Get a Free Amazon Experience
If you’ve never heard of Amazon Explor e, you’re not alone – this is a relatively new service that connects you to one-on-one interactive virtual experiences around the world, whether it’s a shopping session, a cooking lesson, or a walking tour. Launched during the pandemic, Explore is Amazon’s attempt to “ complement, not replace, traditional travel, ” the company’s public relations department said in a statement quoted by the New York Times . If you’re not yet willing to pay to sit in front of your computer a little more instead of going outside to do something, Amazon is offering eligible Prime members their first free session (for “experiences” under $ 50). … This is how it works.
How does Amazon Explore work?
Amazon Explore offers many virtual experiences where you can interact with your host or guide. It’s a live experience between you and the host, with one-way video (you can see the host, but the host can’t see you) and two-way audio, so you’ll need a working microphone when you enter a session.
By all accounts , the streaming quality is pretty good, and overall product quality is pretty smooth, and includes graphic overlays, maps, and screen decals. There is a one-touch screen capture button and a megaphone function that allows you to talk directly to the people around your guide. And since it’s Amazon, you’ll often have the ability to shop as well (look for sessions tagged “In-Session Shopping”). Examples of experiences you can try for free include:
- Berlin Cold War Sightseeing Tour
- Cooking lessons on how to cook Manchamanteles mole with a Mexican chef
- Tour of the historic city center of Florence, Italy.
- IPhone photography lesson with a professional photographer
- Shop Like a Chef: Browse and Buy Cookware at Tokyo’s Kitchen Town
Ok, how do I get my free session?
Prime members can get their first session up to $ 50 for free. The Amazon Explore page allows you to get all the features under $ 50; select one, switch on the blue button “Book session” to select the date and time, and apply FREEFUN code when ordering, which should reduce your total amount up to $ 0. There is no indication as to when the offer will expire (only for a “limited time period”) or whether this is some kind of pre-prime day deal , so if you’re interested it’s best to book sooner rather than later.
There are some restrictions: you must be a Prime member, this must be your first session (even if you haven’t used a discount code yet), and the service is only available in the US. And if you offer virtual tours and activity sounds for fun, you can apply to work with Amazon as a host – although, of course, the company takes a commission on your earnings .