Ever wonder where to travel? I know. Sometimes there are too many choices and places I want to go (I call this travel paralysis!). I've found the solution - a fantastic site called Tripbase. Founded in May 2007, Tripbase pioneered the Internet’s first “destination discovery engine,” making searching for travel all about the personal preferences of the traveler. Tripbase lets users choose what is important to them and eliminates the time-consuming and frustrating search process of sorting through destinations that might not be a perfect fit. Tripbase was named Top Travel Website 2008 for Destination Ideas by Travel and Leisure Magazine.
Tripbase also has a *fantastic* blog, with really funny and interesting articles (21 Signs you're a travel addict; which travel decade are you? 10 secrets to successful sabbaticals, 55 ways to enjoy a long car ride). LOVE IT!
We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with Reuven Levitt, the CEO and co-Founder of Tripbase.com, about the site, travel tips, technology to help you choose trips, and more. Here's what he had to say...
Reuven Levitt, Tripbase CEO
WE: Please tell us about your site, Tripbase..
RL: Tripbase guides travelers in finding their ideal travel destinations. Rather than sifting through mountains of data (a process anyone in the education sector is all too familiar with), our “Destination Finder” allows user to simply enter their travel preferences and receive unbiased recommendations about the most suitable destinations, hotels, and activities, all tailored to them.
WE: What was the genesis of your site?
RL: I’ve always been passionate about travel and wanted to make the involved decision-making process easier. Given all of the information that’s out there today, even the savviest traveler can have a hard time figuring out where to go, how to get there, and what to do once they arrive. Worse is that on top of the frustration with hours of research, there is the added pressure of not wanting to make the wrong decision; vacation time is precious and trips can be expensive. The idea behind Tripbase was to help undecided travelers find their ideal travel destination within seconds.
WE: What are your top travel tips?
RL: I’ve had great experiences at Lake Palace Hotel, in Udaipur, India and at Ranger Station, in Corcovado, Costa Rica. I also have to recommend renting a houseboat in Kerala, India!
WE: How does the technology work, to help you choose trips?
RL: Our search technology scours the web for the most relevant, current, and high quality travel information from more than 26 million points of data from sources that include traveler reviews, expert blogs, and other websites.
What really sets Tripbase apart though is our ability to analyze, match and reassemble data quickly and precisely, so that our visitors only receive information that's valuable to them. Tripbase weighs reviews and ratings against each other and tells the traveler, “based on this data, you would like this destination.”
WE: What else can readers find on Tripbase?
RL: There is a lot to be found on the site. Travelers who have already decided on a destination can choose from the hotels, flights or deals tabs to search for flights and accommodations on numerous travel sites including Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, Bing and Priceline. Our Road Trip Planner helps budget travelers plan their ideal road trip vacation, and our blog is chock full of destination ideas and travel tips. Our latest project has been our travel secrets ebooks, where we’ve compiled hundreds of expert travelers’ secrets into one place.
WE: How do you suggest people give back, while traveling?
RL: The internet has made giving back while traveling easier than ever. Online communities and blogs are a great way to share travel knowledge and tips, and to spread awareness about the issues travelers encounter in different parts of the world.
One way we’ve decided to give back is through our travel secrets project – we donate one dollar to Charity: Water for every ebook that is downloaded. We encourage all travelers to participate – whether by downloading an ebook or contributing their own secrets!
WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
RL: The next year is going to be an exciting year for Tripbase. We have a great number of new ventures in the pipeline! Stay tuned.
WE: Thanks so much, Reuven. We're loving Tripbase and highly recommend it to our readers!
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All photos courtesy and copyright Tripbase.com