Living a Dream Traveling Europe

As I usually write about travels on this blog, I was interested in expanding my content to include podcast material. For this podcast, I decided to interview a CEA Study Abroad student who has traveled across the world from Denver, Colorado all the way to Barcelona, Spain. I was interested in learning more about her study abroad experience and all the different travels she has done.

Through our conversation I got to learn a lot about her favorite places in Europe and what things she might have done differently. As studying abroad can be something scary, I asked Hannah if anything about this experience has been hard for her. I know for me it can be hard at times being so far away from home. To conclude this podcast, I made sure to get Hannah’s advice for those that might be interested in partaking in this experience themselves. Feel free to listen below!

Artificial Intelligence in the Travel Industry

As artificial intelligence is growing in the world, it is starting to be more present in the world of travel. For those that don’t know, artificial intelligence is the development of computer systems that allows computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Some of these tasks include visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation, and more. With tasks being done by artificial intelligence, it can be done faster and more efficiently. This is a very positive thing for the travel and tourism industry as it can regulate certain processes and make overall experiences better for the consumer. Not only does artificial intelligence help the consumer in this situation, but it is also a big win for companies as it can save them time and money.

One way that the travel and tourism industry has taken advantage of AI is through chatbot functions on booking websites. As explained by MyTravelResearch.com

“Travelers are constantly increasing their information needs.  Apart from the growing demand for more meaningful travel experiences, they also want travel destinations and businesses to meet the demand for communication and engagement—across all media and platforms” (White 2017).

With this demand, companies needed to figure out how they could serve their customers at all times of the day. When companies use chatbots, they can answer any questions or inquiries through AI. The chatbots are able to have real conversations with humans and help solve their inquiry even when hours of operation for the company are closed. Since I have been booking a lot of tourism services within the last couple months abroad, I have encountered many different chatbots. Whether it is for my flight booking or a booking for a hotel, they were there to help even when it was two in the morning. Companies that are paving the way for others in regards to maximizing the use of Chatbots include Expedia and Kayak.

Below you can find an interview with Steve Hafner, the founder and CEO of Kayak, as he explains how he integrates AI into his company to make experiences better for the consumer.

While Kayak and Expedia have been doing well, there are many different companies who have helped transform the way people travel. Below I will highlight some of the companies that are trying to do something new.

Hopper

This company is based out of Boston and has helped revolutionize the way people book travel. This app helps consumers with the best times to book flights and hotel accommodations. The way it does this is through a predictive technology that tracks prices for the customer and alerts them when the best time to purchase is.  As I have been traveling a lot these past couple weeks, knowing about this technology would have been very helpful.

Amtrak

While many people know of this company, recently they rolled out their new service called Julie. This service helps customers with anything they might need whether it is regarding a booking or just a simple question. While Julie can answer questions for you, she can also assist in the booking process as well. This service helps speed up the process for customers on the Amtrak website and makes the overall experience more smooth. One statistic states that their Julie service generated 30% more revenue for the company.

Baarb Inc.

Based out of Los Angeles, California, this company focuses more on the hotel side of travel. Baarb understands that people can spend countless hours trying to find the right hotel that fits all of their needs so they created this company which helps match customers with the best hotel according to their needs. The company uses a tool that searches different listings across different sites to find what is best for the customer.

While these are just a few examples, many different travel companies are taking advantage of the benefits that AI can bring to their company. With artificial intelligence, tourism focused businesses can run more efficiently and essentially bring a better service to their customers. The tourism industry is such a large industry and the benefits of AI are only just beginning to scratch the surface.

Marta Llibre – An Inspiration to All

In class we had the opportunity to learn from Marta Llibre an innovator in the field of advertising and public relations. She came in and spoke to us about her passion for working with startup companies and providing them unique services. She has had many experiences in her life so far and it was interesting to learn her take on the world of public relations.

In the beginning of her presentation she posed a question to the class, “What is the typical American breakfast?” As the class stood there silent I began to think about the bacon, eggs, and toast I was craving. While at first this question seemed completely unrelated, Marta began to explain how it related to the presentation. While some might think this food fad came out of nowhere, I now know that the ‘American Breakfast’ was actually a marketing campaign. Edward Bernays, the father of PR, teamed up with Beech-Nut Packing Company to market the consumption of bacon as a essential part of the healthy diet of any American. They paired their marketing strategies with research studies, to convince Americans to purchase and consume bacon. This case study was a model for future campaigns to come as it was successful in creating credibility for a brand.

