IG isn’t just for checking in—here’s how to use social media to plan your trip in 7 easy steps

▲ Social media platforms are great for gathering travel information—users can get inspiration from IG or other platforms to decide where they want to go. (Photo / Reporter Huang Wanru)

Travel Center / Aggregated international reports

Many travelers love using social media to check in and share their experiences with friends and family, or to document the places they’ve been and their feelings at the moment. However, social media isn’t just for posting photos—it can actually be a fantastic tool for trip planning if used wisely. The travel websiteSMARTERTRAVELhas compiled 7 ways to use Instagram features to plan your travels, proving that social media is more than just for checking in.

1. Follow local accounts—no doubt about it. (Follow Locals)
The must-see sights of any place are best captured through the eyes of locals. Plus, many local photographers or IG influencers specialize in sharing local attractions and food with a wider audience. Following local accounts can provide you with useful information for your trip.

2. Follow official tourism board accounts. (Find the Tourism Board)
Official tourism board accounts can offer important travel insights. Through official posts and shares, you’ll not only see beautiful photos but also get info on festivals, cultural events, and a variety of activities.

3. Use the interactive nature of social media. (Interact)
Social media platforms use powerful algorithms that recommend content based on your usage habits. So, the more users and content you follow or “like,” the more IG will suggest other content you might be interested in—helping you discover even more relevant information.

4. Make the most of geotags. (Click on Geotags)
Geotags show the location where a photo was taken and can point you in the right direction. They also help you discover nearby attractions, and you can save locations in map apps for easy reference later.

5. Leverage the power of hashtags. (Explore Hashtags)
Besides geotags, hashtags are another popular and useful feature. By adding a pound sign “#” before a word, phrase, or sentence without spaces, posts with the same theme can be linked together. Users can then discover more related content through these connections.

6. Follow travel website accounts. (Follow Experts)
Travel guide and booking websites usually have dedicated social media accounts. Following them can sometimes score you discounts on flights, hotel bookings, attraction tickets, and other travel-related deals or info.

7. Get inspired by blogs. (Read the Instagram Blog for Inspiration)
IG blogs use photos as the main focus, with text as a supplement, to tell stories from around the world. The captions under the photos vary based on individual perspectives, making these image-driven stories full of endless possibilities. You can discover or learn things you didn’t know before, which can become your inspiration and motivation to explore or understand a new place.

Although the features highlighted in the SMARTERTRAVEL article are mainly for Instagram users, other social media platforms also offer similar functions—such as Facebook and Twitter, which are popular among Taiwanese netizens. Independent travelers can apply these methods to plan their ideal trips.