published: 6/1/2023 | June 1, 2023
I love trip planning. Reading about a destination, learning its history, and discovering all the wonderful things there is to see and do (and eat) are just one of the many things I love about travel.
When I first started backpacking, planning a budget trip was a challenge because you could only rely on outdated guidebooks or questionable online forums.
However, these days filling out an itinerary has never been easier. Research activities, reading reviews and booking flights can be done months in advance from the comfort of home or as a last minute decision if you want to travel spontaneously.
One of the sites I use often when I travel is GetYourGuide.
GetYourGuide is a marketplace for tours, activities, and excursions. It has everything from express museum tickets and walking tours to wine tours and adventure activities – and everything in between. This includes the main “must see” sights as well as the funky activities as well.
Here’s everything you need to know about GYG to help you plan your next trip, have fun, and save money!
What kind of activities does GetYourGuide offer?
GetYourGuide has quite a number of activities in destinations all over the world, but they usually fall into several different categories:
tickets – GYG sells tickets to museums, galleries, theme parks, and everything in between. These are often skip-the-line tickets, and are very useful if you are visiting a crowded landmark.
Public tours – This is most activities, including walking tours, guided hikes, whale watching trips, vineyard tours, etc. You pay a fee and join a small group of fellow travelers.
Private tours – From private walking tours to private guided hikes, if you’re on a bigger budget (or traveling with a small group), here you can find all kinds of guides offering more exclusive activities.
daily trips – If you’re staying in a big city, you’ll find countless day trips (and even multi-day trips) further afield. These can be national parks, wineries, beaches and more. They usually include transportation to and from your accommodation as well as a meal.
communications – Airport transfers, private drivers and public transit cards can all be found at GYG.
For most activities, GYG promotes a local operator. They are just a medium that helps facilitate your planning. However, they also have their own ‘original’ experiences created in partnership with a local operator and only available to book on GYG. Originals experiences include Turning the Lights on at the Vatican Museums, Wine Tasting in the Eiffel Tower, and the Exclusive Hours Before at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
My experience using Get Your Guide
I’ve used GetYourGuide on a few different destinations on my travels because it’s such an easy place to find tours. I booked a great food tour in Bologna, another wine tour in Bologna (as the guy was just starting his company, so I gave him some tips on how to succeed), and a day trip around the countryside in Slovenia.
Like most travel search engines, the great thing about GYG is that everything is in one place. This is especially important for experiences because most major cities have a lot of tour operators. This means if you’re just searching through Google, you’re likely to miss a lot.
So, I like that GYG puts everything in one place for me so I can jump right in and compare activity prices, durations, and more – all from one site/app.
I plan to use GYG on my next trip to Japan as there are so many great activities and tours available, from tea ceremonies in Kyoto to seeing sumo training sessions in Tokyo to experiencing traditional Japanese archery in Hiroshima.
So, is GYG worth using?
If you’re looking to simplify your travel planning and find great activities for your next trip, GYG is a great place to start. Not only can you find fun excursions and tours, but you’ll be able to read reviews and compare prices to see if these activities meet your needs. It’s a simple, easy-to-use website and app that can add depth to your travels.
Not only do they run their own unique tours and activities, they are distributors to thousands of others. This means that you book with local businesses, ensuring that most of the money you spend stays in the community.
Whether you want to plan your trips in advance or stumble upon new activities on the go, GetYourGuide is a handy website and app that can ensure you make the most of your time abroad. Foodies, history buffs, nightlife, backpackers, adrenaline junkies – GYG offers unique activities for every travel style and budget, allowing you to dive deeper into your destination, connect with local guides and other travelers, and get more unique experiences.
Book your flight: logistics tips and tricks
Book your flight
Find a cheap flight with Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the world so you’ll always know that no stone is left unturned.
Reserve your accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it constantly shows the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t forget travel insurance
Travel insurance will protect you from illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It is comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to travel for free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodations – all without any additional spending. Check out my guide to choosing the right card, current favorites to get started, and see the latest best deals.
Ready to book your flight?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to use when traveling. I list everything I use when I travel. It’s the best in class and you can’t go wrong with it on your trip.