Before my recent trip to Ireland, I decided to leave my Lonely Planet behind and rely on the Twitter tips from AM viewers to dictate how I spent my two days in Dublin. The result was amazing; I got suggestions on great day trips, tips on the city's best sites and a list as long as my arm of "must-see" Irish pubs.
If you have an upcoming trip to the Emerald Isle, I happily pass on some of my favourites… Christ Church Cathedral, Wicklow and Glendalough and the Brazen Head Pub were at the top of my list.
If you want to use Twitter to plan your next holiday, I would highly recommend it. You can use Twitter to get answers without having to make numerous phone calls or send dozens of separate emails, and best of all the conversation is public and other people will chime in as well.
I found it was a great way to get insider information like recommendations on restaurants, local events and last minute updates. Chicago (@VisitChicago) and Arizona (@ArizonaTourism) lead the way, listening and interacting as well as broadcasting local updates.
In Europe, the Netherlands (@VisitHolland) has a serious Twitter presence. Airlines and hotels are also increasingly using their own Twitter feeds to broadcast late breaking discount and deals.
To be successful in ‘travel-tweeting'…
- Be specific about your interests. Don't just ask for restaurant suggestions, ask for a great seafood restaurant or let your fellow tweeters know you only want to eat local food while on holiday.
- Look for repeats in recommendations. The more something is recommended, the more likely it's worth your time.
- Follow the Twitter feed or join the Facebook page of the destination you are visiting. Almost 200 destination visitor organizations in North America use Twitter.
To find your favourite destination, go to and then go to the Find People tab and enter the name of the destination and search it or use the hash symbol to any prefix #hawaii, #nova scotia. This will help you identify local experts or tourism bureaus that have set up a Twisitor Centre; allowing travellers to pose questions and get recommendations.
Remember that you likely don't want hundreds of Twitter feeds giving you updates. So choose the accounts you sign up for wisely. If you are going on a trip to a specific destination, sign up while you are prepping for the trip and then take yourself off the updates after you get home.
Let me know how you make out. Send me a tweet - @lorenchristie
