On Trover, and Travel Planning, And Where to Go Next

Have you guys heard of Trover?

If you’re switched on to what’s hot in travel, social media, or extremely addictive apps, chances are yes. (And don’t hold my personal track record for being switched on to anything hot against it, mkay? It’s not my fault no one told me what Snapchat was until mid-2014! And tons of people make the mistake of thinking Tinder is a brand of e-cigarette! Right! No? Guys?)

Basically, Trover is the ultimate travel planning tool and social media application for travelers. The photography-based app allows users to share visual travel ‘discoveries’, which fellow Trovers hoping to follow in their footsteps can then curate into to pinboard-like ‘lists’ for their own travel inspiration. Travel planning with Trover is intuitive and deliciously visual — and bloggers can’t stop talking about it. Caz at Y Travel Blog has a thorough guide to Trover’s many features, Charli at Wanderlusters has an awesome list of Trovers to follow, and Becki at Borders of Adventure has a great rundown of how to use the app for planning.

As I browsed through Trover and played with the various features I found I was subconsciously drawn to discoveries from two specific regions of the world. Unsurprisingly, they are the two regions that are currently pulling at my heartstrings and competing for the next big open space on my calendar. A few of you have started asking what’s next for me, and I’ve remained a bit coy about what’s on my mind. Well, I think we all knew that couldn’t last long.

Where will I spend the first five months of 2015 — Central America or Southeast Asia? I took to Trover to daydream.

Daydreaming Away on Trover

Initially, yes, I was drawn towards certain discoveries because they featured jaw-dropping photography — the kind that makes you think “I need to go THERE!” and next thing you know you’re booking a flight — but the great thing about Trover is that it goes below the surface. Unlike Instagram (where searching for a country name under hashtags will pull up a million duckfaced teenage selfies from that fine nation), and Pinterest (where searching for a country will bring up loads of drool-worthy images of places with zero information on how to get there), Trover goes deep.

In putting together my Central America inspiration list, I realized that I must do a yoga retreat on Isla Ometepe in Nicaragua, I scouted out the perfect cliff-side apartment rental on Lago Atitlán in Guatemala, I made a mental note to hit up the Smoky Mermaid bar in Belize, and I vowed to see the turquoise waters of the Santa Ana volcano in El Salvador. As I combed through the lists, discoveries and geotags of my fellow Trovers, I felt myself mentally packing my bags for another Latin American expedition.

Central America Travel Inspiration – a photo list by Alexandra Baackes

And then I started a Southeast Asia board. Um, I’ve spent a couple collective years of my life here at this point! How did I not know about the stunning hiking in Ninh Binh, Vietnam? How did I miss out on the mango alohas at Lazy Sundae in Pai? How have I lived without laying eyes on the tribal horses of Mount Bromo, Indonesia? (Thank goodness that I now realize I’ll have to arrive super early in order jokey for the best views of said mountain from the overlook at Gunung Penanjakan!) And how is it humanly possible that this train-loving travel blogger didn’t know about Goteik Viaduct, the highest railway bridge in Myanmar? Perhaps I shouldn’t start brushing up on my Spanish after all.

Southeast Asia Travel Inspiration – a photo list by Alexandra Baackes

Nope, it’s not all about the beautiful photos — the knowledge shared on Trover is what makes it so valuable. One sweet bonus? Many high quality bloggers contribute, and share links to helpful posts on their site for even further info.

Posting Discoveries to Trover

Now of course, once I read everyone else’s fab travel tips and soaked up all their inspiration, I wanted to get in on the fun too! (Me, wanting to overshare travel secrets and inundate the world with my photos? Shocking, I know.)

Posting discoveries couldn’t be simpler — you simply upload a photo from your computer or your Facebook account, add the geo-tagged location, and then dash off your tip, trick or treasured travel discovery. Then, sit back and watch the comments and “thanks” roll in — a thank on Trover is like a like on Facebook, but with better manners. Trover has a super interactive community of travel addicts, so don’t be surprised when they start piling up quickly.

View Alexandra Baackes’ photos on Trover

Room for Improvement

Obviously, Trover is only as valuable as the content submitted by its users. I found that there was sometimes a notably small volume of discoveries when I was searching more remote regions of the world — unsurprisingly, El Salvador is going to have less discoveries than San Francisco.

The solution? Time. Trover will continue to grow, especially with badass travelers like you guys — I know from all the fabulous tips and tricks you all give me on a regular basis that the Wanderland community is full of crazy good ideas. Share them by signing up on Trover.com and downloading the app on Android or iPhone — and don’t forget to #TroveOn with me, too.

In Conclusion

I’m no closer to knowing where to go next. But I’m having a ton of fun — and learning so much about this big beautiful planet! — while contemplating the question with Trover. Speaking of questions…

Are y’all on Trover yet? If so, are you loving it as much as me? And where the heck should my next trip bring me — back here to my beloved Southeast Asia, or back across the world to adventure-filled Central America?

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This post is branded content brought to you in collaboration with Trover. As always, you receive my honest opinions, thorough review, and consistent non-Southerner abuse of the term y’all.

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