In the course of my work and from personal interest, I have tested numerous city guides – from simple to high tech ones utilising Augmented Reality. A number of these require 3G or Wifi, which can prove challenging if I am overseas as I switch off data roaming.

So it’s a pleasant surprise to find that the TripAdvisor guides can be viewed offline. Of course, they have to be downloaded first, and this requires either 3G or wifi. But once that’s done, it’s all stored offline, divided into two sections – “Downloaded Cities” and “Available Cities Worldwide” (51 at time of testing). I have to mention that downloading a city’s maps, photos and places is fast.

The guide’s UI is simple and easy to use. When I launch the app, it asks for my location and thereafter my place of residence is indicated with “You are here” – which I find rather nice and personal.

For every destination the listing is the same – Restaurants, Hotels, Attractions, Free Self Guide Tours, Nightlife, Shopping and Learn About the City. There is also a section for booking tours and a city map. Additional activity is writing a review of the places you visit and rating them.

Most of the Kuala Lumpur listings are well “stocked” with attractions and activities. However I am surprised the “Nightlife” section doesn’t have any entries. Clicking on “Best in Kuala Lumpur”, “Best Nearby” and “By Neighbourhood”  produce the same message: “No Results Found”. Strange indeed as Kuala Lumpur is famed for its nightlife with some clubs as some of the city’s best-kept secrets!

Browsing through “Attractions” – “Best in Kuala Lumpur” I am kind of taken aback that “Kenko Fish Spa” and “Foot Master Fish Spa” are among these places. Since when has fish spa been the city’s attractions? Either it’s a new phenomenon or I am losing touch with my city!

I am also puzzled by a listing under the section  “Learn About the City” unusually named, “Women in Kuala Lumpur”. It gives a brief description of the dressing and habits of the city’s women, and the usual advice for female travellers to be careful with their belongings and when moving around the city.

However, what I fail to understand is the mention in this section of the cancellation of the scheduled performance of the Singapore Dance Theatre in the city in early 2012 and the punishment of three Muslim women for adultery in February 2010. I don’t see the relevance of these two “news” for this specified topic. In fact, I don’t see why a listing on the city’s women is necessary. In that case why not include “Men in Kuala Lumpur” too. It would have been better if the topic on women were replaced with the city’s diverse culture or its mix of interesting people of various races living and playing peacefully together.

Of all the listings my favourite is the “Free Self-Guided Tours”. which features “Kuala Lumpur Photographers Walking Tour”. This is very comprehensive, which includes the tour’s duration, detailed description of the listed attractions with directions and maps included. Very nice. Would have been great if more of such tours  are included in the guide.

Verdict (based on the Kuala Lumpur Guide):