When was the last time you used a paper map or called a travel agent?
Unless your phone’s dead and it’s 1997, chances are, those aren’t your go-to tools anymore.
Today’s travelers expect everything at their fingertips, so if your app isn’t designed for that, you’re already playing catch-up.
And it’s not just Google Maps or Expedia you’re up against. You’re entering one of the most competitive app categories in the world.
Travel app downloads reached 4.2 billion in 2024, with users spending over 20 billion hours inside them. That’s a 7.3% year-over-year increase.
The global travel apps market was valued at $12 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to reach between $30 billion and $48 billion by the early 2030s.
Source: Verified Market Reports
So, how do you create a travel app that actually gets traction? One that earns space on home screens, garners five-star reviews, and sticks with people from takeoff to touchdown?
At Appetiser Apps, we’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to mobile apps. I pulled together the essentials in this blog—backed by our team’s real-world experience—to help you build a smarter app from day one.
It’s the playbook for apps that stick. Read on and learn how you can get yours on that path.
How to get started with travel app development
1. Focus on the MVP approach to build essential features
One trap we’ve heard over and over from app founders: they want their app to do everything from day one. Do you want your app to book flights, translate signs, recommend food spots, and track passport renewals?
Ambitious? Sure. Effective? Not even close.
The truth is, the best travel apps start by solving one clear, specific problem. That’s how they cut through the noise.
Travel apps like Hopper and Packpoint started that way. They didn’t launch with a million features. They launched with one great one and earned the right to grow.
Hopper
Hopper helps travelers find the best time to book flights and hotels by predicting future prices with 95% accuracy. Investors took notice of the app’s traction, pouring in $16 million to fuel its growth.
This kind of focused problem-solving is exactly what we keep in mind when helping clients build their apps. We always start by asking:
What exact moment in a traveler’s journey does your app make easier?
Can it replace a spreadsheet, a cluttered browser tab, or a messy pile of notes?
Our goal is simple. Ship fast, learn faster.
2. Design your travel app before you build it
Think of travel app development like a long-haul flight. You don’t just pick a seat and hope for the best. You plan.
Before writing a single line of code, sketch and build a prototype. Not the polished kind. Just enough to click through, test, and tweak. Use Figma, Marvel, even paper sketches if you have to.
The goal here isn’t perfection. It’s clarity.
Clickable prototypes reveal where things feel clunky. What users ignore. Which screens confuse. You’ll quickly see where your idea shines and where it stalls.
We’ve seen this stage save founders tens of thousands in avoidable rework. A few hours of prototyping can uncover problems that months of development would’ve built into stone.
Case study: RoamniRoamni came to Appetiser with a struggling Android app. In just six weeks, we turned it into a polished prototype that showcased its unique value, attracted investors, and proved the concept. Today, the app has 200,000+ active users and helped the startup reach a $5M valuation. Read the full story and see how we made it happen: Roamni Case Study |
|---|
3. Validate like a user for empathetic UX/UI
In our experience, the best apps are born from validation and not just vision.
The most successful travel apps don’t start with engineers. They start with empathy. That means getting out of your own head and into the mindset of the people who’ll actually use your product.
How exactly do you do this?
One tried-and-tested method I’ve seen is to sit down with a few users, actual travelers who’ve been burned by apps in the past.
If one says something like:
“I don’t need 100 features. Just tell me where to eat in this city without the tourist trap nonsense.”
“Every time I try to book a place, it’s like the app doesn’t even know what I want. I’m stuck looking at a bunch of listings that aren’t even in the neighborhood I care about.”
That’s the friction. That’s the gap. They’re telling you the problems. And now you’ve got the insights you need to shape your product.
Every aha moment at this stage saves you heartache (and dollars) later.
4. Design to make it feel like travel
Great travel apps mirror the real world.
App design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about understanding how people actually travel. It’s the vibe, the personality, the little details that tell you what kind of trip you’re about to have, even before you book.
Let’s say I’m designing for luxury travelers. I keep it minimal. Clean. Elegant. Something that feels like stepping into a five-star hotel. Nothing flashy, just quiet confidence and simplicity.
For budget backpackers? I flip the vibe. Bold colors, big visuals, a little scrappy. It should feel like an open-ended journey: spontaneous, social, full of energy.
But don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying your app has to fit into these neat little boxes. Inject your own vision, your own style, and make it yours.
My point is, design needs to speak to your user’s mindset and set the tone for the kind of experience you’re offering. It’s all about making the design feel right for the journey you’re guiding them on.
At Appetiser Apps, we build brand and product hand-in-hand, so the logo, the design, and the entire experience feel like they belong on the same passport. It’s all about giving users an app that feels like it was made for the journey they’re on.
|
Pro tip: Travelers are often offline—in planes, mountains, tunnels, or airports with spotty Wi-Fi. Design with that in mind. Offline modes, cached confirmations, pre-loaded maps—these small touches build real trust. |
|---|
4. Launch a leaner version for app validation
You don’t need every feature to launch. In fact, you shouldn’t.
