Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
If someone can afford a private guide (and car with driver?) and hasn't traveled much internationally, I can see an argument for preferring the private guide. This can also save some time versus figuring out subways and museum locations/hours on your own, although some travelers prefer the challenge of doing it independently. In big cities and major tourist areas, language doesn't seem to be a problem but I could see the need for a guide/translator in the more rural areas. For example, I don't think I'd want to try to go to the remote panda place that isn't near Chengdu on my own.
actually the panda place isn't so remote and it is well on the beaten tourist path. About 10 years ago We hired a taxi from our hotel, he drove and waited for us, and drove us back to the city center. We were concerned on how would find the taxi, we had the taxi number, but the truth is we stood out from the crowd and the taxi driver was on the lookout. I echo the sentiments here on not needing a guide.
We hired a guide for our first trip to China 15 years ago with our teenage children when tourism was still sort of new and they were very poor and their English wasn't great or their knowledge level was low. We have been back a dozen or more times and found navigating on our own to be easy fun and add to the adventure. The only other time we hired a guide was when we had a party of 7 including older parents for 2 days in Nanjing with a full itinerary so it was useful. So basically assess your situation. Big cities, no need, smaller cities, short time frame or large groups maybe. Don't expect creativity or originality from the guide