facility: Shopping center, Bowling, Food court, Cafe

Plaza Dago
There you can find many of mobile/cellphone sellers
It's also near to the popular mall in Bandung, BIP.
Dago/Juanda
Facility: Shopping center, Cafe, Food court, Karaoke, Billiard

Premiere
Cihampelas Street
Facility: Shopping center, Food court

Below are some interesting places and shops to find or buy souvenirs and arts.

Saung Angklung Udjo It is my favorite one, there you can watch show performance of sundanese dance and culture Address: Padasuka Street 118 Phone:(022)7271714 The Summit Boutique Outlet Riau Street 61 Bandung Phone: (022) 4221001 Parijs Van Java Gallery Braga Street 48-V Phone: (022) 4212525 Pigura Modern Galeria Ir H Juanda Street 62 Phone: (022) 4205195 Risera Gallery Souvenir Lengkong Besar Street 64-B Elina Ceramics Pramuka Street Phone:(022)7208402 Sin Sin Souvenir & Antique Shop Braga Street 59 Phone:(022)4238574 Gallery Fotografi BKR Street 78 Phone:(022)5202640 Black Cat Braga Street 11 Phone:(022)2038336 Yayasan Bhakti Budaya Papanggungan Street 72 Phone: (022) 7310992 Afrika 65 Rainbow Souvenir Shop Sukajadi Street 168-170 Phone:(022)2034676 Wisma Taruna Phone: (022) 4237343 Tassel Gallery Rereng Wulung Street 29 Phone: (022) 2508600 TS 90 Galeri Taman Sari Street 90 Phone: (022) 2513434 Kalingga Souvenir & Antique Shop Junjunan Street 128 Phone:(022)6073457 Farta Forte Nyengseret Street 18 Phone:(022)5223917

Gallery and Boutique in Bandung

Galeri 16 Cibeureum Street 16 Galeri Kita RE.Martadinata Street 209 Galeri Win Art Mangga Street 36 Batik Keris Tamblong Street 64 Badjoe Batik Jendral Sudirman Street Batik Danar Hadi Sukajadi Street 119 Babe Butik Telaga Bodas Street 55 Baleza Butik Ir.H.Djuanda Street 131 Tirta Jaya Batik Prof.DR.Surya Sumantri Street 6C Museum Barli R.Prof.DR.Sutami Street Mab Butik Prof.DR.Surya Sumantri Street 6C

Best Boutique Lengkong Kecil Street 74 Blue Moon Boutique Jend. Sudirman Street 75 Carla Boutique Jamika Street 41 Celcius Butik Naripan Street 62 Chance Boutique Komp, Kopo Plaza BI D/B Rumah Nusantara Gegerkalong Street 147 Azzalea Shoes Naripan Street 62 Galeri Jeihan Cibeunying Selatan Street Chalisa Boutique Rajamantri Mantri Street 11/2 Fan Italian Butik Terusan Martanegara Street 9 Rumah Payung Nyoman Setrasari Street

Well, that's all I know. I hope this bandung shopping guide will be useful for you..
I will add more information when I have some.

Happy Shopping :)

List Of Hotel In Bandung

Have you ever traveled to Bandung? if you have you probably have found your own favorite places to stay. For new visitors, no need to worry, you will find lots of Hotel in Bandung. Bandung is one of interesting place to visit in Indonesia because Bandung is popular for shopping. Bandung shopping is so fun since there are lots of factory outlets. Bandung factory outlets sell up-to-date fashion, handbags, and so on. Bandung also very popular as for those who like culinary food. If you visit Bandung in the weekend it will be very crowded and hard to get a room in hotel in Bandung. If you plan to visit Bandung in the weekend, you will need to book a room at least one week before. If you come to Bandung during business day, you will not have any problem to get a room.

The hotel in Bandung have different rates for business day and weekend. It will be more expensive in the weekend, several hotel even charge double for the weekend and holidays. The rates are various, it depends on the facilities and stars of the hotel. There you can find 3 stars to 5 stars hotel. If you don't have lots of fund, you also can find cheap hotels. Cheap hotel Bandung can be found anywhere, you just need sometime to explore.

Below are several hotel in Bandung, if you have enough time you better explore them first to find the best of your interest.

