Is GetYourGuide a Legit & Reliable Travel Service?

Angie - Your Guide
Sep 30
9 min read

Your next adventure—especially on a budget—you want to make sure every penny counts. I’ve been there, endlessly scrolling through websites, trying to figure out which travel service is actually reliable and which one might leave you stranded, disappointed, or out of pocket. That’s why I want to share my experience and insights about one popular platform: Get Your Guide. If you’ve ever wondered, is GetYourGuide legit, you’re in the right place. Let’s dig into what makes a travel service trustworthy and whether Get Your Guide really lives up to its promises.

When it comes to planning your next adventure, especially on a budget, you want to make sure every penny counts. I’ve been there—scrolling through countless websites, trying to figure out which travel service is reliable and which one might leave me stranded or out of pocket. That’s why I want to share my experience and insights about one popular platform: Get Your Guide. If you’ve ever wondered if your guide is legit, or worth using, you’re in the right place. From Day trips, to private drivers, to cruise shore excursions. Let’s dive into what makes a travel service trustworthy and whether Get Your Guide fits the bill.

Why Trustworthy Travel Services Matter for Budget Travelers

Traveling on a budget comes with its own challenges—you don’t have the luxury of wasting money on unreliable services or poor experiences. This is why trustworthy travel platforms are critical. They serve as your safety net, helping you book tours, activities, and unique experiences without the unnecessary stress of worrying about being scammed or disappointed. When I started looking for budget-friendly travel options, I quickly realized that reliability is not just a bonus—it’s essential. Without it, the entire travel experience can go sideways before it even begins.

What makes a travel service reliable? For me, it’s clear cancellation policies, honest reviews, and responsive customer support that steps in when things don’t go as planned. Get Your Guide has consistently caught my attention because it advertises a wide range of tours and activities worldwide, often at competitive prices. But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s take a closer look at the key factors that make a travel service trustworthy and how GetYourGuide stands up to scrutiny.

What Makes a Travel Service Trustworthy?

Before diving into the specifics of GetYourGuide, it’s important to understand the factors that define a reliable travel service. Based on my experience, I always look for these key attributes:

Verified Customer Reviews: Real feedback from people who have actually used the service is invaluable. It paints a clear picture of what to expect and helps weed out unreliable options.
Clear Pricing and No Hidden Fees: There’s nothing worse than being hit with unexpected costs after booking. Transparency is non-negotiable.
Easy Booking Process: A user-friendly website or app is essential. It should make the booking process smooth and straightforward, not an exercise in frustration.
Reliable Customer Support: Accessible support teams that can quickly resolve issues are a must, especially when you’re navigating a new city or country.
Flexible Cancellation Policies: Life happens, plans change, and having the option to cancel or reschedule without penalties is a huge plus for budget travelers.
Full Refund on Canceled Tours: When a Tour company has to cancel, for whatever reason, you will get your money back.
Wide Range of Options: A trustworthy platform should cater to diverse preferences, from affordable tours to unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences. The more variety in travel experiences, the better.
Secure Payment Methods: Your financial information should always be protected, adding an extra layer of confidence when booking online.

Get Your Guide checks off many of these boxes, but how does it perform in practice? Let’s break it down further.

Get Your Guide ticks many of these boxes, but let’s get specific.

Using a third-party service like GetYourGuide instead of booking directly with a local tour guide who isn't affiliated with a company has its advantages. These companies are vetted to ensure legitimacy. In my opinion, they are less likely to cancel your tour, as doing so would harm their reputation on GetYourGuide . For instance, a friend of mine went on a snorkeling tour in Cancun and booked through GetYourGuide or Viator. There were only two people on the boat, which could hold 30, because they chose the 2:30 PM tour, the last one of the day. The snorkel tour guide mentioned that since they booked through a separate company, the tour couldn't be canceled due to low attendance. Had they waited to buy tickets at the pier, they would have been informed that the trip was canceled due to insufficient participants.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Get Your Guide

