Travel guidebooks are so retro. Now that everyone is getting into the app action, there are no shortages of travel apps out there. These apps tell you everything from the city?s history, where to stay, eat, entertain, and sightsee. Following the app’s recommendations can be a hit or miss prospect. One way to actually tell if the app?s recommendations suit you is to check out what they recommend in your own city.
So when I reviewed Guidepal I chose the cities I am really familiar with; Singapore, Shanghai, and Bangkok. I was pleasantly surprised that Guidepal did recommend unique places that suited my distinctive travelling tastes.
What you get with the App
First off, do not expect lengthy coverage of history, culture, geography, and the language of the place. In place of that, there is a ?Welcome to our City? section that gives you a little introduction.
The other sections in the app include:
Know the City ? Useful facts, tips, areas, and transport
See and Do ? Places and events of interest
Eat and Drink ? Places for casual for formal dining
Nightlife – Entertainment
Shopping ? Mostly for the ladies
See and Do ? That’s my cup of tea
I am a more ?See and Do? person when it comes to travelling. I like to do the ?non-touristy stuff? and minimize the touristy aspect. This is where I think that GuidePal suits me. It has a unique mix of 10+ things to do. In Shanghai these include visiting places like the Bund ? the picturesque waterfront area that divides East (Pudong) and West Shanghai (Puxi) with its mix of historic and modern buildings.
Guidepal does a fine effort in balancing their ?See and Do? section with other chill out activities like visiting surrounding villages, an activity which still interests me after 4 years in Shanghai.
GuidePal?s Cool Aspect ? Augmented Reality
Click on the ?Nearby? button on the Guidepal iPhone app and it switched to a camera view. Point the camera to where you are at and the ?Live View Screen? pops up with points of interest where you are at or near you.
Caring is Sharing
Which self respecting app wont include a social element in it? Guidepal lets you upload your travels onto Facebook or Twitter to share with your friends or any stalker that?s following you.
Summary
Guidepal is a great app to use if you got a few days to burn in a foreign city or if you wish to learn more about the city you are in.
You can use it offline ? which means that you incur no data charges if you use the app while travelling. The Guides are edited and written by Resident Authors and presents an insiders perspective on the city.
GuidePal is available on App Store for free download.
