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Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels

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Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels
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Among Milesopedia’s many partners is Viator, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor. A platform for booking activities during your travels.

Viator, founded in Sydney in 1995 by Rod Cuthbert, was born out of the need to book excursions online easily. Rapidly evolving into a leader in travel activity bookings, it was acquired in 2014 by TripAdvisor for $200 million, strengthening its global tourism services offering.

Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels - throughlogo

What is Viator?

Viator is the world’s leading provider of travel, activities, and experiences and is highly rated by thousands of users. Its digital platform features over 200,000 activities and experiences from around the world.

And that’s without counting the ticket cutters that optimize our precious leisure time. The interface allows users to make reservations and leave reviews as well as allowing service providers to offer their products.

How does Viator work?

Viator is an online booking platform specializing in tourist tours and activities. The tool intermediates local tourism operators and travellers via a centralized platform. It allows travellers to search, discover and book thousands of experiences worldwide.

Viator's safety and reliability

Trust is essential when booking activities for your precious vacation. Viator, with decades of experience in the industry, is renowned for its reliability and security. Users can rest assured that the platform’s state-of-the-art security standards protect their personal and financial information. Moreover, every Viator provider is carefully vetted to ensure a quality experience.

Customer testimonials and experiences on Viator

As a customer of the platform, travellers can share their adventures and give their reviews. This is a valuable review for other users wishing to try these same activities. The advantage is that these reviews are often accompanied by photos and remain authentic.

Viator's strengths

The Viator platform offers many advantages.

  • Lowest Price Guarantee: the price must be lower for the same product, offered by the same supplier and in the same currency. In this case, Viator will refund the difference.
  • Instant confirmation and possibility to pay later and/or by installments
  • Free cancellation: full refund if cancellation is requested at least 24 hours in advance
  • 24-hour email and chat support.
  • Apple and Google Play apps.
  • Different payment options: credit card (Amex, Mastercard, and Visa), Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal which are all secure. It is possible to pay with the currency chosen in the drop-down menu when finalizing the transaction.
Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels - Viator benefits

Be sure to pay with a credit card with no conversion fees. Otherwise, a 2.5% fee will be applied when the activity is charged in the foreign currency.

Three credit cards to opt for:

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card
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Annual fee$150Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
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Annual fee$150Welcome offer
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Registration on Viator

Child’s play. To register with Viator, all you need to do is provide your email address, create a password, and confirm your registration after receiving the email.

You can then browse the site, save your preferences, make reservations, and leave reviews. But that’s not all! Registration will give access to Viator promotions.

Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels - Viator home

How can I benefit from the best Viator promotions?

By registering on Viator‘s website, you will not only be able to make your reservations but will also be kept up to date on promotions.

They are three types of promotions and they are only intended for individuals (groups are excluded):

  • special offers on the Viator website/application. They will be applied automatically at the time of payment.
  • Activity-targeted email promotions. Use the special link provided to see the discount applied.
  • The promotional codes are also received by e-mail and must be entered in the designated box during payment.

Viator user guide and customer service

Viator doesn’t have a user guide as such but a help center to answer all your questions, accessible from the user menu. You’ll learn how to choose your experience, leave a review, what Viator Rewards are, and much more.

If users have any questions or problems, they can also contact Viator customer service at +1 (888) 651-9785.

Reseration of tours and activities offered by Viator

Would you like to visit the Grand Canyon monuments? Take a helicopter tour, or attend a local event such as a wine tasting? Start your search by choosing your destination. Once the destination is entered, the most popular activities will be displayed. You can also use the filters on the left side of the page or the categories at the top to narrow your search. Would you prefer a private, small group, or standard tour? Viator also offers these options.

All the details of the activities are well explained in Viator‘s description sheets: duration, what is included, what to expect, accessibility for those with reduced mobility, etc.

It is also possible at the time of payment to notify the service provider of any special needs. Do you need to store a stroller?

Hidden gems around the world

Among all the activities and tours to choose from, Viator offers the Hidden Gems series for those who have already enjoyed the most popular points of interest or who prefer to get off the beaten trail.

