Listen, we know what you’re thinking. Two independent travel nuts partnering with a tour booking platform like TourRadar? 

Sounds dodgy, right?

But hear us out—when it comes to booking tours, we’re not newbies, and we’ve got stories to prove it.

Back when we had desk jobs and limited vacation days, tours were our go-to for maximizing vacation time. 

Even now, we’ll jump on a tour if it’s the smarter move—safer, more affordable, or just the best way to hit our travel wishlist.

Take our adventures:

• New Zealand, 4 weeks: Picture us on a magic blue bus, camping under starry skies, cooking in the wilderness, and towing a bicycle trailer through Middle-earth vibes.
• Africa, 6 separate trips – 18 months total: Bumping along in overland trucks with a tight-knit group, crossing savannas and deserts—life-changing doesn’t even cover it.
• Northern India, 3 weeks, and Morocco, 4 weeks: Small group tours with Intrepid Travel diving deep into spice markets, desert camps, and vibrant cities
• Shazz’s Tour de France chase, 2 weeks: Pedaling with friends, road bikes in tow, cheering cyclists while soaking up French countryside charm.
• A 4-week private tour of Western Sichuan and Tibet with two Tibetan brothers from Road To Tibet.
• 3 weeks exploring Bangladesh on a Private Tour with Orient Eco Tourism.
• 10-day private road tour in Northern Pakistan with Adventure Planners.

Here’s the catch: Picking those tours took work. Poring over options, comparing itineraries—it was like solving a puzzle. 

Pre-Internet days meant stacks of brochures from the annual TRAVEL Show, or a trek to the travel agent. And you only had access to tour companies that could afford to make those glossy brochures and pay travel agents hefty commissions. 

Limited choices made it simpler, in a “what you don’t know, you don’t miss” way. 

But now? 

It’s a whole different ballgame.

The world of tours is massive – we’re talking thousands of options that would make even a seasoned traveler’s head spin. 

Let’s be real, wading through all that can be overwhelming, and we’re fully aware that not everyone has the luxury of spending weeks obsessively researching travel like we do.

Our mission has always been empowering travelers, not complicating travel.

When we had the opportunity to partner with TourRadar, we saw a platform that could actually make tour research simple and transparent.

But we weren’t interested in just any partnership. As per our affiliate disclosure, we did significant research and dug deep.

We compared prices, scrutinized their customer service, and checked out their reviews.

What sold us? 

• Their commitment to helping travelers find the right experience without getting ripped off. 
• Their Best Price Guarantee means you’re not paying a penny more than you should, and 
• They have a solid 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot from over 8,000 reviews.
• And a whole list of other benefits that we’ll explore further below.

Why We Recommend TourRadar

As I said above, we don’t partner with just anyone. 

Before we accepted the affiliate contract, we dug into TourRadar like we do with every partner—checking prices, testing customer service, reading reviews, and asking hard questions. 

When something looked off, like a tour seeming pricier than booking directly, we grilled everyone: the tour company, our TourRadar affiliate contact, Google, and TourRadar’s Customer support team. 

Result: TourRadar’s support and info checked out, and their Best Price Guarantee isn’t just talk—it holds up.

Case Study

A friend wants to explore Vietnam around December 2025 and, knowing that we’re experts on the country, asked me for advice on itineraries. 

I gave her several options for independent travel, but since they have limited time and it would be their first visit, I figured I’d check out tours to see if they could do and see more with a group without breaking the bank. 

I pulled up a couple of tours on TourRadar for their dates and cross-checked the tour company’s site for prices and inclusions. 

At first, booking direct looked cheaper, but the fine print was confusing—whether internal flights were included, currency swaps, and seasonal price shifts. 

So, rather than tie myself in knots, I hit up both the tour company and TourRadar’s support to clarify,. I then compared their responses.  

Result? 

There was less than a few bucks’ difference for the same trip when booking directly and on TourRadar.

And, in my opinion, the tour company’s website was a little misleading, showing the same price year-round when their final response told me I would pay more in peak season (the dates I was searching for).

