Latest news with #GoogleMap
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I live in Benidorm and tourists make this same mistake every time they visit'
A Benidorm expert has issued a stern warning to holidaymakers about a significant issue that has plagued the area, urging tourists to remain vigilant. Known as frankthestagmanofficial on TikTok, Frank is famed for organising stag and hen dos in the Spanish resort. He also uses his platform to share travel advice. In one video, he revealed a major problem affecting tourists. He raised the alarm for travellers, stressing that "this is really happening", and advised them to be "very, very careful" during their stay. Frank pointed out a "big problem" with holidaymakers having their phones stolen. In his clip, he explained: "Generally, what happens is, someone comes up to you and they'll say to you 'oh, I'm with some friends, and I'm lost, and I don't know where I'm going. Can you do a Google Map search for me?' "What you do, because you're a nice person, is you whip your phone out, you get your Google Maps up, and as soon as you get your Google Maps up, they grab the phone and run off with it." Frank clarified that if you're wondering why they insist on you unlocking your phone first, there's a straightforward reason. Once it's unlocked, they can "help themselves" to all your apps, including any money-related ones. If anyone approaches you with such a story, he strongly advises against taking out your phone. He admitted it's a "horrible" thing to suggest, but warns it's necessary given the current circumstances. The man issued a warning: "You help that one person, they'll run off with your phone, they'll take all your money,". "Just basically destroy whatever they can. And, do you know what people, let me tell you this right now, no one's going to help you then." His warning has resonated with many, garnering over 2.1 million views and numerous comments expressing gratitude for the warning. One user agreed: "It's rife now, and dangerous too." Another shared a consequence of this trend: "Such a shame for people who genuinely might need help as we're all too scared to help anyone." A third user drew a parallel: "Like a standard day in London then." Another commenter recounted a similar experience: "This happened to me in Bilbao. Ironically, I spent the rest of my holiday asking strangers if I could use their Google Maps to work out where I was going. Didn't run off though." Others thanked Frank for raising awareness, pointing out that some banking apps have facial recognition for added security, yet still advised against taking unnecessary risks. Benidorm sits in the middle of the Costa Blanca and according to an index from online holiday provider, Travel Republic, British tourists accounted for 45% of overnight stays in this city alone in 2024, totalling over 600,000 visitors. Benidorm has 32 British pubs, many of which stream live sports daily and are known for their very low beer prices.
Time Business News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Map That Leads to You: Choosing the Right South Florida Digital Marketing Company for Google Maps Optimization
Last year, a friend of mine, let's call him Leo, opened a Cuban café in Wynwood. He poured his soul into the place, handmade pastelitos, abuela's café con leche recipe, tilework that shimmered like a watercolor. But after the first few weeks, the foot traffic thinned out. People didn't know the café existed. 'I feel invisible,' Leo told me, wiping down a counter that didn't need wiping. And in a way, he was. See, visibility in Miami isn't just about signage or location anymore, it's about showing up where people are looking: their phones, their maps, their searches. That's where the right Miami SEO firm comes in. At its core, it's a team of specialists who help local businesses like Leo's show up online, especially in Google Maps and search results. The right SEO firm doesn't just help you get found. They help you get chosen. And in a city as vibrant and competitive as Miami, that difference can mean everything. Miami isn't just sunshine and salsa. It's home to more than six million people and tens of thousands of small businesses, all vying for attention, loyalty, and survival. And today, attention starts with a search. Here's what matters: 76% of people who search for a local business on Google visit one within 24 hours. That's not a stat, it's a lifeline. When your business appears in that Google Map Pack, the top three listings right under the map, it's like you've been handed the best real estate in town, rent-free. But you don't land there by luck. You land there through smart, consistent Google Maps optimization. When Leo finally found a Miami SEO firm with Google Maps experience, the first thing they did was run an audit. His business wasn't showing up. His address had a typo. His phone number was wrong in half the directories. He had two Google Business Profiles and didn't know it. 