Viator Travel Blog

Whether you’re planning to escape the cold, surprise someone with a Valentine’s Day trip, or just treat yourself to a fun excursion, we’ve got February travel deals and giveaways to help you plan your next getaway! Plus, the votes are in for our Top Travel Photos of 2011 and Top Travel Destinations for 2012. Read on to see the highlights of the Viator Travel Awards, our latest travel news, and what travelers are up to this month!

At the recent PhoCusWright Travel Innovation Conference a speaker waxed lyrical about their new web site, which would relieve its users of the burden of travel planning, letting them get hours of planning done in a few minutes instead. And they considered that a good thing!

Since December 27, more than 500 wildfires have raged across the famed glacier-carved landscapes Chilean Patagonia, threatening Torres del Paine National Park and other regions. Read on to get an update on the situation.

The wonderful Musée d’Orsay in Paris, home to one of the finest Impressionist and Post Impressionist collections in the world, celebrated its 25th anniversary on 9th December 2011. Marking the occasion, the museum has just undergone a two-year, €20 million refurbishment, the centrepiece of which is the splendid redesign and re-hang of the Impressionist Gallery, the “beating heart of the museum” as Museum President Guy Cogeval puts it. The complete restructuring of Pavillon Amont, the section which houses the gallery, is masterful. “Nouvel Orsay” is born, without the museum actually having had to close at any time.

In the wild world of apps we live in, travelers now have tens of thousands of available apps at the ready to enhance their travel experience. Problem is, which ones are the best? So we did our research and handpicked what we think are the best travel apps on the planet. From translation and packing to on-the-ground and travel planning apps, here are our top choices to help you make your next vacation easier than ever.

With the holiday season in full swing, December is jam-packed with travel opportunities. Whether you’re visiting family or taking time off to enjoy (or escape!) the snow, take advantage of Viator’s seasonal tours offered this month. From Christmas in London to New Year’s Eve in Sydney, we’ve got tickets to the hottest events happening around the globe that will make this year’s celebrations extra special.

Whether you’re taking a long Thanksgiving break or a weekend getaway to relax before the holiday season, we’ve got November travel ideas and giveaways for you! And our new Sydney Tower New Year’s Eve will get you excited about ringing in 2012. Plus, we’ve got some of the best destinations for November travel. Read on to find out the top travel news and what Viator travelers are up to this month…

As Hurricane Rina churns toward the Yucatán Coast, with Cancún in its sights for a Thursday afternoon touchdown, a familiar drama is playing out up and down the glittering Caribbean coastline. Alerts are out to some 45,000 tourists estimated to be staying in Cancún, Cozumel, and along the Riviera Maya, based on careful analysis of the storm, recommending evacuation for most resort areas, and requiring it in places deemed high-risk, in this case Isla Holbox.

Saying that New Zealand is thrilled about the outcome of the 2011 Rugby World Cup is the understatement of the year. Ever since my arrival in Auckland, I’ve see nothing but All Blacks jerseys, posters, signs and merchandise. And rightfully so – the mighty All Blacks have only won the World Cup once, during the first ever RWC which was held here in New Zealand in 1987. The same four teams made it to the final and bronze final in 1987 and 2011, and the same team came out victorious.

October is one of the best months to travel – the weather is crisp, there are lots of celebration and fall foliage is in full bloom. We have some very exciting new tours this month, including a doors-off helicopter tour of the Las Vegas Strip, and we’ve got new contests and videos to keep you inspired, plus information on the best October events and festivities.