Fees for private and custom tours in Brooklyn and beyond
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Basic private tour rates: up to 2.5 hours
These fees cover my services for my listed tours, not custom tours. Most neighborhood tours are 2.5 hours, but can be (and often are) extended. The standard Brooklyn 101 tour is 3 hours. The cost of transportation or food is extra. Want to hire me for a full day (7-8 hours)? I can offer a day rate, at a discount. Basic rates, per group, for private versions of my listed tours, which rely on walking (and sometimes public transit and/or taxi):
Sorry, I cannot combine your private tour request with another group. Additional time for walking tours that last more than 2.5 hours is pro-rated, up to a 5-hour total:
If a tour goes beyond 5 hours, that additional time may get a further discount. Some perspective on fees My rates are not inexpensive, but they are competitive: For a 3-hour tour for 4 people, my fee is $260. Some companies charge far more (say $325 or $450), or keep their pricing opaque. Anyone ordering a private tour from a portal (like Tours By Locals) pays a fee inflated by the intermediary's cut. What about public tours, with a larger group and a per person charge of $36? I lead them rarely. (See Schedule.) Tour deposit & tippingI ask for a partial deposit (minimum $80) to hold a tour date. The deposit is nonrefundable unless I cancel or bad weather (moderate-to-severe rain/snow or truly extreme heat/cold). Deposits for custom tours or tours that require particular preparation are nonrefundable for weather, but may be applied to another time. I offer multiple options for payment, including by credit card. The remainder is due at the tour's end. What about tips? I'm an owner-operator, not an employee, so tips are neither solicited nor expected. Then again, they're appreciated, and common in the tourism business. (Here's a general guide to tipping in NYC, which mentions guides who are employees or contractors rather than company owners.) Some people, especially from countries where tipping is uncommon, don't tip me. That's fine. (Please do tip servers and drivers!) Some clients treat me to a snack/lunch, write a review, and/or recommend me to their friends. (Some also tip!) I especially appreciate referrals and repeat visitors. Bonus bargain See my blog post: How to save on restaurants and cafes using the InKind app (it's a deal!) |
 Brooklyn's most famous clergyman
Where should you start?
I can modify any listed tour for your interests, and I can also develop custom tours. Just ask. But please read this web site first! For those new to Brooklyn, I recommend Brooklyn 101 or the expanded Brooklyn 202. Others might start in Williamsburg or the Lower East Side or Jackson Heights. Depending on your specific starting place, I can route or customize tours that maximize transit accessibility or minimize travel time. Please see the FAQ for some unusual tours I've led. Classroom pricing I've led many tours for college/university classes and groups, which sometimes exceed 12 people. Larger groups move more slowly, but a shorter tour of 2 hours often is enough. I sometimes can be flexible on pricing, but I cannot donate a tour. I can shape the tour content to meet your curriculum needs: in other words, more discussion of history, urban planning, or other issues. See more here. Gift certificates Gift certificates for private tours are available--please contact me first. Tours are scheduled at mutually acceptable times. Vehicle tours For vehicle tours, my fee will include a surcharge for planning, given that I typically must devise a custom driving route. That's needed even with the neighborhoods in my listed tours, since a driving route differs from a walking one. The cost depends on the size of the group, the amount of time, and the nature of the tour. Vehicle tours can combine several neighborhoods, depending on the number of stops and how much we walk. You can provide a vehicle, but if you hire one, the cost is extra. (I don't drive and guide.) Custom tours/special tours Some tours, including family reunion or return-to-Brooklyn tours, require preparation such as custom research, pre-planning, and neighborhood scouting. Because of that, I typically request a tour planning surcharge (can be approximately $60-180+, with higher fees required by more complex plans) to compensate me for the extra time. The surcharge is nonrefundable if weather cancels the tour, though I hope you would reschedule. Additional services Typically I meet groups in the neighborhood where the tour starts. I can meet you at your hotel/location, if helpful. The additional fee depends on my additional travel time. Similarly, I also can accompany you back to your hotel or starting place. The fee depends on travel time. |