Find your local guide - Shiroube (beta)

What is Shiroube?

Shiroube is a Japanese word meaning “to be a guide" (Pronounced Shi-ru-bé) - Welcome to Shiroube, the world's largest marketplace for travelers and guides. Here, you can find your local destination guide, and locals can advertise to be a guide for travelers!

Have you ever imagined that your travel could be filled with unexpected scenes, encounters and experiences, just like in the movies? Are you fed up with carefully coordinated guided tours? Are you just following guide books? Shiroube aims to help travelers have a superior, rather than an ordinary travel experience.

The site has features to assist people in finding the best travel guide, with no frills. This is the marketplace that offers a service where travelers and locals can make deals in guiding.

Hey, I'm a local. I'd like to help visitors and communities!

I stay in Berlin (that's an area covered by Shiroube). Can I work as a local guide with visitors?

Of course! We are always on the lookout for locals who can work as guides. We believe that locals know the place better, and that locals can give first hand information to travelers. Since you have lived and worked there, you know the language and you also know things which guide books don't tell.

Well, I'm not in a city. I'm in the middle of the desert where no tourist has ever visited. Can I be a local guide here?

Sure. That's why we are here. One of our aims is to discover hidden gems in the global tourism market. You could be the very first person to be a local guide there!

Hi, I run a Spanish cooking school in Barcelona for visitors. Can I promote my class as well?

Yes, you are free to promote any local business that helps feel the local taste through Shiroube.

What are the benefits of being a guide with Shiroube?

Shiroube works on the belief of forming a lasting relationship with the tourists. This makes the tourists enjoy their vacation and leave with happy memories of the place. For you, as a guide, there are multiple gains: • Make friends coming to your area • Learn foreign languages and cultures for free • Promote local communities and businesses for visitors • Use the service as volunteering experiences substitutes • Make good money • Swap or exchange clothes, jewelry, books, showpieces or any goods with visitors • Assure the tourists of a memorable experience and let them go back to their native places as happier, more relaxed and laidback people.

Who is a typical Shiroube guide? Do I need to be a historian or expert?

Of course not. You could be a student, housewife, retiree, teacher, biologist, musician, corporate worker or anything else. The main purpose of Shiroube is to introduce travelers to the part of the city or area that guide books or tours don't show. Local restaurants, the best coffee shop in town, the cheapest and best shopping market, a huge corn field, or a beautiful little stream – these are things that only a local can talk about.

Do I have to pay? What are the charges for joining Shiroube as a guide?

It's free! Are you a Local, Looking for new experiences with visitors? If you are a local wanting to be a local guide, you can post your ad (up to three) on the site, and receive emails completely free. Shiroube is currently supported by advertisements shown on the guide search.

I'd simply like to volunteer to show my neighborhoods!

Yes, a number of Shiroube members choose to help visitors for free as volunteering to work to help their local community. You have to state clearly the services are free of charge when you place an ad so that visitors can find you easily.

Can I offer my private room/house/premises as an accommodation for tourists?

No. Unless you conduct professional business, we do not accept ads for private accommodation for tourists.

I am an independent tourism business owner. Can I promote my service on Shiroube?

Yes, of course! You can enjoy Shiroube experiences even if you conduct a tourism business. You are encouraged to show certificates, licenses or all of the information needed to prove your legitimacy by uploading pictures and stating it in your ads. If you run a whole ale tourism business, please contact us and let us help facilitate boosting your business.

Do you hire me as a local guide?

No. We don not employ you. Shiroube is a place where you can promote yourself as a local guide. You need to show ability, interests, a tour plan, passion and have a service to share with visitors on Shiroube.

I'd like to charge my service, how can I get paid?

If you charge for the service, all deals have to be agreed before and done in local places in person. Shiroube is only a marketplace where you can place your ad ,but not to transfer or control your money or payment.

Do I need a license, permit or certificate to be a local guide?

In certain countries and areas, it is common that some leisure activities with visitors may be prohibited from local authorities. You are encouraged to consult with the local authority governing tourism activities before you start guiding.

Usually, the activities that involve touring a number of people, taking groups by vehicles, extreme sports activities or guiding preserved historical places requires permission to work as a guide. However, it depends on areas, towns, countries or cultures. It is always better to ask local authorities if you have any doubt on this. We do not allow any illegal activities on the Shiroube If you found one, please report it to us.

I am a traveler, need a local friend or help!

Is finding a guide from Shiroube costly?

Not at all. Shiroube gives you several benefits: • You can find a guide according to your preference and purpose • Save on travel costs • Help your foreign business • Find unique travel activities that you would not find on travel media All you have to do is to simply click on “Find Your Local Guide” section or the "Top Interests" section shown on the home page. You will be guided to the page where you have to click on your preferences and area. The list of guides suitable to your requirements will be displayed. You can then send emails to them and discuss the terms and conditions. That's all it takes to enjoy the local flavor with Shiroube.

I'm a business traveler. Can I find business help or a partner through Shiroube for my business and gigs?

Yes, many business people use Shiroube as a source of finding local business partners. Are you planning to exhibit in a trade show? Are you an artist or musician in need of help for an exhibition? Try finding local people and asking them for some help!

Hi, I'm an adventure tourist. I need some help in Africa.

You can choose many local guides even in Africa. We cover more than 3,000 cities in the world. If you have specific requests, don't hesitate, send a message to locals.

Do I have to pay Shiroube? How does all this work?

No, you don't need to pay anything to us. If you agreed to an offer provided by locals, then you pay directly when you receive the service at the local places. The payment only involves you, locals and travelers. Don't send anything before you actually meet them!

If you are a traveler wanting to find a local person to guide you, with Shiroube there is absolutely no cost involved. You can then reach to the local guides through the site, wait for a response and make a deal. All you have to do is make a deal and pay it in hand if the local charges for their services. Shiroube is merely a marketplace that connects locals and visitors. As we cannot guarantee local deals, you have to be responsible for all deals you make.

Avoid fraud and scams

Although we do our best to keep security and quality, unfortunately SCAMs and frauds are very devious to avoid the screening. Here are some tips to protect yourself.

Warning signs

You meet someone on the site and their profile picture or photograph looks different from their description or looks like it’s from a magazine.

After just a few contacts they profess strong feelings for you .

After gaining your trust, they tell you an elaborate story and ask for money, gifts or your bank account/credit card details.

They continue to ask you for money, but never actually visit you.

If you don’t send money straightaway, their emails and calls will often become more desperate, persistent or direct.

The ad is poorly written, vague or contains specific information taken directly from news articles, repeats itself, you are addressed by the wrong name, or the email is not personally addressed at all.

ALWAYS consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam, particularly if the warning signs listed above appear. Try to remove the emotion from your decision making no matter how caring or persistent they seem.

Talk to an independent friend, relative or fair trading agency before you send any money. THINK TWICE before sending money to someone you have only recently met online or haven't met in person.

NEVER give credit card or online account details to anyone by email. Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social network sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.

If you agree to meet in person, tell family and friends where you are going. If this includes overseas travel, consider carefully the advice before making any plans.

Avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer or international funds transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way.

If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Money laundering is a criminal offence: do not agree to transfer money for someone else.

How do I cancel my account?

Breaking up is always tough. Are you sure you want to leave?! Don't forget the great Shiroube experiences. Before you decide to leave us for good, make sure you consider your options - Shiroube is a free service, no need for a hustle! Still not convinced? Contact our support team for cancelation.

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Questions?

Do you have any questions, ideas, tips to share? We want to hear from you! You can drop a line to our support team at any time.