For everyone who has ever wanted to find the best views, best rooftop bar or best up-high adrenalin rush, anywhere in the world… there’s now an app for that.
Advice this week from Lee McCabe, Facebook’s global head of travel, to anyone in the travel industry is: “get a good app.”
McCabe told the New Zealand Herald that mobile revenue was growing strongly and as a result the company had swung its attention to mobile devices. Hot on the heels of this advice comes a great travel app: Views On Top.
The FREE travel app is a definitive guide to finding great views from the world’s skyscrapers, towers, monuments, waterfalls, roller coasters, observation wheels, bridges, mountains and parks. It also includes drives, hikes, train journeys, gondola rides, zip-lines, bungy jumps, restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and more.
Views On Top has been created by entrepreneur Margaret Scott, who has had a lifelong love of travelling.
Says Margaret; “When I started travelling in my early 20s the internet didn’t exist so I had to rely on a 5cm thick “Let’s Go Europe” book with no photos. I quickly realised the best way to get your bearings in a new city was to find the highest vantage point and from there, work out where to go next.”
Ever since then, Margaret has made it her mission to find the highest lookout in each location she visits, seeking out that spectacular moment of discovery as a panoramic view unfolds.
“I’ve often been frustrated when visiting a new place, not knowing where to go for the best view, or where to go for a drink or a meal with a view.
“I’ve also found myself frequently sharing with others the need to book tickets in advance to ensure you get in and avoid the queues. So in 2011 I decided; there should be an app for this!”
Margaret has spent the past two years researching destinations for Views On Top and has compiled a directory of over 650 listings in 83 countries.
Everything from the tallest towers in New York, rooftop restaurants in Hong Kong, mountain top views in Switzerland to adrenalin rushes on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The app shows you how to find them all, with contact details and information on opening times so you can plan your trip in advance. You can also search by type of experience and if you’re on the go, turn on Location Services to find places with great views near you.
You can even keep track of the places you’ve been and build a ‘bucket list’ of places you want to visit on your own world maps, upload your photos and comments and share recommendations with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
“If you know of a top view, scenic destination or rooftop bar that hasn’t been included –suggest it! Views On Top is a new way to share your favourite views and photos with others.”
For more information and interview opportunities:
Margaret Scott, Chief ViewOlogist
Email: margaret@viewsontop.com
Phone: +61 411 040 323
Deborah Dickson-Smith, media and content consultant.
Email: media@viewsontop.com
Views on Top is FREE – Download on the AppStore