Today, I’m excited to announce that I am a member of the 2014 Viator Ambassadorship team. Excited because as a world leader in tours and experiences, Viator is a brand I’ve enjoyed partnering with and freelancing for since 2012, and a bit proud too — because it’s an honor to be asked to represent a brand you love!
For me, this ambassadorship is a natural extension of the great relationship and mutual warm fuzzies I’ve had with Viator for a while now. Long-time readers will recognize the name — after all, I have gone around the world with them. In Asia, I visited the Bangkok Floating Markets, took a day trip outside Manila, and went white water rafting in Bali — all with Viator. In The USA, I toured the Louisiana bayou, went to the Grand Canyon, ate my way through San Francisco and had front row seats to a Mardi Gras parade — all with Viator. In Latin America, I took a private after-hours tour of Lima’s Museo Larco, went fishing for piranhas in the Amazon, and was serenaded by a live band in Panama City — all with Viator.
Why I Love Viator
There are a few Viator experiences that stand out as my absolute favorites. Swimming with manatees in Florida is one. Flying over Las Vegas in a helicopter is another. Learning how to make pisco sours in a private bartending class in Lima? That was nothing to complain about. And I can certainly say I’ll never forget my three days on the Peruvian Amazon. But I have more than great memories to back up my Viator love.
• There are unique offerings. Viator’s travel-loving team handpicks every tour on the site, and they go way beyond the basics. From adrenaline-inducing adventure experiences to private tours to front seat show tickets to multi-day trips, they pretty much have it all covered. When I’m heading to a new city for the first time, Viator.com is one of my first stops to get a pulse on what’s on offer.
• There are great deals. Viator has a low price guarantee, which eliminates the pressure to shop around for a better deal on the same tour. They also have great offers. When I flew into Peru, a sale on transfers meant it was cheaper for me to book a private car to pick me up at the airport than it would have been to take a taxi! There was a guy holding a sign with my name and everything (it’s the small stuff, right?)
• You can go behind the velvet ropes. Viator has all kind of exclusive tours, from VIP seating at Mardi Gras (which you’ll be reading about soon) to behind-the-scenes tours of the Vatican. Their unique relationships with a global network of local tour operators means they can get you in places others simply can’t.
• They are flexible. While local operators or suppliers may levy fees, Viator charges nothing to change your dates or cancel your activity as long as you give them 72 hours for changes and 7 days for cancellations. It’s also easy to book on-the-go with the Viator mobile app.
• They are all over the world. Viator sells tours in more than 1,500 destinations!
• You can earn Frequent Flyer miles. Yes, point enthusiasts, you read that one right. For transactions of $500 or more (not hard to do if you’re traveling with a family or a group) you can earn a mile per dollar on American Airlines or United’s mileage programs.
What This Means for Us
You won’t see much of a change around here. I’ve already been traveling with Viator for a while, so you’ll see around the same amount of coverage here on the blog, and I will continue writing for their site as I have been. You probably will notice more mentions on my social media, and I might just talk them into another great Viator giveaway like we did in October.
For me, this means a little bit more stability and the ability to bring you more fun travel ideas.
What’s Next
Coming up in the next month, you’ll be reading about Viator tours I experienced in New Orleans and California. And before you know it, I’ll be back on the road — while I haven’t confirmed anything just yet, I’m excitedly looking through Viator’s offerings for my upcoming trips to Europe and Southeast Asia.
Two top contenders? An overnight trip to the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora in Greece and ringside VIP seats to a Muay Thai match at Rajdamnoen Stadium in Thailand. I can’t wait for all the awesomeness that is ahead. As always, thanks for coming along for the ride.
Have you ever taken a Viator tour? Let me know if there are any you recommend!
Note: I am being compensated by Viator for taking part in the Ambassador Program. As always, you receive my thorough and honest opinions regardless of who is footing the bill.
Can’t wait to read about the trips and tours this ambassadorship will bring to your blog!
I will be checking Viator out for my future trips. Thanks for the information! :o)
Thanks Anne! I’m really excited.
This is so exciting! Congratulations! Anything that allows you to continue traveling & posting is a thumbs up by me. 🙂
I appreciate that Maddy! My itchy feet are still raring to go…
THIS. IS. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 I have done a couple tours before (one in Vietnam and one in Vienna, Austria). I did enjoy the Vietnam one a little better but now I look forward to seeing the ones you’ve been on and can endorse. Thanks! (oh and thank you for responding to my question twitter…haha).
No problem, Amy! I’m considering making my way to Vietnam towards the end of the year and Viator has some AWESOME looking tours over there!
Congrats Alex! I used viator several years ago for a tour of the Uffizi gallery in Florence but had forgotten all about them. It was only when I started reading your blog last year that I remembered them and how good my experience was! Obviously now I’m obsessed with them and constantly look up their tours and experiences…the gift certificates make an awesome gift too! My sis and her bf are going to a traditional Japanese tea service on their travels this summer using a certificate I got them! Can’t wait to read about your new viator experiences!
