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VISIT TO KRAKOW (50 year old Englishman, straight, with some friends)


posts: 19

DRAZZYThreads: 1
Joined: Jan 10, 11 ♂ 		 Jan 10, 11, 23:13    #1
I AM A 5O YEAR OLD STRAIGHT ENGLISHMAN WHO WILL BE VISITING KRAKOW 5TH TO 8TH FEBRUARY WITH SOME FRIENDS. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET SOMEONE WHO COULD MAYBE SHOW ME ROUND FOR A DAY SO I DON'T MISS ANYTHING. LUNCH IS ON ME!
warszawskiThreads: 60
Posts: 2,388
Joined: May 21, 10 ♂ 		 Jan 10, 11, 23:18    #2
DRAZZY:
LUNCH IS ON ME!


It will cost more than lunch for a guide in krakow, try these guys http://www.crazyguides.com/
BzibziohThreads: 6
Posts: 3,657
Joined: Oct 15, 08 ♀ [Suspended] 		 Jan 11, 11, 14:26    #3
For professional guiding services in Kraków contact

Klub Przewodników Miejskich przy Oddziale Krakowskim PTTK
31-029 Kraków, Zyblikiewicza 2b Street
tel. (0 12) 422 26 76
bort@krakow.pttk.pl
OlafThreads: 8
Posts: 1,369
Joined: Oct 29, 09  Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jan 11, 11, 14:37    #4
DRAZZY:
STRAIGHT
Thanks for sharing?
DRAZZY:
SOMEONE WHO COULD MAYBE SHOW ME ROUND FOR A DAY SO I DON'T MISS ANYTHING. LUNCH IS ON ME!
- Well, if youre with a group larger that 6 it can be actually illegal to show around when you're not a licenced guide. You have a good idea to take someone who knows the city as ther is a lot to see. Also, professional guides are not expensive and I could recommend to you a licenced one, however, I doubt if he or anyone else would be keen on giving a whole day tour for lunch.
BzibziohThreads: 6
Posts: 3,657
Joined: Oct 15, 08 ♀ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 01:50    #5
Olaf:
I doubt if he or anyone else would be keen on giving a whole day tour for lunch.

That and I would personally not trust any guide who would agree to show me any city for a lunch. It's best to hire licensed professional with verified language skills.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 02:37    #6
Bzibzioh:
That and I would personally not trust any guide who would agree to show me any city for a lunch.


Why? There are plenty of people out there who just want to meet foreigners. Heck, there are plenty of free guided tours out there. I know someone who makes a killing from giving "American tours" in Berlin - the whole point, of course, is that Americans will give huge tips at the end of the tour.

Bzibzioh:
It's best to hire licensed professional with verified language skills.


Why? Most tour guides are anything but professional. In fact, as far as I can tell in Poland, the whole "licenced tour guide" system is just a protectionist racket, nothing more. Heck, I know Poznan very well, I know the history of most of it - yet I can't give people tours in my own language because the "tour guide" exam is only in Polish. Protectionist? Certainly.

Bzibzioh:
For professional guiding services in Kraków contact


I don't think he's looking for someone professional - he's just looking to meet a local and have a nice chat, that's all.
OlafThreads: 8
Posts: 1,369
Joined: Oct 29, 09  Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jan 12, 11, 08:55    #7
delphiandomine:
Heck, I know Poznan very well, I know the history of most of it - yet I can't give people tours in my own language because the "tour guide" exam is only in Polish. Protectionist? Certainly.
Well, that's in every country I think? It's normal and sane. Let the local professional take care of it etc. etc.
delphiandomine:
he's just looking to meet a local and have a nice chat, that's all

- and by writing he's straight he doesn't promise any "reward"! :D
HarryThreads: 62
Posts: 8,508
Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 12:25    #8
Olaf:
It's normal and sane. Let the local professional take care of it etc. etc.

Not really: I'm neither a local nor a professional guide but in the past I've needed to correct guides I heard speaking to groups about Warsaw. When I've had guides to other places and later did more in-depth research, I've often found that what they told me was wrong or what they showed me was wrong. When I did an Aktion Reinhard tour of Lublin (having specifically requested, weeks ahead, a guide who specialised in that period), the house which I was shown as Globocnik's residence was the wrong house: it wasn't even on the right street!

