tripadvisor excursion review

Here's what it's like to to book an adventure abroad through Viator, Trip Advisor's tour and excursion booking platform

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• While in Croatia with my family this year, I used Trip Advisor 's activity-booking platform Viator to book boat charters abroad. All operators are pre-vetted by Trip Advisor to guarantee credibility and safety. Excursions range from $15 for a walking tour to thousands for luxury experiences.
• Booking independently through Viator saved me significant costs compared to using a travel agency, and helped me plan my vacation in advance, with clear pricing and reviews from past guests.
• I had a great experience with Viator and would use it again — but with a few changes. Next time, I'll make sure to ask more questions first, so I don't face any surprises. Here's what you should know to do the same.
• Read all Insider Picks travel reviews here.

I'm a lifestyle journalist with a focus on travel and trot the globe frequently with my husband and five-year-old twins. So I think of myself as pretty savvy when it comes to calling upon Internet resources (not to mention intuition earned through experience) to make bookings, even in places I've never before been.

This summer, I went on a two-week vacation with my family in Europe, hitting Greece and Croatia, plus bordering countries along the Dalmatian Coast. We spent a fair amount of time off the beaten path and there were a lot of moving parts. But I felt confident, and competent, that I could independently plan our trip, without the help of a travel agency. I know my way around search engines for flights, hotels, and deals.

But there was a blind spot. How would I book tours and excursions such as chartering a speedboat for our family to Croatia's famous islands?

I was relieved when I stumbled upon the activity-booking search engine Viator , which is owned by Trip Advisor. After reviewing various offerings and reading reviews, I booked two separate boat charters through the company. Both boats were clean, comfortable, beautiful, more or less as advertised, and operated by companies I would not have known how to access without Viator. 

I'd recommend the platform, especially to anyone staying at an Airbnb without a concierge like I did, or looking for cheaper options than what a hotel or travel agency might suggest. But I'd offer a caveat from my own experience: savvy travelers must make sure to cover their bases to avoid potential pitfalls such as the one we experienced. 

What is Viator?

Viator is Trip Advisor's platform for booking all kinds of activities during travel. Consider you might find 4x4 and camel tours in Dubai, a skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum in Rome, or a tour of the Grand Canyon by helicopter from Las Vegas.

Really, you'll find just about anything. The search engine includes options for a truly whopping 200,000 bookable activities in places all around the world making it unlikely that you won't find what you need. All operators listed are pre-vetted for credibility and safety backed by Trip Advisor .

Importantly, the site also aggregates millions of reviews, like what you'll find on Viator's sister site, Trip Advisor, so you have a pretty good sense of what you're getting. 

How is Viator priced?

Naturally, price points on Viator range dramatically based on the location and the excursions' complexity. A basic walking tour might cost under $20 while a day-long excursion or charter could cost hundreds more. The more expensive of the two trips I booked came in under $1,000, and the rates on the site can soar depending on what you're booking.

The site is optimized for mobile booking, offers around-the-clock customer service in multiple languages, a lowest-price guarantee, and a 24-hour cancellation policy, which makes the financial risk in booking feel low. 

In fact, I made use of that cancellation policy a few times to cancel and rebook similar activities when I changed my mind on the specifics, and also to flatly cancel a sightseeing tour I'd booked for our first day in Greece when I realized we'd all be too jet-lagged to bother.

I made both Viator bookings using my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card  — both in U.S. dollars — and faced no trouble making these changes.

What did I book through Viator?

I'd never been to Croatia, but knew I wanted to see its beautiful islands. We were staying in an Airbnb apartment (a rare choice for me) instead of a full-service hotel with concierge, so I was on my own for finding out how to do this. 

Poking around on the Internet for tours, I discovered Viator , which was previously unknown to me. I appreciated that like its parent company Trip Advisor, Viator heavily incorporates a review system, and the Trip Advisor backing gave me confidence. I booked two tours, each about three weeks ahead of our arrival.

For our stay in Dubrovnik, I booked a half-day private speedboat tour to the Elafiti islands , which earned an impressive five stars overall, with over 100 reviews on Viator. The trip for four people for four hours came in just under $400 after I used a 10 percent discount code. 

Then, for the portion of our trip in the northern area of the country, Split, I booked an all-day private sightseeing tour with five proposed stops , including the famous Blue Cave and Hvar island. This trip also had an overall five-star rating on Viator, but with far fewer reviews, just 27 as of the time of this writing. The eight-hour trip for four people on the private speedboat charter cost $873 after the discount code.

