DO NOT use Viator. Their instructions to get to meeting don't translate into google maps, which they insist on using, I've had to struggle find where to go plenty of times and always allowed time to make mistakes and ask locals. I always got there on time, thanks to my own adding of extra time and the especially on the kindness of locals who would direct me to where I was supposed to be. This time, in Rome, they had me go straight into the center of the city for a cooking class. I couldn't find where I was until I got a call from the operator and it turned out it was way on the outside of the city. The operator asked me to take a taxi which would haven't had worked as I would be another half an hour late, which would have been completely unfair to the other travelers, so I let them go and had a wasted day in my hotel. I reached out to Viator immediately sitting on a bench near the Roman Forum and they were less than sympathetic. Viator did nothing at all to recompense me for what was their fault. I even said that I was totally happy with a credit but they were having none of it and abandoned me. This is now between them and the credit card company and will get uglier if it has to. Again, do not fall for this scam. Take your business to another third party seller and DO NOT trust or use Viator.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9582 posts
Viator doesn't create the description of how to find a tour, the company that they are selling creates it. They are the ones that you should reach out to. If it was not understandable, this is not the fault of Viator.
It is always better to book directly anyway. Companies are paying a hefty 22-25% commission to Viator.
Post the description of how to get there here, and let us look at it and see if it is clear or not.
Posted by
Belgium
127 posts
Take your business to another third party seller and DO NOT trust or use Viator.
Very bad advice. NEVER take business to a third party seller. If the actual operator changes something, he will inform his clients (and eventually reimburse) ... unfortunately he has no data of the clients who bought through a third party seller and won't take any responability for them.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Yes, it's best to not use third party sellers but, sometimes, it's the best way to find out what's available. I'll be using the apps to find the operator and going directly through them.
Posted by
Virginia
1173 posts
No it does not. Put in the effort yourself, you'll get better results without inserting an unnecessary 3rd party company between you and the service provider that just siphons off money without adding value.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24207 posts
Sometimes I get lazy and use them too. Never had a bad experience.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17640 posts
The operator asked me to take a taxi which would haven't had worked as
I would be another half an hour late, which would have been completely
unfair to the other travelers, so I let them go and had a wasted day
in my hotel.
I'm curious where you were staying in Rome that you felt you had no alternative but to waste a day in your hotel? There are TONS of things to see in the Eternal City so it's confusing that you couldn't have found alternatives unless you were staying far outside of it? It sounded like you were already IN the historic center when you were told that the class was in another location so much would have been at hand to keep you occupied.
As Jo requested, could you post the description you were given of how to get to the class (or link to the what you'd booked) and let us look at itt?
Posted by
9364 posts
We have only used Viator when we couldn't find the tours we wanted on any other website. That was only a couple of times and all went well.
Most of the time, you should be able to book directly with a good tour company. TripAdvisor and others have reviews that you can check prior to booking.
Posted by
SoCal
2156 posts
If and when I am able to get my Bordeaux wine tour business up and running, I'll need to rely on Viator and GetYourGuide for most of my clients. They're an essential tool for businesses who offer services to tourists.
Posted by
17 posts
I think Viator is pretty cool. Obviously, booking direct can be better, but I like the idea of comparing products on a marketplace website.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24207 posts
jphbucks, thank you sir. You headed me off so I wasnt the one that went down into those weeds. Now the argument is that Viator should be despised because they do such a good job of coming up first in the search engines (thereby getting customers for their clients) that its not fair to those that dont use it.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
3067 posts
I have been on here for years saying why do people insist on putting a middleman between them and the operator. Oh wait it’ll be so much better if there’s a middleman involved- NO. This is the kind of thing that happens
Book directly with the operator!!!!
But honestly, I don’t know why the original poster was in Rome and had to spend a day in the hotel room. Isn’t there anything in Rome you could do if your cooking tour was canceled?