subject: Malaysia, Hiring a Private Local Guide [print this page] Many people around the globe is planning their next holiday trips all over the world of destinations. One of the famous destination in South East Asia is Malaysia. With it's vast and well developing capital, Kuala Lumpur has now reach more than 2.5 millions people as it's population and it call came from different races, beliefs and cultures. That's create a well balanced and harmony amongst the people and that is how Malaysia has it's unique identity within other Asian countries.
Planning your holiday to Malaysia is somehow might not easy as you think, often I came across travelers backpacking type referring to guide books being spending hours and hours trying to locate places of interest. Some guide books may not be up-to-date. Where, on the other type of travelers who hiring travel agents might being charged with high and expensive prices and ends up with less attention from the agents. Emails enquiries with lame replies (or not even bother to reply), delay with it's ground arrangements, hotel check-in issues, dirty vehicles with reckless drivers.
Another type of travelers is much more adventurous, they do their research by contacting local guide usually an independent or freelance local guide who might assist them in planning and executing holiday plans for them. Good reason is, a local person from the country that you're going to visit knows well their cities, their regions. And they will take every each of their steps carefully and responsibly by working together with you from planning your holiday until executing the trips for you whether direct or indirect. Afterall, they depends on your testimonial for getting the good image of themselves and to their country.
The real situation is some of us might depends on hope that all our holiday plans shall meet our expectations. And we can enjoy a hassle free holidays together with our love's one, our family or our own smal group of friends.
I have came across numbers of independent travelers who just rely on guide-books being stranded. Some others cancelling some of their tours with the agents for some reasons and some others happy and smile during reaching the departure hall of our airports for flight back home.
Some good points when hiring a private local guide (perhaps applicable in Malaysia only):
- is to consider how reliable he/she is
- his/her testimonials by other travelers
- by comparing prices between travel agents/private guide
- by calculating the hidden cost that you might bear
- by ensure proper and comfortable vehicle for your trips
