Local Travel Guides

A couple of weeks ago I wrote Pt.1 of this article series which sang the praises of the virtues of Local Travel Guides. If you’re set on being a travel guide writer, but don’t have the budget or time to spend on travelling far afield to explore new countries or continents, don’t worry – because the destination you’re most knowledgeable about is right outside your front door.

Today I’m sharing resources and inspiration to help you plan and write your Local Travel Guide.

Resource Sites for Local Travel Guides

There’s a whole slew of collaborative local travel guide sites positioned to share tips from locals. You can use these sites to get inspired about the topics and content niches you can recreate for your own local neighbourhood.

Once you’ve reviewed what’s already out there for another location, you can set your angle and tone for your own local travel guide.

Here’s a couple of examples of these collaboration sites:

Like a Local Guide:

Website: https://www.likealocalguide.com

This is a community website that features tips and advice from locals who live in the area. You can also ask locals a questions about their destination.

Skip the tourist traps. Explore like a local. Discover cities by following the advice of real locals that know their city inside out!

Spotted by Locals:

Website: http://www.spottedbylocals.com

As well as having online information, they also have a paid phone app. But you have free access to the different locations being shared on their website.

Handpicked city loving locals write about their favorite spots in their city. Insider tips, not highlights!

Both of these collaboration sites great research tools for your local area to see what topics or categories are popular. You could also use them to find a local expert to collaborate on a travel guide with you.

Rick Steves take on Local Guides:

Popular travel writer Rick Steves wrote an article about how “Local Guides Bring Meaning to your Travels“.

If you’re spending a while in a destination, hire a guide early in your trip. You’ll get an orientation to the city, and you’ll learn time- and money-saving tips. Guides can point out good restaurants, give shopping advice, and provide transportation and sightseeing tips. In St. Petersburg, I learned how to avoid ticket lines at the Hermitage by buying them at the machines in the courtyard. In Istanbul, my guide took me to a local market to shop for spices (instead of at the touristy, overpriced Spice Market).

Rick is talking about hiring a private tour guide at a destination, but the philosophy is the same for books written by local experts. Visitors buy local travel guides to get short cuts. They want to know how to get the most out of their trip (especially if it’s a short-stay), and who better than a local expert to share this expertise with them. Rather than hire a local travel guide, visitors can buy the local ebook or print travel guide your write, and benefit for your local insider knowledge.

Travel Guide Publishers for Inspiration

Here’s a small sample of travel guide publishers who feature a line or extensive number of travel guides that focus on local areas destinations or neighbourhoods.

Insights Guides:

Insights Guides publish a variety of different travel guide series, but at the core of all of them is simply presented travel information provided by local experts.

You only have to look at the 39 Insights Guides in their Explore series to see what a premium insider knowledge is to see how popular local travel guides are. This series includes recommended walks and tours, written by local experts, and contains background information on the history and culture of each destination. They incorporate the best sights and lesser-known insider spots alongside the routes, along with some cafes and refreshment stops.

Wild Things Publishing:

This indie publishing company features a broad range of local guides featuring exploring, walks, swimming spots and cycling adventures.

Our mission is to create inspiring products (books & apps), that get people out, experiencing and enjoying nature, and our wonderful (often local) world.

Amberley Publishing:

Amberley Publishing is the home of the local history series Through Time.  They publish books focused on local history and heritage.

Leading the way with local and specialist history.

Unanchor Travel Guides

Let’s say you have 3 days of vacation and you want to see Chicago. First off, you only have 3 days? Tragedy! Chicago deserves at least 3 weeks. But since you want to make the most of your time, buy this itinerary because it gives you 3 packed days that show off the highlights and dimly lit nights of this fabulous city.

Unanchor Travel Guides have a good selection of ebooks that cover local neighbourhoods. The example I’ve included here is their ebook for a 3 Day trip to Chicago, this books is aimed at readers who are visiting the city for a short period of time and want insider tips on the city’s local neighbourhoods.

And this brings up an important element in your Local Travel Guide planning process …. who are you writing for? The more precisely you identify your target audience, the easier it will be for your to research, write and market it.

Want more on this topic? I’ve also published a podcast about “How to Become a Local Travel Guide Author”

Read more articles in my How to Write a Travel Guide Series

I’m putting the finishing touches on my How to Write and Self-Publish a Travel Guide Series, which details a step by step approach for writing and producing your own travel guide. It’s part of a four-part series aimed at helping travel bloggers achieve passive income based on their passions and existing content.

Each month I host a monthly free prize draw and give away a travel writing e-book to the lucky winner. Sign up to join my mailing list to participate.