Top 5 Best Tour Scheduling & Booking Software In 2023

As a tour operator, you often have your hands full. Organising, preparing, and managing tours can sometimes feel like herding cats whilst juggling! This is where a booking software can be immensely helpful. Through its automation, management, and scheduling features, it can streamline your workload, and take the weight off an already jampacked job. Though booking software supports a variety of different businesses, we believe there are certain key features for tour operators to look out for.

What features should you look for in a tour booking software?

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Ease of Use

Perhaps the most important feature of a tour booking software is its ease of use. Given the often busy nature of your work, you want a software that’s easy to navigate so you can get those tours booked quickly and easily. With so much on your plate, the last thing you want is a complicated or confusing software that disrupts the flow of your business.

‍ Customer Support

Another essential feature to look for in a tour booking software is customer support. The software you choose should have a team of helpful, and knowledgeable customer support representatives. This way, if you have any questions or problems, you can get the help you need as fast as possible.

‍Tour Management Tools

Tour management tools are an immensely helpful feature to look out for. They allow you to keep track of your tours, customers, bookings, and payments, enabling you to manage your tours more efficiently. Tout management tools are the much-needed oil in the machine of your business, ensuring everything runs efficiently and smoothly.

Online Booking

Another important feature to look for in a tour booking software is online booking. This allows your customers to book their tours online,  saving you a great deal of time and money. Online booking allows your customers to view available tours, check availability, and make payments in one place. 

Mobile App

Finally, a feature that will make your life a heck of a lot easier is a mobile app. With this feature, your customers can access your website and book their tours on their mobile devices. Given that most people use mobiles. Given that 58% of people use mobile rather than desktop, you can be sure that more and more are using their mobile devices to book travel plans. Hence the need for an intuitive, up-to-date mobile app.

What is multi day tour operator software? 

Multi-day tour operator software helps businesses manage and automate their operations. From booking and managing reservations to handling payments and tracking inventory, the software can take care of a variety of different tasks. Considering multi-day tour operators often have to deal with a lot of paperwork and logistics, the right software can be a valuable tool in helping them stay organized. 

Multi-day tour operator software can enable your businesses to keep track of your finances and customers. What’s more, many tour operator software programs offer reporting features that can help you monitor your performance and make necessary adjustments. Ultimately, using multi-day tour operator software allows you to save time and money while providing a better experience for your customers.

The top 5 best tour scheduling booking software systems are: ‍

1. Baluu
2. Trekksoft
3. Bookeo Tours
4. Setmore Tours
5. Rezdy

1. Baluu

Coming in at number 1 is Baluu, the all-in-one booking software that’s taking the market by storm. We believe Baluu is a great choice for tour operators for a number of reasons. What separates it from the competition is its seamless synergising of core elements, resulting in an affordable, easy-to-use solution. 

Baluu provides an intuitive website builder, booking system, and payment provider in one single software, meaning busy tour operators don’t have to mess around with coding or fork out developer fees.

With its straightforward, sleek interface, Baluu is easy to use, learn, and navigate, making it a great option for tour operators who don't have the time to figure out a new, complex system. 

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Baluu also has a ton of useful features, like the abaility to customise tours, track them, and keep a detailed account. It also has a great set of marketing features that enable you to gather useful customer information and adjust your tours accordingly.

Baluu’s automated review collection feature enables tour operators to build customers' trust in their business and monitor what’s working and what’s not. What’s more, its customer intake forms have customisable sections, letting customers provide questions and inquiries allowing you to improve customer relations and keep your business flowing smoothly. 

Pricing*

When compared to other available booking software, Baluu is extremely affordable, especially considering what it offers. But if you want to give the software a spin before committing, you can take advantage of its free trial or free demo options. Ultimately, Baluu provides a cost-effective software solution that’s just the ticket for time-pressed tour operators. 

And if you’re struggling to get to grips with the software, don’t worry! Baluu’s customer service team is always available to help with any questions or issues you may have. Because they’re a relatively young company, Baluu is constantly updating and improving its software, and a mobile app is currently in the works. meaning you'll always have access to the latest and greatest features. Providing one comprehensive dashboard for your whole business, and a slew of great features, Baluu is our top tour booking software.

