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Launched today, OfftheGrid’s new app aims to bring a Tinder-like experience to the travel market by allowing users to swipe and chat with like-minded travelers and discover unique places to visit. The app gives users a way to share photos and videos of their travels, post about upcoming trips, connect with others, and learn about new travel destinations.
The most notable is the Tinder-like feature in the “Discover” tab that lets users vote on photos from people around the world by swiping left or right, just like you would a match.
After catching the travel bug, 25-year-old Ethan Cerbantes founded a startup to create a convenient social platform where travelers can connect and discover new experiences easily.
Social media has changed the way we travel, and millennials and Gen Xers 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 Xers and 40% of Millennials use social media for vacation ideas.
However, browsing the Internet for destinations can be time-consuming, the founder noted. At a time when Instagram was where everyone was sharing vacation spots, Cervantes said the places he traveled on the platform didn’t have enough information for people who wanted to actually travel there. Scrolling through past selfies and other posts that have nothing to do with the area is pointless.
Based on his own travel experience, Cervantes realized that it was difficult to meet new people as a solo traveler. Travel booking platform Clock found that 49% of respondents were worried about traveling alone because they don’t want to be alone in a foreign country.
Cerbantes, along with six other people, designed OfftheGrid to “solve the fragmented travel planning process and problems of the solo traveler,” Cerbantes told TechCrunch.
OfftheGrid aims to be a platform where travelers can connect with each other and share their experiences. Users can post their photos and videos on the app’s main homepage and see posts from travelers they follow.
Travello, another social networking app designed for travelers, works similarly. However, OfftheGrid has a swipe feature where users can swipe left or right on someone’s post, whether it’s a photo of a beach, a mountain, or maybe a nice park. Users can like, comment, and be liked on a photo to view it later using the bookmark icon.
But there’s a catch: After viewing a photo of a desired location, the user must have 10 in-app coins to display the information. For every swipe you get one coin. Once opened, there will be a description and map where you can see where the destination is in the world.
There are also options to get the coins for free or watch a video ad to buy coins. Users can pay $0.99 for 100 coins, $1.99 for 300 coins, and $4.99 for 600 coins.
Image Credits: OfftheGrid
The app’s “trips” tab, on the other hand, allows users to connect with other travelers. People post where they’re traveling and how long they’re staying, then others connect with them to offer any advice or meet up. There is a limit to how many people can message each day. After talking to three individuals, the traveler must use coins again to talk to more people.
Image Credits: OfftheGrid
Of course, it’s important for travelers to stay safe when traveling abroad. While meeting new people is fun, you should also be careful about meeting strangers.
“Safety is our main concern,” Cerbantes said.
For starters, the app allows users to verify their email, phone number, and Facebook account. At launch, OfftheGrid doesn’t have a system to verify profile photos, but Cervantes says the startup is implementing a photo tagging API. OfftheGrid also plans to launch a blue checkmark system for verified profiles.
But, as dating apps have shown, what users really want are background checks — which is why Match Group began integrating them with apps like Tinder this year after horror stories of abuse, stalking and stalking began to emerge from its users. OfftheGrid does not include such a feature, so travelers should be careful with whom they choose to chat and connect.
OfftheGrid also has an “Explore” tab – a discovery tool that allows you to interact with a map of the most liked and trending content on the app. There is a search option if users want to jump to a specific location and filters such as “Wildlife”, “Parks/Trails”, “Shopping”, “Museums/Galleries” and “Food”.
Image Credits: OfftheGrid
OfftheGrid is a startup, which means the company is self-funded and doesn’t rely on investors or outside sources.
Cervantes said the company has several plans for the app down the road. This includes a subscription model that allows subscribers to open photos and connect with as many people as they want. An organizational feature is also in the works, allowing users to plan trips based on photos they’ve liked on the app.
Another feature being rolled out to the app is a “Local” section in the “Travels” tab for users to find people in the area.
Cerbantes mentioned that OfftheGrid will host a monthly photo contest in the future. Photos with the most likes and correctly geotagged will win. The details of what the awards will be are yet to be decided.
The travel app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store and is recommended for users 18 and older.
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