While this method created by Edward Bernays may not have been the most moral or ethical, it was successful. After hearing this I began to wonder, are all of my decisions in life influenced by factors outside of myself? The clothes I buy, the brands I support, the things I eat, I am sure that in some way or another it is influenced by factors in the marketing and public relations world. While some can see this as a bad thing, I think public relations are important for a brand as it is a way to truly connect with the consumer.

In class Marta was able to share with us her favorite marketing campaigns and I would like to do the same here. The first one I wanted to talk about was the Nike “Dream Crazier” campaign.

I am drawn to this campaign for the pure reason of emotion. This is what Nike does best. They connect deeply with their consumers.

The fact that six months after watching a two-minute video I still have a strong feeling inside of me, makes me understand that Nike is doing something right. In this campaign, Nike touches again on this idea of changing the narrative of the word ‘crazy’. While it generally conveys a negative connotation, Nike works to change people’s perception of the word to mean powerful and inspiring. “Dream Crazier” connects to women athletes all across the world to let them know that their dreams ARE crazy, but that is not a bad thing. It encourages anyone who is looking to go above and beyond to achieve their wildest dreams. One quote that stood out to me in this campaign was “So if they want to call you crazy, fine. Show them what crazy can do”. Not only did this campaign create a ripple effect in the media, but it sparked conversation all over the world.

Another campaign I personally love is the campaign by Always #LikeAGirl.

While the campaign may not have the closest ties to the product, it is another example of one that does a great job of connecting to the consumer. This video connects with every girl in the world. It empowers them to be their best self no matter the negativity that surrounds them. I fully support this message and felt that the video did a great job of connecting with the audiences emotions.

While some campaigns are promoting positive messages like these two examples listed above, some companies promote things less moral or ethic. An example of this could be the JUUL, a company that was very successful marketing nicotine to teenage kids. While the marketing tactics may have been successful in this case, they started an unhealthy trend where young kids would get addicted to nicotine.

Overall, I am appreciative of the role marketing and public relations play in my life. While they can present this information, in the end it is ultimately my decision whether I buy in or not.

Discovering Tapas In Barcelona

Tapas are a very popular style to serve food that many people around the world know about. While most people claim they know what tapas are, they might not fully understand their significance based on their origins. Tapas in the United States mean a very different thing than they do in Spain, where they originated. The word “tapas” come from the Spanish verb tapar, which means “to cover“. Back in the 19th century, tapas were served with your drink for the purpose of keeping out the bugs. A small plate would be placed on top of your drink, and a small portion of food would be placed on that plate. Based on this history, tapas were generally served to you for free, but as the concept evolved into something that appealed to tourists, now many places in Spain do not offer tapas for free with your drink. From a business standpoint, tapas were also a way to increase sales for a restaurant. The traditional tapas was a thinly sliced piece of bread with a piece of meat on top. This meat was usually a salty piece of meat which increases ones thirst, thus making them more inclined to order more drinks for themselves. Very smart of a business to do if you ask me!

While the origin of tapas comes from the need to cover a drink for preservation, there are many different stories and tales that have come about as an explanation of the birth of the food. One tale that I find very interesting is the one about King Alfonso X of Castile. It is said that the King was very ill at one time and because of this, could only consume foods in small amounts paired with wine. After doing this, his condition improved and he got better. Since the method of eating small plates with wine was seen to be so successful, the King proclaimed that alcohol could not be served without food.

As I mentioned before, tapas means a very different thing in the United States. Coming from America, I always had the perception that tapas was just a way to serve a dinner. To me, it meant small plates that you share with others over a meal. While it is a similar concept that derived from its origins, in Spain tapas are not seen as a meal. The other difference comes from the cost as a tapas meal in the states can be pretty pricey, while in Spain it is very affordable.

Since I did not have much knowledge on tapas and their origins before coming into Spain, I decided to attend a tapas workshop to increase my knowledge. This workshop allowed me the opportunity to not only learn about the history, but also get my first hands on experience making actual tapas.

At the workshop I was placed at station number 2 to make Tuna Stuffed Piquillo peppers. At the station with me was another student named Hannah Zuckerman. Below you can find an interview of her experience making the tapas and what her favorite part about the workshop was.