List of Hotel in Bandung
Hyatt Regency Jl.Sumatra 51 Phone:(022)4211234	Horison Hotel Jl.Pelajar Pejuang 45 Phone:(022)7505000
Grand Preanger Hotel Jl.AsiaAfrika 81/41 Phone:(022)4231631	Savoy Homann Bidakara Hotel Jl.AsiaAfrika 112 Phone:(022)4232244
Sheraton Bandung Hotel Jl.Ir.H.Juanda 390 Phone:(022)2500303	Grand Aquila Jl.Dr.Junjunan 116 Phone:(022)2039280
The Ardjuna Hotel	Santika Hotel Jl.Sumatra
Holliday Inn Jl.Ir.H.Juanda 31-33 Phone:(022)4211333	Novotel Hotel Jl.Cihampelas Bawah
Malya Hotel	Geulis Hotel Jl.Ir.H.Juanda 129 Phone:(022)2507777
Patra Jasa Hotel Jl.Ir.H.Juanda	Kedaton Hotel Jl.Suniaraja 14 Phone:(022)4219898
Sari Ater Hotel	Topas Galery Hotel Jl.Dr.Junjunan 153
Papandayan Hotel Jl.Gatot Subroto 83 Phone:(022)7313331	Jayakarta Hotel Jl.Ir.H.Juanda 381A Phone:(022)2505888
Panghegar Hotel Jl.Merdeka 2 Phone:(022)4232286	Nalendra Hotel Jl. Cihampelas 225-229 Bandung, 40131
Progo Hotel Jl.Progo 6 Bandung Phone. 022 420 6249 Price: Rp.200,000	Royal Dago Hotel Jl.Ir. H Juanda 169 Phone:(022)25022300
Bali World Hotel Jl.Soekarno Hatta 713 Bandung Ph. +62.22.7332088 Fax. 62.22.7309402 marketing@baliworldhotel.com Price: Rp.355.000 - Rp.675.000	Naripan Indah Jl.Pelajar Pejuang 45 No.35
Hotel Gandasari Jl. Seram No 3 Bandung 40115 Phone. 022 - 4200518 Fax. 022-4232114 Price: Rp. 375,000 - Rp. 900,000	Bukit Dago Ir.H. Juanda Street 311 Bandung
Riau Hotel Jl RE Martadinata 191 Phone:(022)7271468 Price: Rp.150,000	Utari Hotel & Rest Jl Ir H Juanda 50 Phone:(022)4206810, 4200805, 4200806
Anggrek Hotel Jl.RE.Martadinata 15 Phone:(022)4205537, 4231565	Istana Hotel Jl. Lembong No.44 Phone:(022)4233025
Karmila Hotel Jl. Juanda (Dago) Phn: +62 22 420 6778 Price : Rp.260,000	Cemerlang Hotel

Apartment In Bandung	Room Rate:
The Majesty Apartment hotel Bandung, Indonesia Jl. Surya Sumantri No. 91, Bandung, 40164 Phone: +62-22-2002485/2015483 Fax : +62-22-2015438 marketing@themajestyhotel.com	I forgot where I put the document of the Majesty Apartment rates, but a year ago I stay there for 6 months. The rate for six monts was 25 million Rupiah, and 5 million rupiah per months. The rates probably have changes, can be higher or cheaper since they build a new apartement in Dago area.
Grand Setiabudhi Apartment Jl. Setiabudhi No. 130 Bandung Phone: +62-22-2044002 Fax : +62-22-2044004 sales@grandsetiabudihotel.com	Studio 1 Room: Rp 350,000,- W/Day Rp 400,000,- W/End Rp 1,850.,000,- /Week Rp 4,300,000,- /Month Executive 2 Room + Living Room: Rp 700,000,- W/Day Rp 750,000,- W/End Rp3,750.000,-/Week Rp 7,700.000,- /Month
Galery Ciumbuleuit Apartment Jl. Ciumbuleuit No. 42 Bandung Phone: +62-22-82062000 Fax : +62-22-82062005 sales@galericiumbuleuithotel.com * Please make contact to the hotel for more information. The price listing is not exhaustive	Studio 1 Room: Rp 350.000,- W/Day Rp 400.000,- W/End Rp 1.850.000,- /Week Rp4.300.000,-/Month Executive 2 Room + Living Room : Rp 700,000,- W/Day Rp 750,000,- W/End Rp 3,750.000,- /Week Rp 7,700.000,- /Month
Setramurni Apartment Jl. Setramurni 1A no 9 Bandung contact : 62-8164871771/62-81320652262 e-mail : cps@bdg.centrin.net.id	Rate : Rp. 300,000.-/day for one bedroom Rp. 400,000.-/day for two bedroom

* Please make contact to the hotel for more information. The price listing is not exhaustive

What not to do when giving bus/coach sightseeing tours

Best Sightseeing Tours by Coach/Bus

When you are guiding coach sightseeing tours, there are things a tour guide should avoid to ensure your professionalism. Here are the tips.

Do not act like a pop singer or presenter. You are a tour guide it is great to be humorous and knowledgeable but bad to be over-entertaining as that is not your main function to these clients. As many people say, “Tour guide is the unofficial ambassador of a city”.

