Decide A Place

From bites and brews to shops and views, we help you discover great food, cafes, bars, parks, and attractions. Explore or let us decide for you!

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Inspiration

Too often, people waste time trying to decide where to go—whether it’s for a quick lunch, a weekend café, or a tourist attraction abroad. The indecisiveness only grows when you’re in a new city, short on time, or just looking for something spontaneous.

We wanted to solve this problem with a smart yet simple tool that combines filters, maps, and a little bit of randomness. Inspired by conversations with friends and everyday decision fatigue, Decide A Place was born.

What it does

Decide A Place is a web app that helps users discover nearby or destination-based places—food, cafes, bars, shops, parks, and attractions. Users can:

  • Set their location
  • Filter results by keyword, price, or rating
  • Sort by distance, price, or rating
  • Choose how many places to view (10–60)
  • Or tap “Decide for Me” for a random pick

Each result includes Google Maps info—distance, rating, reviews—and opens directly in Google Maps for directions and more.

The UI is responsive and supports light/dark modes. It also uses the Web Share API for quick sharing with friends.

How we built it

  • Frontend: Built with React + TypeScript, powered by Vite for fast builds and modern development
  • Mapping: Google Maps Platform — Places API (Text Search, Details), Google Maps JavaScript API
  • Hosting: Static site deployed on Netlify
  • Browser APIs: Geolocation API for current location, Web Share API for sharing suggestions
  • Design: Responsive UI with Tailwind CSS, supporting both desktop and mobile, plus dark/light theme toggle

Challenges we ran into

  • Quota limitations on Google Maps APIs during testing
  • Tuning the “Decide for Me” function to ensure fair randomness with relevant places
  • Keeping the UI clean while offering meaningful filters

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Created a fully functional and responsive app that solves a real-world problem
  • Delivered a clean UX with relevant filters and randomness
  • Integrated seamlessly with Google Maps

What we learned

  • Deep understanding of Google Maps Platform APIs and how to chain them effectively
  • Learned how to manage state and filters effectively to maintain performance while providing rich user customization.

What's next for Decide A Place

  • Expanded Categories & Local Deals: Add more categories (e.g., gyms, theaters, coworking spaces) and integrate local promotions or discounts for users.

  • Analytics & Feedback Loop: Integrate usage analytics and user feedback mechanisms to continually refine features and UI/UX.

  • Monetization Opportunities: Explore partnerships with local businesses for sponsored listings, deals, or ads that align with user interests without compromising UX.

**Explore or let us decide for you!**

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