'It was like the internet didn't even know I existed,' he said. And when the internet doesn't know, neither do your customers. A good SEO firm corrects these blind spots. A great one helps you climb out of them, and build something stronger. Here's what gets you into the Google Map Pack: Relevance : Does your listing match what people are searching for? : Does your listing match what people are searching for? Distance : Are you close to the person searching? : Are you close to the person searching? Prominence: Are you well-reviewed, well-linked, and well-known online? The right Miami SEO firm understands these factors down to the pixel. They optimize your Google Business Profile, ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across the web, and build credibility through strategic citations and local backlinks. They don't just play the game, they coach you through it. Every SEO firm will say they're the best. But a specialized firm, the kind that lives and breathes local search, will show you what they've done. They'll pull up case studies of other Miami businesses. They'll point to increased foot traffic, higher call volume, and more 5-star reviews. If they've done it before, they can probably do it again. Ask for specifics. Ask how they helped a business like yours rise in local rankings. Ask what tools they used, what changes they made, and what results they got. If they can't answer clearly? Keep walking. Here's what you should expect when you hire the right team: They start with a look under the hood. What's working, what's broken, what's invisible? No fluff, just facts. Your Google Business Profile becomes a digital storefront. It needs to be spotless, photos, categories, hours, service areas, keywords, everything. Your business data should be identical everywhere. One typo in a directory can drag you down. Blogs, photos, updates. They show you're active, engaged, and part of the neighborhood. They help you encourage and respond to reviews, because nothing builds trust like a real customer's voice. Google updates constantly. So does a good SEO firm. When you Google a plumber and see one business with 30 reviews and another with none, which one do you call? When you see a hair salon with blurry photos and outdated hours, do you trust them to color your hair? This isn't just about SEO. It's about trust. And trust is built one accurate listing, one clear image, one honest review at a time. You're not just hiring a firm. You're choosing a partner. So ask the questions that matter: What Miami businesses have you helped? What does your reporting look like? How do you stay up to date with Google's changes? What kind of results can I expect, and when? If their answers sound vague or full of buzzwords, that's your cue to leave. He hired a firm that specialized in local search and Google Maps optimization. Within six weeks, his café was appearing in the Map Pack for 'Cuban café near me' and 'best pastelitos in Wynwood.' He told me people started walking in and saying, 'I found you on Google.' That's what this is about. Not tricks. Not shortcuts. Just being found by the people looking for you. Hiring a Miami SEO and Digital Marketing Company isn't about marketing jargon or gaming the system. It's about alignment. Relevance. Connection. The right firm helps you show up in the moments that matter. And in a city like this, where businesses open and close before the ink dries on their sign, that visibility is more than an advantage. It's survival. So be visible. Be chosen. Be the one who shows up. Because the map doesn't just lead people to you. It tells them you're worth the visit. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Rakyat Post
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Rakyat Post
Cameron Highlands' Traffic Mess: Grand New Roads Planned, But Still No Parking In Sight
