TripAdvisor, Gogobot Facebook apps share travel tips
— -- Think that you just haven't shared enough of your travel experiences on Facebook?
Now you can share even more with Facebook's introduction of five travel apps that let users post on their profile pages — or Timelines — where they've been or plan to go and what advice they're seeking.
The apps include travel planning websites Gogobot and Wipolo, travel review site TripAdvisor, short-term rental site Airbnb and interactive map Where I've Been.
They are among 60 lifestyle apps that Facebook introduced on its Timeline last week ( USA TODAY + Me was one of the new news apps). Timeline itself has been around only since mid-December, and Facebook plans to add many more new apps, says Carl Sjogreen, product manager at Facebook.
Once you've signed up for an app, a box will appear on your Timeline and post your activities in real time. To protect your privacy, you can control who sees your updates and what appears on your Timeline.
We tried out Gogobot and TripAdvisor, which had an earlier version of a Facebook app in 2007. TripAdvisor's app revolves around a Cities I've Visited map, which allows you to click on cities and categorize them as places you've visited, want to visit and consider as favorite destinations. For each city, you also can click on and rate specific locales you've visited.
Gogobot has its variation of those features but takes it a few steps further, letting you create a trip plan and ask for advice. Another unique feature: The more you post on your Timeline, the more Gogobot Travel Expertise points you get to indicate to other users that you're a trustworthy source.
Trust in online reviews has been shaken. TripAdvisor has faced complaints about fraudulent reviews.
Travis Katz, chief executive officer of Gogobot, says what distinguishes Gogobot from sites such as TripAdvisor is that the reviews and advice are coming from friends, not strangers.
But there's one flaw in that argument: Anyone can connect with you on Gogobot — or on Facebook, for that matter.
In this digital age, the definition of a "friend" has become murky. Most of the recommendations for Italian cities to visit and hotels to stay in that we asked for on Gogobot came from people we didn't know.
Adam Medros, TripAdvisor's vice president of global products, says getting advice from friends is great, but when you want to go to Istanbul and not one friend has been there, "We always can fall back on the wisdom of crowds."
Here's what we found about TripAdvisor, Gogobot:
TripAdvisor
Overview: Lets you post on your Timeline where you've been, where you want to go and where you love going.
Pros: Easy to use. Simple rating system of one to five stars for attractions, restaurants and hotels. You can peek at friends' maps.
Cons: You have to go directly to TripAdvisor.com to write the full reviews that the site is known for or to post photos, and neither will appear on your Timeline, at least during the initial roll-out.
Takeaway: Think of it as TripAdvisor Light. If you don't want to sort through the millions of reviews on TripAdvisor's website, turn to the app and see how only your Facebook friends rate destinations.
Gogobot
Overview: Your online passport shows friends where you've been. Also lets you plan trips.
Pros: Very interactive. Lets you post questions. Has quirky features such as giving you a badge for a particular activity (i.e., a Shutterbug Badge for posting a photo). Your photos and reviews appear on your Timeline.
Cons: There's a lot going on, and it can look cluttered. Points are awarded for quantity rather than quality of reviews, though the number of people who've liked your recommendations is a factor.
Takeaway: Fun way to boast about where you've been and get travel advice from friends, or quasi-friends.
Is there a product, app or website you'd like the Digital Traveler to review? Send us an e-mail at travel@usatoday.com.
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