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Today's Tip: Social Media as Travel Research
How do you do your personal travel research? Sure, google is a great way. But there are other means too, to find unique destinations and local secrets. Apart from travel websites and stories like Trevellers, here’s how to do travel research using social media!
Ranking of best recommend to least:
Itineraries from Travel Bloggers (Best Recommend)
Travel bloggers share their itineraries, especially those with a more unique approach. For unique experiences like road less travelled in Iceland, hairy cows in Scotland or layover in Singapore, it’s better to look for travel bloggers.
For cookie cutter experiences, get sample itinerary from the official tourism boards or tour companies. Then use travel bloggers’ unique experience to add to your travel.
There is nothing wrong with cookie cutter experiences! Some people love it, some do not. I personally do not, but that is my personal preference. Do your thing. Go on your travel ideal cookie cutter or crazy unique experiences. As long as you are happy, keep doing it.
YouTube
Create a playlist for the specific location that you are visiting. Search for <location> travel guide and add those videos in. Another great recommendation is <area> 3 day itinerary or <area> vlog. I did that for my Taipei trip when I was already in Taipei.
Travel Forums (Specific Questions)
Travel forums are great. But I put them in 3rd place because I use them when I have specific questions. Like when I was in the safari in South Africa or specific questions about taking Flixbus from Poland to Austria.
Facebook Group
Whilst not really a forum, I also recommend Facebook Groups if you use Facebook. Couchsurfing groups of a city usually has very friendly people giving tips and advice. You can also meet them, and I think that’s a great addition.
Google Maps
I use google maps to help me with location timing, distance (to plan my itinerary), operating hours and REAL PICTURES. Sure, instagram is cool, but I do find instagram too edited and fake.
Pinterset
Pinterest can be quite annoying because like Instagram, the pictures are super edited. But some images include wonderful tips and secret locations in there! It's not for everyone.
Instagram (Least Recommend)
I always avoid those “instagram models” pictures, because you know the images are heavily edited. I’ve followed through with some, and the place looks nothing like the instagram picture. Also, I’m not a huge fan of “influencer travel”. It’s too fake.
Also, use Instagram to tell you where NOT to go. Because all the others will flock there.
Application to your life:
Check out all the platforms available as you do your travel research. Then slowly filter the style that best suits you. Not everyone's travel style is applicable to you.
Compare 20 blogs on the same thing about the same place. Test their recommendations and filter out those you like and those you don’t. Not everyone’s style is the same.
Elsewhere Around the World
Travel and Coronavirus: limited international travel and limited travel between states in the US. How the virus is changing the future of travel — esp with all these "throwbacks" on instagram. It's going to be a long recovery for the travel industry. Goodbye Summer 2020. Some borders in Europe are opening up.