Subscribe to our FREE A new chapter in the ongoing traffic saga is unfolding in the misty heights of Cameron Highlands. The recently unveiled comprehensive road development project, which will span from 2025 to 2029, has reignited debates about the effectiveness of infrastructure solutions in this environmentally sensitive tourist hotspot. It came in the wake of last year's That project, announced by Pahang Local Government chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff, focused on upgrading the McDonald's roundabout to the Brinchang junction stretch and implementing a one-way system at Kea Farm. The New Master Plan The newly proposed project is significantly more ambitious in scope. Major infrastructure works: 3.3km new two-lane road from Royal Lily to Golf Course Dual carriageway expansions across multiple sections One-way loop systems near Padang Golf Four bridge replacements on FT59 and FT434 2km four-lane expansion from Time Tunnel to Kea Farm An additional 1km four-lane expansion to Section 70.8 Supporting infrastructure: Pedestrian walkways and motorcycle shelters Street lighting improvements Drainage systems Geotechnical works Environmental protection measures Project Timeline: Planning phase: December 2024 – September 2026 Construction: September 2026 – March 2029 Total duration: 4.25 years A detailed project timeline document reveals Cameron Highlands' ambitious road expansion plan from 2024 to 2029. (Pix: REACH) Road Plan Misses the Parking Plot While the extensive road works might appear impressive on paper, community leaders argue that the fundamental problem remains unaddressed: insufficient parking at key tourist spots like Kea Farm. Regional Environmental Awareness for Cameron Highlands (REACH) president Dilip Martin emphasises, 'It's deeply disappointing that authorities continue to propose elaborate road networks while overlooking the basic need for adequate parking facilities.' While included in the scope, the project's environmental protection measures have done little to allay fears about its impact on the highland ecosystem. The extended construction period of nearly four years raises additional concerns about prolonged environmental stress on this fragile environment. A Google Map image shows the proposed loop road route (marked in green) around a densely forested area, highlighting the environmental impact concerns raised by locals. (Pix: REACH) Are Simpler Solutions Being Overlooked? REACH's alternative proposal remains straightforward and potentially more effective: Multi-story parking facilities at key tourist locations Covered pedestrian bridges Enhanced public transport options While the total project cost hasn't been officially announced, the extensive scope suggests a significant increase from the previous RM122 million allocation. This raises questions about value for money and whether simpler, more targeted solutions might better serve the community's needs. Local businesses and residents would also face the prospect of nearly four years of construction-related disruptions. Hence, the question remains whether the end result justifies the extended inconvenience and environmental impact. An aerial drone shot reveals extensive earthworks and land clearing operations in Cameron Highlands. As development continues to push against forest boundaries, each new project potentially adds to the region's notorious traffic problems. (Pix: Fernando Fong) Four Years, Multiple Road Expansions, and Millions In Spending As Cameron Highlands stands at this crucial juncture, the debate continues about whether to pursue extensive infrastructure development or more focused, immediate solutions. While the authorities proceed with their comprehensive road development plan, the community's call for simpler, more direct solutions to the parking crisis continues to echo through the highland valleys. The success of this massive undertaking will ultimately be judged not just by its completion but by its actual effectiveness in solving the region's persistent traffic and tourism challenges. As construction begins in late 2026, only time will tell if this elaborate solution will finally bring relief to Cameron Highlands' long-standing traffic woes. READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Age
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Slow burn: Belmont's Riwayat brings the story (and flavours) of Pakistan to life
Three men walk into a former strip club and turn it into a buoyant Pakistani restaurant serving cooked-to-order karahi, roghni naan, and other lesser-seen dishes from home. Previous SlideNext Slide Pakistani$$$$ I really should have eaten at Riwayat a long time ago. The restaurant has been on my Google Map of Perth-places-to-eat-at for almost two years. It's around the corner from the gym. And whenever I chat to Pakistani rideshare and taxi drivers about where they eat when they're homesick, Riwayat's name almost always comes up. But more important than any of this: the main reason I really should have eaten at Riwayat a long time ago is because it's home to some outstanding, uncompromising Pakistani cooking. In Urdu, 'riwayat' means history; an origin story. Riwayat's riwayat started in late 2020, when Mubeen