Product Overview of Planapple
Planapple is a comprehensive travel planning tool designed to simplify and streamline the process of creating and managing travel itineraries. Here’s a detailed look at what Planapple does and its key features:
What is Planapple?
Planapple is a web-based travel planner that helps users collect, organize, and share travel information in a single, accessible platform. It was founded by Pete Rice and Mike Edmunds, driven by their own experiences with the complexities of manual travel planning.
Key Features and Functionality
Trip Planning and Organization
Planapple allows users to create a new trip by specifying the destination and travel dates. Users can then add co-travelers to the trip via email, enabling collaborative planning. The platform includes an “Idea Finder” feature that lets users browse the web directly within Planapple to find and save information on places to stay, things to see and do, places to eat, and transportation options.
Collaboration
One of the standout features of Planapple is its ability to facilitate collaborative trip planning. Users can invite their travel mates to contribute to the itinerary, discuss ideas through comments and messages, and keep track of decisions collectively.
Integration with Other Services
Planapple integrates seamlessly with other travel planning tools, such as TripIt. Users can import their TripIt itineraries into Planapple, ensuring all travel details are consolidated in one place.
Browser Extension
Planapple offers a downloadable browser extension that allows users to save travel ideas and information directly from the web. This extension is particularly handy for capturing relevant URLs, notes, and other travel-related data.
Trip Segments
Users can organize their trip into segments, adding various items such as links, notes, and scheduled activities to each segment. This feature helps in keeping the itinerary structured and easy to navigate.
Itinerary Management
Planapple provides a clear view of the itinerary, showing all scheduled activities and items. Users can add items to their itinerary with specific times or just assign them to a date.
Mobile Accessibility
Although Planapple does not have a dedicated mobile app, it offers a mobile web version that allows users to access and manage their trip information offline. This is particularly useful for travelers who need to refer to their itinerary while on the go.
Sharing and Publishing
Once the trip is completed, users can “publish” their favorite recommendations to a URL, making it easy to share tips and experiences with friends and family.
Summary
Planapple is an effective tool for travelers looking to streamline their trip planning process. It offers a user-friendly interface for brainstorming, organizing, and sharing travel ideas, integrates well with other travel services, and provides mobile accessibility for on-the-go use. With its collaborative features, browser extension, and ability to manage trip segments, Planapple simplifies the often daunting task of travel planning.