Did you say FREE???

So you've planned a trip to a new city, and you're equipped with mobile apps / travel guide books / maps etc... You know what you want to see and do, but once you land at the airport and make your way to the city where do you really start?

The easiest option is often to make use of the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus. However, the tickets are often very pricey, and in winter an open-top bus isn't always the best option... If you're happy to get a great overview of the city, and the idea of a walking tour doesn't put you off, I might have the perfect solution!

There's a company called Sandemans (Sandemans New Europe), and they claim to be the largest walking tour company in Europe.  Most importantly it's FREEEEEEE! The guides work on a tips-only basis, so if you're not happy with the service they offered you don't have to pay.

I've made use of this company on 3 occasions thus far, and each one of them has been fun and unforgettable.  It's a great way to start off your first day in a new city, and the guide is also a great source of information on good restaurants and bars/pubs.

It's even a great idea to join a group over the weekend, in your own hometown. I joined a tour in London, after having lived and worked in the city for more than 4 years and I was amazed at how much I learnt.

Tours run all year round, regardless of weather conditions, and unless your tour group is greater than 10 there's no need to place a reservation in advance. As far as I know, all tours are available in English.

And once you've finished the free tour, you will normally be provided with the option of booking some of the "paid tours" at a discounted price. Even more enticing, tours often end at (or close to) a restaurant/ cafe where you can get the opportunity to pose any more questions to the guide about the city etc.  The company often has an arrangement with the restaurant/cafe, offering a special price on meals and drinks too.

I've experienced the Amsterdam, London and Dublin tours first hand, and have no regrets at all!  The guides were very friendly and informative, and I was more than happy to part with some cash thereafter.  Of course this means the tour wasn't entirely free then, but at least you get the opportunity to evaluate the service before paying for it and you are able to give a tip based on what you feel it was truly worth in terms of quality.

Tours normally last for 2+ hrs, and the guides are local experts / students.  The company operates in about 14 cities around Europe and the Middle East, and  there are often 2 sets of tours each day (late morning and early afternoon).
 
HAPPY TRAVELS!