![[header] top 15 travel app features](https://www.miquido.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/header-top-15-travel-app-features.jpg.webp)
The mobile digital transformation has made travel more accessible than ever. Booking apps allow users to plan and manage travel services anytime, anywhere. Translation and GPS apps make navigating foreign cities easier. Tour guide apps ensure travelers don’t miss out on must-see sights and experiences.
According to Statista, 68% of all online traffic in the travel and hospitality sectors comes from mobile devices. To capitalize on this consumer trend, travel businesses must invest in effective travel mobile app development to provide features that meet users’ needs and expectations.
This article explores the best travel app features to prioritize during the app development process. We hope this list provides you with valuable insights.
User-friendly interface
Usability can make or break the success of your travel app. No one will use a slow and difficult-to-navigate app even if it provides value. Given the increasing cost of app development, you don’t want to invest in an app that users will not like.
But, on the other hand, user-friendly apps have high rates of retention and conversion, which helps offset the travel app development cost and return a meaningful ROI.
What are the characteristics of a user-friendly app?
Simple interface
The first thing people see when they open an app is its design. While you want your app to be visually appealing and reflect your brand identity, you don’t want to distract users with non-essential features. That is especially true for mobile devices which have smaller screens than desktops.
A simple and clean interface makes it easy to navigate the app. A hierarchy of information should guide users’ attention. Ensure consistency across color, typography, and other branding elements to provide a seamless experience and aid in readability.
Navigation plays a critical role in an app’s usability, whether it is a travel search engine or a booking system. Your app’s layout must be intuitive and follow conventions that users are already familiar with. That means well-structured menus, recognizable icons, and visible search bars.
Fast loading
Modern customers don’t have time for slow-loading applications. 53% of mobile users abandon sites if loading speeds last longer than three seconds.
An experienced travel app development company can improve app performance by optimizing app code, compressing images, reducing server response time, and using a content delivery network.
Responsive design
There are many devices available with different screen sizes and resolutions. Responsive design adjusts the app’s interface and content to these differences. This ensures a consistent experience for desktop, laptop, smartphone, and tablet users.
Accessibility
Your application must be user-friendly to everyone, including users with disabilities.
Accessibility features such as text-to-speech, scalable text, voice commands, and screen reader compatibility ensure persons with motor, visual, hearing, and cognitive impairments can use your app with ease.
Security
Many apps require personal information to deliver tailored experiences. Some even require users to submit credit card information to process in-app purchases. That means privacy and security must be a top priority for a successful travel app.
Make sure your own travel app follows best practices like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, access controls, and opt-in checkboxes for data collection.
Real-time booking capabilities
Real-time booking management is a must-have travel app feature. Travelers should be able to create, view, modify, and cancel bookings within the app. Moreover, users must have ready access to booking details like confirmation numbers.
Why is real-time booking important?
It streamlines business processes, optimizes operations, and enhances customer experience. Companies quickly lose customer trust if the product they reserved isn’t available. Real-time functionalities enable businesses to provide accurate information about availability.
One successful implementation of this feature is Skyscanner, a world-renowned travel company that turned to us to create a modern, multi-functional travel app. The Skyscanner all-in-one travel app offers flight, hotel, and car rental booking functions to simplify the travel planning process.
Our travel app developers also incorporated features that show car rental availability based on the user’s location. This eliminates the frustration of learning the car you want isn’t available at your location.
We also introduced filters based on vehicle type, fuel type, mileage, and vehicle purpose. These features allowed Skyscanner to deliver personalized service and boost customer experience.
Getting lost in a new city isn’t fun. GPS navigation allows people to explore local streets with confidence. Moreover, it enables users to contact emergency services in the countries they’re traveling to.
Key GPS features you want in your travel app include:
- Location identification (shows your exact position on the map)
- Turn-by-turn navigation
- Route planning
- Point of interest search
- Traffic updates
- Live location sharing
GPS navigation does more than assist travelers from one point to another. It can help them discover hidden gems and local activities they often miss.
GPS navigation must be available offline. That way, users can access navigation services even without an internet connection.
Weather forecast integration
Weather changes have a huge impact on travel plans. Hurricanes and snowstorms can lead to flight cancellations. Temperature drops or spikes can also disrupt outdoor activities.
Integrating weather forecast apps like AccuWeather in your app ensures travelers are prepared for the climate at their destination.