I then tested a couple of other tours—some pricing and inclusions matched exactly, and others were marginally cheaper on TourRadar. 

But as I went through the process above, I found out price isn’t the whole story. 

15 Reasons Why Booking with TourRadar Can Beat Going Direct

It Saves You Time

1 – More Tours in One Place

TourRadar aggregates thousands of tours from global operators into one place. In fact, there are over 50,000 tours on the platform at the time of writing. 

This:

• Allows you to compare prices, itineraries, dates, and reviews side-by-side
• Saves you hours of individual research and 
• Helps you find the best value without jumping between dozens of different tour company websites.

2 – Extensive Filter and Search Options To Find Your Perfect Tour

TourRadar’s platform offers sophisticated filtering capabilities that most individual tour companies can’t match.

Want a 10-day Portugal wine tour under $2,000, leaving in June?

You can quickly narrow down tours by:

• Destination, 
• Duration, 
• Budget, 
• Travel styles, ( like adventure tours, cultural encounters, luxury experiences, or family-friendly trips.)
• Departure dates,
• Languages
• Specific interests (eg. cycling, hiking, cruising etc.) and
• So much more.

It’s easy to narrow down the options to tours that meet ALL your requirements. 

3 – Real User Reviews and Ratings

Forget cherry-picked testimonials. TourRadar aggregates and consolidates reviews and traveler feedback from multiple sources, giving you the unvarnished truth—warts and all. This gives you more transparency and insights than you’d typically get from a single tour operator’s website.

TourRadar itself scores a 4.5/5 Trustpilot score from over 8,000 reviews, which is pretty impressive.

4- Global Reach 

The platform gives access to tours from operators worldwide, including smaller, local companies that might be difficult to find, or book, independently. This opens up a much wider range of travel experiences. 

So, whether you choose…

One of the big adventure operators like Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, Exodus, AAT Kings, Hurtigruten, and dozens more, OR 

One of the thousands of local niche operators you’d have difficulty finding solo—like a family-run cooking tour in Morocco or adventure operators offering hiking treks in New Zealand’s backcountry.

…you’ll find them all in one spot.

It Can Save You Money – Secure, Convenient, and Protected Payments

5 – Price Competitiveness 

Because Tourradar works with thousands of operators, they often negotiate competitive rates that might be lower than booking directly. TourRadar’s volume and relationships with tour companies can translate into better pricing for travelers

6 – Transparent Pricing You Can Trust 

TourRadar’s Best Price Guarantee means you’re not overpaying, and there are NO hidden fees. As my example above shows, prices on the platform usually match or can even beat booking directly, thanks to TourRadar’s deals with operators.

7 – Payment Flexibility

Many tour companies offer flexible payment options on TourRadar but not on their website. So you can put down a low initial deposit and pay later through interest-free installment options that won’t cost you extra. You get more financial flexibility compared to direct bookings and aren’t locking up all your funds upfront.

8 – Secure Payment & Protected Funds

 As well as using secure payment options, TourRadar keeps your funds in a dedicated trust account that is safe from creditors should anything go wrong, like a bankruptcy.

9 – Earn Travel Credits Toward Future Trips 

Every booking over $1000 (in multiple currencies) earns credits toward future travel experiences, and they don’t expire. Ours have been in our account for years, just waiting for us to book our next trip. (More on that later.) 

10 – Split Costs Among Your Group

If you’re traveling with friends, you can make one, rather than multiple tour bookings, and get them to contribute their share directly to the platform through secure payment links. That saves having to have one person shoulder the responsibility for sorting out the funds. The platform also sorts out many of the other administrative tasks for group bookings.

Hassle-Free Booking with Stellar Support

11 – One-Stop Travel Planning Beyond Tours

Tourradar often integrates additional travel services like accommodation bookings and transportation, making it easier to plan a complete travel experience from a single platform. The exception is flights, unless they are specifically included in the tour. 

In most cases, you get picked up from the airport, they take you to the hotel, and take care of everything tour related. (Note: there are some exceptions, e.g., if you choose a self-guided or partially guided tour.)