These prices might seem steep, but consider that it's priced for four people, as well as the alternative. When I briefly felt overwhelmed with planning, I reached out to a Croatia-based travel agency. The land-only quote for a week in the county for our party of four was 12,000 euros. Booking on my own — including these two-day trips through Viator — cut our expenses to less than half.

My booking experience with Viator

After so much planning, our trip was at last underway. We spent a morning at a Dubrovnik beach club before our scheduled boat tour for the afternoon. That same day, the highly responsive tour company reached out through WhatsApp and email to coordinate transportation for us to the marina, where we'd be meeting our skipper and the boat.

They called a rideshare at their expense to meet us at the beach club and we arrived at the marina to find an impeccably clean boat and friendly skipper.

As promised, the boat was just for our family with amenities like shade cover and a USB port to charge up phones and stay ready for photo taking. 

We set out for the afternoon on the Adriatic and were able to customize our itinerary, checking out bays, beaches, and caves at our own pace. The skipper snapped family photos and offered snorkel masks and drinks.

At the end of the afternoon, our skipper called us an Uber to take us back to the hotel. Overall it was a successful, fun day. And at under $400 for four people, felt like a great value for all we were able to do.

Unfortunately, it didn't foreshadow the more challenging experience we had on our next excursion, which was the full-day boat charter from Split.

For that trip, I had more difficulty communicating in advance with the operator, who was less responsive. I didn't get all my questions answered before booking, and miscalculated by making some critical assumptions that turned out to be false.

We arrived at the marina to find a boat that exceeded our expectations. It was a rather luxurious looking speedboat with room for 12 and was larger and fancier than our previous boat in Dubrovnik.

It was also more powerful, at 250 horsepower. While some people might appreciate that, the speed of the vessel scared our young children right away.

Our skipper was a devoted and experienced older brother, so he was well equipped with strategies to help calm our kids and took pains to make them comfortable. He even let my son "drive" the boat and honk the horn, which was a huge hit. 

But my daughter was still uncomfortable as the boat sped through the open ocean. Off the bat, I wondered if this was something any ambitious American traveler would attempt with such young children had they known how rough it would be.

The skipper warned us that the Blue Cave would be backed up and crowded, and the timing might correspond to a bumpy afternoon sail. So we opted against it and chose a custom plan to mitigate the intensity. I appreciated that we were able to change the day's itinerary to better suit our needs.

Our skipper took us to a gorgeous, remote beach on the island of Vis, which was a true highlight with crystal clear water and a sense of true isolation. We swam from the boat to the beach, snorkeled, and took lots of pictures.

Afterward, we sailed to glamorous Hvar island, where we passed an hour or so with lunch in Hvar Town.

But it was after that, on the way back to the harbor in Split, when our challenges started in earnest.

It was squarely afternoon by then, and the winds had picked up; the open ocean was very choppy. That is to say, our boat caught full air and slammed back down — over and over again. There was nothing the skipper could do as this was the nature of the boat and typical conditions.

Although my kids (mercifully) don't suffer motion sickness, they were terrified. Anyone with young children and those who do suffer from motion sickness should inquire about conditions before booking any similar boat ride as I wished I had.

My son could be placated by heading back to his post as the boat's "driver," but my daughter was miserable for the full 75 minutes it took to get back to the marina and the waves soaked our family. Making matters more concerning, there was only one kid-sized life jacket on board.  

I was regretful that I'd gotten us in this position. I hadn't adequately confirmed that this was the right trip for our family.

And although I generally feel like a diligent and capable planner, I'd continued with the booking despite not waiting for the answers I needed: Would there be child-sized snorkel masks? Would there be two child-sized life jackets? Was the water likely to be rough? Will we get wet or seasick?  

The bottom line on Viator  

Overall, I wouldn't trade either of the stunning boat excursions I booked through Viator . They made for essential sightseeing experiences for any visitor to Croatia.

The operators on both experiences were professional, and the services were provided as advertised. I also found the prices to be reasonable, much more so than if I'd booked through a travel agency.

I'll book through Viator again, but next time, I'll make sure I'm asking more questions and getting the specific answers I need first.

If a particular operator is vague or reluctant to respond to the specifics of an important matter, like child-sized life vests, or typical water conditions, I will move on to another operator.  

As a now-seasoned Viator user, I'd say: book with confidence. Just make sure you ask a lot of questions specific to your needs and make sure you get them all answered explicitly before you show up on the day of your booking.

