PreTravel

Inspiration

Booking travel today is a leap of faith, photos can be outdated, hotel listings can be misleading, and the “vibe” of a place often gets lost until you’re already there. We wanted to give people the power to experience before committing by merging AR/VR, AI, and real booking APIs.

What it does

PreTravel lets users virtually teleport into a destination before booking. You can: Explore streets, hotels, and attractions in 360° immersive views. Filter suggestions by mood (adventure, chill, foodie). Preview AI-generated “hidden gems” that aren’t in standard travel guides. Book hotels, flights, or activities directly via integrated APIs.

How we built it

Frontend: React + React Three Fiber for VR/AR scenes, with Mapbox 3D for city visualizations. Backend: Node.js serverless functions acting as a secure proxy for LiteAPI (travel bookings). AI Gemini API: AI system suggests activities and hidden gems based on the user’s mood and city context. Integration: Hotspots in the 3D/VR environment link to real booking options, creating a seamless “explore → book” flow.

Challenges we ran into

Integrating booking APIs with secure handling of API keys. Creating a natural “teleport” animation/UX that feels futuristic yet simple.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Integrated LiteAPI successfully for real travel data. Designed a mood-based AI recommendation system that makes suggestions feel personalized.

What we learned

How powerful immersive technologies become when combined with real-world data. That travel isn’t just logistics, it’s emotion and vibe, and tech can capture that.

What's next for PreTravel

Deeper AR integration: Let users preview hotel rooms in AR inside their own homes. More data sources: Integrate reviews, local events, and transportation previews. Personalized AI travel agent: Full conversational AI that curates entire trips.