Is Klook Legit? My Tips, Mistakes and Discounts as a Travel Expert

Klook has rapidly become one of the world’s largest experience booking platforms, despite only popping onto the scene in 2014. But what really is it, and is Klook legit?

With mega competitors like Expedia, Get Your Guide or booking.com having been around for over a decade longer, it is easy to overlook the new kid on the block.

I may not have tried out all of the over half a million products and services that Klook offers in more than 2,700 destinations… yet. However, I am on track as it has become a staple, not only in my travel activities purchases, but transport and hotel bookings.

And as someone who has also evolved in the Tourism Industry since 2014 (from travel agent to travel blogger), I feel strangely qualified to answer. With all of my real Klook experiences, mistakes I made and hacks I picked up along the way.

What is Klook?

Launching in Hong Kong back in 2014, Klook was late to the booking platform game, but they saw that as an advantage. A unique chance to adapt to what was working or what certainly wasn’t amongst behemoth competitors.

Built from a genuine passion for discovery, which keeps them constantly evolving today. Klook is on a mission to bring the world closer through experience, focused on fostering genuine community.

We’ve made exploring far-flung corners of the world easier… but we believe there are plenty of adventures waiting at your own doorstep! This is why our platform has grown to include local deals and products, from experiences and staycations to car rental and insurance. The possibilities are endless!

co-founders Eric, Ethan and Bernie

Enough of that general PR answer. I know you want the juicy stuff, so in my terms:

Klook had to fight for its spot as a travel booking platform, even I questioned WTF IS IT when it first crossed my feed (and now it never leaves).

However, its insane success proves that there was something missing in what many thought was already an oversaturated industry. Travel has well and truly changed since the 90’s so the way we book it needs to as well.

With easy online and in-app booking, unique perks and an increasing number of services, Klook has become one of those booking platform behemoths. At least in Asia… for now

Klook.com

Who is Klook for?

Born in Hong Kong, Klook was originally tailored for the Asian market, yet post-pandemic made Klook explode on a global scale.

Klook is now available worldwide for all ages; solo travellers, families, couples, girls trips, group getaways… You name it!

Although most of their marketing (and key reason for their success) is targeted at Millennial and Gen Z travellers.

How to Use Klook

First things first, you need to open Klook.com or download the Klook App.

It is not essential, however, I highly recommend creating an account when you are ready to make your first big Klook purchase.

If 10% off your first purchase when you use code DONUTKLOOK wasn’t enough to convince you, I recommend it for the bonus discounts, unique specials and Klook cash rewards systems that let you use your accumulated points to pay for future bookings. (more on that to come)

It is one thing to have your account ready for bookings, but you need to understand what, where and how you can actually book the various things across the platform. Let me explain:

🗺️ Klook Experiences and Tours

Booking Activities and Tours on Klook is what it is made for! With over 490,000 activities across 1,000+ destinations worldwide.

Whether you are looking for a famous theme park ticket, a local cooking class, day trips or unique shows, you are likely to find it on Klook.

🚝 Klook Transport: Trains, Transfers and Car Rental

Klook.com

I would say Klook has become a front-runner in the transport booking space. Making sure you can lock in your activities and know exactly how and when to get there.

There’s a misconception that booking directly with the service provider is always better when it comes to transport. However, Klook have stepped it up to show why that is not always the case.

With easy-to-use QR code tickets, the ability to book specialty seats (like luggage space or Mt Fuji Views), and often better refund/customer service policies to keep you protected on your trip.

Klook have more range than ever in its transport offerings around the world, and it has never been easier to book them.

🏨 Klook Hotels

In 2022, Klook expanded into the hotel booking scene with a specialty ‘Stay+’ package offering.

These Stay+ packages bundle hotel bookings with top activities at your destination. A unique way to save money and maximise your stay.

What began as an incentive to build awareness and trust for their new hotel booking abilities has become a staple on the platform. And has now allowed them to expand well beyond the Stay+ packages alone into a major player in the hotel booking scene.