They’ve also just launched a FREE E-SIM that you get in the app

12 – Consolidate Trip Details

Once you make a booking, you can add extra information to your trip, such as travel insurance details. That means your tour operator has the necessary info in case of an emergency. 

13 – Support That’s Got Your Back 

TourRadar support is 24/7, and if my experience is anything to go by, you’ll be talking to a REAL PERSON in no time at all. 

One platform, one contact. Their centralized platform means you have a single point of contact for support, which can be more convenient than dealing directly with individual tour operators. However, you do also have direct access to the individual tour companies through a booking contact and conversation page.

The new version of the app also includes all of the information about your trip, and allows you to contact support directly.

14 – TourRadar works directly with Travel Agents. 

They even have a specific Travel Agent portal. So if you go to your local holiday shop, you may just be accessing the same info for tour bookings at the same prices as you can while at home, except with the agent’s bias towards what earns them the biggest commission.

Things to Consider Before Using TourRadar

In the interests of being totally honest, there are a few things you should consider before booking a tour on the platform. 

1 – TourRadar’s wheelhouse is specializing in multi-day tours. If you’re looking for day tours or city tours, you’re better off checking out:

• Get Your Guide,
• Viator, or
• Guruwalk.

2 – The sheer number of options can be overwhelming for some users.

3 – Prices on the platform may vary significantly depending on the time of year and demand, which might not always align with your budget constraints. 

4 – Lastly, while customer reviews are generally positive, the experience can vary based on the tour operator, so it’s crucial to research thoroughly before booking.

Sweet Perks for You

Now the Bonus…

Our partnership isn’t just about cheering for TourRadar—it’s about getting YOU a better deal. 

Now that we’re partners, TourRadar passes on exclusive promo codes and notifies us about special campaigns so we can pass that info on to you.

For example, in March, they had a massive promo with up to 70% off select tours, saving our readers thousands! 

They also gave us an exclusive discount coupon. 

To Get $25 OFF:

• Book any tour with a base price over $1250 (in your set currency)
• Enter PROMO CODE: travelbug25 at the checkout

Valid until the 31st August, 2025.

Want to hear about the latest deals first? 

Join our weekly newsletter to catch every deal we snag.

How TourRadar’s Travel Credits Work

TourRadar’s travel credits are a loyalty perk earned after completing a tour. You can use them to save on future bookings. 

Think of them as a thank-you for traveling with them, like a coffee shop stamp card, but for adventures. 

Here’s the breakdown:

• Earning Credits: When you book and complete a tour costing over $1,000 (in USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, EUR, or GBP), you earn credits based on your spend:
• $1,000–$5,000: $50 credits
• $5,001–$10,000: $150 credits
• Over $10,000: $250 credits
• These are credited to your TourRadar account within 24 hours after you return from your trip.
• Example: If I booked a $3,000 Morocco tour, I’d get a $50 credit after coming home. A bigger $12,000 Africa overland truck adventure? That’d net $250 in credits.
• Applying Credits to Your Next Trip:
  
  
• Credits can cover up to 5% of a future tour’s total cost, but they don’t expire, so you can save them for a pricier trip later.
• To use them, sign in to your TourRadar account (using the same email as your booking).
• Pick a tour, hit “Confirm Dates,” and head to the booking page.
• In the “TourRadar Savings” section, your credits should auto-apply if you’re logged in. If not, contact their support via Live Chat to sort it out. You can also choose to skip using them by clicking “Remove saving” if you’re saving up for a bigger trip.
• Caveat: Credits can’t be combined with promo codes —you pick one or the other. So, if you’ve got a juicy discount code like our exclusive offer, compare which one saves more.

Example:

Say I’ve got $50 credits from the previous year’s Moroccan tour.

I’m eyeing a $2,000 Portugal wine tour (maybe inspired by those Lisbon tips).

My credits could shave off $50 (since 5% of $2,000 is $100, but I only have $50).

I’d see the discount applied at checkout, pay $1,950, and start planning my Porto vineyard visits.

