Roaming charges

I've been going to Venice beach a lot recently. Despite the bad traffic and the love/hate relationship I have with it, I keep going. Ironically enough I go mostly for the Basketball games, instead of the beach. What really sets this area apart from any other is the mood which is a mix of fast paced, and relaxed docile people. A lot of people here are visiting and want to see as much as they can, others have no discernible ambitions other than just taking it all in slowly. This brings a point that has always fascinated me. As a tourist why would you ever pay a tour guide who is going to give you a neat package you can read in the city brochure? Just get down there and enjoy the sounds, culture, food, smells(bad example), and the people. There's stories a tour guide would never tell. "You see that spot near the pizza joint? That's where some bums fought the cops with belts, Meth sure is a helluva' drug!"