Hey all you travel enthusiasts out in the blogosphere! Alex here, the fourth of the Kango resident bloggers, and today I’m going to give you an overview of the top five most popular Facebook Applications relating to travel.

If you’re unfamiliar with Facebook, here’s a quick FBFYI:
• Originally launched in early 2004 at Harvard with the vision of bringing popular college facebook, a book made up of incoming students’ photos intended to let student body get to know each other better, to the Internet.
• 34 million registered users worldwide as of July 2007.
• Largest photo sharing site in the US with 1.7 billion pics
• On May 14th 2007, the Facebook Platform was launched, allowing external programmers to create their own applications to be used, at the each “Facebooker’s” will.

Drum roll please……..here are the top five Facebook Travel Apps…….as I see them…..

#1

Name: “Where I’ve Been”
By: Craig Ulliott
Users: 2,177,407
Description: “A detailed, interactive world map, show everyone where you’ve been, where you have lived and where you want to go.”
Overall: “Googlesque” in its simplicity and interface. Provides “fast facts” for most countries and states which include: population, GDP, life expectancy, unemployment rate, and a brief national history. As of now, this is the Facebook Travel App. I would like to see a photo album (possible user generated) for each country providing a taste of the landscapes.

K-Rating: *****

#2

Name: “Cities I’ve Visited”
By: TripAdvisor
Users: 786,897
Description: “Where have you traveled? Create an interactive travel map to share with your friends and help them plan their trips.”
Overall: Very simple concept and delivery. Type in city and a thumbtack is stuck on the map. Adding locations is very quick as a list of possible cities is displayed by popularity and then narrowed as more letters are entered. Unfortunately, once you’ve entered in your cities, there’s not much more to do with this app.

K-Rating: *** 1/2

#3

Name: “Countries Visited Map”
By: TravBuddy
Users: 488,309
Description: “Create your own travel map and see what percent of the world you have visited. Lightweight, straight-forward, simple; loads 3x faster than other maps, no bloat on your profile page.”
Overall: Quick and clear-cut check box style of choosing countries and states visited, organized alphabetically within each continent. Unlike most applications, you must become a travbuddy.com member before accessing map, which is a mild initial annoyance.
K-Rating: ***

#4

Name: “Traveler IQ Challenge”
By: TravelPod.com
Users: 233,104
Description: “In this fun (and addictive) challenge, you’ll be asked to pin point where famous places, cities, and travel destinations are located. We’ll then calculate your Traveler IQ based on how close you were and how quickly you found the spot.”
Overall: A fun and quick-hitting quiz for the traveller looking to test their geography intellect. At the end of Facebook’s “geography bee”, you are given a Traveler IQ and shown where you rank amongst your friends (bragging rights!). You may play the original world challenge or focus on a specific continent or theme (i.e. World Capitals). I found it difficult to exactly pinpoint the location in question due to a slow and jittery cursor on the map.

K-Rating: ****

#5

Name: “Trips”
By: SideStep, Inc.
Users: 199,104
Description: “Plan upcoming trips with your friends. Share your past travel adventures on your profile. What trips have you been on, who’d you go with, and when. Then attach a photo album. See your trips on a map. Where have you been? Where are you going next?”
Overall: This ambitious app aims to cover all things surrounding the “Trip”. You can create a future trip and invite your pals to join you on the venture, post travel pics from a past spring break south of the border, or contact strangers with similar trip styles to yourself. “Trips” is function over form at this point and I expect/hope to see more efficient applications, similar in objective, as the Facebook Platform grows out of infancy.
Rating: ***1/2

So there you have it, my first ever blogging effort! I look forward to sharing my passion for exotic and international travel with you in the upcoming months. And of course learning from all of you and hearing your comments, critiques, and recommendations.

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” ~Seneca

UPDATE: Check out TechCrunch’s Interns’ 10 Favorite Facebook Apps for more FB App reviews.

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