Online social media tools and phone applications are making travel easier, more affordable and fun to plan.
Krista Montes de Oca
Media Program Analyst
The summer is really heating up, and vacations are in full swing. Are you wondering where the hot spots are in the city or at the beach? Pressure to pack everything you could possibly need for a week a little too overwhelming? Leave it to social media to do the hard work for you.
Social media tools are connecting you to friends and strangers; updating you on the whereabouts of those you “follow,” and giving you the utmost resources of news and information you could possibly need. And if you didn’t know it before, social media can help you with both the tedious and fun aspects of traveling…just in time for your summer vacations! Here are just three ways social media has come to bring you the best tips for your getaway: Before your vacation:
1. Before your vacation: Before you start booking hotels and plane tickets, check out the deals you could be getting. Hotels and airlines, as well as resorts are offering specials and packages like you’ve never seen before. Airlines are looking to their valued and frequent customers, and creating trips and packages for their travels. Back in April, a blog post shared how digital media could help enhance the experience of airlines, and now in July, we’re sharing how social media has evolved into the tools they are now. Airlines such as United Airlines and JetBlue offer specials through Twitter; Check out @UnitedAirlines for their “Twares,” and @JetBlueCheeps to find out more about how these airlines are reaching out through social media.
2. Planning your itinerary: If you’re spontaneous and have decided to travel by yourself, but wouldn’t mind making new friends along the way, then GlobeTrooper might be the best outlet for you. You can search for people who are along your route, or someone who might be residing or visiting your destination. Finding a fellow snorkeler or hiker could yield itself to be a great time, especially if you couldn’t convince any hometown friends to ride the wave with you.
3. During vacation: Are you too busy to keep track of exciting moments that happened during vacation? Don’t have the time to put together a scrapbook? Well, the application, Trip Journal lets you create that scrapbook right on the spot. Uploading pictures and writing content to create keepsakes for a lifetime, right at your fingertips. Your family and friends who follow you on Twitter and Facebook will enjoy the updates from your vacation in real time!
These, along with at least 13 other iPhone applications can help make your travel easier and more fun for all. There are tools to help locate the best places at your destination, rest stops along your route, and for those wanting a more educational experience, some options for you. If you were hesitating about planning your next vacation, fear no more! Use the social media resources that are at your fingertips!
