We were at a wedding recently, and I overheard one of the guest triumphantly declare that he was “anti-tech.” I snickered to myself and went about my business. At the time, I didn’t think much about his comment, as there was an open bar that needed my patronage.
Now, though, as I sit typing this post, I realize just how pro-tech I am. Look, I get that there’s always going to be people who rebel against the mainstream, and I do think people, including myself, spend way too much time on their phones, tablets, and computers, but to denounce technology entirely is a bizarre stance, in my opinion. Just look at the travel space, for example. In just a few years, we’re in a place where traditional print travel guides are no longer needed (I’ll always love them though), and you can now fuel-wanderlust from your phone while waiting in line at Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte.
It’s an exciting time for travel, and part of that has to do with sites like Trover, which, as far as I can tell, is the world’s first social travel guide. Good photography and an active community are all hallmarks of the photo-based social network that is designed for curious wanderers. Before Trover launched in 2011, there weren’t a lot of options for travelers to share details about their favorite spots, beyond blogs and forums. Trover co-founders Rich Barton and Jason Karas realized this and set out to create a space that provides information as well as inspiration for fellow travelers. The result is a robust community, who now has an outlet to share and chat about what they love most: travel. And I think that’s what I like most about Trover. I see it as the natural evolution from the informative, but stale travel forums of my youth that were tedious to sift through.
Trover embraces the community, allowing for more detailed descriptions of favorite spots without having to click through a photo that may or may not lead to the information.
The other thing I really like about Trover is that it automatically taps into my location when I select the “What’s Hot” category. In an instant, I’m getting a pin board of photos about locations right around me, and I as I scroll down the distance expands. It’s a feature that works well at home, as well as when I’m on the road, since it instantly connects me with travelers who have been (or have connections) to the city I’m in. Beyond that, it’s really easy to build lists for particular destinations or must-visit destinations, while being able to connect with fellow travelers.
For those of you just hearing about Trover for the first time, welcome, you’re in for a treat. And for everyone else who is already a user, give us a follow and we’ll do the same.
3 comments
I heard about Trover when it first launched and dismissed it bc the thought of trying to manage another social media network hurts my brain. This one sounds worthwhile though esp bc I hate clicking through shortlinks before I know what an article is about. Thx will check it out again
I love the What’s Hot feature on Trover as well. It’s great when I’m in a new spot and want to know what people are talking about quickly — I reckon there’s a few spots I would have missed out on because I was too disorganised to research beforehand if I hadn’t had Trover around.
I love that the quality of photography is pretty high as well. As much as I like Instagram, I really enjoy not having to see hot dog legs. And it’s got a leg up on Pinterest because photos are a lot more likely to be labelled correctly (unlike, say, my Bay Bridge photo that appears all over Pinterest as the ‘Chesapeake Bay Bridge.’
Im a Pinterest girl, and I’ve been reluctant to try Trover since I tend to end up procrastinating on these sites instead of doing work. It sounds like Trover is actually helpful for more than inspiration though, so I think I need to check it out.
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