This was my second trip with The Private Tour Guide, and once again, Simon provided a superlative service both in prior planning and on the day. He simply knows the region inside out. Last time, we went down the Great Ocean Road, and this time I took a group of friends and family to the Yarra Valley for a day of wine tasting and lunch.

Simon can fill a day with superb recommendations, and knows the history of the region like the back of his hand - but when he takes you into a winery, he knows to stand back and let the staff do the talking, so he's never overbearing in any way. His choices of venue were excellent (Yarra Yering and TarraWarra wineries, both beautiful), and then he took us later to a quite extraordinary chocolate factory and then onto to buy some grand cheeses. He pulled us in as close to the front door or each place as possible (my dad is 86) and was really great in helping my parents in and out of the Merc van.

Simon has many skills but one of his best is his ability to converse naturally and easily with people of any age or background. I'll have no hesitation in using his services again (and again, and again), and likewise I have no hesitation in recommending him to others. Private touring might seem expensive, but in fact it's not really once you weight up the costs of the alternatives - and the whole definitely adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

From the airport pickup to the hotel drop off, Simon was so knowledgeable, thoughtful, and kind. I felt very blessed to be able to see some of the most amazing views and engage all the best experiences - all in a day!

My wife and I just came back from a 22 day visit to Australia. Half the enjoyment I receive on vacations is trip planning. After reading all the books and visiting countless blogs and travel sites, it became apparent that with only four days in Melbourne, to maximize our time we needed a professional guide for one of those days to see the Great Ocean Road. Most forums and blogs said it can't be done in a day. Simon, owner of The Private Tour Guide proves that it can be done in a most enjoyable 11-12 hour excursion. He promptly picked us up at our hotel in the center of Melbourne at 7:30am and we arrived back at our hotel 12 hours later feeling that the tour far exceeded our expectations! You can read about the itinerary on the web site. I'm here to tell you how Simon interacts with his "clients." Within minutes you feel like old friends. He conversationally educates us about the plants, wild life, history, geology, Australian government, school system, books about Australia, wine, food.... What a thrill! The day was a perfect 10. The weather was crisp and clear, and Simon took numerous photos of us at the sites. He even showed us some tricks on our iPhones. We have had guides in Israel, Russia, Italy, and Japan, and these one on one experiences is more than worth the extra expense versus a group tour! The one thing that stands out about Simon is his genuine enthusiasm. He is like a kid in a candy factory, and can't wait to share his knowledge and show people places that he loves. A day with Simon showing us the Great Ocean Road was truly one of the highlights of our visit to Australia. Thanks Simon!!!!!!!