With the sheer number of bookings available on Viator, you should have plenty of options to keep moving onto another suitable tour operator until you find one that gives you all the answers — and confidence — you need.  

Book a Viator excursion, large or small, anywhere on earth .

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Israel Cruise Excursions - Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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My tour with shore excursion group was…

My tour with shore excursion group was very fun! tour guide was excellent and easy to find once disembarking the ship. Excellent customer service and experience. would do it again! Booked the tour for myself, sister in law and in laws and we all loved it!

Date of experience : January 02, 2024

I cruise all the time

I cruise all the time. Usually 10 months out of the year and doing a World Cruise every year. Shore Excursions Group was fantastic. I use the group department since I will take a group from the ship. I will look over all their excursions pick what I like and gather a group from the ship. I will usually get around 30 guests. All the tours have been fantastic and everyone on my tours have loved them. I am not an agent just a passenger, but I do highly recommend this company no matter how big or small your group is. If I had a question, they were always there with a quick email (no phone service overseas). I will use them always in the future. Passengers like my tours over the ships for the cost and the fun and it is not me but Shore Excursions Group.

Cruises.com best for cruises

Timing of emails. Great help through Angel, when I phoned to get clarifications as the site was down. Notified in time when tour was cancelled, thus had time to book another one.

Date of experience : April 19, 2024

Kona Coffee, Green Sea Turtles and absolute beauty.

Our guide, Rusty, was fun and engaging during all the included activities. Our time at the coffee plantation was very interesting and informative, and although lunch was not provided on the tour, we stopped at a great little Poke cafe and had a very tasty lunch. The stop at The Painted Church was beautiful and our time searching for and finding the green sea turtles was exciting and fun. In all, it was a great day.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Zip lining in DR and Jost Van Dyke in BVI

We booked two excursions with Shore Excursions Group for our March cruise with NCL. We went zipping in the Dominican Republic and took a boat to Jost Van Dyke. Prices were very reasonable, times were followed strictly, and communication excellent. We have used this company for other cruises as well and are always pleased. I highly recommend Shore Excursions Group.

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Request Jose Rosario for your driver

Our driver, Jose Rosario, made our day! He was the best tour guide. We had a wonderful experience at The Mexican Hot Springs. Hector and all the staff were very welcoming. We had the most delicious lunch of homemade guacamole, freshly made chips, and delicious queso. After our excursion, we wanted to go shopping before returning to the cruise ship. Rosario took us to the best downtown store, Michael Gallery for handcrafted art, jewelry and Mexican vanilla. We had a great day!

Date of experience : March 06, 2024

Great experience

This was a snorkeling excursion in Grand Cayman. The whole experience was wonderful. The guide was easy to locate, the bus ride to the boat was narrated and the crew on the boat was super. They were very helpful and informative. The snorkeling was very good.

Date of experience : March 07, 2024

Holiday traffic meant that we were…

Holiday traffic meant that we were stuck on the bus for 2 hours. Perhaps this activity should not be scheduled on a holiday weekend where it is known in advance to be a busy traffic event. Also, the on board toilet was completely out of order???

All of the excursions that I book…

All of the excursions that I book through Shore Excursions group are excellent! I like that they are less expensive and more intimate than through the cruise line. There are more interesting options as well!

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Great day in Honduras

We had a very nice, knowledgable guide who took us around the island. The monkeys and sloths were a huge hit and the highlight of the tour. Our bus was very comfortable, and it ended up being a private tour for our party of 10, which was great for flexibility to stop wherever we wanted. He made sure to get us back to the boat in plenty of time.

Amazing experience

Really enjoyed our experience, great time, great guides, amazing day.

Date of experience : March 08, 2024

Avoid their Caribbean Tours

Had great experiences with their Alaska tours but absolutely HORRENDOUS experiences with their Carribean tours. The Carribean tours were short, very unsafe, and not even remotely close to what was described in their ads. When I requested refunds,I was informed the management team would need to investigate. Since then, I have not received any communication, and certainly no refund. I would strongly recommend you not use this company for any tours in the Caribbean.

Date of experience : January 12, 2024

Reply from Shore Excursions Group

Hello Susan, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. A refund was issued for Seven Mile Beach Getaway on January 12, If this is in reference to another matter. please feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] so that I can personally address this matter for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

Excellent small tour experience

Our tour guide gave us lots of interesting information and great recommendations for eating and shopping. Our driver was wonderful. Two dogs ran out in front of our van and he skillfully avoided hitting them.

