Tour Guide, Athens, Greece
| 5 mins read
Are There Any Differences Between a Traveler and a Tourist?
Tourists
It's usually easy for locals to spot a tourist among them. A tourist may carry a camera, guidebook and map at all times and wear the same clothing he'd wear at home. Tourists tend to stay in their comfort zones a bit, they may speak only English (or their own language) instead of trying to learn phrases in the local language, stick to major cities or take cruises instead of venturing to smaller towns or off-the-beaten-path locations and stay in areas where the amenities are similar to what they have at home. They are usually controlled from their leader group, who drives them to typical tourist traps (shops/restaurants) just to get a commission.
Travellers
Generally speaking, someone who considers himself a traveler will try to immerse himself in the local culture rather than standing out. If you're a traveler, you may try to explore the less-travelled areas and explore locations, shops, restaurants where tourism doesn't set up the usual tourist traps. You'll interact with locals. Your goals for a trip will be to learn and experience new things, rather than to take a relaxing break from everyday life. A traveler may consider a trip a journey, maybe an adventure, rather than a typical vacation.
We can help you, become a better tourist and feel like a traveler
Being a tourist is perfectly okay. If you're more comfortable around other tourists and want to document every sight plus other tourists with your camera, waiting on queues (for example cruises queues, etc.), been driven in usually tourist traps, go ahead.
1) Don't let your guidebook dictate your schedule. Find some English-speaking locals and ask them for advice on what sights you should see. You may discover a new favourite spot you'd never find in a book. Walk some areas on foot with a local guide or travel with a local driver/ guide, to experience the places as the locals do & avoid the usual tourist traps, instead of taking guided tour buses.
2) Let us take you to places where locals seem to gather, like a town square, a pedestrian road, a traditional restaurant or a small cafe, and spend some time there. Strike up conversations with people of all ages. Ask questions about the local culture and talk about common interests; at the very least, you'll leave with a broadened worldview.
3) Let us drive you via local roads to see the other Greece, as the region of Mani in Peloponnese, Macedonia in Greece, Mount Olympus, Mount Pelion, Epirus (Mount Pindos) and a lot more. Of course, we are not going to avoid the popular places/attractions, as Acropolis & Parthenon in Athens, Delphi, Meteora, Ancient Olympia, Corinth, Cape Sounion, etc., but we visit all the sites as travellers and try to avoid the large buses tourist groups' usual hours.
Our Comment:
There are a lot of amazing places on our planet. The sea or the mountains, the beaches or the ski resorts, big castles or small forts, forests & lakes, big cities or small villages, the beauty of which just makes you stop and admire.
But how many places on our planet can combine beauty with a glorious history and mythology for more than 10.000 years? The answer is in Greece; in Greece, you will find it all.
We offer half-day and day tours to the most popular destinations in and around Athens but there are also our multiple day tours (from 2 to 15 days). These destinations have been carefully chosen to show off the ‘other Greece’ and its people while also visiting places of historical, biblical and archaeological interest.
Greece Private tours also allow you to create your own tour. Tell us where you want to go, what you want to see and we will make it happen, make your dream a reality. Where there’s a will there’s a way, your way. We sell experiences and not brochures.
Working only with the best, we have made up a web of associates throughout Greece. The Boutique A'class and 4* star hotels were exclusively chosen for their cleanliness, comfort, hospitality and quality breakfast. For taverns and restaurants apart from the taste, tradition and value also played a part in our selection. And only the best coffee houses or cafes have been chosen, the places where we ourselves stop for a coffee or just a small break.
Our drivers/ guides and our archaeologist guides, have years of experience and are, of course, government certified, they must either licensed professional drivers or be historians or archaeologists and above all polite, pleasant, welcoming, hospitable and promising to avoid taking you, to the typical tourist traps (for shopping, etc.).
We visit Greece as travellers and not as tourists. We love travelling, history, culture, tasting, scenery & photography.
5 Senses Tour is not an exaggeration. We believe in providing a personal touch beyond just making your reservations. All our drivers have travelled extensively and have first-hand knowledge of the destinations we plan for. We’re in the business of making your travel arrangements hassle-free.