User:Kvmerrie/Spotted by Locals
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| Spotted by Locals | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Travel Guides |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam |
| Cityblogs | 26 Cityblogs |
| http://www.SpottedbyLocals.com | |
 Sanne & Bart van Poll, founders of Spotted by Locals |
Spotted by Locals is the only cityblog network that is authored only true locals, who live in the city they write about and speak the local language. All Spotters are handpicked by founders Sanne & Bart van Poll [1], to make sure they meet these critera, and are really passionate about their city. Another unique feature of Spotted by Locals is that all articles are constantly kept up-to-date and up-to-season [2].
Spotted by Locals is aimed at experienced travelers who want to experience cities like a local, and avoid the typical tourist spots.
All tips provided on the cityblogs can be browsed for free. Spotted by Locals tips are also available for free on iPhone and Android via the augmented reality application Layar [3]. Visitors can also download a monthly updated PDF cityguide(Euro 3.99] for each city, which includes all up-to-date articles with an index and maps.
Traveling like a local, and getting under a place's skin, is rapidly gaining popularity amongst travelers and travel organizations like Lonely Planet [4]. In 2010 Spotted by Locals was one of the co-founders of the "Local Travel Movement" [5], a not for profit responsible travel website and discussion platform aiming to unite companies founded on a passion for Local Travel and commitment to Local Travel values [6] founded. In less than 3 months, 60 organizations became a "Local Travel Movement" partner.
The Spotted by Locals concept has received coverage on BBC World [7], and in newspapers and magazines like The Guardian[2], the Sueddeutsche Zeitung [8], Le Monde [9] and National Geographic Traveler[10].
History[edit]
| Mar 2008 | Spotted by Locals was founded by Sanne & Bart van Poll, a married couple of avid travelers from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
| Apr 2008: | Founders start a 6 month trip to 21 cities in Europe, to select the first 120 Spotters. |
| Nov 2008: | Winner of Mashable Open Web Awards[11] in the category "Travel" |
| Feb 2009: | Winner of Lonely Planet Travel Blog Award[12] in the "Best Group authored Travel blog" category. |
| Jun 2009: | Winner of Travel Mole "Best Travel Blog" award[13] |
| Nov 2009: | Adds one of the first multi-national Layar augmented reality applications. |
| Feb 2010: | A monthly updated PDF cityguide with all up-to-date tips is offered for download on each of the cityblogs. |
| Jun 2010: | Launch of 26th cityblog |
Notes[edit]
- ^ The Sunday Times - The best travel guides on the web, April 3 2009
- ^ a b The Guardian - Spotted online: local guides to Europe's cities, 18 March 2009
- ^ Spotted by Locals on Layar
- ^ Lonely Planet Travel Blog - Get Lost, Go local
- ^ Local Travel Movement
- ^ Local Travel Movement - Local Travel Values
- ^ Best of the web - BBC World, 19 February 2010
- ^ Reiseblog Spotted by Locals - Lieblingsplätze der Insider, 17 September 2009
- ^ Une site anti-piège à touristes - Le Monde, 14 April 2009
- ^ Worh Bookmarking - Spotted by Locals, National Geographic Traveler, March 2009
- ^ Mashable Open Web Awards
- ^ Lonely Planet Travel Blog Award
- ^ Travel Mole "Best Travel Blog" award
