Browsing top attractions for various cities I'm soon visiting (Vienna, Buda, Prague, Berlin) on Trip Advisor, I always see links to book tours and other attractions directly through their website.
For those with experience in doing this, is this worth it? Does this save money and/or time versus purchasing, say, the same tour right then and there on the spot? Just curious about this.
Thanks!
I have never done it but some listings on Trip Advisor do pay for an enhance listing which includes the listings website.
if I was going to book anything I would book through the actual website and not through any 3rd party website.
I speak purely for Prague here as I visit the city several times a year and there really is no need to book in advance as there are lots of companies that do various tours and excursions and it is easy to book once there. Your hotel will have loads of info and can usually book for you but there are kiosks about the city you can book at, the best area for them is around Namesti Republicky near the Municiple House
http://livingprague.com/
this website is run by a friend of mine and I actually became friends with him through trip advisor, his website is great and there are often links to discounts for tours and restaurants.
Trip Advisor is linked up with Viator now. Best is to book with the company themselves. Why pay a middle man? Plus those companies are paying a commission too. Viator charges 25% commission on tours you book with them. Considering most city tours only cost between 10-15 €, that is a huge chunk of money that they are losing. It is just as easy and convenient to book with a tour company than it is to book on TA or with Viator.
