GetYourGuide: Plan & Book

What it does

GetYourGuide is a comprehensive travel app that allows users to discover, book, and organize tours, activities, and entry tickets for attractions around the world. It serves as both a marketplace for travel experiences and a source of inspiration through curated city guides and articles. Users can search for specific activities, save them into themed wishlists for future trips, and complete bookings directly within the app.

Where it shines

GetYourGuide excels at bridging the gap between inspiration and action. The 'Explorer' tab (01:05) functions like a polished travel magazine, offering rich, article-style guides that help users dream up their next trip. This content seamlessly links to bookable activities. Another strength is its powerful filtering system (04:55), which allows users to narrow down a vast inventory by very specific criteria like tour duration and language, making it easy to find the perfect experience.

UX highlights

Contextual Search Categories: The home screen uses tabs like 'Culture' and 'Food' (00:50) to help users browse by interest, which is more intuitive than starting with a blank search bar.
Wishlists as Trip Planners: The ability to create multiple, named wishlists (e.g., 'California' at 02:21) turns a simple bookmarking feature into a functional itinerary-building tool.
Clear Action Feedback: When an item is added to a wishlist (02:24) or the cart (04:10), the app provides an immediate and clear confirmation toast at the bottom of the screen.
Detailed Activity Pages: Activity detail screens (02:08) are well-structured, providing key information like free cancellation, reviews, and highlights above the fold.
Comprehensive Filtering: The filter options are exceptionally detailed, including time of day, price range, and even services like wheelchair accessibility (05:10), catering to diverse user needs.
In-App Support Chat: The 'Chat with us' feature (10:28) provides direct access to a support agent, offering a quick resolution path for users with questions.

Monetization & growth

The video does not show a subscription-based paywall. The app's primary monetization method is transactional, earning a commission on each booking made through the platform. During the checkout process (04:02), there is an interesting growth mechanic: an optional add-on to donate to the USS Midway Foundation. This is a clever way to increase the average order value while aligning with the theme of the activity being booked. The app also focuses on account creation early in the onboarding (00:09) to capture user information for marketing and retargeting.

Who it’s for

The app appears to be for a wide range of travelers, from meticulous planners to spontaneous adventurers. Planners will appreciate the ability to create detailed wishlists and read in-depth guides. Spontaneous travelers can benefit from the ability to quickly find and book last-minute activities. The extensive filtering options also make it suitable for travelers with specific needs, such as families or those requiring tours in a particular language.

Notes & opportunities

The mandatory sign-up at the very beginning of the user journey (00:09) creates significant friction. Allowing users to browse and explore the app's content before requiring an account could improve initial engagement and reduce drop-off. Additionally, while wishlists are powerful, there's an opportunity to enhance them with date-based itinerary planning features, allowing users to map out their saved activities day-by-day.