Frequently Asked Questions
Online Experiences
Is the online experience live or pre-recorded?
These Terms of Service, and any rights and licenses granted hereunder, may not be transferred or assigned by you, but may be assigned by Atlas Obscura without restriction.
What technology do I need to access an Atlas Obscura online experience?
We recommend that you join via a computer or tablet rather than a mobile device. Most experiences listed will allow you to interact with other attendees and your host using the chat function or occasionally using audio.
Experiences are hosted through Zoom and can be accessed through a web browser or the Zoom application. You can find technology specifications here.
You said I’d receive access to the Zoom room for my online experience, but I can’t find it. How do I join the Zoom meeting?
The Zoom meeting room link for your Atlas Obscura online experience is hosted through Eventbrite. To access the Zoom meeting, you’ll need to purchase a ticket and do one of the following:
- From Email: Click the “Go to online event page” button in your confirmation or reminder email. You will be directed to Eventbrite. Once you’re logged in, you will be sent to the online experience landing page where you can click the “play” button and launch the Zoom meeting.
- From Eventbrite’s website: Log onto the Eventbrite account associated with your tickets and select the event you are trying to access. Select “View Links” and you’ll be taken to the online experience landing page where you can click the “play” button and launch the Zoom meeting.
Zoom meeting rooms “open” at the start time of the event.
If you are still having trouble accessing your online experience, please reach out to experiences@atlasobscura.com.
Are tickets for online experiences bought per person or per household?
Each ticket purchased for our online experiences are per household or per device. If you are inviting friends and family to join the same experience from a different location, they will require a separate ticket to access the Zoom Room via Eventbrite.
If you are buying a ticket for a friend to join you from a different location or device, you will need to edit your order information on Eventbrite to put the second ticket under their name and email address. This update will send your friend a confirmation email with instructions to access the online experience.
Click here for instructions from Eventbrite on how to update your order information.
I missed my online experience, can I access a recording?
Select online experiences will be recorded for internal use and quality control. If you have missed an online experience that you purchased a ticket for, you can reach out to experiences@atlasobscura.com to see if that online experience has a recording that is available to view. Pending availability, a member from the Atlas Obscura team may be able to share a password-protected link with you. The recordings will be filmed featuring the speaker only.
If you are located in a timezone not suitable for tuning in live for an online experience but would like to view the recording, please reach out in advance to experiences@atlasobscura.com to ensure a recording is scheduled and will be available for sharing before making your purchase.
Am I able to get a refund if I can no longer attend?
All ticket sales for online experiences are final and we generally do not offer refunds or exchanges. If you have any questions, please contact experiences@atlasobscura.com.
Can I buy an online experience for someone else?
Yes, you can purchase an online experience for someone else - they make for great gifts! When you purchase tickets for an online experience, select the quantity you would like and include the name and email address for each person you’re buying the experience. A confirmation email with access to the online experience will be sent to each person listed.
Can I book a private group online experience?
Yes! Atlas Obscura has a portfolio of private experiences that are perfect for corporate groups, get-togethers, celebrations, and more. If you are interested in purchasing an experience for a private group, please contact experiences@atlasobscura.com.
What if I have other questions about an online experience?
For questions about specific experiences, contact experiences@atlasobscura.com.
In-Person Experiences
There is only one ticket left for the experience that I want, but I need more!
For our in-person experiences, the capacity is strictly enforced to create an intimate environment for all of our guests and to respect the space. We are not able to add any additional guests outside of the tickets available for purchase.
Am I able to get a refund if I can no longer attend?
We’re able to offer you a full refund at least 7 days before the experience is scheduled to start, or within 24 hours of your original purchase.
If your experience was purchased through Airbnb, locate your confirmation email and follow the directions to request your refund.
If your experience was purchased through Eventbrite, you can find information on how to request your refund here.
If you’ve purchased your ticket less than 7 days before the experience, but within the last 24 hours, you’ll need to contact the experience organizer to make your request.
If I can no longer attend on a particular day, can I transfer my ticket to another experience?
We understand that things come up! You are able to substitute another available date/time for the same experience you’ve booked up to 72 hours before your experience is scheduled to start. Just note, if you reschedule an experience, the cancellation policy is based on the original experience purchase time and start date.
You’ll find a link to make changes to your experience in the experience confirmation email. From there, you’ll be given the option to change the date or time of your booking.
Can I buy an experience for someone else?
At this time, you’re only able to buy an experience for yourself, or for you and any additional ticketed guests you bring along.
For some experiences, especially those in private homes or with rare artifacts, you may be notified by email that you and any guests you invite need to have an Airbnb account and provide ID before they can attend.
Can I book a private group experience?
Many of Atlas Obscura’s hosts offer private experiences for educational organizations, corporate groups, and groups of friends or families. Please note that prices for a private experience may differ from the cost of booking individual tickets.
Once you find an experience that you’d like to book, you can message the host to learn if they are able to host your group or customize the experience for you.
Alternatively, as part of the check-out system, some experiences offer an option to book a private group automatically. After you’ve selected your experience and date, if offered, you’ll see the option to “book for a private group.”
Why am I taken to Airbnb’s website when buying a ticket for an experience?
We use Airbnb as our reservation and payment platform. This means that in order to sign up for your Atlas Obscura Experience, you’ll be redirected to an Airbnb page to complete your reservation. You’ll also receive a confirmation message from Airbnb when you sign up, and will have the ability to review the experience on Airbnb.
I am having trouble with payment or the Airbnb website.
Visit Airbnb’s help center or contact Airbnb. You can also call Airbnb directly at +1-415-800-5959 or +1-855-424-7262 (Toll-free).
Questions About Your Experience
What if I have questions about an experience?
For questions about specific experiences, please contact the host directly through the Airbnb platform. After you book an experience, you’ll receive a confirmation email that will include information on how to contact your host.
For everything else, contact You can find technology specifications here.
What if the weather looks bad?
Unless otherwise noted, all of our experiences are rain-or-shine. In the rare case of extreme weather, your host will contact you directly to notify you about the cancellation, and you will receive a full refund.
Why are Atlas Obscura and Airbnb partnering?
Our mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. Airbnb shares these values. And by tapping into Airbnb’s global audience, we’ll be able to expand our global community, offer more local experiences in unexpected places, and continue to uncover more hidden places, wondrous foods, and fascinating people.
Additional Information
I’d like to learn more about brand partnership and sponsorship opportunities. Who do I contact?
That's great! Contact us using this form and we will get back to you with details shortly.
I have a general inquiry about Atlas Obscura’s Experiences.
For general experience inquiries, you can email You can find technology specifications here.