Launched today, a new app called OfftheGrid aims to bring a Tinder-like experience to the travel market, by enabling its users to chat and chat with like-minded travelers while also discovering special places to visit. The app gives users a way to share photos and videos of their travels, post about upcoming trips, arrange to meet others and learn about new travel destinations.
Most popular is the Tinder-like feature in the “Discover” page that allows users to vote on photos from people around the world by swiping left or right, just like you would on matches.
After catching the travel bug, 25-year-old Ethan Serbantes founded a startup to create a social platform where travelers can easily connect and find new experiences.
Social media has changed the way we travel, and millennials and Gen Zers consumed by wanderlust often turn to Instagram for inspiration. Travel company Arrivia surveyed more than 2,000 Americans between December 2021 and January 2022 and found that 60% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials use social media for vacation ideas, for example.
However, searching the internet for destinations can be time-consuming, the founder noted. While Instagram has been a place for everyone to share vacation spots, Serbantes said the places he navigates on the platform don’t have enough information for people who want to go there. It also doesn’t help that you have to scroll through selfies and other content unrelated to the area.
Based on his own travel experience, Serbantes also realized that it would be difficult to meet new people as a solo traveler. Travel platform Klook found that 49% of respondents are nervous about traveling because they don’t want to be alone somewhere.
Along with a team of six people, Serbantes designed OfftheGrid to “restore the fragmentation of travel planning and travel problems,” Serbantes told TechCrunch.
OfftheGrid aims to be a platform for travelers to connect with each other and share their experiences. Users can post photos and videos on the app’s main page and see messages from travelers they follow.
Travello, a social networking app designed for travelers, works the same way. However, OfftheGrid has a swiping feature where users swipe left or right on a person’s post, whether it’s a picture of a beach, a mountain or maybe a beautiful park. Users can like, comment and favorite an image to view later using the bookmark icon.
But there’s a catch: Once a user sees a picture of a place they’re interested in, they need to earn 10 in-app coins to reveal the information. For each swipe, they get one coin. Once opened, there will be a description and a map where you can see the destination in the world.
There are also options to watch video ads to earn free coins or buy coins. Users can pay $0.99 for 100 coins, $1.99 for 300 coins and $4.99 for 600 coins.
The app’s “Travel” section, meanwhile, allows users to meet other travelers. People post where they are going and how long they will be there, and others connect with them to give any advice or arrange a meeting. There is a limit on the number of people you can message each day. After interviewing three people, the traveler uses the coins again to talk to more people.
Of course, it is important that travelers stay safe when they go to foreign places. While it can be fun to socialize with new people, you also need to be careful when meeting strangers.
“Safety is our top priority,” Serbantes said.
For starters, the app allows users to verify their email, phone number and Facebook account. At the time of launch, OfftheGrid did not have a system that verifies profile pictures, but Serbantes said the startup is working on implementing a photo identification API. OfftheGrid is also planning to launch a blue badge system for quality profiles.
However, as dating apps show, what users really need is to check the background – which is why Match Group started to include the option this year in its applications, like Tinder, after stories The horror of violence, abuse and abuse began to emerge from its users. OfftheGrid does not include such a feature, so travelers will need to be careful who they chat with and choose to meet.
OfftheGrid also has a “Exploration” page – a discovery tool to interact with the map that he likes and what’s happening on the app. There are search options if users want to jump to a specific location and filters such as “Wildlife,” “Parks/Trails,” “Shopping,” “Museums/Galleries” and “Food.”
OfftheGrid is a startup, which means the company is self-funded and does not rely on investors and external sources.
Serbantes said the company has several plans for the app on the way. This includes a subscription model that allows subscribers to open photos and connect with as many people as they want. A planning feature is also in the works, which allows users to plan a trip based on the photos they like on the app.
Another feature rolling out to the app is the “Locals” section in the “Travel” tab for users to find people in the area to reach them.
Serbantes mentioned that, in the future, OfftheGrid will be sponsoring a monthly photo contest. Favorite photos that are correctly geotagged will win. Details of that have not yet been decided.
The travel app can be downloaded on the App Store and Google Play Store and is recommended for users aged 18 and above.
What is a good travel companion?
Good travelers should be prepared to remember their passports, not lose their luggage and be able to get to the airport on time, at least. It’s also a plus if they don’t have navigation challenges and can read a map!
How much does a traveling companion cost? The cost of coach with a companion on a domestic trip can be $2,800 to $4,500 (for two seats), Doug Iannelli, owner of Flying Companions, told the New York Times. On the same subject : The January 6 hearing brought politics into the era of TikTok. Hiring a travel nurse for an airplane can cost $3,000 to $5,000 (not including actual airfare).
What travel companion means?
: a person who travels with someone who travels somewhere.
What is the best travel companion?
8 Types of Creatures That Make the Best Travel Companions Read also : 74 people reveal which underrated travel destination they couldn’t recommend more.
- ‘YOLOer’…
- The document. …
- The Navigator. …
- Budgeter. …
- The ‘List’ Addict. …
- The Humanitarian. …
- Hipster. …
- The Mixed Bag.
How can an elderly person fly?
Airlines allow family members to get an escort pass, similar to a boarding pass, for those with mobility issues or disabilities to the departure gate. On the same subject : As grocery prices soar, NY boosts food aid for the needy. Some airlines will also offer an escort permit that allows you to meet incoming passengers at their arrival gate.
Can a 90-year-old fly in an airplane? As long as she has a ‘fit to fly’ certificate issued within 7 days of travel (the same as return), most airlines have no problem. My father is now 94 years old and travels all over the world. His age or health were never questioned.
What’s the oldest age you can fly?
The âAge 60â Act has worked well as a regulatory framework in the United States. It was the best determination that could be made of when the overall decline in health-related performance and general cognitive ability reached a point where the pilot’s decline in performance could adversely affect safety.
Is flying hard on the elderly?
Among elderly and frail passengers, heart rate increased and heart rate variability decreased—both markers of cardiovascular stress. Most planes fly above 35,000 feet above sea level, which helps them fly faster and more efficiently because less air at this level means the plane experiences less drag.
Do airlines help elderly passengers?
ABOUT TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS If your elderly parent is traveling alone, check out airline and airport subsidies for seniors. The Airline Access Act requires airlines to provide assistance for check-in and take-off. The airline must also help passengers connect if necessary.
Where can I find companion for trip?
Here are the top 5 tips for finding travel buddies:
- Couchsurfing. App to Find Travel Buddies – CouchSurfing. …
- UNBLND. App to find travel buddies – UNBLND. …
- Travello. Apps to find travel companions – Travello. …
- World packers. App to find travel companions – WorldPackers. …
- Go Buddy. App to find travel buddies – Travel Buddy.
Can you pay someone to travel with you? Travelers can take a companion through a travel agency or care center, or they can take a private companion. Typically, fellows are paid their bills by their agency or employer while receiving compensation for their services.
Is there an app to find a travel buddy?
TripTogether is a free social network (both app and website) based on a vast database of over one million registered travelers. It gives users an easy way to connect with fellow travelers or just locals in their destination.