Date of experience : March 20, 2024

Best Excursion for the Family

Best Excursion for the Family! Our family of 7 people ages range from 82 to 7 years old. Was fun for Grandma to go 100 feet under the sea and experience seeing the bottom of the ocean for her first time! All the kids enjoyed seeing the shipwreck and sea life. The captain made sure that both sides of the submarine were able to view everything. My husband and I both have gone scuba diving but this was a completely different experience! Highly recommend this!!

Date of experience : July 07, 2023

Customer service is effective and professional.

We booked 2 Private Origins of Naples tours from SEG. Our tour guide Fabiana was waiting for us at the port entrance on time. She is care and professional. She combined our 2 groups to one because the other local guide didn't show up, but Fabiana didn't leave us, she tried to contact the local office for us and decided to take all of us as a shared group. Our 2 hours in Naples was relax and fun. Fabiana is knowledgeable for the city history, culture and food. The management team are professional and enthusiasm to solve the small problem for us. We're satisfied and confidence to use their service again in the future travel. We strongly recommend Shore Excursions Group.

Date of experience : March 18, 2024

the website was easy to navigate

the website was easy to navigate. It would be great to have a better understanding on distances from the port to the actually excursion. The individual I spoke with on the phone was pretty decent.

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

Bait and switch

Bait and switch. We recently use SEG to book an island tour on Oahu during a Hawaii cruise. After meeting our guide and starting out for the day we realized that the tour we were on was not the one we’d signed up for. We were not the only ones. One of the other patrons who had booked through a different company said she had received an Email explaining that the original tour had been canceled and giving her the option be booked on the new tour or cancel. We did not receive an Email. The tour was similar, but two stops we were really looking forward to had been omitted.

Hello George, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] so that I can personally address this matter for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

A pleasure to work with

We did three excursions shore excursions. Everything was very easy to book. We were picked up promptly at our cruise port. The excursions were interesting and the guides were wonderful. I found the prices to be very reasonable for what was included.

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

Highly Recommend

We've now used Shore Excursions Group for multiple excursions, and not only have they all been very good or excellent, but when we have had any issues, Shore Excursions has stepped up and assisted, or provided us a partial refund. Highly recommend!

Date of experience : March 14, 2024

Worse Experience ever

I booked two excursions with Shore Excursions 3 to 4 months before our cruise. The one excursion they canceled only two weeks before our cruise. They did give me a refund. The second excursion was a van or bus sightseeing excursion for several hours. We were the last ones picked up. The "seat" I was given not even a two year old could have fit in it. I was in the front, between my husband and the driver in a jump seat with ZERO leg room because the gear shift was there. Meanwhile everyone else had bucket seats. The driver asked if everyone was comfortable when I looked at her and said no I am not, she just giggled and off she went. I called the company to complain to give them a chance before I wrote a negative review and I was told they would get back to me by email in 3 to 5 days. I waited almost 2 weeks. Then I called again and the person said they would mark it urgent. It has been three weeks and I have not heard a thing. I WON"T EVER BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY.

Date of experience : March 16, 2024

Hello Kate, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] so that I can personally address this matter for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

Best Mediterranean cruise shore excursions

Shore excursions in the Mediterranean highlight must-see experiences such as fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some of the wonders you travel to see – the ruins of Pompeii, the Roman Colosseum and Michelangelo's David in Florence – are nowhere near the pier where your cruise ship will dock. The easiest way to get to them is with tours sold by your cruise line, which typically include the services of tour guides who are experts about the destination.

While some Mediterranean cruise passengers choose to do an excursion in each port and see every major attraction, it's also fun to plan some time exploring on your own . If you go the independent route, do some research and pick a port where your preferences – beachfront, cafes, boutiques or other attractions – are close to the pier.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

While excursion offerings vary by cruise line, here are our picks for the best shore excursions in the Mediterranean.

Full-day tour of Athens, from Piraeus, Greece

The port of Piraeus, Greece, is about seven miles from Athens, and while you can use taxis or public transport to get into the city, you are better off booking a tour with a licensed guide who will get you to the key sights and provide details about the city — a birthplace of democracy and Western thought. Athens is a fascinating city with both ancient and modern attractions. While half-day tours will get you to the famous Acropolis, we recommend a full-day experience so you can see and experience more.