That sounds like an amazing gift, Caity 🙂 And one I would give too. I like to give experiences rather than stuff when possible.
How exciting!!!!!!! So proud of you!
Thanks lovely 🙂 Did you see my shoutout to you on the Alex in Wanderland FB page?
I remember all those side trips and they were all fascinating, so I can’t wait to read about these new ones, thanks to Viator. Congratulations!!
Thanks Linda! Right now I’m trying to narrow down which ones to do in Belgium and they all look so good… it’s hard to choose!
Congratulations! This sounds like great news. Many more adventures ahead!
Thanks Jamie, indeed 🙂 And perhaps more videos, as well!
Yay, that’s great! Congratulations 🙂
Thanks Miriam. It was an honor to be asked.
I’m actually doing my first Viator tour in Rome in July! Still hoping you and I cross paths in Europe…if not then, how about Memorial Day in NYC? =)
Okay, I just had to Google “Memorial Day” — ha! And the sad conclusion is we won’t be able to meet up because I’ll be in Hawaii! Argh! Come on, universe!
How exciting. Congrats Alex, sounds like an amazing deal!
Thanks Tammy. It’s going to be a fun gig.
Congratulations Alex! I look forward to following the next exciting stage of the adventure! Go girl!
Thanks Sarah 🙂 Appreciate all the good vibes!
This is incredibly exciting, congratulations!
You have to do the cliff top monasteries tour, it looks insane. I’ve been drooling over that destination for years on Pinterest and would love to see someone actually go!
I know that Amanda of Dangerous Business has been, because I stalked all her Greece posts 🙂 But I’m definitely planning on making it there myself as well!
Congrats!! This will be so fun for you and for us because we’ll get to read about it 🙂
Thank you so much Rachel! As I wrote, for Alex in Wanderland it won’t be much of a change since I was basically doing Viator stuff all the time anyway 🙂
Congratulations Alex.
Thanks Steve!
Congrats Alex! Must be cool to see a working relationship evolve in such a positive way.
It really is. And I can’t wait to start looking at their Belgium tours!
Can’t believe I’ve never checked if they have any…
Wow, sounds like a great partnership! Congratulations!
Thanks Maria, I appreciate that!
I’m so jealous- Meteora is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. I’ll never forget hiking down from the monasteries into town and ending up at a tiny little guesthouse, eating the best lambchops I’ve ever had over an open fire. I think you’re going to love it, because it’s a great balance of architecture and history while still having lots of natural beauty and interesting culture. There are some stunning resorts and hotels there, too.
Congrats on the new gig!
Oh, I’m so excited to go! How long did you spend there? There are two night tours available as well but most reviews I’m reading indicate one night is plenty.
I spent three nights and three days there; my friends and I added on an extra night from our original plan of two because we all loved it so much. We had rented a car and driven it down from Albania on a two week long Christmas road trip and Meteora was the last stop. The atmosphere was so peaceful and mystical that we wanted to stay forever. There definitely isn’t much to do, though, so technically the one night advice is correct. It’s more just that if you stay longer you keep soaking up the good vibes and the surreal juxtaposition of the cliffs with the monasteries perched on top.
We spent one day going totally off the track and exploring the valley below the cliffs, crawling in and out of outrageous caves, finding our way onto little trails that the local shepherds use, and just exploring. We didn’t see another person all day, even when we found an abandoned monastery in a cave. It seems most people stuck with the route up top, which is paved and takes you to each of the bigger monasteries; even just going left at the bottom to the less visited monasteries meant having the place to ourselves and lots of beautiful hiking.
Wow, that sounds really lovely! I think I would enjoy all those things too 🙂 Unfortunately I’m still 24 so renting a car in most countries is pretty much impossible and the public transit I’ve heard is a bit unpleasant, hence why I think Meteora is a good spot for me to do a tour. I might go for the two night though based on your advice!
That’s awesome news! I’ve been using Viator for years and have probably taken about a dozen of their tours. Only really had one bad experience but that wasn’t their fault. Its the first site I use when I’m looking for a day trip or city tour.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoying traveling with Viator too 🙂
Congratulations!!!
Thanks Dad 🙂
Congratulations, amazing news! All of your Viator trips look incredible – I’ll definitely need to give them a go at some point 🙂
They have some seriously great offerings I wouldn’t know to look for otherwise. The site is a great resource!
Congratulations. I once did a dolphin watch and cave tour with viator in Portugal (Aljezur) which was a cool tour. I almost always have a look at their page when I travel to a place I don’t know much about just to get a few ideas first. It’s a great page and I cannot wait to read about your future experiences.
They just updated their app too, which is a handy way to sate wanderlust on the go 🙂
Well done Alex! I have never used Viator but I always appreciate and trust your honest opinions so will definitely check them out sometime. Looking forward to finding out about your future trips when you hit the road again too. 🙂
Thanks Joella! It’s only April but it feels like July is right around the corner!
Congratulations, Alex!! As always, I’m so excited to see what’s next for you. Sending lots of western NY love your way!
