I didn't get all my questions answered before booking, and miscalculated by making some critical assumptions that turned out to be false. We arrived at the marina to find a boat that exceeded our expectations.
It was a rather luxurious looking speedboat with room for 12 and was larger and fancier than our previous boat in Dubrovnik. It was also more powerful, at horsepower.
While some people might appreciate that, the speed of the vessel scared our young children right away. Our skipper was a devoted and experienced older brother, so he was well equipped with strategies to help calm our kids and took pains to make them comfortable. He even let my son "drive" the boat and honk the horn, which was a huge hit.
But my daughter was still uncomfortable as the boat sped through the open ocean. Off the bat, I wondered if this was something any ambitious American traveler would attempt with such young children had they known how rough it would be. The skipper warned us that the Blue Cave would be backed up and crowded, and the timing might correspond to a bumpy afternoon sail.
So we opted against it and chose a custom plan to mitigate the intensity. I appreciated that we were able to change the day's itinerary to better suit our needs. Our skipper took us to a gorgeous, remote beach on the island of Vis, which was a true highlight with crystal clear water and a sense of true isolation. We swam from the boat to the beach, snorkeled, and took lots of pictures.
Afterward, we sailed to glamorous Hvar island, where we passed an hour or so with lunch in Hvar Town. But it was after that, on the way back to the harbor in Split, when our challenges started in earnest. It was squarely afternoon by then, and the winds had picked up; the open ocean was very choppy.
That is to say, our boat caught full air and slammed back down — over and over again. There was nothing the skipper could do as this was the nature of the boat and typical conditions.
Although my kids mercifully don't suffer motion sickness, they were terrified. Anyone with young children and those who do suffer from motion sickness should inquire about conditions before booking any similar boat ride as I wished I had. My son could be placated by heading back to his post as the boat's "driver," but my daughter was miserable for the full 75 minutes it took to get back to the marina and the waves soaked our family.
Making matters more concerning, there was only one kid-sized life jacket on board. I was regretful that I'd gotten us in this position. I hadn't adequately confirmed that this was the right trip for our family. And although I generally feel like a diligent and capable planner, I'd continued with the booking despite not waiting for the answers I needed: Would there be child-sized snorkel masks? Would there be two child-sized life jackets?
Was the water likely to be rough? Will we get wet or seasick? Overall, I wouldn't trade either of the stunning boat excursions I booked through Viator. They made for essential sightseeing experiences for any visitor to Croatia.
The operators on both experiences were professional, and the services were provided as advertised. I also found the prices to be reasonable, much more so than if I'd booked through a travel agency.
I'll book through Viator again, but next time, I'll make sure I'm asking more questions and getting the specific answers I need first.
These companies operate as resellers, promoting tours and activities for experience providers around the world. By aggregating a massive array of available bookings, these online distribution channels exist to enhance and simplify the customer journey. Travelers appreciate being able to book and purchase an experience online. The benefit for you as the supplier means you can:.
In addition, these massive online resellers can process payments securely, allowing guests to book tours and activities in advance. GetYourGuide is an online tour booking platform where guests can book and research experiences in specific geographic regions.
Guests use the search and book using options to explore available tours and activities. Founded by four classmates, GetYourGuide was established in to act as an online travel agency and marketplace. When setting your prices on GetYourGuide, commission fees are wrapped into the final price displayed to the website visitors. GetYourGuide acts as a re-seller for tour and activity operators, curating available experiences to simplify the research phase for guests.
Guests have the option to input a location and filter recommendations to see available experiences. Another benefit for guests is in being able to apply filters for different trip types. Get updated traffic stats on Viator here , and on GetYourGuide here. Firstly, there is a substantial commission involved, particularly if you rely on OTAs for a majority of your bookings.
While it's free to sign up, both companies charge a commission when a sale. The commission rate includes all booking costs, from credit card fees to bank transactions and promotion of your trips through its distribution partners.
In addition, you're also provided customer support, marketing strategies, content optimisation and translation services for free. Read more: How much commission should you pay for distribution?
Secondly, the cancellation policies guaranteed by OTAs can put operators in a tough spot. With GetYourGuide , customers can cancel up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time to receive a full refund. This can be tricky for operators to anticipate demand and sales they can make in a month. For operators, this could be an indicator that Viator has become saturated with the same tours and activities from the same popular destinations.
Unless you have an interesting product or service that sets you apart from your competitors, it might be difficult to fight through all the competition on the platform.
To sign up for Viator, visit their Supplier Sign-up page. This is the home account for the suppliers. They can add, edit products, see bookings, manage customers and do a lot more through this platform. Here suppliers register by filling out a form asking for their contact details. After this, your account is ready for use.
So we ruthlessly focus on quality, and we specialize in experiences so incredible, you'll want to tell your friends. Spend less time searching, and more time making memories. Discover story-worthy experiences, anytime, anywhere. As one of the first online marketplaces for things to do, Viator makes it easy for you to grow your business and reach customers worldwide. Get access to market-specific insights and tailored coaching to help your products stand out from the rest.
Use our intuitive Experiences Management Center to spend less time managing your business and more time creating memorable moments. From individual to multi-national operators, Viator is your trusted partner to grow your business and share your passion with the world.
0コメント