Europe's oldest capital has its origins in 3,000 B.C. Grab a window seat on the bus so you'll see the hilltop Acropolis dominating the skyline, as it has for thousands of years. On the tour, you will spend time exploring its sacred buildings including the Parthenon, the beautiful, columned temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Related: Best Mediterranean cruise tips to enhance your European vacation

Your tour will also show off other sites throughout the city, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, Greece's impressive Parliament building and the Olympic Stadium. You'll have opportunity to dine on Greek cuisine (lunch is included in full-day tours) and shop for souvenirs on the narrow ancient streets of the lively Platka neighborhood.

Pick a tour that affords time at the Acropolis Museum, a modern museum full of ancient treasures such as statues that date back to the 5 th century B.C.

Best of Olympia tour, from Katakolon, Greece

Katakolon, Greece, is a small town with a nice strip of beach – and a landmark attraction about an hour away. Cruise passengers make the trip to ancient Olympia to see the site where the Olympic Games debuted in 776 B.C. A tour of the ruins of the religious center and sports complex includes the Temple of Zeus, Roman baths, gymnasium and swimming pool, as well as the first Olympic stadium. Three thousand years ago, the games took place every four years, after the summer harvest, with competitors coming from as far away as Italy and Asia Minor.

The short foot races were the most prestigious of the events, and you can imagine the roar of the crowd as you stand in the field where the races took place. Your tour will likely include a stop at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia to see some amazing artifacts, including bronze and stone statues of well-toned athletes.

Palace of Knossos tour, Crete

Wherever you dock in Crete, in the Greek islands, you'll want to visit the ancient Minoan palace of Knossos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates to the Bronze Age.

First settled around 7000 B.C., the religious and administrative center was the domain of King Minos and home of Zeus and Europa, according to Greek mythology. Tour the ruins, some partially rebuilt, to learn about the labyrinth built to contain the Minotaur (half man and half bull) and how a queen had running water in her bathroom more than 3,000 years ago.

Related: Western Mediterranean vs. Eastern Mediterranean cruises: Which itinerary will I like more?

Your tour may also include a stop at the Archeological Museum of Heraklion, which houses Minoan artifacts removed from the palace site.

Game of Thrones tour, Dubrovnik, Croatia

You can take a shuttle from the pier and tour Old Town Dubrovnik on your own, but if you are a fan of "Game of Thrones," the must-do is a guided tour that highlights sights that appeared on the HBO TV show. As fans know, Dubrovnik doubled for King's Landing, the fictional capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

Stops on the tour include the formidable 11 th -century Lovrijenac Fortress, high on a rock overlooking the sea, just outside the medieval walls that surround the Old Town. In novelist George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books, which inspired GOT, the views from the fort are of Blackwater Bay.

Related: Movies and TV shows you can stream to get your cruising fix

In Old Town, you'll climb to and walk along the defensive walls that appeared on the show in the Battle of Blackwater Bay, as well as in other scenes. Other GOT sights in Old Town include the Jesuit Staircase, where Cersei began her Walk of Shame (season 5) and an area near St. Dominic Street, where market scenes for the show were filmed. Elsewhere, the outside of the Ethnographic Museum Rupe may look familiar. It appeared on the show as Littlefinger's brothel.

Rome city tour, from Civitavecchia, Italy

The port closest to Rome is Civitavecchia, Italy. Getting into the city can take 1.5 hours (or less or more, depending on traffic). It's a good idea to book a full-day excursion to make the most of your time in the city – especially if you are determined to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, along with the Roman Colosseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, the Forum, the Pantheon and other sights. Tours may also stop at Trevi Fountain, where tossing a coin is said to ensure your return to Rome.

Some tours combine one marquee sight and free time. If you are going this route, we recommend you go with the Colosseum, an amphitheater that once held as many as 50,000 spectators and where you can well imagine life in ancient Rome in all its (gory) glory.

Make sure to also climb Palatine Hill for views of the city, which has something fascinating — a flowing fountain, a gelato stand, a designer handbag shop — practically around every corner.

Florence city tour, from Livorno, Italy

If you want to explore Florence, look for cruises calling in Livorno, Italy, or another port in Tuscany. From there, you'll take a bus ride into the city, known for its Renaissance treasures. The city itself is a visual treat; a shore excursion will assure that you see such key sights as Michelangelo's David, in all his polished marble naked glory (at the tickets-required Accademia Gallery).