“There’s no such thing as a perfect app. There will always be issues, things that break, and odd things that users encounter. But as long as you protect your core concept and ensure that what you want to test works, that’s what matters.” – Adonis Dumapat, iOS developer
We’ve seen founders often fall into the trap of building for the full itinerary instead of the first stop. Often, they try to cram in flights, bookings, recommendations, reviews, loyalty, and AI-powered everything from day one. The result? Delays, bloated builds, and a product that doesn’t speak clearly to anyone.
That’s why at Appetiser Apps, we guide our clients to start small but smart. Instead of aiming to be everything at once, ask:
What’s the one core problem your app must solve first?
We’ve witnessed time and time again that when an app solves a single problem exceptionally well, it creates a moment of value that hooks users. That’s the foundation of product-market fit, and this is where the concept of a strong minimum viable product (MVP) comes in.
Insert video
An MVP isn’t just a simplified app. It’s a focused solution that meets a real user need. It starts by asking:
- What’s the first moment this app must deliver value?
- What features are mission-critical for that?
- What’s just noise in version one?
Take MyDeal, for example. When they came to us, we helped them launch with a focused first version—simple, fast, and built around what real users actually needed. That clear starting point gave them the traction to grow steadily, eventually leading to an ASX listing and a business valued at over $100 million.
They’re not just competing. They’re winning. MyDeal is now outperforming household names like H&M, IKEA, StockX, Target, and Kogan on the app stores.
That’s how MVPs win: not by doing everything, but by doing the right thing first.
5. Think of app monetization from day one
Apps that scale don’t just launch fast. They launch with a plan. If you don’t know how your app’s going to make money, you’re already off course.
Having a clear business model from day one changes everything. It guides the roadmap, shapes the features, and helps us focus on what really matters, not just what looks shiny.
At Appetiser, we work closely with founders to pressure-test the plan before a single pixel gets pushed. Because building a great app is one thing. Building a business that flies? That takes direction.
So, always ask early:
✈️ What’s the business model — subscriptions, ads, affiliate deals?
🧭 Who’s the traveller you’re building for — and how will you reach them?
📊 What numbers actually matter in the first few layovers?
“Monetization really depends on the type of business. Sometimes, subscriptions work; they are generally the preferred monetization model. However, that’s not always the case because there are so many options. You can use ads, commission-based models, or one-time payments. The key is to creatively make money without the user even realizing it.”
— Brian Wong, Product Manager
Need help figuring out how your app will make money? Check out our guide to app monetization strategies.
7. Prioritize mobile security to gain trust
I’ve felt it myself. Closing an app, not because it was slow or clunky, but because something just felt… off. I didn’t feel safe using it. No matter how tempting the travel deal may be.
And I know I’m not the only one.
When you’re asking people to trust your app with their flights, their money, and their personal info, that’s a big deal.
So treat it that way.
Use payment methods people actually recognise and trust. Keep their data protected. Follow the privacy rules that matter. And don’t just do it behind the scenes. Make that security obvious in the design and experience too.
Because if users feel uneasy, they won’t stick around. And if you lose their trust? I bet you. That’s not something you easily win back.
Great trips start with great planning. So do great apps.
Building a travel app is like planning the perfect trip. You start with a clear destination, pack only what’s essential, and stay ready to adapt as the journey unfolds.
You don’t need to build everything at once or blow your budget. What you do need is clarity—a real user problem and a strong reason to exist.
The best travel apps don’t just get downloaded. They get remembered, recommended, and earn a place on every traveler’s device.
If you have an idea that helps people explore smarter, move faster, or discover deeper, now is the time to bring it to life.
At Appetiser, we partner with founders to turn smart travel ideas into digital products that take flight.
You’ve got the idea. Let’s pack the essentials, chart the course, and take that first step together.
People also ask
1. How do I create a travel app that stands out?
Focus on solving real traveler problems with core features like offline maps and easy booking. Gathering user feedback throughout development ensures your app fits how people actually travel today.
2. What should I expect from travel app developers or a travel app development company?
Whether you hire specialist travel app developers or a broader travel app development company, find teams who understand the travel industry and can deliver apps that perform well on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
3. What travel app features are essential?
Offline access, smooth in-app purchases, and a user-friendly experience top the list. These features keep app users engaged no matter where they are in the world.
4. How important is user feedback during travel mobile app development?
It’s critical. Regular user feedback helps refine features and fix issues early, ensuring your app meets real user needs and stands out in a crowded market.
5. Can I build a successful travel app without a massive budget?
Yes. Start with a focused MVP addressing a clear user need, then grow based on real data and feedback.
