JunglebeeRunning a tour business, written by people who do.
Guides on selling, getting paid and running the day, from operators in the Caribbean and beyond.
Articles, page 2
What Makes a Good Tour Guide? What I Learned on the Boat
What I learned from Eagle Tours: a strong tour guide pays attention to guests and crew, knows their limits, and gives new guides room to grow.
How to become a Viator supplier: what I would prepare
What I would have ready before opening the Viator supplier portal: one trip, a clear meeting point, net vs retail, cut-offs, held seats, a weather plan.
Charter Boat Maintenance Checklist: What Keeps You Legal, Insured, and Running
USCG inspection items, safety-gear service intervals, and the records insurers want — the charter-specific maintenance checklist generic boat guides skip.
Boat Rental App vs Booking Software: What I Would Actually Compare
A boat operator's practical comparison of guest apps, booking software, shared availability, payments, crew handoffs, and a two-week test.
Mailchimp vs Klaviyo for Tour Operators: Picking an Email Platform for a Seasonal Booking Business
Both are built for online stores. Here's how Mailchimp and Klaviyo actually compare for a seasonal tour or charter business's pricing, lists, and reminders.
SEO for Tour Operators: The First Page I Would Fix Before Buying Ads
A founder's practical take on SEO for tour operators: fix the trip page and booking path before buying ads or chasing more traffic.
Aruba Snorkeling Tours: What I Would Build Around as an Operator
An operator's guide to building an Aruba snorkeling tour around clear promises, clean handoffs, weather plans, and a day the crew can deliver.
Tap to Pay on iPhone for Tour and Charter Operators: Is It Worth Ditching the Card Reader?
Tap to Pay on iPhone costs the same as a reader but needs signal for every sale. Here's when it works dockside and when charter operators still need a reader.
How to Become a Travel Agent for Tours: What I Would Learn First
Michael's operator-first advice for selling tours: learn the dock, confirm availability, and build a clean handoff before chasing more guests.
OTA Advertising for Tour Operators: What I Would Actually Pay For
A practical way to buy reach without buying more booking chaos, from a founder who has watched tour bookings break at the handoff.
USCG Vessel Documentation vs State Registration: What Actually Changes for Charter Boats
Documentation and registration solve different problems. See which one your charter boat needs, what each endorsement allows, and common costly mistakes.
Checkfront Alternatives for Caribbean Tour Operators: What I Would Compare
My practical comparison for Caribbean operators: test the booking handoff, payment path, partner bookings, and weather-day changes before you switch software.
Local SEO for Tour Operators: Win the Map Pack (No Agency)
Map Pack ranking factors for tour and charter operators: the right GBP category, review cadence, and dock/service-area setup, no agency needed.
The Online Reservation System I Wish We Had Before the First Booking
An operator's test for an online reservation system: real availability, payment status, crew handoff, and the changes that happen on the water.
How to Start a Tour Business in Curacao: What I Would Set Up Before the First Guest
Michael Rouveure's practical guide to starting a Curacao tour business, from the first trip and handoff to payments, cancellations, and guest care.
100 Ton Captain's License: Moving Up From a Six-Pack
What changes when a six-pack captain moves up to a 100-ton Master license: sea time, TWIC, the exam, real costs, and when the upgrade actually pays off.
The Tour Booking Thank-You Email I Would Actually Send
The first booking email should thank the guest, confirm the details, and make the next handoff clear.
How to Build a Free Online Booking Website for Your Tour Business
A practical guide to building a free online booking website for a tour business, from the booking path to payment and weather-day handoffs.
Food Tour Booking Software: What Small Operators Need
Multi-stop capacity limits, dietary vs. allergy intake, and no-show deposits: what food tour booking software needs that generic platforms miss.
Ticketing System vs Booking System for Tour Operators: What I Would Use
A practical comparison of ticketing systems and booking systems for tour operators, from guest handoffs to weather days.
Seller of Travel Laws: The States That Require Tour Operators to Register (and the Exemption Most Miss)
Only CA, FL, HI & WA still enforce seller of travel laws. See which actually reach tour operators, the exemption most miss, and the registration risk.
Tour Operator Management Software: The Handoff I Would Fix First
A founder's view of the booking handoff that makes busy boat days harder than they need to be.
Starting a Snorkeling Tour Business in St. Barts: What I Would Set Up Before the First Run
The operator setup I would build before launching a snorkeling tour in St. Barts, from the first run to the first weather day.
Economic Nexus Sales Tax: A Guide for Tour Operators
Running trips across state or island lines? Learn when economic nexus sales tax kicks in, the Texas/NY/Florida traps, and what multi-state operators should do.