Take a look at all of the amazing tapas made by students in CEA. In the picture you can find some popular tapas dishes including Gazpacho,  Calamari, the Spanish Omelette, Garlic Bread, the Tuna Stuffed Peppers explained before, and Deviled Eggs.

Below you can also find a short video showing the process of how a similar tapas dish is made. As you can see it is quick and easy for any beginner cook to make. This dish follows the format of what a traditional tapa would look like with a small dish on top of a piece of bread.

Another student that attended the tapas workshop was Kristen Koff. She dives in to her experience at this workshop with all the new things she learned and why she would recommend this experience to anyone interested in learning more about Spanish tapas.

As Kristen mentioned, there are three sizes of tapas dishes that we were taught about in the workshop. These sizes include the tapa size, which is the smallest serving, the media ración which is a more sharable size, and the ración which is closer to the size of a main dish.

After attending the workshop, I was even more intrigued with tapas and wanted to learn more. With so many tapas available in Barcelona, it was important to learn some basic dishes that wouldn’t disappoint.

While this video helps you with what to order, the more important question is where to order from. After doing some research, I have put together a list of the top 5 tapas bars in Barcelona that you MUST visit.

Bar Cañete 

Located in Raval, this place holds the number one spot as it is talked about by both locals and tourists. It has a reputation of being a local joint but still serves tourist in the earlier hours. They offer a variety of traditional tapas and they get their ingredients fresh from Catalan markets.

As you can see, people have great things to say about this restaurant!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQoQEOBDNGd/

Jai-Ca

The second on the list is Jai-Ca located in the Barceloneta neighborhood. This is the place to go if you love seafood. They offer three different kinds of fried squid along with dishes such as steamed mussels, clams, fried anchovies, or other meat options.

Bar del Pla 

One spot that will most likely spark in most people’s mind when asked about best tapas is Bar del Pla. This place is an amazing mixture of great service, high quality food, good wine, and an atmosphere you can definitely vibe with. Some of the best sellers on their menu include the squid-ink croquettes, or the mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette.

Cal Pep 

This place, located in the Born neighborhood, is a little different than others suggested, but definitely worth a try! When you arrive it is normal to find long lines of locals waiting at the door and when walking into this restaurant you will not get a traditional menu, so it is up to you to give your waiter some creative freedom. Recommended dishes at Cal Pep include clams and ham and the combo of calamares.

This restaurant is so good that even famous people like Edward Weeks come in and stop by. He has nothing but good things to say about this establishment!

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The art of swearing…. probably the most enjoyable review we have read ever. Thank you @edwardweeks. For the enjoy of our friends, this is it: “So there is this little Catalan restaurant in Barcelona called Cal Pep. It opens at 7:30 on the dot and for at least half an hour before people are queuing up for a dining spot at the 20-seater bar. It serves, and forgive me if this is overly sweary, the best fucking food I have ever eaten in my godforfuckingsaken life, fuck it all. Here are some snapshots of the meal, artfully filtered to counter the blurriness of the Rioja with which they kept attacking my glass. The dark thing on toast is a swirl of sea-gooddamn-salted chocolate. The fried potatoes accompanying the steak: thinner and oilier than a politician’s promises. Also: a photo with the inimitable and revered Jose. Also: a video of me squishing into the most unctuous Spanish omelette ever conceived. I have problems, I know.

A post shared by Cal Pep (@calpepbcn) on

Quimet y Quimet 

Another well recommended restaurant is Quimet y Quimet restaurant located in the neighborhood of Poble Sec. This places holds some history as it is still run by a family with roots going as far back as 1914. With generations of food stashed into the menu, this tapas spot is sure to impress.

While you can’t go wrong with any tapas spot in Barcelona, these spots are sure to give you great food with an authentic experience. Hopefully after learning more about what tapas is and where you can find the best dishes, you will be more inclined to come visit Spain. In the end it doesn’t matter how nice the restaurant looks, what matters more is the authentic experience and great tasting food!