In the planning stage, it allows travelers to organize trips around favorable seasons. For instance, you should avoid Dubai between June and August because the extreme heat makes outdoor activities unbearable. Or, plan for indoor activities.
While on holiday, real-time forecasting alerts and updates users on changing weather conditions. Let’s say a tourist group plans to go hiking on the second day of their trip. If the forecast calls for rain, they can adjust their plans.
In-app language translation
In-app language translation is another essential feature.
International travel is extremely popular because it allows people to experience new cultures and ways of life. Language is part of that cultural experience, but it presents a significant barrier for many people.
An in-app language translator lowers that barrier, allowing travelers to communicate with locals and navigate unfamiliar cities. Many translation apps, like Google Translate, Naver Papago, and Apple’s Translate, use AI algorithms to recognize and translate text, speech, and images in real time.
The conversation feature on Apple’s translation app delivers voice and text translations from spoken inputs. The camera feature reads and translates foreign words on road signs and restaurant menus. You can also favorite frequent conversations for quick access.
But your travel app users shouldn’t have to rely on third-party applications for translations. You can include this feature within your travel app. This is one of the key features that you can get through our travel app development services.
Currency converter
Tourists lose money if they’re unaware of foreign exchange rates. This feature helps users understand the price of foreign products and services compared to their home currency.
You can add even more value to your app by incorporating a travel expense tracker. It’s easy to overspend when you don’t understand the local currency or keep up with exchange rate fluctuations. A travel expense tracker empowers users to manage their expenses, saving them money and effort.
Personalized itinerary planner
Itinerary generators take the stress out of travel planning and make it enjoyable. They create a plan that includes attractions, accommodations, activities, and restaurants. You don’t have to search ‘things to do in [city name]’ or ‘Where to shop in [city name]’. The app generates these recommendations based on the destination.
On Holihopper, users create itineraries by dragging and dropping experiences onto a board. You can invite friends to co-create travel plans by sharing a link.
Like other industries, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the travel sector. Earlier, we saw AI in language translation, but that’s not the only use case.
AI-driven personalization is one of the biggest travel app trends. General trip planning apps benefit from machine learning and predictive analytics that deliver tailored recommendations based on history, interests, and budgets.
These AI algorithms can also predict future travel prices (based on historical data and current market conditions). This helps users make informed decisions about the best time to make travel arrangements.
Secure payment options
Cyberattacks are increasing in number and sophistication, making data privacy and security a major concern. App developers can avoid costly mobile app development mistakes by adhering to legal and industry standards like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).
These measures prevent unauthorized access, fraud, and data breaches. They give app users peace of mind that their information is safe.
In addition to security measures like encryption and multi-factor authentication, your travel app should offer integrated and secure payment gateways like PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Travelers don’t have to submit credit card information over unsecured WIFI connections. It also simplifies and accelerates the payment process.
Cryptocurrency uses blockchain technology, which stores data in a decentralized way. That makes it more resistant to security breaches and cyberattacks than traditional security systems. Social media integration
People love posting their travel adventures. Social media integration allows users to share journeys, from planning and take off to holiday activities.
For brands like YouMap, social features are integral to travel app development. The network mapping application enables users to create customized maps based on hobbies, interests, and experiences. They can then share these maps with their social media followers, enriching users’ experiences.
On the business side, social sharing is a form of word-of-mouth marketing. It allows your brand to feature social media posts from your app users. Social sharing also constitutes social proof. People are more likely to consider your application if they know their friends or family are users.
In addition to integrating with major social platforms, features like discussion boards allow users to share their experiences with other app users. This creates a sense of community.
You can filter discussions based on destinations or themes such as honeymoons, adventure, and solo travel.
Or, use the search bar to personalize your search. Anyone can view the posts on any forum. However, you must sign up for a free account to post or comment.
Push notifications
Travel plans are subject to various external factors. Flights may be delayed or canceled due to weather conditions, political climates, and technical issues. Providing clear and timely messages improves app experience and user satisfaction.
Consequently, push notifications have become critical travel app features. They ensure users receive timely travel updates even when not actively using the app.
Push notifications do two things:
- Remind users of upcoming trips or activities
- Deliver status updates such as schedule delays, booking cancellations, or attraction closures.
Push notifications also offer an unmissable marketing opportunity. Statistics show that these alerts average higher open and click-through rates than email. However, you must use them moderately and strategically.
For instance, you can send promotional offers based on users’ history and interests. You don’t want to overwhelm users with too many irrelevant messages. Allowing users to personalize the number and type of notifications they receive creates a better experience.
