local guide
/ˈloʊkl ɡaɪd/
Meaning
A person who lives in the area and is hired to show tourists around, sharing specialized knowledge about the history, culture, and hidden spots of a place. Using a local guide helps travelers experience a destination from an insider's perspective.
Examples
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We hired a local guide to show us the best street food spots in Hanoi.
We hired a local guide to show us the best street food spots in Hanoi.
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Our local guide explained the ancient history of the temple ruins.
Our local guide explained the ancient history of the temple ruins.
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Without a local guide, we never would have found this hidden waterfall.
Without a local guide, we never would have found this hidden waterfall.
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The hotel recommended a registered local guide for our mountain trek.
The hotel recommended a registered local guide for our mountain trek.
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I love chatting with a local guide because they know all the best stories.
I love chatting with a local guide because they know all the best stories.
Common Mistakes
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✗ We hired a native guide to show us the city.
✓ We hired a local guide to show us the city.
'Native guide' can sound outdated or culturally insensitive. 'Local guide' is the standard, polite term in modern tourism.
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✗ The guide of local was very friendly.
✓ The local guide was very friendly.
Adjectives like 'local' should go directly before the noun 'guide' rather than using a prepositional phrase.
Related Expressions
Practice
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If you want to avoid the tourist traps, you should hire a ___.
💡 A person from the area who shows tourists around.
Show answer
local guide
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Our ___ took us to a small family-run restaurant that wasn't in any guidebook.
💡 An insider who leads tours.
Show answer
local guide