Hi, my name is Ben. I previously used to work in IT, but now I'm a full-time Tourist Guide! I'm a licensed professional tourist guide and I have guided thousands of people all around Malta. I'm also 100% Maltese, born & raised here. I love meeting new people and showing them around my country of Malta. I usually adapt to the audience, but I usually intersperse history, current Maltese culture, and what the Maltese people think & feel, together with recommendations for places to eat & drink (usually my favourite spots ;) ).
Before you book please see the info below! 😊😊
My tours have a maximum of 30 people. I know this may sound like a lot to some, however, it is rare that I reach the maximum. Also, many people either cancel last minute, or don't show up. And again, I mostly rarely get this maximum.
Legally I can have up to 51 people, and other PAID tours and even other FREE tours will indeed use this maximum.
I am trying to balance guest needs that want a smaller group, with my own preferences (I like the 20-30 range), plus monetary considerations. I have had many groups of smaller size (especially during low season), and sometimes it goes well, and sometimes some guests fail to show any appreciation for the small group size. So for the moment I'm sticking with the 20-30 people range.
If you are going to be LATE, please message me on WhatsApp (I will share the number once you book). And please message me well BEFORE the tour starts so I can share the live location with you. Phoning or messaging me after or when the tour starts will not work so well as I am usually super focused on the tour.
I aim to begin the tours right at the stipulated time.
Also, messaging me on the app you booked the tour on will almost certainly not work as I don't get any notifications and the messaging system is slow there, so again, please message me on WhatsApp before the tour start time.
If you want to cancel, absolutely no need to apologise, just please cancel as soon as you are able to. You can do so in the app, or by using the email confirming your booking (kindly check the spam folder if it's not in the inbox).
My tours contain a mixture of history, culture, recommendations, and humour. The backbone of my tour is history, however, I include a lot of humour, and current day Maltese culture with perspectives and attitudes of the Maltese. If you're desiring of a purely historical tour then this might not be the tour for you 😊
I look forward to having a great tour with you! 😊 Ben
Other Practical information:
- I accept cash, Revolut, or PayPal as forms of payment.
- If you're travelling to Mdina before the tour starts please take into account that traffic and delays are common, so please consider leaving around an hour before the starting time. I've had many guests who were confident they could make it on time miss a bus, or get stuck in traffic.
- Please do not book children/teens < 18 years old. They can join, but please do not book them, as they take up slots that can be used by adults.
- Children are welcome provided they do not disturb the other guests or the tour. Either by running around or by being noisy. This would be very distracting and disrespectful to the other guests and to the guide.
- It's true, it's marketed as a "Free Tour" but please consider the amount of effort the guide puts in, together with the quality of information, and the quality of the tour itself. A recommended donation amount is €10 per person. There are those who give more, which is VERY much appreciated and helps with the sustainability of the tour. Of course the amount is totally up to you to decide.
- Provided there are no sudden obstacles implemented by the local community, the tour is fully wheelchair accessible.
- Unfortunately the ground, road, walkways that we use in the tour can be slippery, uneven, have holes and/or obstacles. Please watch your step during the tour.
- Also unfortunately, cars in Malta might use the same road as we do, and as you might have noticed they drive quite fast in areas where people walk. So please take note of this and be aware.
Liability exclusion: By booking and/or participating in the tour, the participants agree, understand and acknowledge that the tour leader/operator will not be held liable for any damages (whether direct, indirect, incidental or consequential), injuries (including personal injury), loss, accident, delay or inconvenience incurred to or by the persons participating in the tour and/or their property. The persons participating in the tour further agree to release the tour guide (and tour operator) from any liability, claims or actions arising from or related to the participation in the tour.
Please meet me INSIDE the UPPER BARRAKKA gardens. Keep walking further in until you reach two rows of ARCHES with no roof. I'll be in the CORNER OF THE ARCHES next to a LARGE STONE URN. I will have an UMBRELLA with a SILVER-TOP and BLACK-UNDERSIDE. Please ask for "Ben" and not the "Free Tour" :)
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