If you’re planning to use, Get Your Guide for your next trip, here are some tips to maximize your experience:

Read Reviews Thoroughly: Look for detailed reviews that cover specifics like the guide’s expertise, group size, and overall experience. These insights are gold.
Book Popular Tours Early: High-demand tours can sell out quickly, especially in peak travel seasons.
Understand Cancellation Policies: Double-check the terms to ensure you’re aware of any deadlines or restrictions.
Use Filters Wisely: Narrow down your options by price range, duration, and customer ratings to find the perfect fit.
Download the App: The app is great for managing bookings, receiving updates, and accessing your tickets on the go.
Look for Bundled Deals: Some tours offer discounted combos, which can help you save on multiple activities.

By following these steps, I’ve managed to avoid surprises and fully enjoy my trips.

Why Budget Travelers Should Consider GetYourGuide

For budget travelers, hidden costs and unreliable services are always a concern. GetYourGuide stands out for its transparency and user-friendly approach. Prices are clearly displayed, and detailed reviews make it easier to choose quality experiences. The flexible cancellation policies are another bonus, giving you the freedom to adjust plans without financial penalties.

Many tours on the platform also feature local guides and small-group settings, which often provide more authentic and affordable experiences compared to large, commercial tours. For travelers looking to stretch their budget while discovering unique activities, GetYourGuide is a solid choice.

For many cruise ship travelers, your cruise line will offer shore excursions, but they come with a fee. Your cruise line makes money off them by adding a fee for the same great experience you will get on the version you book with GetYourGuide. The only thing that cruise lines warn is if you book from an outside company and the tour is late arriving back at the pier for you to board the ship, the cruise line will leave without you. This is true, by booking with cruise lines in these popular destinations you are safe if the tour company vehicle breaks down while on the tour and you are late getting back to the ship. The cruise ship will wait on you. Now for this reason many cruise line travelers will only book the excursion with the cruise company. But for Budget travelers who book an early tour with GetYourGuide, you know you will be back at the ship in time.

My example on this specifically. Cadiz Spain, Norwegian Cruise line wanted to charge $75 for a Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour Bus tour, when I used a 3rd Party Vendor like GetYourGuide and purchased it for $27 per person. I love Norwegian Cruise line and they do offer $50 discounts on shore excursions bought from ship, but that only covers the first person in the cabin, the second person has to pay full price. Due to this using GetYourGuide for the purchase would be saving you some money. Let me explain it with math. For 2 people NCL would have charged $100, where GetYourGuide would have charged $54, for the exact same great experience. This by far is the best way to save money on a cruise.

Why Travel Agents should offer this Service

I am a travel agent, always looking for ways to help my clients save money, while earning a commission. This is why I do it. Commissions do vary based on tour. But you get an email notification with every tour that is booked from your affiliate links. For example, the affiliate links that count to my commissions are in this blog. You can see the ads, or just the link itself. You can share these links on your content, or with clients. By doing this it does not cost the customer anything extra.

It is an added benefit to the traveler.
Great commission rates, with special contests throughout the year to earn extra money
Small group tours, walking tours, popular attractions and private tours, no matter the cost you will get some sort of commission
Offers transportation services, including airport transfers
Instant Confirmation when purchased
Easy Transaction
User-Friendly App
Detailed Descriptions on the tours that are offered
Reviews on the website, from positive reviews to those that had a horrible experience. GetYourGuide does not hide bad reviews.

What is the Difference Between Viator and Get Your Guide?

