Comments on: Who are the real travel experts?

By: Chael

Chael — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:10:26 +0000

I think travel experts are probably just pretty comfortable with their type of travel. For instance, I travel a hell of a lot, but a travel expert’s advice won’t help me. I’m a travel expert for anyone interested in hoofin’ it, in vagabonding, hitchhiking and playing around with extreme tourism. But I can’t give good advice about hotels and and good bus and train tickets and all that jazz. So, am I a travel expert? I don’t think so!

By: Vi

Vi — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:17:23 +0000

I agree – different people need different advice. I you met local travel guide, it doesn’t mean it give you information you need.

By: richard

richard — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:22 +0000

Very interesting. There are some invaluable blogs out there but then again there is some absolute dross and so one must tread carefully. As the owner of a small hotel/hostel we obviously rely on guidebooks and bloggers and good press, but all too often we do get a “blogger” or two in the house who do nothing more than plug themselves into their laptop and refuse to leave the house. So, whatever they write is based upon their conversations with me and with other travelers in the house. If for example in my town you ask for the advice of a taxi driver he will inevitably swing you by the hotel which pays him a commission and likewise with local guides. The overriding problem with guidebooks is that there is no money any more in publishing and those writers get a lump some to work with and so “fringe” destinations get short shrift. So, as with everything, you need to check out the writers you respect and the publications that appeal to you and make an educated decision.

By: David Urmann

David Urmann — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:08:02 +0000

Who you should ask depends on what you need. Locals may not be the best bet for hotel advice as its probably outside their realm of everyday experience. On the other hand they are great for advice on things to do that you might not have thought of. Other travellers are good to get information from when it comes to finding places to stay and guides. Guide book give a good general overview. Travel agents, taxi drivers and other professionals can give good advice and be helpful but it should be taken with a grain of salt as commissions are an important motivating factor.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:46:14 +0000

Social Media is as good as anything for gettin expert advice!

By: Tracy Marescia

Tracy Marescia — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:34:18 +0000

Great post Andy… The concept ‘travel experts’ and your breakdown is very interesting. I suppose I have never really thought about who I would define as a ‘travel expert’, though I do find when planning a trip I tend to stay on the safe side and ask a travel agent, as well as family and friends who have already been to my desired destination. Though I would also have to agree with Karen that there is no one actual ‘travel expert’ in which someone can get advice on everything you may want to know, there are many sources.

By: John

John — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:56:01 +0000

Andy, guess that is why I created this Twitter profile for a post in 2009:

http://twitter.com/#!/tweetrant

Shame I’ve forgotten my password and the email account with it no longer exists.

Isn’t “triangulate” lifted from surveying? It wasn’t that much fun when I used to do surveying. Anyway, I thought we use GPS to find out where we are now. Oh wait! they use triangulation to determine position as well. That’s why you need readings from at least three satellites to get a fix.

Travel is not an exact science but is very subjective? One traveller’s heaven is another’s hell. How can anyone be an expert? OK, they can tell you that the summit of Mont Blanc is 4810 metres above sea level, or at least they could if the snow depth up there didn’t fluctuate with the weather conditions. They could tell you that a hotel has 120 rooms but only the hotel reservation system will be able to tell you if there is a double room available tonight and even that can get it wrong. They can tell you that you can ride down the Vallée Blanche from the Aiguille du Midi but unless they can show you where the hidden crevasses are what use is that?

Scientists, guides, travel bloggers, travel guide writers etc all have expertise in certain areas. The ploy of praising an audience at the start of a presentation is age old and has been employed by many great orators. I’ve seen some in action and seen the effect they have on their audience. Personally I’d like to think I’m not taken in by such methods.

By why do we need experts anyway? Most of the stories tour guides tell are a mixture of made up funny stories, myths, legends and the like. They are lapped up like a cat finding milk after being accidentally locked in the cellar for three days.

By: Abi

Abi — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:12:16 +0000

Hah! Yes, you could and I certainly don’t want to goad you into trying I know I’d get sucked in and there would go my productivity for the day Thanks for the reply – and to the others who left comments that reminded me just how enjoyable the word “triangulate” is. Happy travels, however you like to do it.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:27:34 +0000

Thanks Abi (I could have chosen a dozen more direct approaches if I had wanted to start such a debate)
I think the comment when I read it tweeted live from the event (lack of context I know) had me immediately thinking of those bloggers’ profiles that do actually use the terms ‘travel expert’ and ‘expert in travel’ (I won’t embarrass anyone).
As you, Pam and others has eloquently written, many folks have expertise within a narrow area and it’s up to us to seek out multiple sources to get the most reliable information.
And let’s not forget that while more information might lead to greater accuracy, we shouldn’t plan our travel to such a level of detail that we leave no room for spontaneity and adventure.

By: Abi

Abi — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:05:46 +0000

I’m not sure he said travel bloggers were “the” travel experts (implying better than everyone else.) I thought he said travel bloggers were travel experts (implying along with all the other useful sources mentioned here.) And the speech did then go on to discuss Pam’s points about what they were experts IN.

Andy, you wouldn’t be trying to stir up a naughty bloggers vs the world debate, would you?

For my part, I find travel blogs useful sources for either teeny tiny minutiae (eg exactly where to buy your entrance ticket to the Vatican and what you need to wear to get in) or the sweeping, overall picture (travelling long term with a baby, house-sitting, travel as a conflict specialist etc.)

For medium range information, I tend to use guide books and magazine articles. And then I always try to speak to as many people as possible – either online or off.