Wanderlust: The Ultimate Travel Companion
- crosewales15
- Aug 24
- 2 min read
Last semester, Wanderlust: The Travel Companion was born out of a simple goal, to make solo travel easier, safer, and more connected. The app already gives users curated itineraries, local recommendations, a chat function with built-in translation, and personalised checklists. It’s become a digital backpacker’s best friend, a tool for planning, connecting, and discovering hidden gems around the world.
But just like travel itself, Wanderlust is an ongoing journey. This semester, I’m taking it further.
The next evolution of Wanderlust will focus on making the app more conversational, responsive, and personalised. One way I’m exploring this is through a built-in AI travel chatbot. This chatbot could answer real-time travel questions, suggest itineraries based on mood or budget, recommend safe routes, and even help travellers break the ice with locals.
Why a chatbot? Because young travellers, especially backpackers, often need quick, on-the-spot information. They don’t want to spend hours digging through forums or scrolling endless blogs, they want instant, trustworthy guidance. A chatbot could offer that while still fitting seamlessly into Wanderlust’s existing community features.
Of course, features are only half the story. Marketing Wanderlust to the right audience, budget-conscious, adventure-driven travellers, is just as important. Last semester’s pivot from Instagram to TikTok proved that my audience responds best to authentic, in-the-moment content rather than highly polished posts. TikTok’s algorithm rewards spontaneity, creativity, and relatability, the same qualities that define backpacking.
This time, I’ll double down on TikTok as my main promotional platform, focusing on content that feels like it’s made by travellers, for travellers. Think:
Quick hostel hacks
Hidden food spots under $10
“Day in the life” clips from real destinations
Funny, relatable travel mishaps
Another key area I want to build on this semester is community engagement within the app itself. Beyond just connecting travellers through profiles and chat, I’m exploring ways to encourage user-generated content, like short travel tips, mini reviews of hostels or restaurants, and even location-based advice pinned directly on maps. This not only gives users more ownership of the app but also keeps the platform dynamic and constantly refreshed with real experiences from people on the ground. For young travellers, hearing directly from peers feels more trustworthy than a polished travel guide. By turning Wanderlust into a space where travellers actively contribute as well as consume content, I can strengthen the sense of community and make the app feel like an essential part of the backpacking experience.
The mission remains the same: to create not just a travel planning tool, but a thriving community of like-minded adventurers who can rely on each other. The new phase of Wanderlust is about connection, travellers to travellers, travellers to locals, and travellers to the experiences they’ll never forget.
This semester is just the beginning of that journey.
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