Posted on August 24, 2010 by Fiona Hilliard

What’s the deal with Facebook Places?

It’s your favourite social networking site’s newest toy.  It’s a bit like Foursquare in that it let’s you “check in” wherever you are.  Being Facebook though, you get to share all your tips for your friends’ future visits.

So is it as good as Foursquare?

Well no, not really – there aren’t really any incentives to make you carry on like badges or mayorships.  To be honest, it gets a bit boring after a while, especially if you don’t share the same city as your friends/ are not due to travel to their favourite places. The amount of status updates clogging up your news feed gets annoying too.

Who will it be useful to?

People who like to boast about their current location.  You know the ones who update their status waaay too much – if you’re into all that carry on why don’t you just get over to Twitter! They’re a much friendlier bunch who might just put up with your constant bragging…

Doesn’t this all sound a little bit like TripAdvisor’s “Trip Friends”?

Yes. Totally… That’s exactly what I was thinking. TripAdvisor launched it’s own travel stalker app a while back on Facebook, letting you and your friends share recommendations on places to stay and attractions worth visiting.

Looks like the market is getting flooded with these travel stalker apps…

True.  Does anyone really care that you’re in Alicante?  Then again, do we really want everyone to know where we are? Does this mean the end to best-kept secret travel destinations? Is nothing sacred anymore….?