10 Must-have Features for Your Travel Website

Travel website services become unreached and eventually forgotten without a strong online presence. Hence, travel websites must have a web presence to get potential customers. 

First impressions are formed quickly with websites, which means time spent by new users on the website is limited. Unfortunately, this also means you have less time to get their attention and convert them into clients. 

Standard features like images and a booking system won't suffice. In addition, your website needs the perfect landing page design to grab the reader's attention. Read this blog to know the 10-must have features for your travel website: 

1. Search Filters: 

Search filtering is helpful for travel websites as travelling has different parameters. In addition, search filters are known to humanize the online booking experience by matching the customer's expectations and requirements.

2. Imagery 

We live in a visual world, and images are one the most powerful ways to transmit messages. As a result, images make a strong statement and will have a bigger impact on your travel website. 

Moreover, people interact more on social networking sites with plenty of images. Hence, it's safe to say that users will stay longer and interact more with a website with lovely images of destinations. You can also get multiple web design ideas online that help you build the perfect imagery for your website.

3. Customer Reviews

Testimonials, customer reviews, and recommendations are essential for a travel website as customers want to know other people's experiences before making a decision. 

Like many people buy items online if the products have a five-star rating and great reviews in the comment section, the same applies to travel websites. Be it travel or e-commerce; customer reviews increase conversion rates. Moreover, as a bonus, reviews also help to improve your site's SEO ranking.

4. Mention Clear Pricing

If the pricing on a travel website is unclear and consists of hidden charges and taxes, the user is likely to be spending their money elsewhere. 

Hence, if you want to increase your profits, it is essential to know the importance of mentioning clear pricing. Therefore, the pricing table must be simple, concise, and clear so customers can choose the appropriate package.

 It shouldn't offer too much or too little, just the right amount of information for them to differentiate between the packages.

5. Predictive Search: 

Predictive search is a drop-down list that pops up immediately while typing so that you don't have to hit 'search' when finding common queries.

 This is an excellent way to avoid displaying a massive list of results and allows customers to find results quickly while also displaying questions the user hasn't thought of. 

Predictive search saves on typing if the user uses a device that does not have a physical keyboard like a tablet.

6. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): 

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are modern web pages that also act as mobile apps. PWAs have the usefulness of a native app, but when accessed through a browser, they do not require downloading apps, which is a significant advantage for conversion and usage ratio.

 If a customer books a hotel through PWA, the customer can also access the information via the browser without internet connectivity. 

Here are some of the travel websites using PWAs.

• Make My Trip
• Ola
• Redbus
• Trivago
• Wego

7. Augmented Reality (AR): 

Augmented reality has recently garnered popularity; it provides a virtual tour with a 3D view of reviews for nearby locations, Wi-Fi hotspots, and real-time forecasts, among many other advantages. 

AR allows hotels and other businesses in this field to enhance the physical environments such as local sights and hotel rooms so that customers will be encouraged or rather tempted to visit the place. 

Moreover, another reason for using AR is that customers have the habit of using their smartphones when they travel, so a step towards augmented reality apps is not a major one.

8. Virtual Reality (VR):

Virtual reality has become another attraction point in the tourism industry as it provides guided tours worldwide. 

Using VR on your travel website will help travellers explore small and less-known places. Moreover, by giving a 360-degree view of the different locations on your website, you can let customers explore the ground before booking and simultaneously increase the level of trust.

9. Blockchain:

Blockchain concerning travel websites is advantageous as this technology is more secure and transparent. For instance, travel agents must pass customer details to flight companies and hotels, and the information passed between companies is tracked. Hence, Blockchain can make this secure by eliminating data tampering and fraud.

10. Big Data:

Big data helps predict consumer purchase behaviour based on past patterns, trends, and associations. 

This is the lifeblood for companies like Amazon, Facebook, Uber, and Netflix because, with Big Data, they can figure out what customers want before they know it themselves. Likewise, travel agencies can improve customer experience by handling big data. 

With big data analytics, travel websites can customize the user experience, formulate pricing strategies, get insights into customer needs, improve loyalty programs, and develop new marketing strategies.