Art lovers will want to choose a tour that includes the Uffizi Gallery, with its works by Botticelli, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance artists. Your tour will also showcase the 15 th -century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (a.k.a. the Duomo) and other architecture treasures in the city. Some tours also visit the university town of Pisa, famous for its Leaning Tower.

Related: Shore excursions: What new cruisers need to know

Ancient Pompeii, Capri and Sorrento tour, from Naples, Italy

It's not difficult to imagine life in ancient times while exploring the remarkable ruins of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by ash from Mount Vesuvius in the year 79. The ruins — the forum, baths, temples and decorated villas — appear frozen in time.

While you can focus all your attention on Pompeii, we recommend a full-day tour from Naples that also showcases the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and the beautiful island of Capri — a typical combination would be Capri, the resort town of Sorrento and Pompeii.

You'll take a jetfoil to Capri and a funicular ride up to Capri Town, a shopping haven (with residential side streets well worth exploring). Back on the mainland, drive to Sorrento, with time to people-watch at an outdoor cafe. On the way back to Naples, stop by Pompeii for a guided tour of the ruins.

Gaudi and the Sagrada Familia tour, Barcelona

In Barcelona, you dock right in the city. Las Ramblas, the city's famous boulevard, is a long walk or quick shuttle bus ride away. For us, the must-do shore excursion is to see the extravagant creations of architect Antoni Gaudi, including his La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where construction has been ongoing since 1882. The cathedral is the most visited attraction in Spain.

Choose a tour that also takes you to the hillside, UNESCO-recognized Parc Guell, where Gaudi sought to combine nature with modernist architecture. You'll also see two Gaudi residential buildings on the Paseo de Gracia — the La Pedrera apartment building and Casa Batllo, a private home with an especially eerie-looking façade.

Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

Some tours also stop at Museu Picasso, which features early works by Pablo Picasso, in the city's Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic).

Ancient Ephesus tour, from Kusadasi, Turkey

A favorite of those who love to explore ancient history, Ephesus is one of the most fascinating and best-preserved ancient cities in the world (and only a short drive from the Turkish resort town of Kusadasi).

In Ephesus, you walk the same marble streets as the ancients to sites that include a bath house, massive amphitheater and the jaw-dropping remains of a two-story library building façade, looking at columns, mosaics and monuments along the way. Greeks, Egyptians and Romans all ruled in Ephesus, but most of what you see today was built by the Romans. Outside the library, carved in stone, is early marketing asking whether you prefer to visit the library or a house of pleasure (an age-old question).

A tour of the ancient city can be combined in longer excursions with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, a modest chapel built on the spot where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days — a sanctioned pilgrimage site. There's also a second pilgrimage site in the area, St. John's Basilica, where St. John wrote the fourth book of the New Testament.

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Celebrity Shore Excursion Reviews

By WEGL81 , June 25, 2016 in Celebrity Cruises

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One of the issues I have had in the past with X shore excursions is that the descriptions often don't match reality. So having honest reviews from people who have been on the excursions is extremely helpful. However, I have noticed a pattern and I'm wondering if it is due to X's infamous website follies or if people just don't know what they're doing. How many times have you read an excursion review and someone had written a review of the whole cruise? Or, even worse, a review of a completely different cruise? It's usually to complain about something, so they give it a low rating (the cruise) which ends up affecting the excursion rating. It's very frustrating. You see that an excursion has a 2* rating, you investigate and find out there was one 4* from a person who went on the actual excursion and a 1* from someone who had a bad experience on the cruise and placed their entire cruise review on the excursion. Anyone else notice this?

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My sister recently submitted a negative review of a Celebrity Bermuda excursion. Her biggest complaint was that the excursion was not as described. Celebrity rejected it. They said that it didn't meet their standards. I suggested that she post it on cruise critic and trip advisor.

WrittenOnYourHeart

My favorite ones are the people who clearly don't get the "1 is horrible to 5 is excellent" rating system. I have read more than one review where the person gave it one star then went on to rave about how it was the best day of their trip.

I've noticed that more than the other.

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I wrote a negative review of an excursion to Nevis....it was rejected by Celebrity.

something that has been going on since day one.

the info supplied is never 100% correct. there can be two or three tours and they sometimes are the same.

I've written a couple negative reviews that were published. I think you have to be careful not to accuse anyone of anything. One person posted on CC that his review as rejected by X. He wrote it down here and it had things like accusing the tour operator of getting kickbacks.