Example: Asian Trip (2025) to European Trip (2026)

Let’s work through another example.

Step 1: Earning Credits on an Asian Trip (Vietnam, 2025)

Let’s say you’re planning a trip to Vietnam this year, inspired by my friend who needed help picking a tour. 

Trip Planning

On TourRadar, you find a 16-day “Vietnam Explorer” tour covering Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City starting in November 2025.—think street food crawls, lantern-lit streets, and a Mekong Delta boat ride. It’s priced at $3,200 USD, 

Booking Process: 

You book through TourRadar, using our Exclusive PROM) CODE. travelbug25 (Reducing the price to 3175 USD)

You pay a low deposit (say, $200 per TourRadar’s flexible plans) and settle the rest later.

Trip Experience: 

You join a small group, and have an absolute ball cycling through rice paddies, and sip phở at a family-run stall, cruising in Halong Bay, and more. The tour wraps up, and you’re back home by December 2025.

Credits Earned: 

Since the tour costs $3,175 (in the $1,000–$5,000 range), you earn $50 credits. These hit your TourRadar account within a day of returning, ready for your next adventure.

Step 2: Applying Credits to a European Trip (Portugal, 2026)

Now, you’re eyeing Europe for 2026, and Portugal’s calling.

Using TourRadar again, you can find a 10-day “Best of Portugal” tour starting in April 2026 for $2,500 USD. 

It hits Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley—perfect for fado music nights and wine tastings.

Booking and Applying Credits:

• Log in to your TourRadar account (using the same email as the Vietnam booking).
• Select the Portugal tour, choose your dates, and head to the “Book Now” page.
• In the “TourRadar Savings” section, your $50 credits should auto-apply since you’re logged in. If they don’t, ping TourRadar’s Live Chat
• The $50 credits reduce the tour cost to $2,450 (since $50 is less than 5% of $2,500, or $125, so it applies fully).

If you have a promo code (say, 10% off from the newsletter), compare savings: 10% of $2,500 is $250, way better than $50. You’d skip the credits, use the promo, and save the credits for later since they don’t expire.

Booking Outcome: 

You book the Portugal tour, paying $2,450 with credits (or less with a promo). Come April 2026, you’re sipping port in Porto. The $50 saved covers a nice dinner at a fado bar in Alfama.

Future Credits: 

If you complete this Portugal tour, its $2,500 price earns you another $50 credits, which you can use for a future trip—maybe a South American adventure next.

Why This Rocks

• Vietnam Trip (2025): $3,200 tour = $50 credits earned, no hassle. It’s like a bonus for exploring Halong Bay’s limestone cliffs.
• Portugal Trip (2026): $2,500 tour becomes $2,450 with credits, saving you enough for a Sintra day trip. If a current promo code’s better, you bank the credits for later.
• No Pressure:  You’re not locked in—use credits when it makes sense, or hold them for a pricier tour.

The Bottom Line – You Don’t Have to Commit

Look, we get it. 

Tours aren’t for everyone.

Travel is about experiences. Sometimes that means striking out solo, and sometimes it means finding a killer guided tour that opens up a destination in ways you never expected. 

For travelers looking to maximize their experience without drowning in research, TourRadar offers a solid lifeline. 

Whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned traveler short on time, this platform cuts through the noise and can help you find quality experiences without the headache.

Just because we now partner with TourRadar doesn’t mean we’re twisting your arm to use them. 

Treat TourRadar like another tool in your travel arsenal.

Use the platform to scout tours, compare options, and crunch numbers.

Do your homework, use that promo code we’ve provided, and approach your tour selection with the same critical eye you’d use for any travel decision.

If booking directly with the individual tour company makes more sense, go for it. 

But if TourRadar’s prices come out better or the same, then consider all the many other benefits the platform offers besides great prices.

So, ready to plan your next epic trip without the headache? 

Check out TourRadar through our link, explore their tours, and see why we’re now fans. 

And don’t forget—sign up for our newsletter to grab those exclusive deals because travel is better when you’re in the know, spending less, and living more.

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