Grand Plans

Planning for future trips is proven to increase happiness—these apps help fuel your travel dreams and make them into reality

HOTELUX

Launching a travel app in a midst of a pandemic may seem ill advised, but for Hotelux the timing was perfect. “Although travel is currently limited, it is the best time to launch our app. Staycations are the closest thing we have to travel at the moment, and people have more knowledge about hotels and booking than ever before,” says Yihao Shi, managing director of Hotelux. The membership-based luxury hotel reservation app provides users with instant booking confirmation and exclusive benefits, but its game-changing feature is that members can also earn points from the loyalty programmes of the likes of Marriott and Hyatt along with Hotelux points. While initially only available in Singapore, it has plans to expand in Asia as the Hotelux team foresees regional travel bouncing back soon.

The app is available for download on Android and IOS devices

HIPCAMP

Being in the wild is no longer the preserve of serious adventurers. Experiencing lockdowns in cities has increased many people’s desire to spend time in nature, whether that be on a short, gentle hike or a days-long camping trip. For those in search of unique outdoor experiences, Hipcamp is a godsend. Dubbed the “Airbnb of the outdoors”, Hipcamp makes it easier to book stays in parks, cabins, yurts, treehouses and RVS, as well as glamping experiences. Currently only operating in the US, it has recently acquired an Australian counterpart and recently raised US$57 million of investment to fund further international expansion. A noteworthy resource to tap into once we can get past our own borders.

hipcamp.com