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December 12, 2014

Localfu – Personalized Suggestions from Locals

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Guidebooks and travel websites are useful sources of information about popular tourist attractions in cities around the globe, but for insight into what really makes a location unique, nothing beats suggestions from a local. Localfu is a web-based application that provides travelers with personalized suggestions of things to do in dozens of cities around the world, curated by locals who know all the best places to go.

Select the city you’re visiting from a list on the Localfu website, and Localfu will provide you with a list of qualified “Localfus” in that area. Browse the profiles created by these Localfus and select the Localfu whose interests most closely align with your own. Tell the Localfu what you’re up to — for example, “I want to visit breweries in Dublin next weekend” — and the guide you’ve selected will email you a shareable list of things to do in the city you’re visiting, complete with addresses, phone numbers, images, and personal insights.

In-the-know locals in participating cities can sign up to become Localfu experts as a way to share their knowledge and earn a little extra cash. In exchange for sharing their insider information, Localfus receive $4 for each traveler they work with, minus payment processing fees. Localfu says most experts spend 10 to 20 minutes on each suggestion list they create.

Practical Uses:

  • Find new pubs to visit in Dublin
  • Discover hidden camping spots near Newport Beach, California
  • Avoid typical tourist traps on your next trip to San Francisco
  • Earn extra money by sharing your traveling suggestions with others

Insider Tips:

  • The more specific the request, the better the insight from Localfu’s experts
  • Experts can decline requests that fall outside their areas of expertise
  • Experts can take down their public profiles when they’re on vacation
  • Localfu pays experts 80% of each transaction, minus payment processing fees

What we liked:

  • Localfu provides travelers with a way to get insider information from locals
  • Localfu allows users to select the experts they want to work with
  • Suggestions are formatted into shareable lists, and they always include full addresses and phone numbers for all listed attractions
  • Users don’t have to meet with their Localfu experts in person

What we didn’t like:

  • Localfu only has one local expert in many of the cities listed on its site

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: August 2014
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Founded by: Ted Brooks and Roger D. Graham III
  • Web site: https://www.localfu.com

Costs:

  • $5

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