📲 The Klook Blog and Social Media

We have established that Klook is a superstar when it comes to booking your trip, but people tend to overlook how it can help you plan it too.

@KlookTravel is the primary social media account for Klook. However, for the most relevant deals and information, look out for your local Klook account. For example: Klookanz , Klookmg , Klookph…

So, Is Klook Legit?

Klook is absolutely legit. In fact, it might be the most reliable and trustworthy booking platform around right now.

We still have a few important details, realistic recaps and many mistakes to get through before I give my complete, brutally honest review.

But if you are running late on time or simply love a spoiler: As a travel expert, I highly recommend booking your trip with Klook.

The Ultimate Guide to Klook Discounts

If you are anything like me, you are a sucker for a good discount and lucky for us, Klook is packed full of them!

After years of trial and error, I have finally mastered the art of maximising my savings per booking. Ready to share my secrets to help you maximise yours!

Why and How to Sign Up for Klook

Sure, savings are a big reason for signing up for Klook, and I still will not shut up about that.

But the biggest reason not to overlook the rewards program is for easier booking management and protection.

A couple of minutes to sign up now can save you a lot more time, stress and money in the long run. And it is as simple as:

1. Go to Klook.com or download the Klook app.
2. Click “Sign Up” in the top-right corner (or tap “Account” on the app).
3. Register using your email address, Google, Apple, or Facebook account.
4. Verify your email
5. Use promo code DONUTKLOOK to save 10% on your first booking!

Understanding the different types of discounts

As much as I can (and probably still will) bombard you with my promo code,

Oh look, there it is!

There are so many ways to increase your savings beyond it, long term.

To do so, you need to know the types of discounts to look out for and how they can work together:

• Promo Codes:
  These codes can be applied at checkout for instant savings on select activities, tours, and attractions. Klook frequently offers promo codes during seasonal sales or special campaigns, but you will find that their Kreator Codes can be used all year round. That’s why you see me bragging about DONUTKLOOK so darn much!

• First-Time User Discounts:
  New to Klook? First-time users can redeem an up-sized one-time 10% discount code.
  BONUS TIP: I recommend filling your cart with your biggest ticket items ahead of your trip to make the most of this upsized discount.
  
• App-Exclusive Discounts:
  Klook rewards users who book through its mobile app with app-only promotions and special pricing that might not appear on the desktop site.
  
• Klook Cash:
  After completing bookings, registered users can earn Klook Credits that can be used toward future purchases. Essentially a cashback system for loyal customers.
  
• Time-Limited Flash Sales:
  These are usually announced via email or in-app notifications, encouraging quick bookings.
  
• Member-Only Deals – Klook Rewards:
  By signing up for a free Klook account, users can unlock exclusive member discounts. You will also be rewarded for reaching certain booking milestones and levelling up.
  
• Bundle Discounts: Combo packages that combine multiple attractions or services (like transport + entry ticket or Hotel + Airport Transfer) at a lower combined price than booking separately.

My Expert Tips on Saving More $$$ on Klook

Like I mentioned above, don’t be afraid to mix and match your discount options.

In many cases, you will still be able to use promo codes in conjunction with those Bundle+ packages or even Flash Sales. My favourite is using the Klook cash you have accumulated from previous bookings to pay for your next one.

The saving opportunities are endless, and all it requires is a little more attention to the details.

With that in mind, I still recommend comparing pricing and availability across other booking platforms, especially if you are maintaining loyalty across multiple.

The biggest thing to note is how much these prices and availability can vary across different countries and booking types.

For example, GetYourGuide is still king in Europe, where Klook takes the lead in Asia.

Klook Discount Codes to save big on your next trip

Obviously my biggest Klook savings ‘hack’ is to:

As much as I would love to hoard your bookings all to myself so that I can save you more and make me a little more (to clarify, these affiliate codes come at no extra cost to you), these recent changes limit how much you can use the promo codes.