Pros

• List and run virtual, in-person and hybrid events 
• Advanced scheduling tools.
• Construct a fully branded business website with Baluu. 
• Dedicated account manager always on hand for support 
• Useful marketing tools
• Automate admin and send customised emails before and after the event has taken place. 
• Automated review collection feature helps to build customers' trust in your tours.

Cons 

• Larger tour operations may need a booking software with more features. 
• No mobile app available but one is currently in production.

2. TrekkSoft‍

Whether you're a long-time tour operator or just getting started in the industry, chances are you’ve heard of TrekkSoft. Perhaps the leading tour booking software currently available, TrekkSoft is a cloud-based tour and activity booking software suitable for tour operators of all sizes. TrekkSoft was designed by actual tour and activity providers, so it provides benefits and features tailored to your needs. 

Along with managing bookings, tour schedules, and payments, TrekkSoft also provides a website builder that enables you to create a fully branded website where customers can view tour packages and activities, book tours, and submit payments

After reading multiple reviews on TrekkSoft, it's clear its chief selling point is how easy it is to use. Even if you're not particularly tech-savvy, you’ll be au fait with its interface in no time. TrekkSoft also provides integration with some of the biggest booking sites in the industry, including Viator and GetYourGuide. This makes it easy to market your tours and activities to a wider audience and manage all your bookings in one place. 

TrekkSoft also offers a robust set of features that can make a tour operator’s life easier, such as automatic invoicing, automatic Tour Operator reports, Translatable CRM pages, an Activity Feed, and more. For example, the resource management feature allows you to track inventory, check the availability of local guides as well as book their schedules. TrekkSoft also provides excellent customer support, so if you have a question or encounter an issue with TrekkSoft, their customer support team is quick to respond and can help resolve any issues you may be having. 

In conclusion, TrekkSoft is a great option for tour operators looking for an easy-to-use, all-in-one solution at an affordable price point. However, it's important to keep in mind that the software does lack some advanced features and has limited customer support availability.

Pricing*

TrekkSoft offers pay-as-you-go plans with a one-time setup fee, and monthly plans to suit different business models in tours and activities. Its pay-as-you-go plan requires a one-time setup fee of EUR 799, and a small fee is charged for each booking afterward. 

If you’re interested in their monthly plans, you can schedule a call with them, or a free demo, where you can see if the software is a good fit for your business.

Pros

• Incredibly easy to use
• Comprehensive feature set
• Integration with major booking sites
• Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices.
• Helpful customer service

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Cons 

• Limited customization options
• Depending on how many additional features you need or tours you run it can be expensive 
• May not be ideal for complex itineraries
• Too expensive for smaller tour operations

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3. Bookeo Tours

Founded way back in 2010, Bookeo originally only provided rudimentary tools for small businesses that needed to take bookings online. Now they have grown and expanded, adding features and functionality that cater to a broader range of clients. These develops encompass Bookeo Tours, a software designed specifically for tourism. 

Whether you need a booking software for guided tours, charters, or escape rooms, Bookeo Tours has you covered. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, the software application streamlines the tour-booking process, making it easier for tour operators to stay organized and efficient.

Customers can book tours online, and operators can confirm bookings with just a few clicks. Plus, automatic reminders help to ensure that customers don't forget about their tour or arrive late. What’s more, built-in credit card processing allows operators to accept payments quickly and easily.
Bookeo Tours includes the usual functionality you’d expect from a good booking software ⁠—online booking, automatic reminders, and credit card processing⁠—but it also has some other nifty features. Its organised calendar can sync with Google, Cal, Outlook, etc., and enables you to roster staff and vehicles with minimum hassle. It also has integrated intake forms, and an integrated booking chart, allowing your customers to easily book multiple tours.

While we believe Bookeo Tours is an excellent choice for many tour operators, it's not perfect. One potential downside of using Bookeo is that the software can be complex to use, particularly for those who are not familiar with computerized booking systems. Additionally, Bookeo doesn’t have a free plan, which may be prohibitive for some small tour operators. Overall, however, if it’s within your budget, Bookeo Tours is a powerful and user-friendly tour scheduling software.

Pricing*

Bookeo Tours had three payment plans. The standard subscription is more suitable for medium-sized tour businesses, whereas the Large and X-Large are better for large scale tour operations. They also offer a 30 free trial should you want to try out the software before purchasing.

