Trover: My Top Visual Travel Planning App for Authentic Discoveries
As a long-term traveler who's been backpacking for nearly five years—far beyond my original one-year plan—I've gradually moved away from traditional guidebooks. Once inseparable companions like Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, and DK Eyewitness, they've become outdated and generic, lacking genuine insider insights. I still use Lonely Planet's Southeast Asia on a Shoestring for maps and transport details on my current Asia trip, but for inspiration, I turn to the web. It's fresher, more visual, and fueled by fellow travelers' recommendations—including yours, dear readers.
Visuals drive my decisions. A compelling photo from a Google Image search often seals a spot on my 'must-see' list. In Sri Lanka, Lonely Planet noted a Jaffna Hindu temple without images—a quick search convinced me to detour. I loved Foursquare for crowd-sourced tips via GPS, but its Swarm integration complicated sharing, dimming my enthusiasm.
Enter Trover: a visual, crowd-sourced travel guide blending travel, photography, and social networking. It's perfect for sharing and discovering favorite spots.
Users worldwide upload geotagged photos of cool finds ('discoveries'), updated daily. Browse 'Nearby Discoveries,' filter by sights, food, or bars, and get maps or directions via Google Maps or Apple Maps. I've used it extensively in weeks: sharing my own tips and following trusted bloggers.
Its Pinterest-like interface shines with clean visuals and real utility—descriptions accompany photos, unlike vague Pinterest pins. Ask questions in comments for direct responses.
In Helsinki, Trover outshone Foursquare: more sights (vs. Foursquare's 7), stunning layouts, and gems like an organ sculpture or love locks bridge.
Sharing Discoveries on Trover
Trover excels for sharing: upload photos with tips, create geotagged lists like my Sri Lanka top 10 or ongoing Berlin guide. Effortless via app or web—geotagging handles locations automatically.
Follow lists from Chile, Israel, and more to come.
Room for Improvement
As crowd-sourced, quality varies—some lack descriptions, popular spots dominate over off-beat ones like the Philippines. Guidebooks stay for now. Trover incentivizes excellence with monthly contests (e.g., '$1,500 best beach photo').
Using Trover? Share your profile link below!
