When to Use a Professional Guide

You know your sport. You're absolutely competent in your sport. In your own "neck of the woods" you have no issue planning and going out on your own, or even with friends and family. But there are times when using a professional guide is incredibly valuable. So, when should you consider hiring a professional guide?

When You Value Your Time
My husband and I have developed a deep appreciation for the fact that we now have more money than time. As younger travelers, we had more time than money so we could head out for adventures and slowly sort out where we were going, where the best hikes were, or where the snow was best for some backcountry skiing. Trial and error were fine, because, hey - there's always tomorrow!

Things change. Now you have a week, maybe two weeks for that dream vacation and you want to spend your vacation enjoying your vacation, not taking a day or more to re-think and re-design the whole plan.

A professional guide saves you time because they know the area, they know the conditions, they know the routes. Your professional guide can quickly re-think a plan or adjust the itinerary based on conditions.

For example, you plan a ski tour to the Alps, but when you arrive the snow conditions on that route are not ideal, or worse, just not an option. Ta-da! Your guide will know where the conditions are favorable and can match the groups' interest with a new route and you will get on your way.

Or, imagine arriving at a new rock climbing area and even with a guide book you still have to spend time puttering around, identifying the routes, scoping them out, finding the right walk-off trail, etc. Now imagine you arrive at that new rock climbing area with a guide who leads you right to the perfect climb and you are on the rock shortly after arrival! 

When You Are Adventuring With Kids
​Your kids are old enough to adventure with you - awesome! And, you've got the know-how to show them the sport you love. But, here are the benefits of hiring a pro with your kids:

• Safety - You've got more eyes keeping an eye on the safety of your kids. From checking gear to make sure it's secure and on correctly to keeping kids away from cliff edges on the trail, you've got backup.
• Enthusiasm - Now you've got a guide setting the pace and giving direction. Kids are less likely to argue with a professional than with their own parents, right? My experience with my kids is they enjoyed the novelty of being with a Pro and their pace and endurance on the trail was like nothing we've seen before! And, our guide was able to encourage and push them to expand what they thought were their limits. Success for all!
• Enjoyment - Knowing you aren't the only one responsible for your kids' safety helps you to enjoy the experience yourself. You now have time and space to more thoroughly enjoy the scenery, enjoy the adventure, and enjoy seeing your kids having fun and pushing themselves. 

Our family via ferrata climbing adventure in the Dolomites, Italy, this summer with IFMGA professional guide Paolo.
Left: The kids were always one step behind Paolo and always ahead of us. That's a first!
Right: Paolo encouraging the kids and keeping them safe.

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Kerry is a travel consultant who designs custom trips for adventurous travelers.
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