Sharing this as a warning for others booking private day tours through withlocals. My friends and I booked a private pastry tour of Le Marais. Apparently, all their guides are independent contractors, which creates challenges with scheduling and quality control. The first guide was unavailable, even though their site listed her as available. The second-choice guide was not prepared. He told us this was a new tour for him (even though he was listed as qualified to lead the tour), and he prepped by asking his fellow guides where to go, but did no other research. When we asked questions about the chosen shops, he had no answers. For the nearly $500 USD we were charged for a group of 6, we should have wandered on our own. When I returned from vacation and gave feedback to the company, they offered a discount on a future trip, and refused to give a partial refund, saying I should have reported it within 48 hours (even though I was still on vacation). I hope this information saves someone disappointment and wasted money in the future.
Posted by
1 posts
Hello,
There are 2 types of guides on Withlocals, non-professionals and professionals guides so pick the 2nd to get THE EXPERIENCE you deserve. You can ask for a personalized tour among the guides that do the Louvre, the Orsay or Versailles, they are all professionals and they will either organize something for you or tell you which guides are availables for the date and type of tour you want.
Many among the professionals guides are using Withlocals for nearly 10 years and attached to it so we hope you might change your mind now that you know which guides you should pick.
Posted by
Los Angeles
5595 posts
Are you with the company or just an interested bystander?
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
3256 posts
So we have a poster who has never posted coming on here just to trash company and another 1st time poster coming on here just to tell us how great the company is.
Anybody else find that very interesting
Posted by
Boston
454 posts
I might except for the dates. They’re four months apart. Unless they’re very patient, playing the long game, lol.
Posted by
Paris 16ème (Auteuil)
1593 posts
I don't know why everyone thinks they need to book a tour for everything. Do a little research and taste pastries on your own amd save a fraction of the cost.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
I’m not a big poster in general, but after the company’s terrible customer service after a bad experience, I wanted to save someone else their hard-earned travel money. Yes, we should’ve just done our own thing – lesson learned. For the person who replied there are two types of guides at this company – one good and one bad – is ridiculous. How is the average consumer supposed to know, and why do they employ guides who are not good? Yet another reason to not use withlocals.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17160 posts
"How is the average consumer supposed to know,"
"and why do they employ guides who are not good?"
Yes and yes!
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3871 posts
If you’re talking about the website "withlocals", I just wanted to mention that it's a platform from the Netherlands that helps people around the world promote themselves as guides, whether they’re pros or just passionate about sharing their city.
So, when it comes to leaving a review for withlocals, it’s important to include some specifics about the guide and the tour you experienced, like the exact URL for the tour or even just the guide’s first name.
Posted by
Chicago
9678 posts
I would be inclined to escalate this for a refund. You probably won't prevail but it is worth pushing. There is no excuse for allowing a guide service that employs guides that don't know their beat. See if you can push it up the ladder. Also review it on Trip Advisor and Yelp and wherever else you can.