Shahzad, Hassan Shahzad (no relation) and Aamir Sohail opened a modest, 35-seat Pakistani restaurant in Huntingdale. The restaurant soon outgrew its original address and the three pals from Pakistan's Chakwal region began scouting for a new home. This search ended in December 2021 after the trio chanced on a cavernous abandoned eatery on the outskirts of the Belmont Business Park. I don't think it's unkind to say that Riwayat won't be winning awards for its design any time soon. The wooden flooring is battle-scarred, the furnishings are functional and all those hard surfaces amplify the roar of the dining room something wicked. A small al fresco is beautified with fake grass and white-painted pots and planters: an unusual decor choice, perhaps, for a Pakistani restaurant. Equally surprising: Riwayat isn't the first hospitality business that's traded out of this unexpected location. In the late '60s, this site housed Nanking, one of Perth's few places serving Chinese food at the time. Nanking then gave way to Studio 7: a strip club that offered, I hear, a decent male revue show. Nowadays, the only meat is chicken and baby goat (although the latter is listed on the menu, South Asian-style, as 'mutton'). As Pakistan is an Islamic nation, Riwayat is a pork-free establishment, but guests can BYO. ('Would you like a wine glass or a whisky glass?' asked the waiter when I mentioned that I'd brought my own drinks. Single malts and Pakistani food: the next big thing?) Beef, interestingly, is also absent. While beef might be halal, it's not eaten by Hindus and Sikhs: two other religious groups practising in the subcontinent's north. In the name of inclusivity, Riwayat's owners – who are also its cooks – chose not to put beef on the menu so that more people could dine there. In light of the region's history of religious conflict and the recent stand-off between Pakistan and India, this gesture feels especially thoughtful. Similar consideration is also applied to the preparation of said meats, not least when it comes to the signature karahi. Named after the stainless-steel hubcap of a pan that it's cooked in, karahi is a primal, unairbrushed curry marrying the lush viscosity of cooked dairy (yoghurt, dairy) to the bite of ginger and black pepper. Crucially, every karahi – full– or half-serve, chicken or bone-in goat – is cooked to order until the contents of the pan have surrendered into a murky, oily and deeply satisfying mass. This style of a la minute cookery, naturally, can't be rushed. Our mutton karahi took almost 40 minutes to be ready after we ordered it. Curry in a hurry this ain't. Riwayat regulars, however, know the thing to do is to pre-order karahi for a particular time. Now you know too. I also know that the glorious roghni naan – a puffy, crisp-bottomed flatbread studded with white sesame seeds, glazed with butter and urgent with smoke from the tandoor – is a carby pleasure that transcends the usual one-per-person guidelines. Next time, I'll go hard on them straight out of the gate. The tandoor also works its smoky alchemy on grilled meats including the Reshmi chicken seekh kebab: plush, ribbed fingers of mildly spiced mince that are juicy and charry in all the right places. Made with freshly baked wholewheat parathas, the lunchtime-only chicken tikka roll and Riwayat 'burrito' condenses the best of both these tandoor worlds into convenient, on-the-go formats. Considering Pakistan's proximity to (northern) India, it's no surprise that both countries have dishes in common. (Fun fact: Pakistan is an acronym made up of the regions that came together in 1947 to form this new nation. The P stands for Punjab.) If you're not au fait with Pakistani cooking, you may be across the joy of hefty vegetable samosas that you might like to try chaat-style (that is, doused in raita, cucumber and chutney). Melty butter chicken is low in tomato and food colouring but high in sweetness from its dairy namesake. Cooked using split desi chickpeas – they're smaller than the plumper kabuli chickpeas - channa daal's innocuous appearance makes the vegetal sting of its green chilli stowaways all the more surprising. For anyone that's been let down by one gluggy, leaden biryani rice too many, Riwayat's fluffy, high-definition rendition will restore your faith in the genre. Like every restaurant, Riwayat has areas it could work on – a little more engagement from some staff would go a long way; the onion salad, a side plate of sliced red onions plus a wedge of lemon, is only a salad because it believes it is – but the highs outnumber the lows. For anyone curious about a strain of cooking that's on the rise out west, Riyawat would be a fine first chapter.
