Sorry to break it to you, but a travel website with basic search and booking features won’t be the sole inspiration for travelers to grab their backpacks or luggage and hit the road. As the travel industry comes completely into the digital age, a site makes or breaks the decision of a tourist to take a certain trip.
Today’s traveler needs a more fluid, compelling web experience. That’s why good travel websites make sure they have what it takes to keep a visitor engaged.
There are some factors that are common among all good travel websites. If you incorporate these features into your website, you could also be successful in drawing in traffic. If imitation is the most genuine type of flattery, a great place to begin is here. Read on to learn more about what good travel websites have in common.
Predictive Searches
It may sound sensationalist, but from a travel website, today’s traveler seeks performance and accuracy, and predictive searches are a large part of that equation.
Although predictive search software can save only a few keystrokes for a traveler, it is this degree of ease that rings true with travelers and encourages them to return for future bookings to a website.
Particularly when browsing a travel website on a mobile device, the predictive search function simplifies the customer experience and offers peace of mind that a travel company operates in accordance with based on current technological standards.
Call to Action
When they visit a website, a ‘call to action’ is what you want your potential client or visitor will use as their basis for their next steps after reading.
There are various calls to action on travel websites, ranging from liking a post on social media, watching videos, installing an app, making a reservation, leaving a comment, among others.
Their content is essential to how, at any specific stage of the traveler’s mindset, they build the most effective call to action. As a way to generate and align CTAs, travel websites put travel tips and advice, and they offer deals and promote affordable travel ideas to visitors.
Google Map Integration
Travel websites have adopted Google Maps as the de facto online mapping service, which makes it simple for travelers to explore the locations and activities around their destination, which has the chance of leading to further bookings.
When a customer searches for a hotel option, a cultural adventure can be discovered a few streets from a certain hotel using Google Maps. This could be a key driver in the customer’s choice of hotel.
In relation to packaging goods and services, it can also be a business model for travel companies. Travelers can also easily and effectively fix their itinerary when they are aware of nearby destinations and possible activities.
Online Booking and Payment Systems
Travelers are now particularly concerned about making online travel bookings. Good travel websites guarantee that the main online payment types, namely credit/debit card payments and PayPal, can be managed by their payment system.
As you can see in the table below, there are several good reasons why good travel websites allow online booking and payments.
Implementing a system, however, can be costly and would require reliable internet connectivity.
| Advantages of Online Booking/Payments | Disadvantages |
| No required manual synchronization | Expensive set-up |
| Time-saver | Internet requirements |
| No double-booking issues | |
| More opportunities for upselling extra services/activities | |
| Alignment with OTA booking systems | |
| Alignment of ‘call to action’ with relevant content |
Customer Reviews
The transparency of information is apparent in good travel websites due to the large amount of information accessible to today’s travelers. In creating an atmosphere of convenience for customers, travel experiences are a key factor.
Travel websites allow clients to monitor all aspects of the operations of a travel business. This provides more openness and encourages travelers to see other customers and communicate with them.
It provides a small community of sorts that enhances the capacity of a travel company to communicate with clients. The business can also use feedback to improve how it operates.
Great Visual Elements
What do you have to do as a travel company owner to draw clients to your site? What is your special selling point? Why do people need to come to you?
Compelling images, videos, graphics, and other visual elements are integrated into good travel websites. These attract a customer and create a certain degree of brand loyalty, especially if the website is branded for a specific target market.
Conclusion
As you can see, today’s travel websites go beyond a basic HTML home page with static photos, basic payment options, and little information transparency.
They are now seen as a way of enhancing customer loyalty and building long-term client relationships. As you get started creating your travel website, which of these aspects will you integrate into your design?
