Zola | Devpost

mood board
sample itinerary
image details

Inspiration

Planning a trip can be stressful for "Type A" friend, family member, or partner. You have to comb the internet for popular destinations, search for reviews if they are worth visiting or tourist traps, budget prices, manage timelines, book tickets, accommodations, and find delicious restaurants, to maximize your experience but also have fun. The planning process should be fun, exciting, and inspiring, without all the added stress and frantic Google, Reddit, and Chat GPT searching, especially for those who may not be as tech savvy.

What it does

Zola is a travel mood board, where you can scrapbook your dream vacation with just a few quick interactions. Pin pictures that fits your mood - rather you are feeling casual, energetic, or romantic. You can pin photos and ideas for inspiration, like a digital mood board, then instantly get matched with top-rated hotels, restaurants, and activities pulled straight from TripAdvisor, complete with reviews, prices, and photos. It’s the easiest, most inspiring way to go from dream trip to done.

How we built it

We used Tempo to quickly prototype a frontend, and use FastAPI framework to create a backend server. We used OpenAI, TripAdvisor, and Unsplash API to create an immersive "vibe-planning" experience.

Challenges we ran into

We have to figure out ways to cache data to workaround the token limits set by each API providers. We ended up pre-running the api multiple times to create a mini database for random images. Balancing the AI-usage and searching for grounded truth with TripAdivisor to provide accurate and helpful planning experience was the biggest challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We focused on creating a solution that could serve as a viable proof of concept while minimizing token usage. Throughout the process, we worked closely together, using peer programming to strengthen our teamwork and solve problems more effectively. When we encountered difficult challenges, we didn’t stay stuck; instead, we quickly pivoted to explore alternative approaches and keep moving forward.

What we learned

We learned how to play to our strengths and collaborate efficiently, making the most of each team member’s skills. Alone the way, we gained experience integrating multiple files and codebases into a cohesive, working product. Most importantly, we discovered the value of starting with a clear plan, executing it, and then regrouping to refine, pivot, and problem-solve together in order to continually improve our solution.

What's next for Zola

We plan to make Zola even more interactive and collaborative. We want to expand the scrapbooking feature by allowing users to drag and drop cards directly onto their itinerary, turning inspiration into a personalized day-by-day plan. We also aim to connect Zola with booking platforms so users can seamlessly reserve hotels, tickets, and restaurant reservations without leaving the app. By checking real-time availability, Zola could automatically surface hotels and activities that fit both the user’s mood and their travel dates, making recommendations more practical and actionable. Finally, we envision collaborative planning, where friends and family can join the same board, pin ideas together, and vote on activities, making trip planning a shared and fun experience.