What can you use the application for?
TravBuddy is a social networking site for frequent travelers and globe trekkers.
What is the history and popularity of the application?
TravBuddy was launched in 2005 by two brothers who had an interest in traveling. The site currently boasts over 3.5 million members. At TravBuddy you can keep a diary of your travels, as well as listing places you’ve been, you are going to, or even places you want to go to. This allows you to come in contact with other people who have the same travel interests as you, who you can then add to your contacts. It’s also possible to write a review about a destination you’ve been to, or tap into the knowledge of other travelers by reading their dos and don’ts for certain destinations. There is also a social networking aspect, were you can add friends, or potential friends living in prospective destinations or place you have been to. Whether or not you want to actually become an actual real-life “travel buddy” with one of your e-friends or not is, of course, an entirely different matter. Caution is advised.
What are the differences to other applications?
TravBuddy differs from other social networking applications in that it concentrates almost exclusively on travelers.
How does the application look and feel to use?
The first impression one gets when visiting the site is that the interface appears quite cluttered. There are boxes, tabs, dropdown menus and links scattered all over the place. This can be discouraging if you are new to the site, as new users might feel lost. Even after using the site for a while, it’s still quite difficult to remember where you are and how to find what you’re looking for. TravBuddy really need to simplify and combine features on their site.
How does the registration process work?
Registering for TravBuddy is easy, and you needn’t supply any private information if you don’t want to. You also won’t be forced to verify your e-mail address before using the site, meaning that you are free to explore the site immediately.
What does it cost to use the application?
TravBuddy is an advertising funded service, so it’s free to use. Some of the ads can be a bit in your face though, but for the most part they aren’t too omnipresent. However, sometimes you may have difficulty telling the difference between an ad and an actual part of the site. This kind of viral advertising can be quite irritating.
Who would you recommend the application to?
TravBuddy is a very large site with loads of features, but unfortunately actual content seems to be spread very thinly across all the features. Perhaps if the site was consolidated an simplified, content would be higher in quality and easier to find.
