I was introduced to Google’s Local Guides Program a few years ago. Ever since, I’ve dedicated part of my time to continue learning and exploring the many aspects of this program. I find it to be an amazing tool, one that each one of us can use to contribute and influence others. It sits well with my passion of helping others and making a difference in people’s lives when it comes to the world of tourism and traveling.
I’ve been traveling for the past 13 years, and each time I travel I makes sure to visit a new place. And with every new trip comes a new desire to share my experiences, my knowledge, and my traveling tips on Google’s Local Guides. I’m also a professional photographer, and sharing my pictures that I’ve taken at those traveling sites is yet another way of expressing my own perspective, giving Google Guides’ readers more valuable information to make their own traveling decisions.
Even as a user, no matter where I stay or travel around the globe, I can always find others that will help me while using Local Guides. A couple of years ago I visited Limassol, Cyprus. While there, I stopped for a coffee at a local café, and while sipping and enjoying my coffee I started up a conversation with the barista who served me the coffee, who also happened to be the shop owner. As it was my first visit to the Island, and upon telling this to the barista, he immediately opened up his laptop and using Local Guides started to draw a map of the most interesting sightseeing attractions and locations nearby. He added his own reviews, and the combination of the Google’s guiding tips and the his own personal experiences created a truly heartwarming and inclusive experience, and gave me an insight to several attractions I was not and could not have been aware of previously, one of which turned out to be one of my favorite sites on the trip - an amazing winery located on a beautiful valley not far away.
Lately, I have traveled to the Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe, and while there, using Google Guides, I found a local, small hotel where I was able to spend the night. At the reception desk I met a staff member, who happened to be an experienced Local Guides user. Using the Google tool, he showed me several amazing sightseeing recommendations and created a roundtrip map covering the major highlights in and around the area.
Those two examples showed me, once again, just how much important information one can get out of Google Guides, and how it can be significant to travelers and tourists to better make use of their vacation time and change their overall experience for the better.
I currently live in Tel-Aviv, Israel, which is an amazing city. Located at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea; it has a mix of delicious restaurants, bars, cultural sites, beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and not to mention a hub for a lot of startup companies worldwide. And these are just some of the things that make the city a very popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
For 3 years now, I have been managing several Airbnb apartments in the city. Most of the renters that come are tourists and I always welcome them and help them out by using Google Maps/ Local Guides, where I explain to them that through this, they can get a comprehensive overview of the best places and attractions in the city. I truly believe that it’s a privilege for a local resident to help tourists who come to visit one’s country, to give back to the community that he/ she lives in, and Local Guides is one of the best available online tools for that very purpose.
I’m planning to host a meet-up centered around photography, taking place sometime soon in Tel Aviv (of course, only once the Coronavirus era is over). the event will take place in one of the city’s most special neighborhoods that combines architecture, food, and art. The plan is to invite guides, both local and international, and show them the photos that I have taken throughout the years, photos covering special attractions in the city and that show the special charm and unique atmosphere that Tel Aviv has to offer to the world. In the meanwhile I will host tomorrow virtual meet up and I already took part at others virtual meet ups.