Do not have things in your mouth e.g. any gum or candy. Small things make the difference to giving the best sightseeing tours. Even though you might be close to your clients after some time together, it’s not polite nor professional to talk while chewing.

Do not talk without testing the microphone. It’s not a must, but highly recommended as noise interference will give all a headache and noone the great wisdom you are trying to share. Check if the microphone works ok. Ask if people at the back can hear you clearly. Do not talk under the amplifier for it will cause feedback.

Do not talk to the driver with the microphone on. Likely wise, whenever you are not addressing to the group, turn it off. It happens that the microphone is left on carelessly.

Any tips of DO-NOTs you want to share from your coach/bus sightseeing tours experience?

Crisis on a sightseeing tour - Ensure happy endings

One charm of traveling is that the journey is full of mystery. Unfortunately, these include small accidents too on the rare occasion. An experienced tour guide is usually quick to respond and tries to turn such accidents into a happy ending. Let’s share some stories from OurExplorer sightseeing tours over the last 3 months.

Anne was visiting Shanghai on a business tour. First time in China, so she wanted to see more during the half-day sightseeing tours. She loves taking photos but unfortunately the camera battery was broken. There is no electronic shop nearby. Luckily the tour guide had a digital camera with her and with a simple solution of changing the memory cards the sightseeing tour was able to continue as normal.

Mary booked a cooking class while visiting Bangkok, but forgot to bring the school address on the day. Instead of heading back to hotel for the piece of paper and wasting precious time, the Bangkok tour guide with her called a friend to confirm the address on internet. Thus Mary made it to the cooking class on time without missing anything.

Kevin booked a Luxor tour guide for a sightseeing tour. He has communicated with the guide before hand and planned a great two-day itinerary. However, due to the accidental delay of arrival, Kevin had only one day in Luxor. The tour guide had a quick change of plan. A longer day tour, but Kevin saw what he most wanted to in Luxor. Happy that the delay did not result in much disappointment of his visit.

These are not big issues, but as a tour guide, you can help your clients with a better memory if you deal with crisis easily on the go.

Tips to get client to book your sightseeing tours

What is the moment you were most excited to hear from OurExplorer? For most tour guides, it’s the email in your inbox “Excellent news, you have a confirmed booking on OurExplorer”.

The client found you on the internet, was happy about your profile details + offer and decided to book your service for sightseeing tours. To reach this exciting moment, here are some tips and next steps after receiving a client booking enquiry.

Be prompt to reply. This is very important. Imagine yourself as a client who is looking for sightseeing tours. It’s great to get a reply in 24 hours, even in 48 hours at the most, but quite disappointing when there is no reply after three days. Quick reply builds up good first impression. You also have higher possibility to get a booking as the client may check with several providers/competitors. So check your email regularly if you can. Do look at spam/junk folder in case of blocked Emails. If you change to a new email address, update relevant partners you are working with.

Be honest. Be honest and sincere in your replies. This is a flat world that people can get information from various channels. Don’t presume travelers know little even though they come from the other end of the world. Moreover, it’s good to get long-term benefits with a client rating after the sightseeing tours.

To the point. Every traveler is unique. They look for different things. So when replying to the client’s query, stick to the specific queries asked by the client. Do not include all your knowledge in one email reply. You may frighten them away with too much information. Many clients prefer the right answer, rather than an all-inclusive standard reply.

Offer more than they expect. Most people like extra free things. It is like the cream on the cake. Offer your clients some free service within your ability, e.g. a free drink, a local souvenir, free entry to a popular destination, a discount to a local activity/performance etc. These are the little nice things as an extra.

Do follow up and confirm the details. If you didn’t receive any message after your first reply, then send on a kind follow-up after 2 days. See if the previous reply was well-received, if the client had any further queries, or any decision on the tour. When the client showed clear interest in your service, ask them to make a booking for the day directly on OurExplorer.

What’s next? The booking email you have been waiting for - “Excellent news, you have a confirmed booking on OurExplorer”
.

Visit Paris Van Java Mall

Paris Van Java Mall
(PVJ)

If you like shopping, when you visit Bandung, don’t forget to go to Paris Van Java Mall, this place as a must for visitors. Bandung is a city that is very popular with shopping and culinary knowledge. Paris Van Java Mall is one of the entertainment center in the Bandung which is located in Jl. Sukajadi. The location is easy to be reached, close to the Setiabudi Road, also near the Pasir Kaliki road, and also very close to the Cihampelas Walk that is very hot at the moment.