The good news is that there are plenty of codes to keep you stocked up for a lifetime of Klook purchases. Here are a few favourites from some of my most trusted Kreator friends and family

ALTERNATE KLOOK CODES:

• NEXTSTOPKLOOK
• FINDINGALEXXKLOOK
• TWOSOMEKLOOK

Brutally Honest Reviews and Recaps from a Serial Klook Booker

Japan Trains

I think Klook owe its global growth to the rise and fall of the JR PASS in recent years.

Purchasing a JR PASS used to be THE money-saving hack for every Japan trip. That was until October 2023, when prices on the passes tripled and left a lot of people confused about what to do and where to book their Train Tickets.

For many, the pass was no longer a good value for money, and they would actually end up spending less when booking individual Shinkansen Tickets across the country. And Klook stepped up to be THE place to book them.

On my 2024 cherry blossom trip, I put the Klook train booking system to the test; searching routes and time was simple, confirmation was fast, and instructions were easy, BUT OMG it often felt impossible to find the machines to follow the said instructions.

We spent hours lost in train stations (a Japan Trip rite of passage haha) trying to find where to print tickets and what entrance to use them.

Thankfully, by the time we returned in September/October 2024, Klook had a major glow-up. Let me tell you, the option to use a QR code directly through your Klook app was a game-changer!

Yeah, you could also book specific Mt-Fuji view seats (not worth it IMO, see my Mt Fuji Photo Guide for why) for certain routes or reserve big luggage storage.

Klook.com

Universal Studios Japan and the Nightmarish Express Passes

For my in-depth Universal Studios Japan Survival Guide READ HERE

As a quick review, I can say that I was warned that ticket sales for some of Japan’s top tourist attractions can sell out months in advance, and you need to be ready to go to war.

So when it came to trying to book one of the most popular theme parks in the world, during peak Japanese Cherry Blossom Season, I was anxious.

Tickets are typically released in one-month blocks, with new dates becoming available two months before the intended visit, so my alarm was set for our release date… necessarily. I snagged our tickets with ease, and there remained a few available up until the day we went.

On the other hand, the express passes are a nightmare that sell out in minutes even in low seasons. A necessary nightmare to avoid those 2-hour+ peak season wait times.

We ended up paying extra for the big 7 Express Pass that included timed-entry access to Super Nintendo World, which was my top priority.

When it came to planning our somewhat last-minute 2025 trip back to USJ, these were already sold out. However, upon accepting my fate of potentially missing out on seeing the brand new Donkey Kong Country, I stumbled across a little hack:

Once the battle for tickets is complete, it has always been smooth sailing from there. We have had no issues with QR theme park tickets via the Klook app and will continue to book.

Just maybe not the express passes because they are way too expensive, and so is therapy to deal with the aftermath of trying to secure them

Klook.com

Can you book hotels on Klook? We did and it kinda sucks…

As the primary hotel booker of our trips, ex-travel agent and all-around unique travel expert, I know a thing or two about booking hotels.

I must confess, I have always been a proud booking.com girly. Having hustled from my early days of solo travel to girls’ trips, family vacations and now romantic getaways to earn my Genius 3 status, and I wasn’t about to throw it away completely.

And I haven’t… Booking.com remains my first port of call when diving into hotel research.

However, when I first had the opportunity to work with Klook Hotels to create content for a special Godzilla Hotel and Unique Tattoo-Friendly Tokyo Onsen Stay, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. Mostly shocked by how much the price and availability had varied across the platforms.

My only gripe is that the search interface is nowhere near as flexible and accessible compared to booking.com. It has its quirks and frankly, trying to look through each property’s photos gives me a headache every time.

Yet the positives outweigh the frustrations making Klook Hotel a regular in my planning process. Especially through Asia as it offers a larger range of boutique hotels and local offerings that do not appear on the bigger sites.

So is Klook legit for hotel bookings? YES, but I highly recommend comparing elsewhere as it is not always the best option.

