The Travel Buddy App was created to help travelers find trustworthy and like-minded companions for their journeys. Many people hesitate to travel alone due to safety concerns, budget limits, or the desire for shared experiences. This app solves that by offering verified profiles, smart matching based on interests and budget, group chat, and safety features. It’s designed to make travel more social, safe, and enjoyable—especially for solo travelers and backpackers looking to connect.
Core problem
The core problem faced by many travelers—especially solo travelers and backpackers—is the difficulty in finding trustworthy and compatible travel companions. Existing platforms either lack community-building features or don’t provide the necessary filters to match users based on interests, destination, budget, or travel style. This often leads to isolation, safety concerns, last-minute cancellations, and mismatched expectations, making the overall travel experience less enjoyable and more stressful.
Empathize
Conducted user interviews to understand travel pain points
Identified key needs like safety, trust, and compatible buddies
Define
Created personas and user journey maps
Clearly defined the core problem: finding trustworthy travel companions
Ideate
Brainstormed solutions like matching filters, verified profiles, and group chats
Planned the complete user flow and information architecture
Prototype
Designed high-fidelity screens in Figma (iPhone 15 Pro Max resolution)
Followed a clean and intuitive UI style guide
Test
Validated the flow through peer feedback and usability walkthroughs
Refined features for better usability and clarity
Results and Impact
1. Building Trust and Safety
Verified user profiles with badges to ensure authenticity. Safety features like live location sharing and emergency contacts. Rating and review system after trips to promote responsible behavior
2. Smarter Matching and Planning
Match with buddies based on destination, budget, dates, and interests. Advanced filters to help find the right travel companions. Create or join trips with detailed plans, budgets, and privacy controls.
3. Better Communication and Engagement
Group chat for real-time trip discussions. Option for voice/video calls for deeper connection before meeting. Personalized travel feed with curated trip stories and suggestions