Look at Paris Van Java Mall, from the outside only represents what is quite an impression that would be submitted to all the visitors who come. Very cozy, spacious and roomy, with a full feel of modern environment-friendly. If you come in the evening, you’ll see the atmosphere and glorious eye catching offered with its many lights placed in the trees in the mall parking lot is also very large. Entering the park, and how knowledgeable no need to worry because parking place can be sure that you can park your car. There you can go for window shopping or lunch in nice cafes with your friends or family who might be invited.



Well, now we talk about the mall, I am very impressed to the management of Paris Van Java Mall in such a way this has all sett the layout counter in the front of this mall. From edge to edge and filled with stalls filled with food, meal, Snacks, beverages, coffee, etc.. Call only outlets that we know are familiar, Starbucks Coffee, Black Canyon Coffee, J. Co Donuts, Oh La La Cafe, Manchester United Cafe & Bar, and a restaurant that offers a variety of concepts of each. Ethnic traditional Indonesia there, the cuisine a la carte there be like a westerner, a Japanese cuisine. Really complete.

Go to inside, there you can shopping fashion clothes or just simply want to window shopping. There are various fashion outlets and apparels on the floor and a basement. All outlets have a majority is branded outlets. A course Esprit, Mango, Giordano, Hammer, not to mention the outlet of the bag and shoes make me dizzy spell to read one by one. Down there on the floor Gramedia, where there is a spa and salon is also one I do not remember. There are also outlets health and beauty clinic, and so many more. Also have lingerie boutiques also do not want to lose consecutive enliven Paris Van Java Mall this. So wonderful!.

Well if you have more time, you can go to Carrefour. It’s a huge department store, this mall is a joint venture with SOGO, a shopping center that is known to middle-class and above. If you like to go to Cinema to see newest movie, you can go to Blitz Megaplex. There are more than 10 cinemas in a theater, so you can choose the your favorite movie in this wonderful cinema. There is also a lounge where you can sit and talk with your partner while you wait for the movie. There is billyard place if you like to do sport near to the Cinema. That essentially, It’s not expensive to watch movie at the Blitz Megaplex, you will will not make you regret, If you only have 50,000 rupiah in the wallet it’s more than enough. The Sound system is so fantastic, I think it’s the best cinema in Bandung.

So that, If you never visit to Paris Van Java Mall, I recommended you to visit there, I believe that you won’t regret it. Have fun!

Map to Paris Van Java Mall

Bandung City Square
(Alun-alun)

Bandung City Square or also called Alun-alun is a City parks or public open space is one of the facilities of Bandung city as a place for the citizens that must be provided by the government. This facility has become a civilization and culture in every country, since the Indonesian kingdoms until now. Although the public place is never separated from the government’s power, but in each era formed space in the broad field of the central government is perceived as belonging to citizens, or the public.

Bandung City Square (Alun-alun)

In Indonesia, the wide field in front of the government, district or districts and municipalities, called a square. A wide field surrounded by the central government ( regent / mayor), the market, a prison (or the police station / military / security) and the liturgy. The zone of architecture of the city that is many centuries of age.


In ancient times, the king of the square is for the benefit of formal government, for example, military ceremonies or formal non-military, ceremonial liturgy or a party and the night market. The same concept is in the world though different zone, referred to as a plaza or town square.

The Residents thought it’s important to have square as the center information, the crowd, the big events, a playground area, bazaars, and even to play at night under the light of days with feelings of comfort. Not sure square is also an image of the city.

Before the concept of a metropolis, the city is called the district, as led by a regent. This city is located in front of the Bupati office of Bandung. Tragic enough when the Regent of Bandung office moved to Soreang. Bandung is established (several months before Daendels central government also established colonialism) is expelled from the location history. We forget that those who qualified native called the Bandung is that they are born and grow in Soreang, Cililin, Banjaran, Dayeuhkolot, Bale Endah, Majalaya, Pangalengan, Ciparay, Cicalengka and so on.. Bandung city itself is just a small city filled with many immigrants.

Bandung city center is around the road Aceh Merdeka, Wastukancana, and can not provide the same concepts such as Bandung City Square. However the park is clean and Bandung city center is also nice to visit.

While in other cities, Indonesian people usually never forget to visit the City Square. Tasikmalaya, Garut, Ciamis, Kebumen, Kuningan, Medan, Yogyakarta, and Makassar are the cities that most Indonesian people like. We can file smiling faces when we see people play, sit and walk or run enjoy the nice sunset.

Over the years the square was closed because the Bandung Mosque project developed (Mesjid Agung Bandung) which changed its name to the Masjid Raya Bandung development was completed mid-year 2003 ago. Four years more square Bandung lost from view. Perhaps also people forget it.

Mesjid Agung Bandung
(Great Mosque)

Several months ago, Bandung City Square re-opened, with new faces that are far more interesting, more clean and comfortable, although not as comfortable as the old atmosphere.

Shopping Center