How I Got Broken Abroad

I have had so much fun being abroad and traveling to new places. I have been immersed in not only the Catalan and Spanish culture in Barcelona, but also many different cultures as I travel on most weekends to new places in Europe. Some of the places I have traveled to include; London, Berlin, Dublin, Milan, Nice, and Interlaken. I have loved each and every place I have visited because of the new culture I get to experience, and the things I get to see. Unfortunately, not every trip goes as planned, as there are always risks when traveling. The risk of getting your stuff stolen, the risk of missing your flight, maybe the risk of getting ripped off, but for me I ran into the worst one of them all, the risk of getting hurt.Image result for interlaken switzerland winter

In early February, my roommate and I decided on a whim on a Tuesday evening that we wanted to go to Switzerland that weekend to experience ~the~ Interlaken, Switzerland. I had never heard of this place before, but from what I had seen from friends, this was a popular place to go for study abroad students. Since we didn’t think we were going to make it out there any other weekend, and we had that weekend free, we gathered up our credit cards, went to easyjet.com and booked our flight!

We were excited, thrilled that we were going to be able to make it to this amazing place and we felt accomplished altering finding such cheap airfare for booking it 3 days in advance. In my book, that was a win.

Our plan was to fly to Geneva, train to Interlaken, spend a night or two there, and then take the same route home. When we got there we were thinking of all the fun things we could do and assessing which option was worth it for the price. On our first day in Interlaken we walked around and saw the beautiful scenery, went to a chocolate show at Schuh Chocolatier and ate some amazing Swiss chocolate, went ice skating in the town center at Ice Magic Interlaken, enjoyed dinner and traditional music, and then went to get Swiss fondue that a local had suggested to us. It was an overall amazing day and I was excited for what the rest of our trip was to hold. Below you can find a slideshow of the chocolate show and the silly pictures we took while skating!

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Since our first day in Interlaken was more low-key, we decided we wanted to do something adventurous for the next day. After looking at kayaking, paragliding, sky-diving and skiing, we decided skiing would be our best bet as it was possibly the only option that was not already sold out. While I had not had much experiencing skiing in my life, I decided to be ambitious and just go for it! In retrospect, maybe this was not the best idea.

So the next morning we woke up, packed our stuff and headed out to a mountain called Grindelwald to spend our day skiing. Excitement was high, the nerves were running through my body and I loved it as I am someone who is always seeking adventure. ‘Who cares that I don’t know how to ski’ I was thinking in my head, ‘I will learn, how hard can it really be’. Well, little did I know.

We get suited up, head up the mountain, and there we are ready to go on our first slope. I was with my two friends who were more advanced skiers, and as I learned about the levels of difficulty of the slope, my motto for the day was ‘stay on blue!’. Unfortunately, our first attempt at this was not successful. With the way in which the slopes run, they all cross each other and somehow we ended up on one of the more difficult red trails. As we are going down the mountain and I am picking up speed, I see a steep drop ahead of me. At this point, I was scared. It was at this point that I realized I didn’t have this in the bag, skiing actually takes some skill! The only thing I could think to do at the time was stop myself so that I didn’t pick up more speed and possibly incur a worse injury down the road. So I took my pole, stuck it in front of my ski, and proceeded to flip over on the mountain. Below is an actual picture of me second after I fractured my humerus!

Little did I know this one decision on the slopes of the Swiss Alps would change the rest of my abroad experience.

Citizen Journalism in the Traveling Mind

Citizen journalism is a new thing that has risen out of the Web 2.0 era. It is a way for people to informally report for others to see. Sometimes this kind of reporting can be seen as reliable and trustworthy, and sometimes not, but it all depends on the source on information and the content that is being written about.

The era of information sharing is in full effect, especially with millennials and young people who love the internet and social media. People love to share what they are doing with others, whether it is relevant or not. More importantly, people love to share their opinions. Citizen journalism is a great way for people to voice their opinions to the world in hopes that someone will listen and take their thoughts into account.

One sector where this is really prevalent is in the tourism industry. Once someone has experienced something, whether at their hotel or at a restaurant, people love to share their thoughts about it. There is a saying that goes something like, if someone have something good to say they will tell one person, but if they have something bad to say, they will tell 10. A statement by Inc.com summarizes it very well.

A customer who has a negative experience is highly likely to share that experience by leaving a bad review. A customer who has a positive experience, on the other hand, is unlikely to leave a good review. In my experience, only one in 10 happy customers leaves a good review

In my personal experience, I find this very true. Every time I have had a good experience I might share it, but it is not worth sharing because I expect good experiences. On the contrary, every time I have a terrible experience I want to tell everyone because it was shocking to me and I don’t want others to go there anymore. While I never tend to use sites to review places, below you can find my 1 star review of a restaurant because I was so pissed at their service and product.