Booking E-Sims on Klook – the biggest gamechanger

I can not believe I ever travelled without e-sims. For years, I spent far too much money on the bonus $5 a day to keep my regular plan going overseas. I could not imagine ever going back to my old ways.

Ever since, I have been haunted by different e-sim company ads and apps. What makes Klook stand out amongst the crowd is its variety of different brands and types. Not to mention the ease of reading real reviews in one place to compare them all.

Best of all, you may even stumble across a few free e-sim offers when scrolling through the Klook app. Whether you book a hotel or a top attraction, or a train pass, these regularly come with a free e-sim bonus with your purchase.

Always look out for those bonus+ deals and even the sneaky free esim that automatically gets added to certain purchases. You should absolutely make the most of that!

I will say, it hasn’t always been a breeze to set up, but it has never come from the Klook side of things.

Certain e-sim companies (calling out Airalo) were way more confusing to set up and top up than others. Adding more steps and $$$ than necessary when having to move across multiple apps to use it.

Klook.com

A Cherry Blossom Day Trip Tour without any Cherry Blossoms

In 2024, I was determined to check off my bucket list dream of seeing the famous cherry blossoms in Japan.

Months of research went into booking our trip to perfectly align with the Sakura forecast.

I am not usually one for bus tour day trips, but when the opportunity arose to visit 2 underrated cherry blossom spots (giant Cherry Blossom Buddhas and a park with 30,000 sakura trees), I could not resist.

It was a guaranteed smaller group tour that happened to fall perfectly on what was predicted to be peak bloom in the area, you would be crazy not to go right? UNTIL an unpredictable cold snap swept across the country, pushing that bloom back. Back until the very last day of our trip….

Alas, our tour went ahead, and I am still very glad we went along with it. Despite a lack of blooms, the destinations were incredible and the fresh strawberries we got to pick along the way made it all worthwhile.

Of course, I was a little heartbroken, who wouldn’t be? Thankfully for you, my pain is your gain BECAUSE from the 2025 season, Klook launched a new ‘no blooms, no glooms’ guarantee.

This ‘no blooms, no gloom’ promises a full refund for any cherry blossom tours that do not live up to their cherry blossom name.

Although it would take a lot more than that to convince me to ever take on the nightmare of peak cherry blossom overtourism chaos again.

The Many Mistakes I Made Booking Airport Transfers on Klook

Airport Transfers are one of the most common services you can book on Klook, yet some of the most overwhelming and confusing.

With too many options and conflicting reviews, it can feel impossible to choose the right one.

For me, I have found the easiest way to narrow it down is by going through this mental checklist:

• Which Transfer option gets me closest to my hotel
• How many options fit within my budget
• What is my time worth, and is it worth spending a little more for safety, security and peace of mind
• Are any of the options not operating at my time of transfer

That last one is especially important because it is where I have been caught out the most. You can spend hours narrowing down what the internet tells you is the “BEST AIRPORT TRANSFER IN…” only to find out you can’t book it because it stops running at 11 p,m and your flight doesn’t land until midnight.

But where I have found the most trouble is contacting drivers for private or group transfers. When the wifi cuts out, I haven’t activated my esim yet, and I am frantically running around the airport trying to find the person who I don’t even know if they have texted me their details.

Overall, the transfers have been hit and miss, mostly because of the vast difference between the way you activate them.

Did you know that you can book Airport Lounge Passes on Klook?!

Klook.com

If you are looking for unique travel recommendations, I am your girl!

If you are looking for points hacking and travel credit card tips? Please tell me where you find them because I have no bloody idea.

No matter how much I try, I have never been able to master the art of travel points hacking and with that, I have missed out on many opportunities to live it up in airport lounges.

Until I discovered that there are a lot of lounges you can buy individual passes for via Klook! For a lot cheaper than most of the credit cards with unlimited airport access, that is for sure.

Our first attempt at this was in Hanoi Airport, where for only AUD40 we had unlimited food, a professional bartender with premium cocktails, an entire pho bar and an all-you-can-eat buffet. Oh my, how could I forget the showers!

