Top Traveler of the Year: 2012 Viator Travel Awards

Meet Viator's Traveler of the Year!

Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Viator Travel Awards, an annual awards competition where we – along with our readers, travelers, and fans – select the top things to do and see in each of the major regions we serve, the top things to do in our most popular tour categories, and more.

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From cruising the Mekong Delta to soaring above the Grand Canyon, from dining at the top of the Eiffel Tower to diving in the Great Barrier Reef, every year Viator helps thousands and thousands of travelers just like you have unforgettable experiences. Over the years, Viator had built a collection of photos, reviews, videos and blogs using content provided by our travelers, helping those from all walks of life experience, plan, or just imagine their next dream vacation.

For the 2012 Viator Travel Awards, we would like to put out a personal thanks to those who helped make that possible. Calculating several factors including the number of tours booked in 2012, the number of cities the tours were booked in, and the number of travel reviews and photos submitted, we found Richard, Viator’s Top Traveler of the Year!

2012 Top Traveler of the Year: Richard P.

Richard and his two sons

Meet Richard P., a Viator traveler from Australia who booked several tours and activities in 2012 for his family’s 5-week trip around the world. Annually, Richard, his wife, and two sons make an overseas trip, and this year they visited a whopping 11 cities in 5 countries! We asked him about his favorite tours from the year, why he uses Viator, and some of his best travel tips.

1. What was your favorite tour of 2012?

Richard and his globe-trotting family

French Riviera Small Group Day Trip from Nice. We were the only ones on the tour so it ended up being a personal tour for the family. Our driver was incredibly kind, spoke great English and told anecdotes about all the places along the way. We got to visit Nice, Eze, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Cannes and Antibes. All had something a little different to offer.

What did you like the most about it?

It was special to see the changing of the guard at Monaco, traveling the formula 1 circuit and seeing Monte Carlo casino.

2. Where else did you go in 2012?

At the Louvre in Paris

2012 was a very big trip for us. We had round-the-world tickets and visited Hong Kong, London, Rome, Milan, Venice, Nice, Paris, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Anaheim is a compact five-week holiday.

Which destinations stuck out as your favorite or the most memorable?

We had never been to Europe before. All the cities were amazing with such an incredible history that you cannot see in Australia.

3. What is your best travel memory from a Viator tour?

At the Empire State Building

It is hard to choose between two tours from our holidays to the USA – Grand Canyon West Rim Adventure and Niagara Falls Day Trip from New York by Air.

Why do these memories stick with you?

Both tours were full day trips by a variety of traveling methods and allowed us to see two of the great wonders of the world.

4. Given your extensive travels, are there any tips you can share with our readers?

Chicago Segway Tour

I always do a Viator search when I am visiting a new country/city. The tours are very competitive, well organized, include what you would want to see and do and allow me to sit back and enjoy the experience.

Anything you have learned from your travels this year?

Not really. Just had a incredible time.

5. Why do you book tours with Viator?

At the Colosseum in Rome

I booked my first Viator tour years ago. I found them to provide all sorts of interesting options when visiting places around the world.

6. What are your travel plans for 2013?

Richard's wife and sons in London

We are looking at visiting Dubai in 2013.

Why are you excited about this trip?

We have never been to Dubai and they have some of the most amazing man-made sights in the world.

Are there any Viator tours you’re looking forward to taking on this trip?

Most definitely we will be doing some Viator tours – we haven’t looked into too much.

With so many loyal customers to choose from, it was difficult for the staff to not throw a few more hats in the ring. We hope that this has inspired you to keep us and our travelers up-to-date with the great adventures you experience while exploring the world. With 2013 shaping up to be a great year for world travel, we hope you get the opportunity.

- Viator Travel Team