Questions & Answers
How Do OnDemand Audio Tours Work? Choose, Click, Listen! With OnDemand Audio Tours, you have a private guide whenever you're ready. There are no schedules or groups—you can explore entirely at your own pace. Our tours combine expert research, engaging narration, background soundtracks, and sound effects. Plus, a GPS-driven system automatically plays the audio when you reach each stop. How It Works: Purchase your tour and receive two emails: A receipt. A link to your tour. Start the Tour: We recommend waiting until you arrive at your first location to click the tour link. Directions will be in the email, and a map will appear on your audio tour player. Go at Your Own Pace: GPS will trigger the audio automatically at each stop. You can pause, skip stops, or revisit locations as you like. Additional Features: A map is always accessible if you need to reorient yourself. No app downloads—just click the link, and your tour plays directly in your phone's browser. Enjoy the freedom to explore with total control!
Where Do I Start My Tour? The tour begins at the first stop, labeled "A" on your map. This starting point is often in a convenient location, such as a visitor center, parking lot, or popular landmark. Finding the Starting Point: The starting location is noted in the tour description on our website and in your confirmation email. You can also view it directly on the map displayed on your phone. To locate the first stop, simply zoom in or out on the map using two fingers until you see the first pin marked "A."
Is This an Entrance Ticket? What Does the Tour Include? No, this is not an entrance ticket. It does not serve as a timed reservation, guarantee parking, or provide entry to museums or attractions along the route. What’s Included: Access to the OnDemand Audio Tours player (opens automatically when you click the tour link). A professionally produced audio tour featuring engaging narration, music, and sound effects. The tour includes audio content and directions only; it does not cover admission to any locations or landmarks. Important Note: Certain sites along the route, like national parks or museums, may require separate entrance tickets. Please check and purchase any necessary tickets in advance.
How Many Tours Should I Book? For a Driving Tour: You only need one tour per car. One person can download the tour on their phone, connect it to the car's audio system, and everyone in the car can listen together. For a Walking Tour: It’s recommended to book one tour per person for the best experience. However, some couples or groups choose to share a single tour by using headphones or listening on speaker. Just be aware that background noise (like street sounds) can affect the listening experience. If you book a tour for multiple people (e.g., four people), you'll receive one link that can be used on each person’s phone.
Change Travel Date / How Long is My Tour Valid For? Your tour never expires, so when you travel is up to you!
Audio Issues: No Audio or Bluetooth Not Working. If you can’t hear any audio: Check Volume: Make sure your phone is not on Silent Mode (use the switch on the left side of the phone). Ensure the phone volume is turned up. Test if audio works from other apps like Spotify or YouTube to confirm it's not a broader issue. If there’s a delay in the audio: Reboot Phone: Disable Bluetooth and restart your phone. Reopen the tour and test audio at one or two story locations. The audio should play through the phone speakers. Check Volume Again: Verify the phone is not on Silent Mode. Ensure both the phone volume and the car speaker volume are turned up.
No Cell Signal / Player Freezing Before the Tour: You’ll need a strong cell signal or WiFi to initially access the content. It will download automatically into your audio player. Once downloaded, you won’t need a signal to follow the tour. GPS functions without a cell signal. Helpful Tips: Keep WiFi on for the best GPS performance. Poor GPS Signal? In certain conditions—like weather, tunnels, or tall buildings—GPS may struggle to show your precise location. This is not due to a lack of cell signal. Troubleshooting GPS: To check GPS accuracy, open Apple Maps or Google Maps. If your location is correct (blue dot is accurate), close and reopen the OnDemand Audio Tours player. If issues persist, restart your phone. If GPS still appears off, manually start each stop by pressing “Play” for each audio segment. This way, you can enjoy the tour even with occasional GPS interruptions!
How Do I get a Refund, Exchange, or Postpone? Questions or concerns: If you have any issues with your tour, please email us at hello @ OnDemandTours.com. Postpone: You do not need to contact us if you postpone your travel or tour date. The tour does not expire and will be available whenever you're ready to use it. Exchange: If your plans change or the tour didn't work for you, you can exchange it for any of our other tours. Full Refund: We offer a full refund to anyone who requests one. The refund process will depend on where you purchased the tour and typically takes 3-5 business days for processing.
What Should I Bring or Wear? Cameras, water, weather-appropriate clothing, a flashlight if going at dark, and comfortable walking shoes.
Is the Tour Accessible for People with Disabilities? It depends on the location. Read individual tour descriptions for details. Some tours take place in historic areas or uneven terrain, which may affect accessibility. We encourage you to read the detailed descriptions of each tour to see if the locations are suitable for your needs. Accessibility options may vary by site.
Why Does the Player Stop When I Close the Window on My Phone? To prevent this, avoid closing the window. Instead, tap the padlock icon at the top of your audio player. This will keep the player running and ensure it doesn’t stop until you finish the tour.
How to View the Tour Map? At the bottom of the audio player, click on the photo icon. The box with the script will disappear and you'll be able to see the map. From there, move the map with your fingers (two fingers to expand, one finger to move around).
How to Pause the Tour? Each stop has a progress bar. Inside that bar is a pause icon. Just click on that and your tour is paused until you click it again.
How to Skip Locations? At the bottom of the audio tour player is a scroll bar. Each stop is listed there. Click on the stop you want and the audio will play automatically. We recommend you pause the player until you're at that stop because you may pass other tour locations which are designed to play automatically.
The Audio is Fading Out. Most likely, you're walking around and are drifting outside of the audio zone. Return to the last area where you had solid audio. Most audio zones are very large, but there are still restrictions on size.