A new wave of websites want independent travellers to book "experiences" before they go - but that quashes the spirit of spontaneity, argues Ginny McGrath
While the online travel giants tussle for their share of flight and hotel bookings, a host of new generation sites are looking to sell travellers their definitive overseas experiences before even leaving the country.
Several colourful and inspirational sites have emerged, enticing consumers to book a ballooning, kayaking or light plane trip online - rather than the traditional method of using a guidebook or stumbling across the requisite roadside stall/beach shack while on holiday and being spontaneous.
"Think how galling it would be to go on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday then find out you missed out on this great experience because you never knew it was there. You can't just rely on the hotel concierge." That's the argument from Ranjan Singh, co-founder of the latest "travel experiences" site to launch, Isango.
Fancy a helicopter trip to go wine tasting in the Hunter Valley? Or perhaps a day swimming with dolphins in New Zealand? These and other travel excursions, tours, trips and experiences are being sold on Isango, which hopes to become the largest repository of the trips and tours that travellers take on holiday.
The activities look like a lot of fun, but personally I like to leave a little up to chance when I'm away. I've got nothing against a bit of forward planning, but heading off on holiday with an armful of print-outs confirming various activities means your holiday "highs" are predetermined - you could even write your postcards before you go.
But Singh, who has previously worked for Ebookers and Expedia, says he sees a gap in the market: "I went to New Zealand in 2004, and while booking the flights and hotels was easy, when it came to demystifying the destination and booking experiences, like a helicopter tour over the Fox Glacier, I had to rely on a credit card payment on an amateurish site, so I was never sure it was actually booked."
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Source - Times Online
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