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something that has been going on since day one.   the info supplied is never 100% correct. there can be two or three tours and they sometimes are the same.

I've cancelled a couple excursions while onboard because the description on the ticket didn't match the description when I bought the excursion.

It can go both ways. the Shore excursion canceled our tour because the lack of people interested.

And even with the tour filled they added a bus. so it can be very misleading.

We have only done 1 X shore Excursion and we were pleasantly surprised. Last year one of our ports was Marseilles and I want to visit the village of St Remy and Les Baux and could not find private tour so chose ship's tour. although it was on a big bus it was very nice and as a complete surprise and not listed in the itinerary was a visit to Carrieres de Lumieres and old quarry that features works of art projected on the walls accompanied by wonderful music. I had read about but did expect to be able to visit. Breathtaking!

We've had a few good excursions with X. I think the best was between the 17 mile drive in Monterrey and a bus trip to Mt Teide in Tenerife.

Hi Cool cruiser, I am really impressed with your bio and want to know how you got that set up on your login? I am not very computer savvy. Thanks

I have to say generally we have been happy with descriptions re tours and the tours themselves.

On recent cruises, amount of walking, steps...has been an issue for me and I have found the information on this very honest. We were also impressed with the shore desk who found a staff member who had actually been on one of the tours we were considering to help us decide if a tour was doable with my limitations.

We find looking at reviews you do have to be selective...as someone else said their review may be coloured by other things from their present or past experience. Sometimes simply the more frequent cruiser may be harder to impress 'we had much better snorkling in *****'or a new cruiser may have unrealistic expectations 'the Acropolis was too busy...'.

• 5 years later...

silviaeaston

I was just in 3 of the Celebrity Excursions and 2 of them left a lot to be desired.  The "Mountain Views and Villa Botanica" was laughable at best!  We went to the "Villa Botanica" which since the hurricane 5 years ago, (they admitedly) haven't replaced the signs describing the plants.  Also, no "tour guide" to tell us what we were seeing as we walked the grounds nor where to go, so I'm sure we missed some of the place.  The  offered "rum tasting" didn't happen.  Also there was a broken/rusted old truck at the very entrance that hasn't "run" in at least 10 years.  

The other awful "tour" was the "Carambola Beach Break"... it was simply a beach with about 150 umbrellas, completely devoid of any palm trees to give out shade.  BUT they charged $10 to open the available umbrellas, so at $1500 for the 2 tours that come to their place, it's a nice $3000 a day!  The public or other beach not owned by Carambola had nice palm trees that not only gave shade but beauty to their beach. 

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MARMARIS EXCURSIONS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, announces the 2024 winners of its annual Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Hotels Awards. The resorts and lodging locations on this list rank in the top one percent of the more than 8-million hotel listings on the site.

Tripadvisor Announces 2024’s Best U.S. Hotels Based on Visitor Reviews

• Jason Wilson
• May 1, 2024

Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, announces the 2024 winners of its annual Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Hotels Awards . The resorts and lodging locations on this list rank in the top one percent of the more than 8-million hotel listings on the site.

"Our Best of the Best Hotels are marvels, acclaimed by thousands of travelers for their remarkable service, stunning design, and wealth of amenities that redefine what it means to have an exceptional hotel experience," said Dan Mitchell, Vice President and General Manager of Hotels for Tripadvisor.

The Best of the Best hotels receive the most above-and-beyond reviews from the Tripadvisor community over a one-year period. This year, pet-friendly, sustainable, and wellness hotels are the newest subcategory introductions.

Number One This Year 

The cream of the crop for the United States in 2024 is the Shore Hotel , located in Santa Monica, California. The eco-friendly boutique hotel offers ocean views and walkability to the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. With more than 6,000 reviews, travelers say they appreciate the hotel's contemporary feel, premium amenities, and personalized attention they received from the staff.

In addition to offering an outdoor pool with a view and poolside bar, a fitness center, and free bike rentals, the Shore Hotel earned high marks for its pet-friendly accommodations. Visitors frequently sing the praises of the helpful concierge Adriano in their Tripadvisor reviews.

Best U.S. East Coast Hotel

The Luma Hotel in Times Square, New York City, comes in second place on the Best of the Best Hotels list, making it the top hotel on the East Coast, according to Tripadvisor reviewers. This hotel sits right in Times Square, one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the world and the heart of the Broadway Theater District. 

