Viator: Easy Way To Find Attractions, Activities, and Things to Do When You Travel

Let me ask you a question.

Have you ever found yourself lost in a new city for vacation, holiday, or business and struggled to find attractions, activities, or things to do? You probably turned to Google search to find answers. That’s the usual process. If you answered yes, you’re not alone because I had been in similar situations until I found a solution- an easy way to find attraction and things to do.

We attended an event in Las Vegas with friends who visited from Europe, and it happened that we would spend the Saturday and head back to base Sunday morning. We spent a fair amount of time inside the luxurious Venetian Hotel, and believe me, if you’re not careful, you will spend your entire Las Vegas trip inside this hotel without stepping outside.

Since we had a day before we departed, we wouldn’t spend the entire day indoors doing anything, so we thought it would be good to do something fun. After all, we are in Vegas, and let’s tour the city.

The other friends that travelled with us I later realized were depending on me to come up with a plan of what to do since they were visiting from overseas and wanted to have that Vegas experience.

Explore the City

So, let’s explore the city, see what it has, and have fun, but I definitely won’t be the driver, having driven the entire trip. Who will drive? A vote was taken, and I lost. Yet I still don’t want to drive. We just wanted to let someone drive us so I could rest and prepare for the drive back to Phoenix.

We remembered seeing the Big Red Bus with tourists seated at the top, all looking happy.  That’s it- the big bus. But how do we get on it?

Talk to those guys in the lobby? Hmm, it’s not something I’d love to do. It would be suicidal- handing myself to the hawks. Those guys can sell you ice in Iceland. Timeshares and all that stuff. I’d rather find some tours and activities myself than ask those sharks.

A Popular Tourist Destination

Las Vegas is a popular tourist destination, and unfortunately, some people try to take advantage of visitors by running scams. Common scams in Las Vegas include people posing as street performers, salespeople, charity workers, and fake ticket sellers.

I am already aware of these scams and have set rules I have written about.

• Don’t engage with people who may pose as street performers or salespeople to get money from tourists.
• Buy tickets for attractions or shows from reputable sellers. Avoid buying tickets from individuals on the street or online from unverified sources.

I wanted us to enjoy the day’s activities and find other things to do without being pressured into buying those expensive tickets, which are often scams.

Since I know my way around search engines, booking sites, and how to score cheap tickets and deals, I did what most people will do. I turned to Google- which helped, no doubt.

Activity Booking Search Platform

Then I remembered an activity booking search platform called Viator, which I used to book a day cruise when we visited San Diego. Yeah, I can check them out and see what is out there.

I felt relieved and searched for the Big Red Bus tour in Las Vegas. There are so many tours, activities, and things to do, but we found what we were looking for and proceeded to book.

We called the number found in the email to confirm the pickup locations. Surprisingly, there was one very close to our location. We arrived at the location about 2 hours before pick up to ensure we knew exactly where it was and later went to grab some quick breakfast nearby.

Returning to the location, we saw many people there for the same reason. We had time to interact with a few people, converse, and take selfies. They had an agent at the location to guide and answer questions. It was he who validated the tickets.

I loved the Hop on and Hop off style. You can stop somewhere while the bus continues, leaving you behind, hop on the next bus, and continue sightseeing. This was a great way to tour at your own pace as you were not pressured.

What is Viator?

Viator is a third-party booking site and one of the leading travel websites worldwide. Through them, you can explore a wide range of tourist attractions, fun activities, and things to do and experiences anywhere around the globe. All you need to do is search for the activity or things to do and the date, and you will see everything there is to do in that area. I did just that, and we found ourselves atop the Big Bus deck, looking like we were in the UK.

I’d recommend the platform, especially to anyone in a short-term rental property with no concierge services or somebody to ask about things to do. But before booking, read their terms and get additional information about the activity or tour.

Did I mention that they offer Free Cancellation within 24 hours? So if you booked and oops…proceed and hit the cancel button.

Is Viator Legit?

If you’ve never booked anything with Viator, you’re probably asking if Viator is legit. Yes, it is legit! It’s owned by TripAdvisor, a third-party tour provider. We have used Viator countless times locally in my city to buy tickets to different places- Legoland, Disney, and airport transfers- and the experience was the same. It is easy, and I find Viator so useful for booking travel experiences, which is why I wrote this piece.

But don’t just take my word for it; check it out by visiting their website and searching for an activity in your city or destination.

Some Benefits of Viator:

Cancellation Policy:

Just a heads up about cancellations on Viator- most tours and experiences offer free cancellations up to 24 hours before they start, which is super handy. But it’s worth noting that not all of them do, so keep an eye out if that’s important to you.

Currency Conversion:

Viator makes it easy to switch the currency display, meaning you can pay for tours in your local currency and avoid those pesky bank fees. Score!

For example, adjusting the currency is easy if you’re on your computer. Look for the currency selector at the top right corner of your screen, and with a quick click, you can switch to your preferred currency.

• Read Also: Guide to Finding Attractions and Activities In A New City

Reserve Now, Pay Later:

They also have an option to reserve now and pay later, allowing you to snag your spot on a tour now and worry about payment later. Sometimes, you’ve got up until three days before the activity kicks off to settle.

Viator Drawbacks to Consider:

I will not sing their praises throughout because there is no perfection anywhere. There are a couple of things to consider.

Last minute Booking:

Booking last-minute tickets, especially during peak seasons, can be tricky since tours can fill up fast. Remember, Viator acts as a middleman, so if a tour operator sells their tickets, you might be out of luck. It’s happened to me before, so I always have a backup plan handy.

Viator Tour Pick-Up Locations:

Another thing you shouldn’t forget to do is to double-check those pick-up locations, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar territory. I make it a habit to do this every time I book a tour—it’s saved me from a few headaches, that’s for sure!

Viator Magic

In conclusion, skip the Google chaos and embrace the simplicity of Viator! With just a few clicks, you can input your destination and unlock a world of attractions and activities right at your fingertips. That’s the magic of Viator—making travel planning a breeze.

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