Spring is approaching and with summer right around the corner, everyone is itching to get out and go somewhere. There’s only so many things to do in your own home town, though, so as many of us are well aware, it’s much more fun to do some traveling.
You could leave it up to a spontaneous travel website, like Trveler, but for some people, that’s too much uncertainty. One thing is for certain though, and that’s that these startups are doing their best to help you cure your wanderlust and do away with those travel bugs.
How To Get Away
Apps like Hopper and Hipmunk are very helpful when looking for the lowest airfares, but the fact of the matter is that landing at the airport often isn’t your final destination; that’s where Wanderio comes in.
Simply input two addresses and the dates you’re traveling, and Wanderio will give you the best and cheapest ways to get from one place to another using planes, trains and automobiles at a variety of times. The only catch is that having been founded in Rome, Wanderio is currently best for European travel, though they do cover transportation routes in major tourist cities like Instanbul, Beijing and Tokyo.
Perhaps, though, you desperately want to travel but you don’t know where you should go. Using Zap Travel, founded in 2012 out of London, you can determine destinations based on what you want to do during your travels. If you know you want to go shopping, Zap Travel could suggest New York City, Milan and London, among others. Or if you like hiking, the website might suggest Siena, Italy, or Woodstock, Vermont. Once you decide on your experience, Zap Travel will help you put together a package that fits your budget and timeline.
If you’re nervous about finding hotels and airfare on your own, or if you’re planning a multi-city trip and you don’t know where to begin, you might want to try FlightFox. Founded in 2012 out of Montréal, Canada, this startup allows you to crowdsource your vacation to experts who will help you find the cheapest ways to travel and the best places to stay.
Simply describe your trip – where you’re going, how long you’re going for, and any other details – and set up a “finders fee” for the expert who brings you the best deal. The only caveat is that you have to go offsite to book the travel accommodations. FlightFox assures users that the experts are there to help before, during and after the trip.
If you’re more of the type to hop in your car and hit the open road, Roadtrippers might be the best website for you. Simply input your starting point and your destination, and Roadtrippers will help you find some landmarks along the way, from “natural wonders” and amusement parks to shopping stops. The website will even tell you how long your roadtrip is going to take and how much gas is expected to cost. The website has been “helping travelers drive to the world’s most interesting places” and has raised $3.17 in funding since 2012.
What To Do
Once you get to your destination, it can be daunting to find things to do in an unknown city. Tripomatic is one way to tackle the task. Either online or in the app, users can research activities and add them to their itinerary as a sort of personal travel guide. There’s also the option of using one of Tripomatic’s templates, which allows you to choose how long you’ll be in a place, then based on that, helps you find the best and most popular things to fill your time. Tripomatic will also help you find tours of the city, places to stay, and ways to get around, such as car rentals and subway routes.
Another app to check out is Peek, for both hitting a new city and exploring a familiar one. Broken down by categories, such as “Under $50,” “What to Do With Kids” and “American History,” it’s easy to find sights and adventures in one of the over 20 cities that Peek has listed, like Los Cabos, Maui, Las Vegas and Paris. A perk of Peek is that you can book your activities right from the website or app.
