Technically anything online is virtual and visiting those it virtual tour. But in trade terms virtual tour (360 tour or 3D tour) is a panoramic view that displays a realtime look.

There are several things that helps you plan a virtual tour for your restaurant, hotel or real estate business. First of them is, of course, your budget. Then you must consider your customers. Finally "which way to show" and "what to hide".

1. You can create the most simple type of 3D tour by combining a series of pictures. Use captions explain each picture. The benefits of making panorama of a pile of pictures is that it is easily downloadable and plain. Also it is cost effective.

2. The second is you can prepare 3D virtual tour from a video footage. The process involves making a shockwave animation with less aspect ratio and streaming properties. But the hurdle here can be professional look, amateur video shoot or unprofessional optimization. Together they can ruin the work. It is cheaper.

3. The third is fully interactive, programmed 3D virtual tour, with various nodes, mapped for easy walkthrough. This is costly but pays in long run. It takes the visitor to the driver seat for a complete experience. The visitor can look around, have access of the surroundings, turn to directions, peep through the location, zoom in and out. And draw a conclusion from his/her experience.

Flaunting and Covering the Scenes in a Virtual Tour Ever seen the 3D virtual hotel tour of a star hotel? Analyzed the content? What was worthwhile and what was junk?

Well, if the hotel is sandwiched in the heart of the city you would better show the hotel interiors and illuminate the profits staying at the centrestage of a busy city that never sleeps. Otherwise you would better show the scenic surroundings of the hotel and tranquil atmosphere of a day out into this great hotel.

Either way it is good where a lot depends how well you understand to put your thoughts into 3D. Story telling in virtual hotel/restaurant tour is never easy.

The virtual tour helps visitors an easy access to your actual site (hotel, restaurant or mall). They will feel being at the right place because they have virtually visited. They can even go a long way to demonstrate your accessibility and openness.