Online activities, events and tour specialist Viator.com advises travelers to plan ahead to save money and time, and avoid costly last-minute vacation mishaps

-- One-third of vacation travelers say they are now more likely to purchase activities in advance than they were three years ago with 76 percent reporting they already do so

-- Nearly 40 percent of vacation travelers (39 percent) have been forced to change plans because their activity was sold out

-- Nearly 3 out of 4 tour operators around the globe report increase in advance bookings has limited availability for walk-up sales(1)

The summer travel season is in full swing coming off the busy Memorial Day weekend and nearly every leading indicator points to tighter capacity and higher prices as more people are taking to the roads and skies than in recent years. According to two recent separate and independent surveys of travelers and tour operators, many travelers are now more likely to book their trip activities in advance than they were several years ago, further compounding the capacity constraints created by the rising demand for travel.

More Travelers Report Booking Trip Activities in Advance though Many Still Take a Gamble

One-third (33 percent) of vacation travelers report they are now more likely than they were three years ago to purchase tickets for local activities in advance of their vacation, with about 3 in 4 (76 percent) reporting they have done so, according to a recent survey(2) commissioned by Viator and conducted by Harris Interactive(R).

Despite what Viator has identified in the market as the growing trend toward booking trip activities in advance, many travelers gamble space will be available when they arrive, and many have lost out. While on vacation, nearly 40 percent of vacation travelers (39 percent) say they have tried to purchase tickets for a local activity but were forced to alter their plans or forgo the activity entirely because it was sold out on the day/time they wanted to go. About one in four (24 percent) reported this has happened multiple times. Reinforcing a stereotype, women are more frequent/better travel planners, as significantly more men (45 percent) reported being affected by a sell out than women (33 percent).

The good news is people are learning from these hard lessons. Of those travelers who previously missed out, 42 percent are now more likely to book their trip activities in advance of travel than they were three years ago, more so than those who haven't experienced the same disappointment (25 percent).

Tour Operators Underscore Advance Booking Trends, Need to Plan Ahead

The increasing incidence of limited availability is echoed by activity and tour operators of varying sizes around the globe. Approximately half (47 percent) of the respondents to an independent survey(1) conducted by eVOC Insights reported advance bookings through their own website or through an internet distribution partner like Expedia, Travelocity or Viator.com were "somewhat" or "much" higher than in recent years. And more than 75 percent said the increase in advance bookings has at least occasionally limited the availability for walk-up or same-day sales.

"Findings from these surveys show that, as online travel has exploded and more travel sites have begun to offer a 'side of tours' with each booking, advance sales have steadily increased, squeezing availability," said Rod Cuthbert, founder and CEO of Viator.com, a website specializing in activities, events and tours in 450-plus markets in 75 countries. "With greater travel volumes expected this summer, we're predicting there will be tighter walk-up availability than in recent years.

"Unless you're a gambler, we're advising travelers take the time to secure activities before they leave home," added Cuthbert. "A little time upfront can help save time on vacation for excitement and exploration versus waiting in long lines or being disappointed by sell-outs. Perhaps even more important in light of rising travel and fuel costs, planning ahead online can save travelers money by allowing them to quickly compare options."

Viator.com Offers the Following Tips to help Travelers Experience More this Summer:

  -- Research your Destination.  Once you decide where you're going, set
     aside time to learn more about your destination.  The web provides
     travelers the ability to read first-hand, practically real-time reviews
     from other travelers, as well as expert commentary, on what there is to
     do in any destination around the world -- eliminating the need for
     guesswork.

  -- Book Ahead for Better Choice and Price.  If you haven't already booked
     a trip, you should really think about where and when you want to go
     since airfares and hotel rates are on the rise. Researching and booking
     your trip activities online before you depart lets you quickly compare
     options and prices to secure the best deal.  By booking activities
     through Viator.com, travelers can take advantage of Viator's low-price
     guarantee on more than 5,000 activities in 450+ markets in 75
     countries.

  -- Get Below the Surface.  While the most popular and historic attractions
     shouldn't be missed, look for options that add a new twist on the
     traditional -- like adding a private chauffeur or dinner to your tour.
     Or seek out unique opportunities you never knew existed -- like dining
     in the home of a local family in Paris or training to be a Gladiator
     with historians in Rome.

About the eVOC Insights Survey for Viator.com

(1) This survey was conducted by eVOC Insights LLC on behalf of Viator Inc. through direct email correspondence with 234 Viator suppliers between May 2 and May 23, 2007. Suppliers were surveyed from Europe, the United States and Canada, Australia and South Pacific, Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. Overall results would have a sampling error of +/- 8 percentage points, at a ninety-five percent confidence level. eVOC Insights is a national customer experience consulting firm that provides online and offline "voice of the customer" market research. eVOC combines online technology, market research, and expert analysis to deliver insights into the behavior, thoughts and attitudes of consumers online. eVOC is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. More information is available at: http://www.evocinsights.com/

About the Harris Interactive Survey for Viator.com

(2) This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Viator Inc. between May 17 and May 21, 2007 among 2,637 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. The data were also weighted to be representative of the online population of U.S. adults on the basis of Internet usage (hours per week) and connection type. With a pure probability sample of 2,637, one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points. Sampling error for data based on sub-samples may be higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Viator

Viator is the world's leading online resource for travel experiences -- the things you do when you get there -- providing access to more than 5,000 sightseeing tours, attractions and activities in 450-plus destinations in more than 75 countries, as well as customer reviews, star ratings and the Viator Travel Blog. Viator -- the Latin word for traveler -- offers online consumers a one-stop shop to plan, research and book trip activities that meet a variety of tastes and preferences, including sightseeing tours, theater tickets, soft adventure trips, attraction passes, wine and culinary excursions, and many "well kept secrets" off the beaten path. Viator's in-house travel experts help take the guess work out of planning by hand-picking respected and trusted local operators to ensure a quality experience, value and service. Viator, founded in 1995, sells its products directly to consumers at http://www.viator.com/ and through its growing global network of more than 3,500 affiliates that include major hotel and airline companies, online travel agencies, city-specific sites and more. Viator is headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas.

Source: Viator

Web site: http://www.viator.com/