Resident secrets or new experiences, I like the concept. A culinary trip with an Italian flavour in Greenwich Village, NY? A surfing lesson in the waters of Waikiki Beach, Hawaii? A walk through the neighbourhoods of Lisbon with a dinner accompanied by FADO music?

Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels - Hawai

Book now and pay later

With this principle, your reservation can be confirmed for most of the 200,000 visits and activities posted on the Viator platform.

You can see if your choice is available directly under the « Check availability » button. No deposit is required, but a credit card must be registered and charged $1. Another option offered is called Klarna, which allows for installment payments.

Once the activity has been paid for, your tickets and a receipt will be sent to you by email. You can save them directly to your Wallet using the following steps: in the Viator application, select the menu icon – my reservations – add to Apple Wallet. But make sure you have access to a network on site!

You can also consult your reservations at any time in your Viator account under « Manage my reservation. »

Note that the person who makes the reservation, considered the main client, must present a piece of ID before the activity.

Cancellations/Changes/Refunds

Need to cancel or change a reservation with Viator? Nothing could be easier.

On your account, click on the reservation you want to modify or for which you would like a refund. Select « Manage your reservation. » A drop-down menu will appear, and you can select « cancel » or « request a refund. »

Be sure to answer all the questions. Your request will be confirmed by email and processed within seven business days by Viator.

Viator generally offers a flexible cancellation policy. Details vary depending on the activity, but many allow cancellation free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the experience.

Write a review on Viator

Useful comments from visitors on Viator who have already used the service. They influence our decisions according to the degree of satisfaction. You also want to leave a review?

Select « Reservations » to see all your experiences. Then choose « Write a review » on the experience you wish to rate. Please note that once submitted, reviews cannot be changed. However, you can request that they be removed. It takes 72 hours to process the application.

Viator: the platform for booking activities during your travels - Viator San Francisco
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* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year and the value of foreign transaction fee savings as of May 22, 2026:

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Rates, fees, features and benefits, which are described in the application statement, are subject to change.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$29

Annual income required

Individual$12,000
Household$12,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 6xWith the partner brand
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xEntertainment
  • 5xRestaurants
  • 3xStreaming
  • 3xTransit
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,460
2nd Year Value$461

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

The Viator App

You can download the Viator App from Google Play or the App Store. The free app gives you access to the entire worldwide activities and tours. You can add them to your list, receive notifications, buy direct and contact support if required.

What are the other ways of booking tourist activities other than Viator?

Not sure about booking with Viator? As a booking platform for tourist activities, there are several others that may also be of interest to you:

  • GetYourGuide: Based in Berlin, this company is one of the world’s largest booking platforms for tourist activities, offering thousands of experiences in numerous destinations.
  • Klook: Originating in Asia, Klook rapidly gained popularity in Asia-Pacific and expanded internationally. It offers various activities, from tickets to attractions to day trips.
  • Expedia: Although primarily known as a flight and hotel booking platform, Expedia also offers tourist activities and experiences through its site.
  • Airbnb Experiences: An extension of the popular home rental service, Airbnb Experiences offers unique local experiences curated by local hosts in various destinations.
  • Tiqets: This platform focuses primarily on ticket sales for attractions, museums and cultural venues worldwide.
  • TourRadar: Specializing in multi-day sightseeing tours, TourRadar works with tour operators to offer package tours worldwide.
  • Civitatis: Particularly popular with Spanish-speaking travellers, Civitatis offers a range of excursions, guided tours and activities in cities worldwide.

Bottom Line

Viator is for travellers who want to be sure the activity they want won’t be cancelled at the last minute, that their spot is secure, and that the experience will meet their needs and expectations.

Viator is a worldwide reputable service. The payment flexibility, cancellation policy, and lowest price guarantee make it a safe bet.

Since the company is a business partner with Milesopedia, don’t forget to go through our affiliate link before booking!

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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

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Annual income required

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Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

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Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.