As a traveler, one is always constrained about 3 things- Time, Budget and Resources. Of course, time and budget constraints are what a local guide can do a very little about. But its the resources to which he can contribute most. And by resources, I mean accurate information about a place, ease of locating it and its accessibility by cheapest or the most convenient mode of transport (which may not necessarily mean public transport). that’s why I love to share the most convenient way to reach the place and also how easy or difficult it is to reach.
Though there is an explosion of travel related literature, this information is usually not taken seriously by glossy pages of travel brochures. Online forums are useful but can give conflicting data. Whenever I write a review about a new restaurant or a new hotel, I make sure that I share the directions to the restaurant from the nearest public transport facility or the best mode of transport that is most value for money/time. In most of the places, I upload videos/photos of the nearest metro/Subway station so that travelers know exactly what to expect. In some locations, it’s taking public transport (though it looks convenient on Google maps or by any offline map), may not be worth it due to overcrowding or poor accessibility or abundance of cheaper taxis. Sometimes taking a taxi or hiring a your own chartered car is the most value for money/time option. In some places, people travel as a group and taking a taxi is actually cheaper than buying individual tickets. (e.g.- In Dubai a 6 seater large Toyota Innova taxi costs same as a 4 seater regular taxi). At some locations, public transport is good and we can very well use it instead of using expensive taxis or app based cabs. This information is usually scarce, most travelers describe a place or attraction well but forget to add the information about how actually to get there in most cost and time effective way possible. and the situation is especially grim with some not so frequently visited cities/places. Sharing this to Google maps makes a traveler resourceful, can take informed decisions and can surely save time and efforts. This is a boon to a weary traveler arriving at a new city late at night after a long flight and is most vulnerable to be ‘taken for a ride’. This is the exact situation where knowledge I shared can work wonders!