"I've used Context Travel since 2010 and consistently find their tours exceptional because they hire experts (MA- or PhD-level) instead of scripted guides; founded in 2003, they offer deep-dive experiences from museum tours to neighborhood walks that can last up to three hours (and also offer half-day, full-day, and day trips). I walked with an art historian around the Vatican and took Context’s Paris WWII History Tour, and what sets them apart is the minute details and subject-matter knowledge guides bring—my guide Gil, who has lived in France for close to twenty years, holds a degree in politics and literature, and has over a decade of guiding experience, shared arcane facts, first-hand photos on an iPad, and a tightly structured narrative covering occupation, daily life, the resistance, what happened to the Jews, and liberation. Context primarily runs private tours but also has joinable group tours and many audio tours, operates in 70+ cities, and is great for travelers who want a real deep dive rather than a scripted overview." - Matthew Kepnes