Thanks so much Carolyn! Hoping to make it back to Rochester sometime soon!
Congrats Alex!!!
Meteora is FREAKING amazing. I have two posts on my site about it. I went to all the monasteries of Meteora but there’s always one closed depending on the day of the week. The schedule is online. I rented a motorbike and toured the hills around Meteora as well.
It is still one of my fav places.
Just went and checked those posts out — got me really excited, thanks Shaun! One friendly tip — your site needs a search bar 🙂
LOL! I know ugh! New design is in the brain storming phase.
Congrats on this exciting news! I’ve never taken a Viator tour but have just checked out their website. They sadly don’t offer any tours in Latvia, where I’m moving to next, but there are some in neighboring Estonia and Lithuania that sound interesting. It could be a fun way for me to see more of the region!
Congrats on the move, Heather! And sounds like you already have a good plan for your first mini-getaway 🙂
Congrats Alex! I have my fingers crossed for another Viator giveaway, the tours seem really great and I would love an excuse to take a trip somewhere 🙂
I’ll definitely work on it 😉 Hope I see you this weekend!
Congrats on the new gig! I’ve used Viator a few times over the years and find them to be really great and they’re very forward thinking in the industry.
I’m glad to hear you’ve had good experiences with them, Laura!
Awesome news, Alex! I’ve done quite a few tours with Viator, too, and have always been happy with them – they have so much variety all around the world!
I’m always surprised when I do these really cool tours and then realize it’s not in any guidebooks… I’m all, THE PEOPLE MUST KNOW! Ah well, I guess that’s why we have blogs 🙂
Contracts Alex! I’ve been a reader of your blog for some time and this is definitely a well deserved honor! I’ve taken a couple Viator tours on my travels, and they’re always a great source when I’m planning things to do. Congrats again!!
Thanks so much Anna! You are too sweet. I’m glad you’ve had a good experience with Viator and hopefully I can show off a few more of their offerings 🙂
Yay!!! This is amazing, Alex, congrats! Your fabulous work has paid off and will only continue to reap more rewarding experiences. I’ve done the Vegas heli-tour with Viator before, and I’m sure I will be using their services in the future now that I know what great benefits they offer around the world!
Wasn’t that tour AMAZING?! I recommend it to everyone I know who is Vegas bound. So much fun!
awesome alex! just checked out their offerings for berlin which is where i’m headed next & there are pages and PAGES. stay tuned for my report!
Oooo, let me know what you choose! I’m currently hemming and hawing over the Brussels options. I want to do the day trips to other nearby cities in order to see more of the country but then there are so many great options in Brussels itself (CHOCOLATE TOUR ANYONE?!) I’m pretty torn.
as a chocolate tour in belgium is on my bucket list, that would absolutely be what i’d choose!
Oh wow wow wow!!! I am so excited to keep on returning to your blog and reading about all of your incredible adventures – I’ve only just found your blog but it has fast become a favorite!! I am an avid traveler and Yes Girl myself – so I am loving your wanderland xxxx
Thanks so much for the congratulations, Jade! I’m really excited about this partnership and so glad you all are too 🙂
Many congratulations Alex. This seems like the perfect partnership. They’ve clearly given you great service over the years. Your ringing endorsements makes me what to investigate them more.
Thank you so much! Really appreciate everyone’s support!
This sounds like a fantastic opportunity, Alex! I can’t wait to read about all your new journey with Viator, and i’m going to have to check them out again myself.
Thank you so much Mike! Let me know if you find any really great tours 🙂
Hi Alex
I love viator too and have taken a couple of trips with them now. The first was a day trip to Washington DC from New York and the second was last November in Munich where I chose Viator for a trip to Neuschwenstein Castle which is like a real life fairytale castle and completely magical.
Glad to hear of more great experiences with them! I adore Viator and have loved seeing the world with them 🙂
This is so cool! Viator is one of my go-to travel sites for adventures, private tours, or if I just need some travel inspiration. I think the best one I’ve done yet is a Quad Biking Tour of the Namib Desert. Phenomenal!!
Wow, that does sound awesome. Yeah, I often learn new things about a destination just by checking out it’s Viator offerings. It’s great travel inspo!
Hi Alex! I just discovered your blog since you were featured on the Travel Blog Success newsletter. I love the name of your blog! It’s quite catchy.
Like you, I love using Viator. I’ve used it while travelling with friends to New Zealand for a Mitere Mitai Combo experience, where I visited a Maori village, ate their food and saw them perform a traditional show. I also used Viator while I was in the USA for their Chicago segway tour, Oahu tours and Gossip Girl tour.
Just a quick question, how does one apply to be a Viator ambassador? In the future, once I’ve established a sufficient following, I would love to be an ambassador like you.
That sounds awesome Dia, glad you’ve had such great experiences with them! There’s no application to be a Viator ambassador, they hand pick and invite a small group (I think around six?) bloggers each year. I’m sure you’ll get their attention by being a loyal customer 🙂