Is Viator Legit? Pros + Cons of Using Viator
Is Viator legit? Yes, it is. It’s been running for 30 years now, and is a completely safe way to book activities and experiences.
There are pros and cons with booking through Viator, which I’ll share with you as a professional blogger and world traveller.
Through my travel blog, I often recommend tours through Viator that I think are worth it -but I’m also a traveller myself who sometimes books tours with through Viator (and sometimes doesn’t.)
So, I can give you both sides of the coin so you can:
- See what Viator is all about
- Decide if you want to book tours through them
So, let’s jump in – how Viator works, and the pros and cons of booking through the platform.
Is Viator Legit? Yes – And Here’s How it Works
Viator is just a platform where tour companies can market and sell their services and experiences.
Viator is just like:
- Amazon or Etsy, but for tours, trips and experiences, rather than products
- Booking. com, but for activities rather than accommodations and transportation
- Get Your Guide, selling the same kind of product, just different platform
So as long as you think the above companies are legit, then Viator is no different! It functions exactly the same way as they all do.
Is it Safe to Book through Viator?
Yes, it’s completely safe to book through Viator. Part of what makes Viator a safe platform to book through is:
- They offer customer service
- They are the middle man between you and the tour provider
- Transparent reviews (only people with confirmed bookings can leave a review)
- Tours can get kicked off the platform if they violate rules (such as cancelling tours, or offering a bad experience) so, as long as you see a tour with multiple 4 or 5 star ratings, then you can be pretty sure it’s all good. I’ve never had a bad experience.
Bonus: Look for the ‘badge of excellence’ on Viator tours. They earn this from getting at least 15 good reviews, having less than a 2% cancellation rate, and a few other criteria which you can read about here.
So now, that you know that Viator is completely safe and legit, I’m going to dive into some of the pros and cons of using Viator which you might not be aware of if you aren’t a frequent traveller.
Pros and Cons of Using Viator to Book Activities
Pros of Booking through Viator
✅ Viator is a trusted company that has been running since 1995, and since 2014 has been owned by TripAdvisor
✅ Viator acts as a third party between you and the tour provider. If you need to cancel or have an issue – you deal with Viator rather than with the tour provider directly. Some people feel more comfortable with this.
✅ Booking through Viator can sometimes be pricier (which I’ll explain more about under the cons section) but sometimes its the same price as if you were to book directly!
✅ Some tours offer 24-hour cancellation, which again- you do right through Viator, no questions asked, rather than dealing with the tour provider directly
✅ Everything you need to know about the experience and tour is laid out the same way, and as you become familiar with Viator’s platform – the description, length of activity, who can participate, etc.
✅ Viator makes it so easy to browse all the different tours and activities offered. You can filter your search to specify your party size, time of day, and even how long you want the activity to be. For example, I’m often looking for activities where children are allowed, or at a certain time of day
✅ Reviews from other travellers help you see which tours are worth booking and which aren’t. Unlike with Google reviews or even website testimonials, Viator reviews can’t be faked (to my knowledge) as only people who booked that tour can rate it. I find it to be pretty honest, displaying all the most recent reviews, positive and negative
✅ Viator has a reward program, so if you book many tours through them you can earn some money back.
✅ By booking Viator tours through links on travel blogs like this one, you are often supporting a small business which us travel writers are always very grateful for. I am thankful when my readers book tours on Viator through my links – it’s a small source of my income as a travel content creator and allows me to keep this business running
Cons of Booking through Viator
❌ Sometimes, you can get a slightly cheaper deal if you book with the business directly, rather than through Viator. Tour providers pay a commission on each booking to Viator so it makes sense that they sometimes have to charge a bit more to account for that. However, sometimes the cost is exactly the same. It depends on the tour.
❌ Not all companies have their tours on Viator. If you’re only looking on Viator for things to do, then you may be missing out on other fun experiences that there are – especially tiny micro businesses that simply don’t have their offerings on Viator yet.
❌ I found out recently that Viator isn’t BBB (Better Business Bureau) accredited, which isn’t really a con in itself, but I have to admit it is a bit odd for a company that’s 30 years old now. It’s owner, TripAdvisor, also ins’t on BBB. You can read about any complaints towards Viator here, and how they were resolved. (By the way, all were resolved – so it doesn’t look like there’s anything shady going on.)
My advice: If you decide to book tours through Viator, I recommend sticking to ones that have 4-5 star reviews, plus the badge of excellence. This is what I do as a traveller, and I’ve never had any bad experiences with Viator, likely because of that!
My Personal Experience with Viator and How I Use It as a Frequent Traveller
When I research my trips, I look for things to do both on and off Viator. I like to filter results on Viator to see what there is to do for my group (as often, my young daughter is with me on trips.)
In 2025 alone so far, I’ve booked a few different trips on Viator:
- A full-day trip to Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas
- A High Roller ticket in Las Vegas
- A half-day 24 km round-trip bike ride into the jungle outside Playa del Carmen, where I got to swim in a cenote. The tour provider told me that next time, if I wanted to pay less, I could book with him directly rather than through Viator.*
- A full day tour from Belfast to see the Giant’s Causeway and other Northern Ireland sites
*So, while this is true (the cenote tour would have been cheaper if I’d booked with the guy directly) the only way to book with him is through social media. It would be cheaper that way, but some travellers may feel more comfortable with Viator being the middleman because of the convenience – easier booking and cancellation process, transparency of reviews, etc. Essentially, you are paying Viator to be you’re middle man, which is why sometimes its worth it to book through there even if it is slightly pricier. However, if there’s a big cost difference, then I usually book directly
I also booked many activities off Viator, especially if I saw that there was a big price difference or if I simply happened to find the direct tour provider sooner.
If I recommend a tour to you on my website, it’s because I believe it’s worth it based on either my own experiences or an overwhelming amount of positive reviews.
FAQ about Viator
Here are the most commonly asked questions about booking travel experiences and activities through Viator
Is Viator a trusted site on Reddit?
Yes, Viator is a trusted site on Reddit or anywhere else you look. There are many threads on Reddit discussing the pros and cons, one of which you can read about here.
Why is the Viator more expensive?
Viator is usually more expensive than booking with the provider directly because you’re paying for the convenience. It cuts some of the hassle out for you (handling different methods of payment, communication with the tour providers, dealing with needed to cancel, etc) and it acts as the go-between between you and the tour providers.
Is GetYourGuide better than Viator?
I personally don’t see a difference between Get Your Guide and Viator. They’re both platforms that allow tour and experience providers to showcase their services and take bookings. I’ve only used Viator personally, but I find the prices to be similar and they are both trusted companies.
In a Nutshell: Final Thoughts on Viator
Viator is a legit, trusted service – its been running since 1995 and since 2014, is owned by TripAdvisor.
The main downside to using Viator as middleman rather than booking directly, is that you usually pay a bit more. However, this extra cost often gives you more convenience which some people are happy to pay extra for.
Personal note: If you’ve booked any tours on Viator through my links, you have no idea how grateful I am! I only recommend the ones I feel confident about, and it becomes a win-win for me and the provider, and you. Booking through our (travel content creator’s) links helps keeps us in business to keep doing what we’re doing. So, thank you.