This form of citizen journalism is helpful when I go to book my weekend trips. Since you cannot always rely on what a website says, it feels more personal to hear the opinions of others who have partaken in the experience you are about to book. This past weekend I went to Dublin, Ireland and before I booked my sleeping accommodations, I went to TripAdvisor to see some reviews. Below you can find some of the reviews I looked at, some good and some bad.

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When it comes to citizen journalism, you can’t believe it all. With these reviews, it is important to take into account which accounts are reliable. While some rate the Abbey Court Hostel 5 stars, and others rate it 1 star, it is essential that a traveler understands that these are person takes on an establishment.

While researching my trip, it was also important to research other aspects. Another thing I looked into was things to do in Dublin while I was there. One tool I found very helpful in this research process was Quora Digest. This website was filled with peoples opinions and suggestions on the best things to do in Dublin. Below you can find some of the most helpful responses.

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While most forms of citizen journalism need to be taken with a grain of salt, it is helpful to have access to the reporting’s and opinion’s of others. Without this type of journalism, it could be hard to make travel decisions because you would have no form of reliable commentary.

Making the Most of Your Vacation

Since I have been abroad, I have learned that traveling can be a lot harder and more stressful than you think. While it can be stressful to book a flight and find all of your accommodations, it is key that before you go on a trip you do some research beforehand. I have learned this lesson the hard way.

My first trip with my friends while being abroad was to London. This was the first time a lot of us had to find and book a flight on our own, our first time finding a place to stay, and our first time figuring out how to pack for a weekend in such a small bag. We didn’t know a lot about the city other than things it was famous for like the Buckingham Palace or the London Eye, and we also didn’t know where the best place to stay was. With such little knowledge, we just began to book things based on how they looked and more importantly, how much they cost.

Little did we know this was not the best way to travel. The place we booked to stay was a lot further outside the city center than we had thought, public transportation was expensive and confusing, and we found ourselves scrambling around the city and searching google every day for the best things to do. We booked an Airbnb outside the city because it was cheaper and we wanted to save money, but in the end, we spent so much money on Uber that it would have probably cost the same, or even less, to stay in a better location. On top of everything, we also booked our flight for an airport that was an hour drive and $100 cab away.

While in London, we definitely learned a lot of things that could help us for our future travels. One thing that we learned to use was an app called CityMapper. This app helps you get around the city using different methods of transportation including taxis, busses, trains, walking and more. With this app, we were able to get around smarter and quicker. Overall, the biggest regret we had was that we didn’t do more research pre-departure so that we could make the most of our time while traveling and have the best experience possible.

After learning this lesson, my friends and I have had better experiences while traveling. This weekend, my friend and I traveled to Nice, France. Before leaving, we made an itinerary  for our weekend so that we could pack the most into our short time there, and get to do all the things we had hoped. TripAdvisor became our best friend as we were looking for the hot spots to visit and the best places to eat.

After doing research, we booked an Airbnb that was 15 minutes outside the city center, but located right next to the tram that could take us everywhere we wanted to go. We researched this public transportation before and learned that for only 15 euros you can get an unlimited pass to ride not only the tram but also the busses, or buy a 10-ticket pass for 10 euros. In our itinerary, we decided we wanted to spend a day in Monaco. To ensure the best experience, we researched the best way to get from Nice to Monaco and then also what the best things to in Monaco were.

Here is a video that explains some tips for those first time travelers, or just those, like me, who had no idea how to travel smart.

In the end, my friends and I had such a better experience because we knew what we wanted to do, how we needed to do it, and how much it would cost. If nothing else, doing pre-departure research gave us a peace of mind while we traveled. For all those looking to book trips in the near future, I hope this helped you out a little bit. Safe travels!

Live Like Valentí

Valentí Sanjaun is an inspiration for many reasons. When he came to talk to our classroom, I got to learn a lot about him including his backstory, and what drives him to accomplish new goals every day. Valentí’s story is unlike anything I have ever heard, as it is filled with a unique passion and drive to live every day to the fullest. The things he accomplishes on a daily basis seem to be more than I am capable in a lifetime, and because of these reasons, it is important that we all strive to live like Valentí.

