What Is a Social Travel App? How It Works and What to Check
By Otsy ·
A social travel app is an app where travelers post their trips, itineraries and experiences, and other people find ideas by browsing those posts. Some let you act on a post from the same screen, for example by booking the experience it shows.
What a social travel app does
Most of them cover the same ground:
- Travelers post. Videos, photo sets, day-by-day itineraries or short write-ups of a place worth a detour.
- Other people browse. You scroll a feed, search a destination, or save posts for when you plan.
- Posts connect to something real. A post can point to a specific tour, ticket or activity, so you are not left guessing what the place was called.
Because the starting point is a person's trip, you see what someone chose to do instead of a long list of similar listings. That can put an idea in front of you that you did not know to search for.
How it differs from a booking site
A booking site, or catalog, is built for the last step of planning. You type a destination, filter by date and price, and compare listings. A social travel app comes earlier: you may not know you wanted an evening food walk until you watch someone do one.
The line is blurry, since some booking sites show traveler photos and reviews and some social apps let you book. The main difference is where you start, with a search box or with a post from someone who has been.
How it differs from a general social network
A general social network holds every kind of post. A clip of a seaside lunch sits between everything else in your feed, and finding the restaurant's name, its price and how to book is left to you. In a social travel app the feed is only about travel, and each post is meant to lead somewhere specific.
What to look for in a social travel app
Compare a few before you commit time to one:
- Real traveler posts. Search a city you know well and see whether the posts show ordinary visits with the details a planner needs, such as how long it took, what it cost and who it suits.
- A way to act on what you see. Check whether you can book, save or add a post to an itinerary without leaving the app, and whether the price shown is the price you pay before you confirm.
- How creators are paid. Some apps pay creators a commission when someone books through their post, and creators should say so. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission tells influencers to disclose any financial relationship with a brand, and says financial relationships "aren't limited to money". For video posts with affiliate links, its Endorsement Guides Q&A says to disclose both in the video and in the description near the links.
- Privacy. Look at who can see your posts, whether your exact location is shared, and whether you can delete a post later. A 2017 Consumer Reports article says you should probably wait until you are back home before posting vacation selfies, and to be careful what you write in comments when friends ask where you are or how long you will be there.
- Where your bookings live. If plans change, you want the reservation and its terms, such as opening hours and cancellation rules, in one place.
Who benefits
Travelers who are still planning get ideas from people who have been, in a form that is quicker to take in than a long article. People who already share trips get a place to post that is built around travel, and in some apps a way to earn from it. How people get paid to travel covers that and two other routes.
How Otsy fits
Otsy describes itself as a social travel marketplace where people book experiences, share their trips and get paid to travel. You can book in the Otsy app or on otsy.com, and video posts show real-time pricing and can be booked from the post. Its Creator Fund pays creators a commission when travelers book from their posts, and you can search Las Vegas experiences on Otsy to see what a bookable listing looks like. It is one option among several, so read any app's own fee, payout and privacy terms before you rely on it.
FAQ
What is a social travel app?
It is an app where travelers share trips, itineraries and experiences as posts, and other people discover places by browsing them. Some also let you book or save what you see from the post itself.
Is a social travel app the same as a booking site?
Not quite. A booking site is organized around listings you search and compare, while a social travel app is organized around posts from travelers. The two overlap, since some booking sites show traveler content and some social apps let you book, so check what each one actually offers.
Can you make money on a social travel app?
Some apps pay creators, usually as a commission when a traveler books through their post. Terms differ from app to app, and income depends on whether people book from what you share, so treat it as extra income. Read the payout terms first. In the US, the FTC expects you to disclose the arrangement to your audience, and rules in other countries may differ.
Is it safe to share my trips on a travel app?
It depends on the settings and on your habits. Check who can see your posts and whether your location is shared, and consider posting after you are home instead of while you are away. A 2017 Consumer Reports article also says never to post your phone number or home address.
Pick one and test it on a trip you know
Search a city you have visited and see whether the posts match your memory. Then run a second app through the same checklist and compare the two.
