Did you know that over 60% of travelers book their tours online?
Managing a seamless booking schedule is no longer as hard as before! Whether you’re a travel agency owner, tour operator or guide, the right tour booking plugin can automate the entire process, eliminating the need for manual effort.
Hence, shift your tours and travel business into a power-packed WordPress platform, where customers can easily browse, book and pay for their dream trips. Plus, the right booking plugin makes everything simple and keeps you stress-free.
Still unsure about what the tour booking plugin is worth? No worries! We’ve cherry-picked the top WordPress tour booking plugin to select the best one and take your travel business to the next level.
So, without further ado, let’s dig deeper.
What is a WordPress tour booking plugin?
A WordPress tour booking plugin is a tool designed to manage and facilitate bookings for tour operators and travel businesses directly on a WordPress website.
It enables users to browse available tours, select dates, book trips and make payments, all through the website.
Examples of usage
- A travel agency offering guided city tours, where customers can select their preferred tour dates and book spots online.
- A tour operator providing adventure trips with a booking system that displays available dates, locations and prices.
- A cruise line allowing users to select and reserve their cruise tours with the option to customize their itinerary.
Best tour booking plugin WordPress- Our Top Picks
When it comes to managing tours and travel bookings on WordPress, having the right plugin can make all the difference.
A high-quality tour booking plugin not only simplifies the process for your customers but also streamlines your backend operations. Below, we’ve curated the top options to consider.
1. Tourfic
Tourfic is a robust WordPress plugin tailored for travel, apartment, car rental and hotel booking website on WordPress. It simplifies the creation of fully functional tour booking websites, offering an intuitive interface for users.
The plugin combines flexibility and power, allowing users to customize their website while managing bookings efficiently.
Tourfic’s WooCommerce integration ensures secure transactions, making it a go-to choice for small and medium-sized businesses.
How users interact with Tourfic
Tourfic is designed to provide a seamless experience for both website administrators and end users. Here’s how different users interact with the plugin.
Key features
- Dynamic pricing options for tours based on seasons or availability
- Itinerary builder with multimedia support for tour details
- Integrated booking management dashboard
- WooCommerce-powered payment system
- Multi-currency support for international transactions
- Email piping for customer enquery
- Compatible with Woocommerce tax settings
- Complete style panel
- Easy to use option panel
- Disable hotel, tour, apartment features completely
- Change permalinks of hotel, tour, apartment
- Shortcodes & elementor widgets
Pros
- Easy integration with popular WordPress themes
- Detailed documentation for quick setup
- Reliable support for troubleshooting issues
- Ships with a dedicated theme called Travelfic for free.
Cons
- Limited design templates in the free version
- Requires premium addons for advanced features
Pricing
- Free version available
- Premium version starts at $99/year
Verdict
Tourfic stands out for its balance of affordability and functionality, making it ideal for agencies aiming to build professional tour booking platforms with ease.
2. WP Travel
WP Travel is a lightweight plugin designed for travel agencies to manage tours and bookings efficiently. The tool offers a clean interface and it’s compatible with most WordPress themes.
With extensive customization options, WP Travel adapts to diverse business needs, from small agencies to large operators.
Moreover, its seamless booking process and multilingual support make it a favorite among global users.
Key features
- Unlimited tour listings with detailed itineraries
- Multiple payment gateway support, including PayPal and Stripe
- Advanced booking analytics for performance tracking
- Tax and discount management
- Translation-ready with WPML compatibility
Pros
- Scalable for growing businesses
- Includes essential features even in the free version
- Regular updates
Cons
- Limited design flexibility without custom CSS
- Add-ons required for certain advanced functionalities
Pricing
- Free version available
- Premium version starts at $99.99/year
Verdict
WP Travel is a powerful yet accessible solution for businesses that need comprehensive booking features without compromising simplicity.
3. Bookings for WooCommerce
Bookings for WooCommerce extends WooCommerce’s capabilities to manage bookings effectively. It’s versatile, enabling tour operators to handle availability, pricing, and customer management with ease.
Built on WooCommerce, the plugin provides a familiar environment for users already using the eCommerce platform.
Again, it’s ideal for operators seeking a straightforward booking solution integrated with their store.
Key Features
- Flexible pricing and availability settings for tours
- Synchronization with Google Calendar for real-time updates
- Booking reminders sent to customers via email
- Fully compatible with WooCommerce’s ecosystem
- Customizable booking rules and restrictions
Pros
- Fully leverages WooCommerce’s features
- No steep learning curve for WooCommerce users
- Supports complex pricing structures
Cons
- Requires WooCommerce as a prerequisite
- May not include specialized travel-specific tools
Pricing
- Starting at $69/year
Verdict
Bookings for WooCommerce is a fantastic choice for businesses already using WooCommerce and looking to expand their capabilities with a reliable booking tool.
4. Amelia
Amelia is a powerful plugin offering a sleek booking system for various industries, including tours and travel. It makes noise out of the box for its automation capabilities, allowing businesses to streamline bookings and notifications.
Besides, the plugin’s modern interface ensures a pleasant user experience for both administrators and customers. Amelia’s support for multi-location bookings makes it suitable for larger operations.
Key features
- Real-time availability and booking updates
- Automated SMS and email notifications
- Integration with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal
- Multi-location and employee management
- Customizable front-end booking interface
Pros
- Polished and professional design
- Excellent automation for notifications and reminders
- Robust calendar integration
Cons
- Limited free version features
- Setup may take time for complex configurations
Pricing
- Free version available
- Pro version starts at $49/year
Verdict
Amelia is perfect for businesses that value automation and need a polished booking experience to enhance customer satisfaction.
5. Easy Appointments
Easy Appointments is a lightweight plugin ideal for managing bookings with simplicity. It offers a flexible structure for creating custom booking forms and handling multiple time slots.