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Slow burn: Belmont's Riwayat brings the story (and flavours) of Pakistan to life
Three men walk into a former strip club and turn it into a buoyant Pakistani restaurant serving cooked-to-order karahi, roghni naan, and other lesser-seen dishes from home. Previous SlideNext Slide Pakistani$$$$ I really should have eaten at Riwayat a long time ago. The restaurant has been on my Google Map of Perth-places-to-eat-at for almost two years. It's around the corner from the gym. And whenever I chat to Pakistani rideshare and taxi drivers about where they eat when they're homesick, Riwayat's name almost always comes up. But more important than any of this: the main reason I really should have eaten at Riwayat a long time ago is because it's home to some outstanding, uncompromising Pakistani cooking. In Urdu, 'riwayat' means history; an origin story. Riwayat's riwayat started in late 2020, when Mubeen Shahzad, Hassan Shahzad (no relation) and Aamir Sohail opened a modest, 35-seat Pakistani restaurant in Huntingdale. The restaurant soon outgrew its original address and the three pals from Pakistan's Chakwal region began scouting for a new home. This search ended in December 2021 after the trio chanced on a cavernous abandoned eatery on the outskirts of the Belmont Business Park. I don't think it's unkind to say that Riwayat won't be winning awards for its design any time soon. The wooden flooring is battle-scarred, the furnishings are functional and all those hard surfaces amplify the roar of the dining room something wicked. A small al fresco is beautified with fake grass and white-painted pots and planters: an unusual decor choice, perhaps, for a Pakistani restaurant. Equally surprising: Riwayat isn't the first hospitality business that's traded out of this unexpected location. In the late '60s, this site housed Nanking, one of Perth's few places serving Chinese food at the time. Nanking then gave way to Studio 7: a strip club that offered, I hear, a decent male revue show. Nowadays, the only meat is chicken and baby goat (although the latter is listed on the menu, South Asian-style, as 'mutton'). As Pakistan is an Islamic nation, Riwayat is a pork-free establishment, but guests can BYO. ('Would you like a wine glass or a whisky glass?' asked the waiter when I mentioned that I'd brought my own drinks. Single malts and Pakistani food: the next big thing?) Beef, interestingly, is also absent. While beef might be halal, it's not eaten by Hindus and Sikhs: two other religious groups practising in the subcontinent's north. In the name of inclusivity, Riwayat's owners – who are also its cooks – chose not to put beef on the menu so that more people could dine there. In light of the region's history of religious conflict and the recent stand-off between Pakistan and India, this gesture feels especially thoughtful. Similar consideration is also applied to the preparation of said meats, not least when it comes to the signature karahi. Named after the stainless-steel hubcap of a pan that it's cooked in, karahi is a primal, unairbrushed curry marrying the lush viscosity of cooked dairy (yoghurt, dairy) to the bite of ginger and black pepper. Crucially, every karahi – full– or half-serve, chicken or bone-in goat – is cooked to order until the contents of the pan have surrendered into a murky, oily and deeply satisfying mass. This style of a la minute cookery, naturally, can't be rushed. Our mutton karahi took almost 40 minutes to be ready after we ordered it. Curry in a hurry this ain't. Riwayat regulars, however, know the thing to do is to pre-order karahi for a particular time. Now you know too. I also know that the glorious roghni naan – a puffy, crisp-bottomed flatbread studded with white sesame seeds, glazed with butter and urgent with smoke from the tandoor – is a carby pleasure that transcends the usual one-per-person guidelines. Next time, I'll go hard on them straight out of the gate. The tandoor also works its smoky alchemy on grilled meats including the Reshmi chicken seekh kebab: plush, ribbed fingers of mildly spiced mince that are juicy and charry in all the right places. Made with freshly baked wholewheat parathas, the lunchtime-only chicken tikka roll and Riwayat 'burrito' condenses the best of both these tandoor worlds into convenient, on-the-go formats. Considering Pakistan's proximity to (northern) India, it's no surprise that both countries have dishes in common. (Fun fact: Pakistan is an acronym made up of the regions that came together in 1947 to form this new nation. The P stands for Punjab.) If you're not au fait with Pakistani cooking, you may be across the joy of hefty vegetable samosas that you might like to try chaat-style (that is, doused in raita, cucumber and chutney). Melty butter chicken is low in tomato and food colouring but high in sweetness from its dairy namesake. Cooked using split desi chickpeas – they're smaller than the plumper kabuli chickpeas - channa daal's innocuous appearance makes the vegetal sting of its green chilli stowaways all the more surprising. For anyone that's been let down by one gluggy, leaden biryani rice too many, Riwayat's fluffy, high-definition rendition will restore your faith in the genre. Like every restaurant, Riwayat has areas it could work on – a little more engagement from some staff would go a long way; the onion salad, a side plate of sliced red onions plus a wedge of lemon, is only a salad because it believes it is – but the highs outnumber the lows. For anyone curious about a strain of cooking that's on the rise out west, Riyawat would be a fine first chapter.
