Deciding to take some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? It used to be that once we’d made up our minds to go on holiday we’d go to the travel agent, look at some glossy brochures and be done with it, never quite sure that what we’d be getting would be what we wanted.

In the age of social media though, you can craft, research and create your bespoke autumn break and be reassured that you know what you’re getting.

Let’s get started! So, if your looking for a bit of inspiration for what to do on your holiday and where to go, get on Pinterest. You’ll be able to research specific places, hotels and activities and pin them all to a board to see what you like the look of the most. The images you source will also contain links through to relevant websites so it isn’t difficult to get to where you need to go.

Double check it. When you’ve picked your destination and hotel, use Twitter to find out what people are saying about it. The majority of businesses now have specific customer service policies that exist for social media because so many customers use it to feedback to businesses, so have a look at what they’re saying.

You can do this on Facebook too by looking at their business page. See what other people have posted there and what reviews it has been given. You can trust that feedback on social media is going to be more honest than any brochure because the customers aren’t trying to sell you anything.

Talk to other people on social networks. That’s what it’s all about! Use Twitter to ask people who have commented on a hotel feed what they thought and build up a true picture of what your holiday might be like before you book. Then you can be sure you’re making the right choice for you.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment box below.

By Harriet Thacker

Harriet is a marketing expert, social media enthusiast and Shake Social’s champion blogger. Struggling to maintain your own blog? We can help.