-“Let’s go out to eat!”
-“Ok, where could we go?”
-“Hmm, I don’t know, wherever it’s fine”
This type of conversation has been bothering me for years, since I’m not good taking decisions that involves the tastes of other people. Will they like it? Is it going to be too expensive? And many other questions would pop up in my mind while scrolling through Trip Advisor or other websites. Adding Google Maps to my life was the answer to my problems.
At first I started adding different places I found interesting when passing by on my Google map; this way I would not forget where they were. But eventually I’d also start pinning down places that friends or family recommended. I’d use the different types of pins to categorize the places I’d really loved, the places I wouldn’t mind going again, the ones I still have to try… And since I love to eat, I really enjoy trying different establishments and keep track of the experience, so in the future, if someone asks for my opinion, I’ll be quicker and helpful.
I remember my first review was a really bad one, because I was really mad about the service I received on a restaurant, and after that it kind of became an habit to, once in a while, post my opinion about the places I had been. Normally they are restaurants, cafes or bars, but there’s also shops and activities such as room scapes that I find interesting leaving a review. I have found myself fooled with the reviews on the official websites, and now I deeply check the reviews other local guides leave, focusing on the reviews with an objective point of view (and if they have a constructive criticism, better). That not only helps the future costumers, but the businesses as well, because it’s not fake feedback, it’s real opinion of real customers.
But it’s not only the spots in my city; even places abroad that I’d read about on blogs would go to my map. I love to travel, so having a few spots saved have helped me create a route (either places to eat or to see).