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Jet Set Entrepreneurs: 5 Cool Travel Startups to Watch

From travel inspiration to mobile apps and travel experience enhancement find out which travel startups made our must-watch list this year.

It has been said that “Not all those who wander are lost.”(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)

A new breed of entrepreneurs aim to capitalize on the “wanderer” in us all. In fact, it is a good time for travel startups, according to recent reports. “The travel industry can expect a healthy upswing in the coming year, according to a recent survey …”

“When travelers were asked to project their travel plans for 2013, 23% of respondents stated they intend to travel more frequently compared to 2012.” The travel-minded startups that are poised for success will “solve a real pain point, focused on planning, booking, or information on-the-go,” according to PandoDaily.

So before consumers finalize travel plans, book their next hotel, schedule transportation by land, air or sea these five jet set startups aim to help them along the way. From travel inspiration to mobile apps and travel experience enhancement find out which travel startups made our must-watch list this year:

1. Peek

Ruzwana Bashir; Source: Courtesy Photo
Ruzwana Bashir; Source: Courtesy Photo

Co-founded by Ruzwana Bashir (Co-founder and CEO), a travel junkie that has navigated her way through 40 countries, Peek.com aims to help travelers answer one important questions: “What do we do when we get there?”

Peek.com aims to help travelers discover and book amazing things to do in their destination city. Based on the premise that an unforgettable trip is built on special experiences you share with friends and family, Peek realizes that these activities are often difficult to find and even more challenging to book.

Peek.com aims to change this by offering a carefully curated selection of high-quality activities, display them beautifully, and make them easily bookable online via computer, tablet or mobile phone.

Ultimately the startup is dedicated to making travel planning more enjoyable by focusing on quality, one-stop-shop ease of use, custom itineraries and customer service. Learn more at www.peek.com.

2. Hipmunk

Adam Goldstein; Source: Courtesy Photo
Adam Goldstein; Source: Courtesy Photo

Co-founded by Adam Goldstein, an MIT graduate, and Steve Huffman — a co-founder of the social news site, reddit — Hipmunk aims to offer a better flight search and hotel booking platform for travelers.

The travel search site plans to take the agony out of travel planning by targeting people who are overwhelmed with pages of irrelevant search results.

Dedicated to creating a better user experience Hipmunk presents flight search results in a visual “timeline” that allows people to select the best flight for them at a glance.

Hotel results are shown on a map so that people can view where in a destination they will be staying and the landmarks near them.

Hipmunk wants to put the fun back into travel planning. Learn more at www.hipmunk.com.

 

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