The 9 must-haves for successful new travel guides
Last weekend Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (AD) published a large news spread in their weekend magazine about ‘the new travel guides’ and their features. And the good news is… Favoroute is one of the examples given! With 9 features, they explain the new characteristics of the travel guide 2.0:
The new travel guides are weightless and can be brought along on a phone and/or tablet. What used to be a cumbersome additional weight in travel luggage is now available in the convenience of our pockets. Nowadays, mobile devices are ubiquitous – they’re often considered a fifth limb! Consequently, travellers not only have their guidebooks with them during their trip, but with them always. In addition to a reduced physical burden, users can research, read and enjoy their guide book at their convenience and leisure, whenever and wherever they like – the commute home from work just got that much more inspiring with a Favoroute guidebook always available to browse through!
Online travel guides are interactive with the availability of (Google) maps, which makes it easier to zoom in on a location on the map. Whilst hard copy guides may have a variety of maps from a country, to a specific region, down to neighbourhoods within a city, the new online travel guides have the precious functionality of being able to zoom in on entire maps where users see useful for their own purposes. Favoroute knows just how much we all appreciate a good map and allows users to browse and zoom to their heart’s desire.
Since all the travel guides are digital and online, the price of the guides is lower compared to traditional printed guidebooks, such as Lonely Planet or Columbus. Digital materials allow costs such as printing to be avoided entirely and these savings are directly passed on to valued customers. With no overhead costs such as retail locations, warehouses and traditional logistical expenses, customers can be offered a fantastic price! The lower price however, has no impact on the quality – at Favoroute we make sure of it!
With maps, photos, audio options and even videos, the new travel guides are more interactive than the standard printed guidebooks by a mile. Links taking users to related pages and more in-depth information allow for a fully rounded experience, engaging them and giving them a truly wholesome product. Want to find out more about that point of interest in your Favoroute guide? Click on it to discover photos and all the details!
Find the best given tips easily on a zoomable and interactive map. You don’t need to be afraid of roaming costs, at Favoroute most of the guidebooks also work offline! Geolocation lets users see points of interest in their area as well as their own location on a map. Not only this, it can also give users information relevant to their real-time position so they can find out more about sights nearby, public transport available and where to grab a bite to eat. The usefulness of geolocation cannot be overstated for those in entirely unfamiliar environments and especially for those lacking a good sense of direction!
Some of the guidebook apps even go the extra mile and add some augmented reality to their guides. Examples include receiving a notification you’re close to a nice recommended spot, or you can use your phone’s camera to find out additional information about what you see in front of you! This truly immerses users in the environment around them like never before.
Online guidebooks have the possibility to be continually updated, unlike traditional print books with reprints too few and far between. Authors can easily access their guides to add new openings, events and tips as they develop, or remove spots that are no longer open for business. There’s nothing more frustrating for users who plan their visit only to be met with disappointment when they discover a tip is no longer relevant. Often, a guide can be the basis upon which someone plans their trips, so it’s of vital importance that all tips and advice are up-to-date and of good quality. At Favoroute, we pride ourselves on ensuring all our guides are up-to-date!
Print guides – in the pursuit of serving a large market in one offering – often lack the tailoring that online guidebooks have the freedom to explore in depth. Favoroute furthers this element of personalisation by allowing users to search via their own preferred travel style. Whether they are going travelling with the sole purpose of wining and dining like a king or if they’re looking for the route for their next road trip of a lifetime, the app allows users to easily find guides for a range of locations that suit their personal tastes.
With guides written by locals in cities and towns all over the world, guidebooks are no longer solely the realm of professional travel journalists. Local expertise and tips give readers the most authentic experience and the chance to visit destinations from the perspective of someone who was born and bred in that place, a once rare – but forever valuable – opportunity that is now becoming accessible to more and more people. Gone are the days when you might struggle to interact with the locals, with Favoroute you now have one who has written you a personal guide in your pocket!
To get on board with travel guides 2.0 check out Favoroute and discover your next destination like never before!
The 9 must-haves for successful new travel guides was originally published on Favoroute-blog
