LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - August 5, 2010) - As lines grow longer outside places like the Vatican and the Louvre this time of year, it is safe to conclude that many of the excited visitors to Europe are from Asia, Australia and the United States. But according to Viator.com, the leading resource for researching and booking more than 5,500 trip activities and experiences at the best prices, many waiting in those long lines are lucky enough to call Europe home and like the other travelers in line, would like to know how they can skip those lines altogether. Skip the Line tours from Viator help travelers save time, stay cool and stay calm with one quick dash past the waiting masses.
"Travelers in the UK and those booking on Viator's French, German and Spanish sites are exploring the history, culture and romance of European destinations like Rome, Paris and London this summer," said Barrie Seidenberg, CEO and president of Viator, Inc. "In addition to taking advantage of a shorter flight or quick train ride, these clever travelers staying in Europe can save up to five hours of waiting by skipping the queues as well."
Things to Do in Rome -- As more than 4 million people visit the Vatican Museums every year, each waiting in line for up to two hours, any opportunity to avoid a crowd in Rome is welcome. Opportunities to skip the line in Rome include:
- The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
- The Colosseum
- The Crypts and Catacombs
- Borghese Gallery
Paris Attractions -- In 2009, the Mona Lisa was gazed at by more than 8.5 million people, all of which had likely been waiting in line at the Louvre for more than an hour to do so, except of course for travelers who booked ahead to skip the line. Skip the line tours in Paris include:
- The Louvre
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- The Catacombs
- Grevin Paris Wax Museum
Things to Do in London -- Having welcomed more than 36 million riders since 2000, the London Eye sees its fair share of long queues that can last up to one hour. Travelers can skip the lines in London at:
- The London Eye
- Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace
- Tower of London
- Madame Tussauds
Home to many of the world's most celebrated and studied artists, some of Europe's most popular attractions are the museums, galleries and churches that house their priceless works of art and skipping the line can save up to 5 hours in some cases:
- Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum
- Florence's Uffizi and Accademia Galleries
- Milan's Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Last Supper')
For travel inspiration as well as information on special promotions, deals, contests and suggestions, travelers can visit the Viator Travel Blog (http://travelblog.viator.com) as well as Twitter (http://twitter.com/ViatorTravel) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ViatorTours).
About Viator
Viator is the world's leading online resource for travel experiences, providing access to more than 5,500 tours, attractions and activities in 450-plus destinations in 75 countries. Viator -- the Latin word for traveler -- offers travelers a one-stop shop to plan, research and book trip activities with helpful resources like nearly 150,000 traveler reviews and photos, star ratings, suggested itineraries and the Viator Travel Blog. Viator's in-house travel experts have picked respected and trusted local operators to ensure a quality experience, value and service, all backed by Viator's low-price guarantee. Founded in 1995, Viator sells its products directly to consumers at www.viator.com and through its global network of more than 1,000 affiliates that include major hotel and airline companies, online travel agencies, city-specific sites and more. Through its collection of company operated and affiliated sites, including seven local language sites across Europe, Viator welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors per month. Viator is headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas.
