I am an early adopter of technology, so I have been using a smart phone since the Google G1 Android - and as soon as smartphones became a thing, Google Maps has been one of my most used applications. I am lucky in that for my job I travel a lot - I am responsible for a number of global markets and I spend a lot of time visiting amazing countries and meeting amazing people.
The Local Guides program is for me a window into a world that is alien, and allows me to quickly find trusted content and insights in the countries and cities that I am visiting. The reviews of the local guides are very helpful for me to be able to quickly find and evaluate a number of things I might need to do in any given city, whether that is looking for things to visit, shop opening hours - or discovering if a restaurant offers vegetarian options. Even in countries where I do not speak the language, or in some cases - understand the alphabet - due to the contributions of similar minded people I feel that I have a trusted network of peer reviews that can help me maximise my time and travels.
Due to the pictures and words that are shared by this community I feel that I am never unprepared and being able to be a part of this is something I am very proud of.