If you’re exploring travel third-party booking sites, chances are you’ve come across both Viator and Get Your Guide. They’re two of the biggest players in this space, and while they share similarities, some notable differences set them apart. Here’s how I see it based on my personal experience:

Selection of Tours: Both platforms offer thousands of tours worldwide and popular locations, but Get Your Guide often stands out for its slightly larger variety, especially for niche activities or unique, local experiences. For example, I found options for small-group cooking classes in Italy on Get Your Guide that weren’t available elsewhere.
User Interface: In my opinion, Get Your Guide’s website and app are more intuitive and visually appealing. The clean design makes it easy to navigate, search, and book, which is a big deal when you’re comparing multiple options.
Pricing: Prices are usually comparable, but Get Your Guide often has last-minute discounts or seasonal deals that are hard to ignore. This can be a game-changer for budget travelers.
Customer Service: Both platforms offer decent customer support, but Get Your Guide’s live chat feature is a standout. When I had questions about a tour, the quick, friendly responses saved me time and eased my concerns.
Cancellation Policies: Viator tends to have stricter cancellation terms, whereas Get Your Guide offers more flexibility, which is invaluable for travelers who need peace of mind.

If you’re torn between the two, I’d recommend Get Your Guide for its user-friendly design and traveler-friendly policies. It’s especially appealing if you value flexibility and ease of use.

If you would like to read a blog on Viator vs GetYourGuide, click here.

My Personal Experience with Get Your Guide

Last winter, I booked a day tour in Rome through Get Your Guide. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous—booking tours online can sometimes feel like a gamble, and this was my first experience using them. But from start to finish, the process was incredibly smooth. The website provided clear descriptions, high-quality photos, and honest reviews from other travelers. I also appreciated the option to cancel up to 24 hours before the tour without penalties, which gave me added confidence.

On the day of the tour, everything went exactly as planned. The guide was punctual, knowledgeable, and friendly, and the group size was manageable—not one of those overly crowded tours that can ruin the experience. This was my first day of the trip and I needed to get my bearings on how the city of Rome was laid out, compared to what I had researched. The tour took me to several locations, popular attractions and even a European Market. Afterward, I left my own review, knowing it might help other travelers make an informed decision.

One aspect that really impressed me was the customer support. When I had a question about the meeting point, I used the live chat feature and received a quick, helpful response. That kind of service makes all the difference, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar place and need reliable information fast.

My review of Murrells Inlet SC Sunset Cruise.

Booking was a breeze, booked with a credit card. I downloaded the app while booking and the tickets showed up in the app. Easily available for the tour in Murrells Inlet. When we arrived, the ticket taker already knew our names and didn't need to see the tickets on our phone app. The tour was everything it was promised to be and it went seamlessly. There was also a confirmation email sent to my email address, perfect for those who do not want to download the mobile app.

If you would like to read my whole experience, an honest GetYourGuide review of a tour, click here. This is a perfect tour for any visitor to the Myrtle Beach SC area.

Pictures below are screenshots from the GetYourGuide App on my phone.

My friend's view of a tour that involved the Eiffel Tower.

A glowing review of the tour, even though it was a bit crowded. The best price tour, and the tour person was very informative and spoke great English. My friend's French is quite horrible and she was worried about speaking the language more than anything else on her trip. Easy to find meeting place, a good place near the Eiffel Tower and the tour started promptly as stated on the GetYourGuide site. She loved how the tour took us on a walk across the Seine River and up some stairs to give us a wonderful view of the Tower and some great people watching too.

Final Thoughts on Trustworthy Travel Services and Get Your Guide

Planning a trip should be exciting, not overwhelming. Finding a trustworthy travel service is a critical part of making your journey stress-free. Based on my experience, Get Your Guide delivers on its promise of reliability, flexibility, and value. From the intuitive booking process to its excellent customer support, the platform caters well to both budget-conscious travelers and adventure seekers alike. From Alcatraz tickets in San Francisco to city train tickets in Luxembourg, they have you covered.

Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination—and that includes how you book your tours and activities. With Get Your Guide, you can travel with confidence, knowing you’re getting transparent pricing, flexible options, and a wide variety of experiences to choose from. If you’re planning your next adventure, I highly recommend giving Get Your Guide a try. It might just become your go-to travel partner.

This blog contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase I might receive a commission at no extra cost to you.