Travel Like A Local App, ViaHero
Get the most authentic (tourist trap-free) vacation possible
The next time you get lost in a downward spiral of Google searches or decide to fork over your credit card to a travel agent, check out ViaHero, an app that hires a local from your destination to plan your itinerary.
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According to Travel + Leisure, the service matches travelers with local "heroes" based on their profiles, where they're traveling to and their various vacation preferences (just think of it as a dating app for travel guides). Once you've found a match, your hero will plan out your entire vacation, setting you up with a personalized digital guidebook, transportation and arrangements that go above and beyond chain hotels and predictable group tours. Your hero will even be available for on-the-ground support throughout your trip.
Right now, the service is available only in a few select countries, including Cuba, Iceland, Japan and Colombia, with pricing starting at $25 a day. However, the Associated Press adds that several South American countries will be added later this year.