This infographic gives a good picture of the differences between traditional and social travelers. Do you remember the time when the only communication means you had when traveling far away were a phone and postcards? When the Lonely planet used to be the only way to find the best food and hotels? This era seems so distant today: most of us can barely survive without a smartphone and the Internet, and not planning a travel ahead seems impossible for most people! Well, the same changes have affected the world of travel blogging. There used to be very few travel bloggers, but social media has changed travel blogging, making it accessible to everybody for free. If you have a Facebook account, you surely have noticed the recent trend of people to post pictures, statuses and other social content when they travel.
This new form of traveling is connecting people with similar interests or similar traveling experience together, but it is also making our traveling experiences more personal and unique. Because we are more interconnected, we can take advice from others who we know have more or less the same interests, instead of looking in guides that only give general advice.
But social travel is not only about social medias and virtually communicating with others, but also the contact with others in the real life. A social traveler is always eager to meet new people and make new experiences. Companies who offer private apartment rentals allow you to avoid standardized hotel rooms and live like a local. That is a great part of social travel: discovering local culture and meeting local people, instead of following the flow of tourists. If you are staying in a local apartment, you can often meet the owner, who will give you inside tips on where to go.
This a great post. The info-graphics shows the big advantage and difference of a social traveler and normal traveler.