Hamburg, a city with a rich history and vibrant culture, is best explored through the eyes of a passionate local. Lokafyer Dean brings a unique perspective to his tours, combining his love for the city with years of experience interacting with people from all over the world. From hidden gems to unforgettable moments, Dean’s tours offer travelers the opportunity to connect with Hamburg in a truly personalized way. Let’s get to know more about Dean and his journey as a Lokafyer.
About Dean
Tell us a bit about yourself. What inspired you to become a Lokafyer?
I am semi-retired. I found being retired not fulfilling so looked for opportunities that would be fun, engaging and suit my personality. I found that being a Lokafy guide enabled me to showcase the city of Hamburg (a city I love to live in) meet people from all around the world and use my people skills developed during my professional career (CEO and director level) to provide a wonderful experience for my groups and myself.
What do you love most about the city you guide in?
Hamburg is a unique city with a history stretching back to 808. It is also a modern “working” city. I guess my favourite thing is to match Hamburg’s vibrant and sometimes turbulent history with its strength and resilience to grow back stronger and thrive.
Can you share a personal story about what led you to live in your current city?
I moved to Hamburg with my wife who is from Hamburg. We moved back to Hamburg from living in Thailand to take care of her elderly parents.
Lokafy Experience
Can you share a memorable experience or moment from one of your tours?
It is hard to name one. What makes conducting a Lokafy tour memorable is taking my guests through the journey from “this is the first time I have been to Hamburg” to “I did not realise it was such an interesting and fun city, I will definitely come back”
What do you think makes a tour truly exceptional?
A Lokafy tour (and other personal guided tours) is a new(ish) concept in travel. What makes it more and more popular is the fact that you are being guided by a local who has a passion for the city they live in. Local guides have an inbuilt knowledge base of the city and successful guides have a hunger to know more about their city (this was certainly the case for me). A tour should be a mix of city highlights and history alongside “hidden gems”. I have found the “hidden gems” are not just places, they are the stories you tell about your city and the culture of Hamburg and Germany. Local knowledge and passion is the base for a great tour, the ability to tell a story with (researched and correct) facts makes for a great tour.
How do you prepare for your tours to ensure they are unique and engaging for travellers?
I start with timely contact with the guest. I ask them about a good meeting point or suggest one. I ask them what interests they have and why they have come to Hamburg. From this initial contact I build the tour. I have also found that the first 15 minutes of a tour is so important to “on the fly” tailor the experience you deliver. I find asking questions (people are mostly happy to talk about themselves) about where they come from, why they are in Hamburg and again ask their interests helps me form my commentary and delivery style. Some people are very engaging and ask lots of questions about Hamburg and for example its history, some people just want the highlights and the commentary. Some want to understand the local culture and what it's like to live in Hamburg. Preparation, in my opinion, is not just about building the physical tour, it's about adapting your delivery to each traveller. That comes with building a wide ranging knowledge of the city you are delivering a tour in and a “bank” of stories and delivery styles.
What is your favorite part of being a Lokafyer?
This may be cliché, but for me it's meeting people from all over the world, showing them around the city I love and most importantly seeing their reaction to a well delivered tour.
Have you learned anything surprising or unexpected from the travelers you've guided?
I learn all the time and that’s what is wonderful about what I do. I guess one of the more amusing and indeed practical things is the upside down cell phone picture for tall buildings.
Can you describe a challenging situation you encountered during a tour and how you handled it?
I am lucky enough not to have had a real challenge on the 60 plus tours I have done for Lokafy. I guess the ongoing challenge is to meet the individual expectations of each guest. For many this is the first personalized tour they have been on and their expectations from past more “organized” tours is different from what we deliver. Bridging that gap is sometimes a challenge, but one I love to overcome!
What feedback from travelers has been the most rewarding or impactful for you?
I am lucky enough to have many five star reviews though Lokafy on Viator, GetyourGuide, Trip Advisor and the Lokafy platform. The most rewarding direct quotes are “Dean made the city come alive for us”, “At the end of the tour we felt we had a great overview of the city.” “Our tour of Hamburg with Dean was wonderful-everything we had hoped for.”
Local Insights
What local hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path spots do you love to share with travellers?
General areas such as Sternchanze and St Pauli are great to visit for their unique character. The Hafen City development is something that is never on guided tours and is great to showcase modern Hamburg. And as above “gems” are not just places, they are stories and facts that can only be delivered on a personalized tour.
Can you describe your favorite neighborhood and why you love it?
As above there are two that are beside each other. Sternchanze for its vibe, street art and diverse gastro experiences and St Pauli for its dynamic history from redlight areas, entertainment areas to its cultural development being right next to a port that was founded in 1198.
Do you have any favorite local traditions or events that you recommend to visitors?
This is seasonal. In winter the local Christmas Markets are a magical and wonderful experience and in summer boat tours on the Alster lake and canals along with walking in the many green spaces in Hamburg is a must.
Tips and Advice
How do you tailor your tours to cater to different types of travelers (e.g., families, solo travellers, couples)?
It starts with the initial contact. The more you can understand about the type of traveller and their interests the better the tour you will deliver. For solos it is generally “a friend taking you on a tour” with more personalised interaction along with tips on what else they can do in Hamburg. For couples and groups it is making sure you engage with everyone to make it an inclusive experience, families depend on the age of the children so tours are based on that. One growing segment is shore excursions from the 3 cruise ship terminals in Hamburg. For these I need make sure the traveller knows how to get from the terminal to a meeting point. I need to know the departure time of the ship so they don’t miss it and need to make sure the tour is tailored for the traveller's age and physical requirements.
What advice would you give to new Lokafyers to help them deliver exceptional experiences?
First and foremost, it is the travellers tour not yours. To deliver a great experience you need to build and adapt the tour to what they want and expect. To be able to do this you need what I call a “bank” of experiences you can deliver both in terms of the physical tour and the narrative and style you deliver the tour. To build this “bank” you need to have a good, researched and correct knowledge of the city you are showcasing and then you need to do tours. From this you will learn how best to deliver the best tour for different types of travellers. Evaluate each tour, what was good, what not so good and then learn and improve your personalized Lokafy experience. I sometimes cringe at the first few tours I took and wish I could do them all over again, but with each tour I got better and better and as a local personalized guide that is the journey you take. Embrace it, work hard and this can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.
Do you have any tips for visitors on how to make the most of their trip?
A Personalized tour is unique and simply the best way to see a city. It is not the tours you have probably been on before and come to expect. Enjoy the personalized experience! Letting the guide know what your interests are helps them build a great experience. Take the time to do this and the tour will be exceptional! Your local guide is not always perfect, but has a passion for showing you their city. Forgive them if sometimes a date is wrong or they don’t know everything about something.
Closing Thoughts
Dean’s passion for Hamburg and his dedication to providing personalized tours make every experience truly special. By connecting with travelers, sharing hidden gems, and adapting to individual interests, Dean ensures that visitors leave with lasting memories and a deeper connection to the city. Whether you're exploring Hamburg for the first time or rediscovering it, Dean’s tours are the perfect way to see the city through the eyes of a local.
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