Offline accessibility
Remote destinations don’t always provide secure or reliable internet. However, users shouldn’t face high roaming fees from their cellular carrier when using their travel mobile app.
Offline access ensures your app’s usability in these situations. Key services that should be available offline include booking details, itineraries, city maps, and transportation routes.
Customer support access
Mobile users expect on-demand customer support when they encounter problems during their travels. No one wants to be stranded or pay extra because of an issue with their hotel, car rental, or activity booking.
Access to 24/7 support is vital regardless of time zone differences.
Chat support helps you provide immediate assistance all year round. Travelers don’t have to calculate time differences or wait in long call center queues. AI Chatbots can answer FAQs, manage bookings, and provide real-time travel updates or alerts.
Meanwhile, multi-lingual support ensures travelers from different regions can use your app in their preferred language.
You can also create self-service portals to help users troubleshoot problems independently. These portals should provide documentation on how to use the app and business policies such as cancellations and refunds. Like chat support, this feature is available 24/7 and reduces the burden on customer reps.
That said, some queries require human intervention. For instance, a room reserved on a booking app isn’t available at the hotel. The in-app direct call option makes reaching a live agent seamless. Users don’t have to search for the contact numbers. This option also empowers support teams with real-time data to ensure swift resolution.
User reviews and ratings
Modern travelers aren’t trusting—one too many instances of the product not matching the marketing. That explains why 97% of consumers read online reviews before making purchase decisions.
Including a review system in your app means users don’t have to leave to find the information they need to make informed decisions.
When creating a review and rating system, include relevant aspects like cleanliness, location, and value for money.
Increase trust and authenticity with verified reviews. These reviews ensure users can only leave feedback after verified visits.
Loyalty programs and rewards
According to a Bond Brand Loyalty report, 80% of customers stay with brands with good loyalty programs, and 68% spend more to maximize points earnings. So, loyalty rewards are effective customer retention strategies and help increase revenue.
Most travel loyalty programs work in two stages.
- Earn: Customers accumulate points based on their spending.
- Redeem: Customers redeem points for benefits such as upgrades, discounts, or complimentary service.
Tier-based benefits enhance your program and encourage customers to spend more. For example, an airline loyalty program would offer discounts on seat selection charges. Silver members get 25% off, gold members get 50% off, and platinum members get 70% off.
Many rewards programs incentivize customer loyalty with points, discounts, and exclusive access. However, the best travel apps go beyond that and deliver tailored experiences with redemption options that align with travelers’ preferences.
Augmented reality features
Artificial intelligence isn’t the only emerging technology revolutionizing the travel and tourism industry. Augmented reality (AR) is another trend giving travelers immersive and interactive travel experiences.
Remember the Pokémon Go phenomenon where players caught virtual creatures in real-world locations? That was AR in action.
AR superimposes digital information like images and text onto a real-world view, creating an environment where virtual and physical elements interact. Key AR applications in the travel industry are tours and navigation.
Ever get to a tourist hotspot and wonder what the fuss is about? AR-enhanced virtual tours preview attractions, allowing travelers to plan visits to landmarks that match their interests.
You can also use AR to enhance the sightseeing experience with guided tours. Mobile app users can access historical or trivia information by pointing their phone camera at a landmark.
Navigation apps with AR functionality empower tourists to explore unfamiliar cities with confidence. They can translate foreign signs and find restaurants, hotels, or attractions using turn-by-turn directions. The user follows the directional graphics to their destination.
In closing
Building a winning travel application can be challenging if you don’t know what features meet customers’ ever-evolving demands.
Our list of the best travel app features highlights what you need to elevate user experience and drive revenue. It includes must-haves like user-friendliness and secure payment options, and transformative technologies like AR and AI.
As a company with extensive app development experience, we stay on top of market trends. If you are searching for a partner with expertise in this field, drop us a line! We will help you determine which feature set works best for the type of travel app you want to develop.
Top AI innovations delivered monthly!
The administrator of your personal data is Miquido sp. z o.o. sp.k., with its ... registered office in Kraków at Zabłocie 43A, 30 - 701. We process the provided information in order to send you a newsletter. The basis for processing of your data is your consent and Miquido’s legitimate interest. You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at marketing@miquido.com. You have the right to object, the right to access your data, the right to request rectification, deletion or restriction of data processing. For detailed information on the processing of your personal data, please see Privacy Policy.
