Getting Started
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know to start exploring Savannah’s African American history on your own time, at your own pace. Still stuck? Email info@hiddeninplainsighttours.com and we’ll help.
What is a self-guided tour?
Instead of meeting a guide at a set time, you explore on your own schedule using your phone. Each tour is a curated route through Savannah’s historic squares and streets, with a map, written history for every stop, photos, and narration. You start when you want, pause whenever you like, and take as long as you need.
Do I need an account?
Yes. Every tour — free or paid — requires a free account so we can save which tours you have access to and unlock them on any device you sign in on. Creating one takes just an email address, your name, and a password.
How do I take a tour?
Open the site on your phone, sign in, and choose a tour. Once it’s unlocked, you’ll see an interactive map with the route and numbered stops. Walk to each location and, as you go, read the history, view the photos, and listen to the narration for that spot. The map highlights your stops in order so you always know where you’re headed next.
Do I have to be in Savannah?
To walk the tour, yes — the routes follow real streets and squares, and the experience is designed to be lived where the history actually happened. That said, you can browse tours, read about them, and unlock them from anywhere ahead of your visit, so you’re ready to go the moment you arrive.
Is there audio narration?
Yes. Tours include narration you can listen to while you walk, both an overview for the tour and narration at individual stops, so you can keep your eyes on the historic buildings and streets around you instead of your screen.
Does it work offline?
Largely, yes. The site is built to keep working with a weak or missing signal — once you’ve opened and unlocked a tour, its core content is cached on your device so it keeps functioning as you move through areas with spotty coverage. For the smoothest experience, open your tour once while you still have a good connection.
Can I add it to my phone like an app?
Yes. There’s nothing to download from an app store — it runs in your browser. On most phones you can use your browser’s “Add to Home Screen” option to get an app-like icon and a full-screen experience.
How much do tours cost, and how does access work?
Each tour’s page shows whether it’s free or paid. When you unlock a tour, your access may be unlimited or available for a set period — the tour page tells you which. You can revisit an unlocked tour as many times as you like during your access period, on any device where you’re signed in.
How do I pay for a paid tour?
Secure online payment is being finalized. In the meantime, if you’d like access to a paid tour, reach out to us at info@hiddeninplainsighttours.com and we’ll help you get started.
Are the tours accessible?
Each tour is tagged to help you choose what fits your needs — for example, whether a route is senior-friendly, family-friendly, or wheelchair-accessible — and the walking routes are planned to follow accessible paths where possible. Check the tags on a tour before you begin, and email us if you have specific accessibility questions.
Do you use cookies or track me?
We use a strictly-necessary cookie to keep you signed in, plus analytics that measure general, aggregate usage so we can improve the site — never to identify you personally. Full details, including how to opt out of analytics, are on our Privacy & Cookies page.
I forgot my password.
On the sign-in screen, choose “Forgot your password?” and enter your email. We’ll send a secure reset link that’s valid for one hour. Follow it to set a new password. If the email doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder and make sure you used the address you registered with.
How do I get in touch?
For anything at all — access, accessibility, technical trouble, or a question about the history — email info@hiddeninplainsighttours.com.