The Luma Hotel offers a cozy escape from the chaos and activity outside on the streets of Manhattan. Reviewers commented on the comparatively large rooms by New York standards, comfy beds, and robots that deliver room service. The Luma also has an on-site restaurant that serves free drinks at happy hour to registered guests.

Number One Luxury Hotel

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Tripadvisor reviewers deemed Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Texas, the number one luxury hotel in the United States. Located in the city’s Pearl District, Hotel Emma is surrounded by some of the finest restaurants and retailers San Antonio offers.

Reviewers praised Hotel Emma’s award-winning on-site restaurant, rooftop terrace, and spa. The concierge scored high marks for making recommendations and reservations for guests. Hotel Emma also provides daily turn-down service, a welcome and increasingly rare perk that was more commonplace pre-COVID.

Top Pet-Friendly Hotel

The Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale earned top reviews from pet owners for allowing fur babies on every floor. They also offer an outdoor garden area where pets are encouraged to bask in the Florida sunshine with their owners. The ocean-themed hotel features 238 luxury rooms, Harborwood Urban Kitchen and Bar, and the Elev8 pool deck featuring fire pits and a rooftop bar.

“Our goal is for our guests to settle in and refresh to prepare them for an adventure in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale,” a representative for the Hyatt Centric Las Olas writes in a statement on Tripadvisor. “Our location puts them within walking distance of local attractions, shopping, dining, nightlife, and outdoor recreation. So, consider our hotel the launchpad from which to take off and explore!”

"We believe that the best life is shared between dogs and pet parents, so we are excited to help unlock more experiences of togetherness between people and their pets," says Jean-Paul Jansen, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Mars Petcare North America. "This new pet-friendly category is such a great way to spotlight more destinations where dogs and pet parents are welcomed together on their travel adventures."

Top 10 U.S. Hotels According to Tripadvisor

From boutiques to super luxe, these are the U.S. hotels voted Best of the Best by Tripadvisor.

• Shore Hotel — Santa Monica, California
• Luma Hotel Times Square — New York City, New York
• FivePine Lodge & Spa — Sisters, Oregon
• The Bryant Park Hotel — New York City, New York
• Hotel Emma — San Antonio, Texas
• The Loutrel — Charleston, South Carolina
• Lotte Hotel Seattle — Seattle, Washington
• Four Seasons Hotel Chicago — Chicago, Illinois
• Ironworks Hotel Indy — Indianapolis, Indiana
• San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the Riverwalk — San Antonio, Texas

The 2024 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Hotel Awards are determined based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period between January 1 and December 31, 2023, as well as an additional editorial process.

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This Wisconsin hotel is among the best in the country in 2024, according to Tripadvisor

Thousands of travelers around the world ranked their preferred hotels this year, and Tripadvisor published the ranking in its latest 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards for the Best of the Best hotels.

Hotels on this list are among the top 1% based on a large volume of high reviews over a 12-month period. Out of 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this ranking. And one Wisconsin hotel made the list — the Stewart Inn, a bed and breakfast based in Wausau.

The Stewart Inn in Wausau named top hotel in U.S.

Stewart Inn in Wausau ranked No. 6 on the list of best Small & Boutique hotels in the U.S.

The Stewart Inn was designed by George Maher , a founder of the American Arts and Craft movement and a colleague of Frank Lloyd Wright. The boutique hotel is on the southwestern edge of the Andrew Warren Historic District near the Cyrus Yawkey Museum, the Marathon County Historical Museum and Wausau's Museum of Contemporary Art.

The inn "delights with its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful rooms and gorgeous architecture," Tripadvisor's website says. "With a convenient location, exploring the surroundings is a breeze."

Visit: The hotel is at 521 Grant St., Wausau, WI. For more information on the Stewart Inn, you can visit www.stewartinn.com or visit its Facebook page here . Rooms range in price around $200 per night depending on the type of room. To stay at the luxury cabin on the property costs around $370 per night.

RELATED: 'This is an experience': Owners of Stewart Inn to open luxury cabin near Wausau this winter

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Top five hotels in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor

• Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, CA
• Luma Hotel Time Square in New York City, NY
• FivePine Lodge & Spa in Sister, Central Oregon, OR
• The Bryant Park Hotel in New York City, NY
• Hotel Emma in San Antonio, TX

For the full list of the best hotels in the U.S. in 2024:

For more information or to find TripAdvisor's full list of top 2024 hotels, you can visit their website here .

RELATED: Wisconsin's most expensive Airbnb rental costs more than $12,000 a night