Trip planning with Viator's guided tours

Now that you have new places you've added to your personal bucket list, this is the perfect year to begin your planning. Little skittish about exploring new places? Guided tours are back in a big way, and we're not talking casino-bound buses filled with blue-haired patrons.

There's a renaissance in tours designed to show you what you want to see, in-depth and up-close personal. Tourist trap, the trendiest hot spot or any combination - it's all up to you? Guided tours are a great way to catch up on local history and hook into the native vibe before setting off on your own.

Not sure where to start? Have a look at a tiny selection of Viator's massive global line-up:

Viator tours around the world … a sampling

Grand Canyon Skywalk, West Rim and Hoover Dam Tour (Coach Tour) - Las Vegas is so much more than casinos, but knowing what's worth seeing can be tricky. Stray too far without a map and you'll end up viewing some of the best kept dirt roads in the U.S.

You'll be picked up at your Vegas hotel at 7:30 am and be dropped off again by 7:30 pm. It's a 3-hour climate controlled drive to the Grand Canyon (with local commentary to understand the history and geography), with a short photo stop of the Hoover Dam, and you'll get 4 free hours to explore the Canyon on your own (you can opt-in for the glass Skywalk over the Rim of the Canyon – about $40 extra, but worth it!). Pack water (seasonally), lunch is available at the West Rim. Fee includes transportation and select park admission (Skywalk extra) - Adults and Children starting about $102 USD. 

Ground Zero Museum Workshop Tour (Self-Guided Audio Tour) - If you're still struggling to understand 9/11 (aren't we all?) this tour takes you beyond the World Trade Center and introduces you to the intimate stories, images and artifacts of the many lives and buildings that were destroyed.

If you're considering a trip to Ground Zero on your own, take this tour first. There are no morbid pictures and the tour is great for kids. You can actually touch and hold pieces of steel, windows and office furnishings as well as the tools and clothes rescue workers wore.

Due to small group restrictions, we recommend you book your tour at least 48 hours ahead of time and be prepared to leave backpacks and large bags at the front desk. You are allowed to bring a camera, but cell phones and video recording devices are strictly prohibited. Adults $25 USD, Children $19 USD. [Note, this does not include admission to the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.]

Quebec City Tour (Coach tour) - Pretty as a picture, Old Quebec City behind the fortified walls is Canada's version of a centuries-old European village. You can walk the cobblestone streets on your own, but you'll miss out on all the history. It's the oldest French settlement in North America and the location of more than one bloody battle between the French and English on the Plains of Abraham.

Place Royale, Place D'Armes, Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac and The Fortifications are just a few of the places you'll see on your guided coach tour. It's a short 2-hour tour, just long enough to give you an overview before you set off on your own. Adults $35USD. Children $22USD.

Niagara Falls and Winery Helicopter Tour (Helicopter Tour) - To see one of the world’s natural wonders from a birds-eye perspective, a helicopter ride over the falls should do it for you. It's a sweet 20-minute flight over the falls ending the tour at one of Canada’s award-winning wineries in Niagara-On-The-Lake in Niagara Wine Country. Take in a view of Niagara Falls, the mighty Niagara River as the Canadian border with the US and local historical landmarks. Complete the tour with a wine tasting, learn the art of wine pairing, and sit down to an exquisite lunch or dinner if you wish (optional extras) before boarding your shuttle back to the air strip. Adults and Children start about $150 USD (based on 6 people).

Incorporate it into your vacation planning

These Viator tours shouldn’t just be considered as end destinations in and of themselves. Incorporate them into your vacation planning to add a dimension of fun or learning wherever you may travel.

• Traveling somewhere new – explore what popular options and activities may be available as a taste of history, a natural wonder, or popular attraction.
• Pick a state, any state – Colorado, for example … what to do, what to see?
• Heading on a cruise – look at the island destinations on your itinerary and explore more options than simply your ship-offered excursions.
• Taking in a weekend getaway – spa days, catamaran cruises, or riverboat dinners – Viator’s offerings are pretty diverse.
• Our recent Greece travels – GoGirlfriend wanted to add some additional context to the history with the stories behind the landmarks and destinations while we enjoyed the sights and sounds in Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and Rome adding in a Skip the line tour of the Vatican and Roman Colosseum tour, the Palace of Knossos, a 16km hike through the Samaria Gorge, and simply a city history with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.

The simplicity of exploring

Viator makes it really simple to explore and find something of interest the entire family can enjoy. The challenge is that there are thousands of options to choose from. Are you a history lover? Do you love the natural landscape around you? Are you a thrill seeker? Or a sun-lovin beach-lover? There are options for everyone.

• Begin with Viator’s Home Page
• Choose your Country destination and maybe the City you are traveling to.
• Peruse the Top Rated Things to Do, check the New and Worth a Look offerings, see what the Top Selling Tours and Activities, all along the left column.
• Simply put in a keyword … “Zip Lining” or “Nile” or “perfume” … and explore!
• As you click on a tour, the details, pricing, inclusions, exclusions and calendar are available to book right there.
• Other Regional suggestions are available in the left column to allow you to continue exploring.
• Confirmations and electronic vouchers are available as you book.

There’s no reason to have a ho-hum vacation any longer. The selection, diversity and regional opportunities are yours to discover.

What’s the best add-on tour you’ve taken on a holiday? We’d love to hear. Drop us a comment below and connect with the huge GoGirlfriend community on Twitter and Facebook.