We started out strong here, and it already had me itching to try it again, only to be left disappointed a few months later in Singapore Changi Airport. Contrary to its high rating, we struggled to find seats, there were no showers, and the food selection was abysmal.

The biggest issue we came across was on our way home from Koh Samui. We were supposed to have a 5-hour layover in Bangkok Airport, perfect to get value out of a lounge. Unfortunately, we had decided that too late since the lounge did not accept any bookings the day of or before your arrival.

Funnily enough, this worked in our favour since we ended up with a 5-hour delay in Koh Samui that meant our 5 hours was cut to 5 minutes in Bangkok to sprint through the airport with an escort holding the gate open for us haha

Common questions about Klook

Is Klook trustworthy?

Yes, Klook is trustworthy, with over 70 million monthly visitors and has seen more than 140 million trips booked.

Where is Klook available?

Klook is available in over 100 countries. Inviting you to explore a world full of activities, tours, and services across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and more.

It has become an essential for popular travel destinations like Japan, Thailand, and more recently, making waves in America

What payment methods are accepted on Klook?

Klook accepts major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX), PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and some local payment options depending on your region.

They even have their own Gift Cards!

What customer support options are available on Klook?

Klook offers 24/7 customer support through live chat on the app, website and email assistance. Response times are generally fast, especially for urgent travel issues.

You will also find they have an active social presence with a real person never too far away!

How does Klook compare to other Experience and Hotel Booking Sites?

Klook often beats competitors on price and convenience for tours, tickets, and transport, especially in Asia. It may not offer as many hotels worldwide as Booking.com or Expedia, but its user-friendly app and discounts make it a top choice for experiences, growing bigger every day.

Do I need to print my Klook vouchers?

Usually, no. Most Klook vouchers are accepted as mobile e-vouchers or QR codes. It is best to check each individual booking details, as it comes down to the supplier. Some attractions may still require a printed copy.

The promo code isn’t working. What should I do?

There are a few reasons why the promo code may not be working, from simple typos, minimum spend requirements, excluded services that do not accept them…

To double-check that it isn’t one of those reasons, I recommend using THIS DIRECT KLOOK LINK, which will automatically add the code to your next booking!

If that doesn’t work, my backup recommendation is to test out a different code completely. As mentioned previously, Klook have recently limited Promo Code redemptions to 3 per user. If that is the case, I truly hope my DONUTKLOOK code has treated you well during its time haha

And if you are still stuck at this point, hopefully, you have some Klook Cash stocked up to make up for it.

How do I get a refund on Klook?

Go to “Bookings” in your Klook account (I find the app is best). From there, you can select the booking you want to cancel and check if it’s refundable. Again, this usually comes down to the individual supplier.

Follow the prompts to request a refund, and you’ll be notified once it’s processed. While most refunds will run smoothly through the Klook app, it is best to check the booking details if you need to deal directly with the supplier at all to finalise anything.

Is Klook legit? My opinion and final thoughts

BIG YES, Klook is trustworthy and has quickly become one of my favourite travel platforms. An essential if you will…

Of course, I must recognise a slight bias given I have been lucky enough to partner with the company over the years. However, IMO, that is what has made this review even more real and in-depth.

I have had years of direct access to the insights and updates of Klook. Not to mention, opportunities that have taken me on experiences and trialling various parts of the platform that I never would have thought to do myself.

While I have a soft spot for the company and the incredible people that are part of it, I will never let that hold me back from calling out any BS or hiccups that occur along the way. Like my go-kart breaking down in the middle of Tokyo or a cherry blossom tour without any cherry blossoms…

The thing is, these mishaps are inevitable when it comes to travel. Whether it is at Klook’s own fault or not, I find it most important to judge their ‘legitness’ on how they react to it.

Looking at the cherry blossom tour example, they took on board the notes and disappointments that came with unpredictable delays in the season to update a brand new ‘no blooms, no glooms’ procedure for the next season.

Now to wrap up here…