UPFRONT/GO
Test-Drive Your Next Vacation
Virtual reality tools let you explore a destination before you book
VIRTUAL REALITY has been promoted for some time as a way to tour the world from your couch. But it isn’t a true substitute for travel—we want to experience the sights for real. So, increasingly, the technology is being used as a pre-vacation tool. Having surveyed over 24,000 travelers in 32 countries and territories, Booking.com reports that 43 percent are expected to turn to this technology for inspiration on possible IRL (in real life) vacation options this year.
Many museums, amusement parks and vacation tour operators have got wise to the technology as a marketing opportunity. And while VR headsets (which cost around $400, on average) will give you the most immersive experience, you can access some of these experiences just by using a normal computer or mobile device.
Eric Petersen, CEO of The Savvy Campers and a travel tour guide, has used VR to scout the Great Wall of China. “I was able to walk along its length, taking in the intricate details of the brick-and-mortar work up close. I was able to understand the true scale of the wall, something that photographs and videos could never fully capture.” —Scott Steinberg