At LocalsInsider, we’re always on the lookout for digital tools that can make travel a bit easier and more interesting. Localie is one of those apps that caught our attention. It connects travelers with local guides—or “Localies”—for personalized walking tours. This startup is (as we understood it) mostly for meeting up with the local expats and doing cultural trips in small groups.
Tours start around $50, making it a pretty affordable way to see a place from a different angle.
In addition to the tours, Localie connects expats, travelers, and locals through cultural events, theatre outings, meetups, and networking trips through their Localie Hub (desktop version). Many events are focused on Amsterdam and San Francisco, with most events being held in Russian.
Localie: Tours with Locals
Localie is a travel platform and mobile app that lets you connect with local people on your travels. You can arrange private tours, receive insider tips, and join activities in the cities that you’re visiting.
The idea is to help you avoid tourist traps and to see destinations from another angle: that of a local. Currently, Localie has options in over 350 destinations, with new cities added every month. Over 4,000 travelers have booked tours with Localie to date.
How Does Localie Work?
To connect with a local, you’ll need to first download the app, which is free for iOS and Android users. You’ll then need to create your profile. The more information you include, the better, as Localies will check your profile before deciding whether to take you around their city.
After creating your profile, you can search for a host in a city that you’re planning to visit by clicking ‘Explore.’ You’ll need to provide the following information to be matched with a host:
- Destination (city & country)
- Date – you can enter a single date or a range of dates, depending on your travel plans
- Number of travelers
- Your budget (from $50 upwards)
The app will then match you with available Localies on your chosen dates, and those who are interested will send you an invitation to chat. At this stage, you can review their profile, watch their introductory video, and accept or decline their invitation, based on whether you think you’re a good match.
Once you’re happy with your chosen Localie, you’ll negotiate a price for your trip and pay through the app. Localie holds all money in the app until the tour is completed, offering protection against no-shows and scams.
Some Localie members also host trips spanning several days or even weeks, whether Alpine hikes or short city breaks.
Pricing: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Local Guide?
Localie’s pricing is determined by many factors. The city you’re visiting, how long you would like a guide for, and what you’d like to do on your tour, will all influence the cost.
Before matching with a Localie, you can use the bar to adjust your budget and filter your potential matches based on the price they charge to show you around.
As a general rule, Localie publishes the following in the app:
- $50 for a quick local introductory work for up to one hour
- $120+ for a private walking tour of 2-4 hours with a Localie
- $350+ for a 5-hour tour with a professional licensed guide
- $900+ for a full-day private tour with car transfer to premium destinations
Localies are charged a 29% fee for withdrawing their money from the app.
Reviews & Ratings: Is Localie Legit?
Localie is a newly launched app, so it doesn’t have many verified reviews online. Its Trustpilot score is encouraging, though, sitting at 4.4/5.0 from 15+ reviews.
Many reviewers agree that it was easy to arrange trips in different cities, from Murmansk to Istanbul, with local people, adding another dimension to their trips.
Trustpilot Review: “I had a trip to Chamonix for a multi-day network trip. The planning was efficient, the schedule adapted smoothly to weather changes, and it was a great chance to meet and network with others while enjoying the tour.” Alexander Klimenko, NL
Alternatives to Localie? Check out Withlocals
There are several more established alternatives to Localie with a similar premise. Withlocals is one of the most recognizable alternatives and has a much bigger database of hosts and activities.
The variety of tours on Withlocals is excellent, too. There are cooking classes, museum guides, art-focused explorations, and many more. It has been going strong since 2013 and has many more independent reviews than Localie, earning a 4.8/5 rating from over 1,745 Trustpilot reviews.
While Localie is an exciting concept, it’s yet to realize its full potential and is essentially a lighter, less comprehensive version of Withlocals. Both can work for you, but you’ll find more variety if you sign up and download the Withlocals app.
Did you try Localie? How was it? Let us know what you think about it at hello@localsinsider.com
