TripAdvisor’s site (or app) is a useful tool for finding hotels and restaurants. However, in this article I’ll share with how I use TripAdvisor for booking tours.
I use TripAdvisor most for filtering landmarks I want to visit and tours I want to experience. On the site or in the app, you can enter your destination and look for attractions that interest you in that particular location. In order to find the right tour, you have to decide which tours include the landmarks you wish to see. This will take a little time and research, but it pays to know which attractions you would like to visit before committing to a tour. Here is how to use the app to find the attractions that may appeal to you:
On the TripAdvisor Mobile App.
1. Type in the name of the city you will be visiting.
2. A list of matching cities will pop up. Click on the correct city.
3. Click on “Things to do”.
4. The bottom row will say “Top Attractions” on the left.
5. Click on “See all” on the bottom right.
6. The attractions will appear in order of popularity.
7. If you want to narrow the results, click on “Filter” at the bottom middle of the screen.
8. Click on “Attraction Category” and filter the results with the following options:
* Boat Tours & Water Sports
* Fun & Games
* Nature & Parks
* Sights & Landmarks
* Food & Drink
* Concerts & Shows
* Transportation
* Shopping
* Zoos & Aquariums
* Museums
* Travel Resources
* Outdoor Activities
* Spas & Wellness
* Events
* Classes & Workshops
* Water & Amusement Parks
* Tours
* Nightlife
* Casinos & Gambling
On the TripAdvisor website
1. Type the name of the city you will be visiting.
2. A list of matching cities will pop up. Click on the correct city.
3. Click on “things to do”.
4. Click on “Attractions” toward the center of the screen.
5. The attractions will appear in order of popularity.
6. If you wish to narrow the results, notice the “Types of Attractions” on the left side of the screen.
7. Check the appropriate attraction category to filter the results.
Once you select a landmark. you can learn more about it. Tourists have uploaded their pictures of each of the landmarks, so I scroll through the pictures of each landmark to determine whether or not I want to visit it. I also read the reviews from other travelers to see if I need to be aware of any pluses or minuses. Sometimes I will decide to pass on a landmark if too many of the reviews indicate there is not much to see.
Landmarks of interest
Once I compile a list of the landmarks of interest. I click on the map function on TripAdvisor (on the website this is in the middle of the screen on the right) and group the landmarks by location in case I want to visit them on my own, without a tour. If it costs too much to get transportation between the landmarks, or if I desire a deeper historical context from a guide, I consider booking a tour that includes as many of the landmarks on my list as possible.
Pay special attention to the reviews of the individual tours before choosing one. As always read the one-star reviews first to see if there are any major concerns and use common sense to filter out the complaining morons that plague apps such as TripAdvisor, Expedia, Yelp, and other online platforms. Also, be aware of the duration of the tour. Some tours will pick you up at your hotel, while others will require you to go to a meeting place.
Procedures to be aware of
Now that you are ready to book a tour, enter your destination on TripAdvisor and click on “Things to Do”. Next, click on “Tours” on the website (“Tours & Sightseeing” on the app). Once you are ready to purchase a tour package, click on the “book” button. The link will take you to Viatour, TripAdvisor’s sister company that specializes in booking tours. From there, you can book in advance with a credit card. Viator will send you a confirmation email with a voucher for the tour. Some tour operators accept a voucher on your phone, while others will require a voucher to be printed out.
The confirmation email gives you a contact number for the tour company (usually on WhatsApp). You should contact your tour company a few days after booking and a few days before travel to confirm the tour and details such as start time, meeting place or hotel pickup since occasionally discrepancies exist in the information listed in the tour description. If you do not confirm the tour a few days before travel, you run the risk of missing the opportunity to take the tour. This is more common when you are traveling off the beaten path due to internet connectivity issues or simply poor administrative skills on the part of the tour operator. After you take a tour, leave a review on TripAdvisor to help the tour company grow. If you enjoyed the experience, if you had a lackluster or unpleasant experience, leave specific reasons in your review to inform travelers who follow your path.
How I use TripAdvisor When Booking a Tour, written by Tor Kjolberg