Pros

• Good flexibility
• Very user-friendly
• High level of customization
• Affordable solution for medium to large tour businesses

Cons

• May not be suitable for small tour operations
• Not available in all countries
• Lacks advanced features

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4. Setmore Tours

Since 2011, Setmore has established itself as one of the most popular booking software. Its user-friendly interface is perfect for tour operators, enabling them to manage multiple tours, scheduling, and refunds, as well as letting their customers book quickly and easily. Like Bookeo, Setmore has introduced its own tour booking software that has a large variety of useful features. 

Again, like much of the competition, it has all the tools you’d expect from one of the stars of the online booking world—an online payment system,  the ability to integrate with your existing website, email automation, and more.

It also has the ability to set up virtual tours by connecting with Teleport or Zoom. You can also integrate the software with social media platforms, adding a ‘Book’ button to Facebook and Instagram pages. This enables customers to book tours without having to switch apps. 

With their mobile app (available on IOS and Android) you’re able to get instant booking notifications and manage your calendar wherever you are. Setmore also provides useful marketing tools, allowing you to enhance the brand of your tour business by collecting reviews from customers, drawing attention to positive feedback, and encouraging new customers to book.

One drawback of Setmore is its limited customer support, only providing an online service. This means tour operators who aren’t that tech-savvy may be better off with a booking platform that offers phone and email support.

Setmore’s scheduling features are super straightforward, allowing customers to self-book with minimum hassle. You can also create a two-way calendar sync which is useful for tour operators with multiple staff members. Another great selling point is Setmore’s mobile app for android and IOS users, meaning tour operators can stay abreast of their bookings, and customers can book on their mobile devices.

Pricing*

Setmore offers a free plan for up to 4 users with unlimited bookings. What’s more, its premium subscription price of only $9.99 per user/per month, makes it one of the most affordable options on the market. 

Pros

• Create more than one calendar in one account 
• Scheduling online recurring and one-off bookings rendered easy 
• Integration with social media platforms
• Intuitive mobile app

Cons

• Only offers online customer support
• Some have reported bookings can be difficult to streamline
• May not be suitable for large tour operations

5. Rezdy

In operation since 2011, Rezdy has since established itself as one of the world’s leading online booking and distribution platforms. Its slick user-friendly booking software was specifically designed with tour and activity providers in mind, aiding growth and facilitating more online bookings.

The cloud-based platform can house your inventory management, booking calendar, guest information, and more without the need for piles of spreadsheets. You can integrate with your website, and embed a booking button to drive sales 24/7.  Many users have praised Rezdy’s interface, saying it’s extremely user-friendly. However, while some say the software runs smoothly, others have complained of malfunctioning. 

That being said, the control Rezdy offers is impressive, allowing you to pass booking fees onto guests or take them on yourself, as well as adjust them depending on demand or seasonal changes. It also has comprehensive automation features (like customised email templates) letting you streamline your workload without having to waste time on repetitive tasks. Rezdy also has a mobile app, and the 

What’s more, with its extensive list of payment gateways (like Stipe, Square, and Trust My Travel, Rezdy renders taking payments a walk in the park. 

And, if you don’t have a website, Rezdy will let you use a prerendered, preoptimized website instantly. Though, unlike Baluu, you are more limited in terms of your customization and brand enhancement.  

Pricing*

Rezdy has 3 subscription plans depending on the size of your business, and additional features you want. Though it seems affordable, the Foundation plan may be too limited for medium to large-sized tour and activity providers. Rezdy offers a 21-day free trial, with no credit card required, should you want to take the software for a spin before committing.

Pros

• Good customization and flexibility
• One of the best interfaces
• Great calendar and manifest features

Cons

• Base subscription lacks features
• Some users have complained of unresponsive customer service
• Users have reported fields missing from reports
• Software may suffer from technical issues

*Pricing outlined this article was accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing and may have now changed.

Key Takeaways

Well, now you’ve seen the famous sites of the online booking world, it's time to make your life easier, and enable your tour business to flourish. Fortunately, all the above software offer free trials, so we recommend carefully assessing which one is right for your business. 

Ask yourself: how fast is my business growing? Do I need a software I can easily scale with my tour operation? Or do I need a more affordable, user-friendly option that can simply hum along in the background? Inspire your digital wanderlust!  Weigh up the pros and cons of each software, read reviews, and then try them for yourself. Ultimately, we hope this article aids you on your journey to growth and success!

Need more advice on your booking setup? Read some of our related guides below: 

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