Latest tour guides taking new directions

Trends in tourist information: Tour bus rides are taking new directions these days while guide books are going places seldom visited before.
 

Dirk Vanderwilt, whose profession is in computer support services, started a guide book company called Channel Lake Inc. that often covers secondary areas of tourism such as Key West and Frankenmuth, Michigan.
 

Vanderwilt started his 18 such books after finding that many popular tourist destinations are not mentioned or are just part of an area-wide tour book coverage.
 

“Our goal with Tourist Town Guides is to ensure visitors get an honest review of the local hotels, restaurants and activities, without the influence of promotional information,” he said
 

Vanderbilt says his guides — another dozen are in the works — are an alternative to the barrage of promotional information found in America’s best-known tourist towns.
 

All guides are written by residents or writers familiar with the area and aware of the “unique treasures” tourist can uncover.
 

“Too often, travelers make their decisions on what to do, where to stay and what to eat based on the promotional materials found online and in town,” said Vanderwilt. “My best vacations have been due to hands-on research and advice from frequent visitors to make the most of what the town truly has to offer.”
 

His own favorite tourist town: Niagara Falls. He started his book with Frankenmuth, which for those who aren’t aware of it offers a taste of Germany’s Bavaria in Michigan. His biggest-selling guide is Key West.
 

Traditionally, one of the most popular ways to explore a new city is the dependable tour bus ride. But GPSmy City is offering travel software that turns into an iPhone tour guide covering 180 cities around the world.
 

The relaxing journey past famous landmarks can be both educating and entertaining, and one does not need to worry about losing his way in a foreign city, according to the site.
 

“GPSmyCity sets for itself the mission to turn every tourist into their own tour guide and its iPhone travel apps make bus tours obsolete,” the company says.
 

The guides come with detailed tour route maps and other features that get into attractions and other information.
 

The site has advantages over traditional bus tours.
 

“With the average price of a tour bus ticket ranging from $30 to $50, it costs a family of four a total of US$120-$200 for a couple hours of sightseeing. The GPSmyCity’s iPhone app costs just $2.99 to $4.99 per city,” says a press release.
 

Visitors using iPhone apps also enjoy the convenience of being able to explore the city on their own schedule and at their own pace.
 

An avid antique collector of 15th-19th century printed maps, Founder Jim Zhu, became frustrated when he couldn’t find a tour guide to steer him to antique shops and old book stores where he hunts for old maps when traveling.
 

“It seemed to him that the majority of bus tours or group tours are for tourists who want to visit the few popular tour sights and nothing else,” according to a press release.
 

He started the company in 2007. Hundred more guides are planned.
 

By David Wilkening