It’s particularly suited for small tour operators or startups looking for an entry-level solution.
The plugin integrates with Google Calendar, ensuring schedules stay up to date.
Key features
- Google Calendar synchronization
- Support for multiple locations and services
- Email notifications for booking confirmations
- Customizable booking form fields
- Translation-ready for global users
Pros
- Intuitive setup and lightweight design
- Free version includes essential features
- Excellent for small businesses
Cons
- Limited scalability for larger operations
- Basic interface compared to premium plugins
Pricing
- Free version available
- Pro addons start at $39/year
Verdict
Easy Appointments is a straightforward and budget-friendly choice for small businesses needing a reliable booking system.
6. Bookly
Bookly is a comprehensive booking plugin offering advanced features like automated notifications and multi-location support.
It’s widely used for services, including travel and tours. The plugin’s mobile-responsive design ensures seamless use across devices.
Bookly’s extensive customization options make it adaptable to various industries.
Key Features
- Mobile-friendly booking interface
- Real-time availability updates
- Integration with WooCommerce and payment gateways
- Customizable booking forms and appearance
- Automated reminders and notifications
Pros
- Rich feature set for managing complex bookings
- Excellent mobile user experience
- Supports multiple payment options
Cons
- Higher learning curve for new users
- Most advanced features locked behind the Pro version
Pricing
- Free version available
- Pro version starts at $89/year
Verdict
Bookly is a great fit for businesses handling large volumes of bookings and requiring advanced automation features.
7. VikBooking
VikBooking is a professional-grade booking plugin originally designed for hotels but adaptable for tours and travel. It excels in handling high-volume reservations with precision.
The plugin offers a robust backend for managing bookings, pricing, and availability.
It’s best suited for larger operations that need advanced tools to manage complex bookings.
Key features
- Advanced pricing and availability management
- Real-time room or tour inventory updates
- Integration with popular payment gateways
- Detailed booking analytics and reporting
- Multi-language and multi-currency support
Pros
- Ideal for handling high-volume bookings
- Feature-rich backend for administrators
- Regular updates ensure compatibility and security
Cons
- High learning curve for beginners
- Premium features come at a higher cost
Pricing
- Free version available
- Premium version starts at €149
Verdict
VikBooking is a professional solution for businesses managing complex and high-volume bookings, offering unparalleled control and analytics.
What are the benefits of a tour booking plugin?
A tour booking plugin offers many benefits that optimize operations and enhance customer interactions.
1. Automation of bookings
Tour booking plugins automate the entire booking flow, drastically reducing the need for manual input. This can result in a significant reduction in human errors, such as double bookings or incorrect tour details.
For example, if a tour operator runs multiple tours a day, the plugin’s ability to automatically adjust availability in real-time ensures accurate bookings every time. This increases efficiency and minimizes administrative workload.
According to a study, businesses using automated booking systems report a 30-40% decrease in booking errors.
2. Improved customer convenience
A seamless, user-friendly interface is critical to enhancing customer experience. With real-time availability, users can instantly view available tour slots and make bookings without waiting for confirmation emails or phone calls.
For instance, a customer booking a guided city tour in real-time is shown up-to-date availability, allowing them to select the perfect time. Statistics show that 72% of consumers expect to be able to book services online and offering such ease increases conversion rates by up to 20%.
3. Live availability and booking control
Tour booking plugins allow operators to manage availability in real-time. This feature ensures that customers are only able to book available slots, eliminating overbooking or double-booking which can harm a business’s reputation.
For example, if a customer attempts to book a slot on a fully booked adventure tour, they are automatically shown the next available date or are offered a similar alternative.
4. Secure payment integration
By integrating secure payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe or WooCommerce, tour booking plugins provide a secure and seamless transaction process. Customers can pay instantly, without needing to call or visit a physical location.
According to data from Statista, 43% of consumers prefer online payments for travel-related bookings.
5. Flexible tour customization
Tour operators can offer personalized experiences by setting up different tour packages and options for users to choose from.
For example, a safari operator might offer a basic group tour or an exclusive private tour, with options for customized itineraries. This flexibility allows customers to tailor their booking experience according to their preferences and budget.
6. Mobile accessibility
In today’s mobile-first world, tour booking plugins are typically designed to be mobile-responsive, ensuring that customers can browse, select and book tours directly from their smartphones or tablets.
A user can easily book a tour while traveling without needing a computer. In fact, more than 58% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices. Ensuring that the booking process is streamlined for mobile devices can increase conversions by up to 40%.
How to select the best tour booking plugin for WordPress
Choosing the right plugin for a seamless booking experience is crucial for your travel agency or business. Here’s a list of some important factors that you need to consider.
i. Booking interface
First, pay attention to the easy-to-navigate option tool while users continue their tour booking. The interface should be more straightforward without unnecessary jargon.
ii. Customized option
Look for a user-friendly admin dashboard where you can easily customize and manage booking schedules! Such as a customer booking form or a calendar to place on a website where it works!
iii. Payment integration
Ensure the plugin supports several payment gateways and flexible payment options. Otherwise, the ultimate purpose will burn with frustration.
iv. Automated notification
Confirmation sms or reminder notification automation is another important feature you should look for!
v. Budget-friendly option
Don’t compromise the must-have features for a tight budget. Although there’s a huge collection of booking plugins.
Again, avoid overspending for a simple plugin that doesn’t offer scalability for your highly invested business. So, choose the right one as per features and preferred budget.
Final words
Selecting the best tour booking plugin may depend more on your specific needs and budget.
The right plugin provides a seamless experience to your customer with a user-friendly layout, integrated payment tools and customizable booking options.
So, take time to compare the features and select the one that aligns perfectly with your tours and travel business vision.
