A Guide to Pinterest for Travelers

Copy Editor Jaclyn Liechti has been with SmarterTravel since June 2009. She holds a master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College.

Born and raised in the Midwest, she has marveled at the grandeur of Mount Rushmore and been whitewater rafting in Colorado, but has yet to make it to the "ruins" of Carhenge in her home state of Nebraska. A semester in Dublin allowed her to visit more far-flung destinations such as Rome, Mykonos, and London, but her travel aspirations are far from complete.

See recent posts by Jaclyn Liechti

At SmarterTravel, we’re all about bringing you the best travel news, tips, and inspiration. And now we have a new way to share our amazing finds with you: Pinterest!

For those of you who aren’t already obsessed, Pinterest is a new social-media site that functions as a virtual photo pinboard. You can organize and categorize your favorite images from around the Web and save them for a later date. There are two ways to find pins: Follow travel sites and repin things they’ve found, or you can pin any useful items you find on the Internet.

So, how can you use this new site for traveling? We’ve shared a few ideas below.

Create an Aspirational Pinboard

Pinterest can be a great way to find out about destinations you never dreamed of visiting before. You might find that the Rock Creek Wilderness in Oregon or Wentworth Falls in Australia is the perfect addition to your bucket list. Or you might find that doing a little armchair traveling during your lunch break might be the perfect respite from work, leaving you refreshed and focused for the rest of the day.

Plan Your Next Vacation

If you know your destination, pin the specific attractions you want to see or the activities you want to do. After all, much of the fun of traveling is planning your next vacation, so why not let a visually stunning website help you do it? Pin articles about great local restaurants, the top hotels, and must-see attractions. When it’s time to actually go, you’ll have an easy reference for your itinerary. You can even collaborate on boards with other members in your group, so that everyone has a chance to include their favorite spots.

Find Travel Tips

On Pinterest, SmarterTravel has boards that hold tips on everything from packing to useful travel products. And other travel providers, like our sister site Independent Traveler, also have boards with lots of tips and advice you shouldn’t miss. The best part is, you can pin them now, then go back and refresh your memory when you need them.

Remember Your Vacation

Gone are the days when travelers broke out the slideshow equipment to elicit jealousy—ahem, we mean share their vacation photos. Even Facebook is so last year (but you should really “like” us there, too). The new hot thing is to pin your favorite photos you took of the best attractions, most delicious vacation food, and recommended stops. Save them for a much-needed reminder on a rainy day.

Are you on Pinterest? How do you use your boards for virtual travel inspiration? Leave a message in the comments section below!

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