I worked as a tour guide in Egypt for a year and consider it one of the best memories of my life. Packing your bags and moving overseas may seem like a big step. But once you succeed, everything will fall into place. Your boots hit the ground.
I lived in Cairo, sharing a spacious apartment with a French woman who worked for Coca-Cola in the city center. Although tour guides in Egypt work long and irregular hours, life along the Nile was enjoyable and I met some interesting, interesting people. Great people.The tour guide industry opens doors to new people and new cultures, making it an excellent long-term or short-term opportunity work abroad experience.
The best part of the tour guide career is that no two days are ever the same. This type of job is ideal for those who get the adrenaline rush and excitement of unexpected events. friends Easily under pressure. My day can take up morning, noon, and evening hours due to travel, and I often have to wait long hours at the airport to accommodate tour group clients. The first step is to greet and welcome guests, get them through customs, and assist them with check-in at the hotel.
My undergraduate major was criminal justice; however, I took 18 credits in hospitality management and some tour guide courses. I speak, read, and write German fluently, and have learned basic conversational Egyptian Arabic. Bilingual skills are required for foreign tour guide services; however, becoming a multilingual tour guide will increase your employment prospects and put you at the forefront.
My tour groups usually range from 15 to 30 tourists, and on rare occasions I only travel with a small group. My client received a written outline of the main itinerary. office They can make three to four hour trips to Cairo every day. The main activities are always the Egyptian Museum, the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Sun Boat Museum and getting off at the Khan el-Khalili Souk for a self-guided tour of the shops. In addition to the standard sights of the city, my clients can also book additional sightseeing tours with me for longer trips, such as a day trip to Alexandria, an excursion to Dashur or a special night on the town on a Nile dinner cruise .
While tour guiding seems like a very methodical job, it also has an element of surprise and requires you to think quickly. I give my cell phone number to my clients and urge them to call me if they have one. Having trouble traveling, want to organize something special, or if they need some quick information on adjusting to life in Egypt.
In order to connect well with foreign visitors and build instant rapport, it is crucial to have a high level of interpersonal skills. Even though the stress may come from dealing with late drivers, aggressive customers, or dealing with last-minute reservations, I continue to smile because I know that most of my guests appreciate me and applaud me.
No matter how enthusiastic and annoyed some of my clients are, I always remember that they may have to save up for years to take a wonderful trip to Egypt, and it is my pride and joy to make their Cairo experience an enjoyable one.
The academic aspects of training in this exciting field do not convey the hard work and energy required in the tour guide business. It may not be brain surgery, but it does require a quick and sharp mind to solve problems for each unique individual. Tour and spin the many wheels to keep group activities interesting and entertaining.
After their trip in Cairo, most of my clients head to Luxor or Aswan to board a Nile cruise and then maybe spend a few days on the beaches of the Red Sea. However, this is not farewell as they will return to Cairo for the last day or two of their trip.
I educate my clients on the proper etiquette of tipping in Egypt, which is approximately 15 Egyptian pounds per person per day. I know I won’t get rich working as a tour guide in Cairo; however, the base salary is decent and the tips are excellent.
The great thing about this job is having some free time in Egypt and exploring the country from top to bottom on your own. I got heavily discounted hotel rates, cheap air and train tickets, and was able to visit Egypt at my own pace for two five-day holidays a year.
My best advice to anyone considering a tour guide position abroad is to choose a country that interests you and let your passion for travel lead you. Additionally, get the best education possible and make an effort to learn one or more foreign languages. I got into this line of work after hearing a friend rave about her tour guide job in New York City and decided to make it happen for myself in my beloved Egypt.
Since I left my job in Cairo, life has been complicated by my connection to the United States. It confirmed that the time was right for me to chase my dream, get on a plane, and create some priceless memories overseas. If you’re feeling the urge to do something different with your life, I say now is the time to make it happen.
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