How to find 'The One': Step 2
This is where it gets fun, but only if you scroll smart. This is how I use social to find real ideas, not fake ones
Brutal truth: your feed is full of lies... and a few goldmines
Everyone does it: one perfect Bali TikTok and suddenly you’re pricing 17-hour flights you’ll never take.
The problem isn’t scrolling, it’s how you scroll. This stage is all about gathering real ideas (from real travellers) that fit your vibe list from last week.
Social searching like an expert
Whatever social media platform you’re using to research your holidays, there’s always a knack to cutting through the chaff and getting to content that’s genuinely useful.
TikTok
When I’m using TikTok, here’s my search trick:
That’s how you find real travellers, real weather, and real prices, not a drone shot someone was paid to take.
When I’m using Instagram, I don’t just find a hotel’s Instagram page or an influencer’s video on a destination - that’s only going to show you the polished stuff...
When you do this, you’re getting to see the real deal. And it helps you nudge closer to finding the right place for you.
Time for a shameless plug, but one I think is genuinely useful! We have our Official OTB Travellers Facebook community group that’s full of like-minded Beachers all working together to make each other’s jollies jollier.
Try posting in here about a destination or hotel you’re eyeing up - odds are there’s someone else who’s been there who can help you with an unfiltered review.
Try posting in there, you never know what you might find out. Click here to join the group!
Pro tip: you can post anonymously if you’re a bit nervous!
Other useful tips:
The best place to find things to do or hidden gems in a destination is Pinterest. Just search ‘things to do’ or ‘hidden gems’ followed by where you’re thinking!
ALWAYS read the comments - this is an absolute goldmine for seeing what others really think.
Beware of the naysayers. A lot of people with strong opinions had a bad experience. Look for multiple people saying the same thing and don’t get drawn into one negative comment or piece of content.
Screenshot EVERYTHING!
While you’re searching, screenshot, save, share or like everything that you find useful. There’s nothing worse than watching something really useful then NEVER being able to find it again!
Screenshots are my favourite, as it builds up a collection on my Photos app that helps me see in one place, really quickly, all my research so far.
Pro tip: create an album on your phone for all of this stuff!
From my phone: real inspo I saved this week...
My photos folder’s a mix of:
Underrated resorts I’d never heard of.
One “wildcard” destination that looked random but affordable.
The odd video where the comments were more useful than the post.
“Honest reviews” from across the internet of hotels, destinations and months to travel.
Have a peek through my screenshots, this is the actual chaos behind the beginnings of my shortlist:
All of a sudden, the chaos starts to take shape...
Your turn to scroll smarter
This week, spend 10 minutes searching social media properly. Be specific, save anything that fits your feel, and check the comments for prices and timing clues.
If you find something good, leave a comment on the post - the comments will be full of people doing the same thing right now.
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