And let's not even go into the issue of language skills.
OlafThreads: 8
Posts: 1,369
Joined: Oct 29, 09  Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jan 12, 11, 13:50    #9
OK, you must've had bad luck with some guides. But were they licenced? If so, then I'm surprised because they have hard exams they need to pass before they are let out.
Also, the things you mention seem very advanced knowledge?
warszawskiThreads: 60
Posts: 2,388
Joined: May 21, 10 ♂ 		 Jan 12, 11, 14:04    #10
Harry:
Aktion Reinhard tour of Lublin (having specifically requested, weeks ahead, a guide who specialised in that period), the house which I was shown as Globocnik's residence was the wrong house: it wasn't even on the right street!


Olaf:
I'm surprised because they have hard exams they need to pass before they are let out.Also, the things you mention seem very advanced knowledge?


Probably, not the fault of the " guide" more the responsibility of the company that took, Harry's money, another example of a Polish company providing sloppy service.
OlafThreads: 8
Posts: 1,369
Joined: Oct 29, 09  Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jan 12, 11, 14:15    #11
Very possible. A mistake (which we all make) is not to complain and demand money back for bad services.
warszawskiThreads: 60
Posts: 2,388
Joined: May 21, 10 ♂ 		 Jan 12, 11, 14:22    #12
Olaf:
A mistake (which we all make) is not to complain and demand money back for bad services.


Maybe you, but NOT we. It all cases it is difficult to get your money back for a service received, if you press hard enough you will get discounts. Although when you do receive good service you should also be prepared to compliment and encourage.
BzibziohThreads: 6
Posts: 3,657
Joined: Oct 15, 08 ♀ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 14:29    #13
Olaf:
OK, you must've had bad luck with some guides. But were they licenced? If so, then I'm surprised because they have hard exams they need to pass before they are let out.

The problem today is that anyone can call himself a tour guide, go on the street and offer his services. On my last visit to Kraków I was offered such "guides" many times. So it's important to find qualified one, from PTTK; they wear a round badge with letters PTTK on it. Of course guides are people too and there are differences between them. But the odds are higher that they will provide you with quality service than the one from the street, no matter how enthusiastic they might be.
OlafThreads: 8
Posts: 1,369
Joined: Oct 29, 09  Pictures: 1 ♂ 		 Jan 12, 11, 14:43    #14
warszawski:
Maybe you, but NOT we.

Allright, Mr Super-Assertive. Only me. :D
Bzibzioh:
The problem today is that anyone can call himself a tour guide, go on the street and offer his services.

I don't think so - they need a licence, right? That's what I heard...
PTTK -oh yes, them (and maybe some other?) I ment! These are trustworthy, not random guys in electric cars who don't necessarily have a licence...
HarryThreads: 62
Posts: 8,508
Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 14:57    #15
Bzibzioh:
The problem today is that anyone can call himself a tour guide, go on the street and offer his services. On my last visit to Kraków I was offered such "guides" many times. So it's important to find qualified one, from PTTK; they wear a round badge with letters PTTK on it.

These were all licensed guides and all booked through TI offices.

Olaf:
Also, the things you mention seem very advanced knowledge?

Not really: Globocnik is probably the most famous resident of Lublin for the past 100 years.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 15:10    #16
Bzibzioh:
So it's important to find qualified one, from PTTK; they wear a round badge with letters PTTK on it.


It's no guarantee of quality, as anyone who has had the "pleasure" of staying in one of their establishments can attest.

I'm of the opinion that tour guides should be like taxis - only licenced ones should be able to pick up on the street, but there should be no restriction on privately operating.
BzibziohThreads: 6
Posts: 3,657
Joined: Oct 15, 08 ♀ [Suspended] 		 Jan 12, 11, 15:21    #17
Olaf:
I don't think so - they need a licence, right? That's what I heard...

Seriously, these days any putz with a free time on his hands can go to the Kraków old city and offer his guiding service. It's up to the tourist to decide if he wants to hire him.
OlafThreads: 8
Posts: 1,369
Joined: Oct 29, 09  Pictures: 1 ♂ 		Edited by: Olaf  Jan 13, 11, 00:56    #18
delphiandomine:
quality

They are an economic choice - not 5 star places, mind that.
delphiandomineThreads: 42
Posts: 9,954
Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended] 		 Jan 13, 11, 00:59    #19
Bzibzioh:
Seriously, these days any putz with a free time on his hands can go to the Kraków old city and offer his guiding service.


And get into trouble from the city guards, too.

They're very keen on demanding the licence from tour guides in summer. It's the same reason why "free" tours are becoming so popular in Europe where compulsory licences exist - no need to have a licence to give a free tour, yet people feel obliged to pay for it.


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