Valentí Sanjuan started his career in journalism at a radio station. He thought this was what he wanted to do, until one day he got fired. Little did he know, this would end up being the best thing that has ever happened to him. Because of this event, Valentí was able to find his true passion. He took his career in journalism and manifested it into a different outlet, social media. He took his skills and decided to start a brand for himself using Instagram and Youtube.

Journalists are story tellers and Valentí sought out with the mission to tell a unique story, something people have never seen before. It all began with a bucket list. One of the things on that bucket list was to run an Ironman so he signed up with two months to train. From there, started the journey of a lifetime.

Valentí set out to create a brand for himself, and tell the world a story that was worth listening to. While it began with an Ironman, and progressed to Ultraman’s and combinations of the two, it became so much more than that. It became a story bigger than himself. He realized the true value was in those around him. While incorporating his passion for adventure, he would interview people he met along his journey and share their story with the world. Valentí would use the technique of mobile journalism to tell stories of people losing their legs or those overcoming cancer, but still having the courage to participate in these races. While using mobile journalism, Valentí was able to encapsulate a more personal and itimate story to tell. Because these stories connected closer with people’s empathy, they were able to bring in a different audience for Valentí and in the long term, increased his popularity. As he stated in our class, “real stories touch everyone”, and these stories are what helped shape Valentí as a brand and bring in an audience to listen.

Journalists are the bridge between commoners and the content of the world. While some may think journalists are only those paid to be on TV, or the radio stations, I believe anyone can be a journalist. If you have a story worth telling and you have the resources to tell it, then you are a journalist worth listening to. Valentí took on the challenge of creating a name for himself, and while it took a lot of time and effort, it was worth it to share his content. In his life, Valentí did a great job of turning what could have been the worst experience of his life into a real success story. This says a lot about his character. By living by the words “Less head, more heart”, Valentí was able to accomplish it all.

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From this story, I have learned that you can truly do anything you put your mind to. While some things may actually seem impossible, they will only be impossible if you are stuck in that mindset. Life is a mental game, and if you play it right, you can accomplish more than you could have ever imagined. I have also learned that journalism can take many forms. Before this class, I would not have considered this form of storytelling to be journalism. Now that I have learned more about what journalism really is, it is clear to me that this form of content sharing is one of the most interesting forms of journalism out there.

Google as the Ultimate Tool for Travelers

Imagine what you would do without Google at your fingertips? No quick suggestions on where to eat near you, or help with finding the best tourist attractions to visit. If you didn’t already know, Google rules the world, and it has done a hell of a job making all of our lives a lot easier. Google is so essential in our lives that in 2006, the dictionary introduced the verb ‘Google it‘ to its index.  What do you do when you don’t know the answer to any mind boggling question in the world — just Google it. 

Not only is Google a platform for people to search infinite amounts of topics, but Google itself has created many different tools that assist the every day traveler. From things as simple as Google Maps, all the way to a system that can help a traveler book flights and hotels, Google really does have it all. 

In the beginning, Google assisted travelers in a very simplistic way. They provided travelers with things like Google Maps, Google Translate, or Google Calendar to help travelers with the simple things. Google Maps is helpful for pre-departure research, and can also be used in the moment when looking to get from one place to another. It can help a traveler get from their hotel to their tourist attraction and back. For those traveling outside of their home country, Google Translate can be very helpful. Not only does this tool translate what you type into it, but it can also translate language from pictures or audio. This is a big step from when Google Translate was first created and languages had to be translated into English as an intermediary step language, and even after translated, it wasn’t guaranteed that the grammar was correct. Now, Google Translate can help travelers feel more comfortable when they are traveling, knowing that they will be able to understand the basic language and can even attempt to speak it if they wish. 

Just when you thought it could not get any better, in 2016, Google launched the app Google Trips. This technology is basically the right man hand for any traveler on the go. It’s like a personal travel assistant with you at all times. And the best part is, once everything has been worked out, you can save the data for offline usage. Watch below to get a better understanding of how the technology works. 

As a young traveler who is starting to plan all of my trips on my own, without my parents or any professional help, this app sounds like it would take a lot of stress out of the process. Before I came abroad to Spain, all of my traveling had been with family or on an organized trip. Because of that, I had the luxury of having everything planned out for me. From the outside, traveling seems fun and effortless, but once I had to start planning everything on my own, it became very stressful. I was always questioning if I was spending the right amount of money, if I was looking at an Airbnb in the right neighborhood, or how my friends and I were going to see everything we wanted to in one day. Even some of my trips didn’t turn out to be as successful as I would have hoped because of poor planning. It’s not that we didn’t do enough research, more that we did not have the right tools to give us the answers we needed.

