Boston Private Tours

I cannot believe I am having to resort to an internet fight with the owner of this company. Contrary to what is insinuated in his comment, I received one and only one message from him three days ago (approximately eight months after I wrote my original review, mind you). As I have other matters to attend to in my life, I had not yet had an opportunity to respond.
First, it is possible for two people to have two differing opinions of an experience. My mother-​in-​law obviously had a different opinion of this experience than my husband and myself. And I acknowledged in my original review that I felt guilty giving them a low rating because «our guide did a great job of sharing history and local knowledge. .. .»
Second, I was in the car when my mother-​in-​law received the phone call from the guide informing us that there would be no van. I can say from first-​hand experience that my mother-​in-​law was NOT pleased to receive that call. But again, as stated in my initial review, we were left with a Hobson’s choice at that point. We had all traveled from out of state for a brief weekend in Boston, and this tour formed the bulk of our plans.
Third, to the extent we received an extra hour, I submit that this merely made up for the roughly 45 minutes spent waiting for the guide to reach the meeting place after she had to deal with the no-​van issue at the rental location, figuring out whether we could squeeze six people into the SUV, and deciding whether it would work to fit us for the duration of the tour. And as a side note, I don’t know that offering a bonus hour cramping six passengers into an SUV is really the best option in the way of a «discount.»
Fourth, I still do not understand what could have prevented the company from seeking to rent a van elsewhere the morning that this problem arose. (And again, the e-​mail my mother-​in-​law received — I still have a copy of it — contained TWO pictures of a silver van, leading all of us to believe that this company actually owned a van, not that they had to rely on renting vehicles.) This tour for July was booked in June, specifically requesting a tour by van. And to the extent that the owner has commented that the guides own their own vehicles, that raises more valid questions about the way this was handled: (1) Why would he pair a tour group that specifically requests a van with a guide who does not own a van? (2) Do any of the guides actually own the van that was pictured in the e-​mail that described the tour we would receive? If so, why not allow our tour guide to borrow that van? My point in the original review was that just because you are told you will receive a tour by van does NOT guarantee that you will because, again, it appears that the company does not actually own a van.
Bill, I am sorry if you are offended by my review. As stated before, we enjoyed our time with the guide. But as one of two passengers who rode without a seatbelt, only halfway seated in the backseat during the entire tour (which was honestly a scary position to be in at times), I was not completely satisfied.

What a fantastic way to see Boston and its surrounding historic towns!
I am already suffering withdrawals from what I can honestly say was one of the best trips ever ! made possible by the tour provided by our guide David who took us back in time recounting the American revolution as we entered each historic town Private Tours are definitely the way to go!
The six hours went way too fast but we saw so much more than I would have imagined or would ever been able to do on our own. I definitely recommend seeing Boston this way because you get to go down streets and see areas not accessible with giant tour buses. I will definitely be bringing family and friends up and doing this again! Thank you sooo much!

I recently traveled to Boston with my family (myself, husband, children 8&10). Each summer we visit a major American city, this year’s visit to Boston focused on exploring the city’s history. Unfortunately, prior to our departure, I sustained an injury that required me to be on crutches for the trip — not so conducive to exploring Boston’s historical sights.
Fortunately, a web search turned up Boston Private Tours. Bill, the owner of and primary tour guide for Boston Private Tours, responded quickly and thoroughly to my inquiry. In no time at all, our tour was scheduled.
On the appointed morning, Bill and his son picked us up at our hotel in their comfortable van. We spent the next seven hours together, exploring Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge, Concord, Lexington, and Walden Pond. Bill is an amazing fount of information. He kept us all engaged with a stream of stories and information and props from his seemingly bottomless attaché’ case, with information on time periods from well before the Revolutionary War to current events. Any question we asked, he could address with rich detail. At several points of interest, we got out and explored, many, many more, we drove by. Because were were in a private passenger vehicle, Bill could take us places most tours cannot go. The day was broken up with a lunch stop at a lovely historic inn with good food.
Bill organized a perfect tour for our group, accommodating my disability, the children’s limited attention spans, and my and my husband’s interest in lots of historical detail. I get the sense that he has the depth and range to highly customize tours. I hope to return soon for Bill’s architectural tour of the area.