Show more screenshots »

TrustedPlaces provides an intimate look at many popular and lesser known travel destinations. Users submit reviews and comments about various venues, from restaurants and night clubs to hotels and travel services. Rather than focusing on mainstream attractions and entire destinations, TrustedPlaces gives an honest snapshot of the places travelers want to visit while away from home.

TrustedPlaces, based out of London, was created by CEO Sokratis Papafloratos. Rather than present the same canned information about various destinations, TrustedPlaces was designed to offer users unbiased and honest reviews posted by other users. This gives travelers the opportunity to learn about the best venues and accommodations in an area before they actually arrive. By learning ahead of time, travelers can also plan more effectively and avoid wasting money on places they might not enjoy. TrustedPlaces was acquired by Yell.com in May, 2010. TrustedPlaces.com now redirects to Yell.com

TrustedPlaces is different in the way it covers each destination. Users come here to learn about night clubs, restaurants, hotels, and travel services by reading reviews posted by other people who have actually been there. The ratings are posted to present a fair look rather than one that is intended to sell a service or attraction. TrustedPlaces is less like a travel brochure or agent and more like a friend providing travel insight.

TrustedPlaces combines enough color and organization to make the visit enjoyable. New visitors can easily seek out the areas they wish to review, or use the search feature to go straight to a specific listing. Banner ads are also included, but in a way that does not intrude on the actual content of the website. Users can easily select a city then a specific neighborhood within that location.

New users can register for TrustedPlaces two ways. The first is by connecting to an existing Facebook or Twitter account, the other is through traditional account creation. By clicking one of the links at the top right hand corner of the homepage, the registration process can begin. When going the traditional route, new users are asked for a username, email address, password, country, home town or city and post code. After checking the terms of service box, the account is created.

TrustedPlaces is offered as a free service to all visitors. Anyone willing to take a moment to create an account can access all TrustedPlaces features. No premium account is currently offered, with no word on that changing any time soon. For now, users can post and read through listings at their leisure for free.

Naturally, anyone who has traveled or will be traveling can benefit from a stop at the TrustedPlaces website. However, those who like to find those little out of the way venues can really get use out of the website. Here, visitors can learn about night clubs, bars and lounges that they might not have otherwise thought to visit. Users who have had experiences can share details and opinions as well. TrustedPlaces may not be ideal for a canned vacation itinerary, but it is a great way to iron out the little details, such as where to eat and relax while out of town or on vacation.

• Add personal account details and upload an image
• Write reviews to add to the TrustedPlaces database for other travelers to read
• Browse current activity feeds to stay up to date on the most recent additions to TrustedPlaces
• A point earning system that allows users to increase points by being active on the site and getting others involved
• Twitter and Facebook link feature that makes it easy to share information and invite others
• Photo and video tabs on the user profile as well as tags to refine results

comments powered by Disqus