With this app, I wouldn’t have to question any of my travel decisions  anymore. As explained on The Verge, the basis of this app isn’t just about planning the trip beforehand, but also being there for the user during the trip. One thing that my friends and I always struggle with when we are traveling is our service. With this app, we could plan everything before we leave, and even without service, we would still be able to access all of the information we saved. No more waiting for my connection to come back or for the page to load!

In the end, I feel like Google is always working to better my life and the lives of those around me. If I’m being honest here, I am not sure where we would be today without our best friend Google. So go see the world, and let Google handle the rest for you!

The Power of Social Media on Travelers Decisions

Social media is a powerful tool, much more powerful than we even know and understand. More and more these days, people are looking to social media to enhance aspects of their lives. Whether it is their restaurant decisions, what to do with their hair, what music to listen to, what clothes to buy or, of course, what places to travel to; social media plays a large part whether we recognize it or not. People are more reliant than ever on the internet because of social media, a place where people are able to share the vast experiences of their lives.

While travel decisions used to be made based off of extensive research and online resources, nowadays, millennials have been looking towards social media for their travel inspirations. While marketers can advertise an experience, to users, it seems distant from what they might be expecting. By looking at a real picture, users feel that they can connect more with the content. In an article on Olapic, the author calls this user generated content, or UGC. This content is very valuable to one creating a travel plan as it can open one’s eyes to discovering hotels, deals, restaurants, and overall how to vacation in a certain location. With this shift from advertising to a more personal experience, marketers have had to team up with social media influencers to gain the attention of millennials.

As you can see below, travel influencers use beautiful, aesthetically pleasing pictures to attract viewers to want to go to that specific location. Even if there really isn’t a lot to do in those locations, the pictures create an allure for the user that they then want to try to recreate themselves.

 

While some users might just stumble upon pictures on social media, this article even explains how users now use social media as a research tool during pre-vacation, during the vacation, and post vacation. Before they leave for their vacation, users use social media to do things like find a hotel, find activities and find the best restaurants to go to. During the vacation, activities on social media include posting pictures, updating one’s status on Facebook, or even checking into one’s location. And of course, post-vacation, users post all their pictures on social media to let everyone know how great of a time they had and how good they looked…even if they didn’t. 

After being abroad in Spain for over a month now, I feel that I can relate very closely with this. Not only have I chosen to travel certain places because I saw some amazing pictures on Instagram or Facebook, but I have also posted more pictures on social media than I ever have before because I want to show others the amazing time I have been having. Even after I have posted pictures, I have gotten messages from distant friends who are also studying abroad, asking where I went and then telling me they were planning on going just because they saw my pictures and thought the places were beautiful. I could have had the worst time of my life when I traveled to a location, but as long as I posted a good picture, people would instantly want to be where I am.

This seems pretty representative of this social media trend. It’s not really about the experience that one had traveling to a location, but more about what they want to portray either through a picture or set of pictures. Instagram influencers literally get paid to post beautiful pictures which have been proven to influence people to travel to those locations. In the end, we don’t really know anything about the experience that they had there, just the edited version of what it looked like. 

From this idea, one company even went on to create a travel agency just based out of Instagram. Below you can learn more about this company and how they came to be. 

If you are interested in following the trend of Instagram travel accounts, here my recommendations of good accounts to follow. Whether they inspire your travel decisions or not, live vicariously through these beautiful pictures!

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norwegian cabin goals. #norway

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Took a quick pit stop in Bangkok for 2 nights before heading north to Chiang Rai. You’ve probably seen the news about Bangkok being so smoggy that they had to shut schools – I could definitely feel the smog more than usual but to be honest it didn’t feel too crazy. Here’s a shot of me inhaling the smog from the 56th floor of the Lebua hotel 😷 swipe across for the vid! I’d just like to point out that me doing stuff like this isn’t encouraging others to do the same. I know my own capabilities – if you see someone doing backflips off a huge cliff it doesn’t mean you should do it too. Unless of course you know you’re capable then it’s your choice🤘🏼if you’re using this crazy thing called the internet then I’d hope you’re responsible enough to know not to copy every single thing you see online.

A post shared by JACK MORRIS (@doyoutravel) on

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