Our 5 Steps to Build a Travel Meta Search Engine

Are you planning to build a travel meta search engine but unsure where to start?

 

Do you want to know what it takes to build a travel search engine website that can compete with giants like Kayak, Skyscanner, and Google Flights?

 

Are you seeking insights into the complexities of creating a seamless user experience in a competitive market?

 

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this guide is for you.

 

After reading this article, you will know:

 

• What the essential features your travel search engine must have
• How to create a travel search engine and what steps to take
• The best technologies and tools to use for travel search engine development
• How much costs you’ll need to create a travel search engine

 

Alright, let’s get started.

Onix built a search engine with filters for a database of over 2 million listings

Planning to Build a Travel Meta Search Engine? Do You Know What Features to Include?

We suggest starting by exploring the key features of a travel search engine website. This will give you a clear understanding of how it works and what functionalities are required.

Below, our expert prepared a list of essential features that every successful travel search engine should have:

 

Comprehensive Search Functionality

 

• Flights. Allow users to search for flights from various airlines, compare prices, and view flight details including layovers, durations, and departure/arrival times.

 

• Hotels. Enable users to search for hotels based on location, price range, amenities, and guest ratings.

 

• Car rentals. Provide options to search for rental cars with filters for vehicle type, rental company, and price.

 

• Vacation packages. Offer bundled deals for flights, hotels, and car rentals, providing cost-saving options for users.

 

 

Advanced Filters and Sorting Options

 

• Filters. Provide filters for price range, departure/arrival times, number of stops, airline preference, hotel star rating, and amenities.

 

• Sorting. Allow users to sort results by price, duration, rating, and other relevant criteria.

 

Trip Planning

 

• Travel planning assistance. AI-powered virtual agents can help users plan their trips, suggest itineraries, and provide local tips and recommendations.

 

• Destination exploration. Integrate interactive maps to allow users to explore destinations, view nearby attractions, and get directions.

 

• Virtual tours. Offer AR-powered virtual tours of hotels, attractions, and destinations to give users a preview before booking.

 

• Local experiences. Use AR to enhance users' travel experiences with real-time information about local attractions and amenities.

 

Booking and Payment Integration

 

Secure booking. Allow users to book flights, hotels, and car rentals directly through the website.

Example of a travel booking platform designed by Onix

 

• Payment gateways. To handle financial transactions, integrate payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Adyen, etc.

 

 

Real-Time Data Integration

 

• API integration. Use travel APIs (such as Amadeus, Skyscanner, or Travelport) to fetch real-time data on flights, hotels, and car rentals.

 

Read also: Travel APIs: Types, Benefits, Best APIs, and How to Choose Them 

 

• Dynamic pricing. Ensure prices are updated in real time to reflect the latest deals and availability.

 

Customer Support

 

• Chatbot and AI assistance. Implement a chatbot to respond instantly to common queries, assist with bookings, and guide users through the website.

 

Personalization

 

• Personalized recommendations. Use AI to analyze user behavior and preferences, offering tailored travel suggestions and deals.

 

• Points and discounts. Create loyalty programs that reward users with booking points, which can be redeemed for discounts or free services.

 

Custom Travel Search Engine Website: The Development Process

Alright, now that we've covered the essential features needed to build a travel meta search engine, let's break down the steps required to bring these features to life.

 

Below, our specialists outline our typical development process for building a custom travel search engine. This information will give you a clear idea of what to expect during the development process.

 

1. Partner with skilled developers for your project

You'll need a technical partner to kickstart your travel aggregator website development. When choosing experts to build your custom travel search engine, it's essential to ensure they have the right skills and experience. They should be able to create a high-quality and innovative experience for your users.

 

Our experts have put together a list of essential things to think about and tips to remember:

 

• Experience in travel technology. Look for developers with expertise in building travel-related applications, including search engines, booking systems, and integration with travel APIs.

 

• UI/UX design capability. Seek developers who can create intuitive user interfaces and provide a seamless user experience through responsive design and interactive features.

 

• Security measures. Ensure they prioritize security with practices such as HTTPS encryption, secure API integrations, and compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR).

 

• Scalability and performance. Assess their ability to design and build a scalable architecture that can handle large volumes of data and traffic without compromising performance.

 

• Portfolio and references. Review their portfolio of past projects, especially those related to travel technology, and check client references or testimonials to gauge their reliability and quality of work.

 

• Post-launch support. Discuss ongoing maintenance and support services with your development team to address issues, provide updates, and optimize performance post-launch.

 

 

2. Select the best technology mix

We'll assist you in selecting the tools, frameworks, and programming languages that perfectly match your project's needs. The right technology stack is crucial for successfully implementing features in your custom travel search engine, ensuring optimal performance and a great user experience.

 

When deciding on the stack for building your custom travel search engine, we take into account factors such as:

 

• Performance requirements
• Budget and time constraints
• Scalability
• Integration needs
• Design requirements
• Security
• Maintenance and support

 

Our technical experts pay special attention to these technologies when building a travel aggregator website:

 

3. Begin with an MVP approach

Starting with a minimum viable product is a smart choice. And there are good reasons for this:

 

• It lets you quickly validate your travel meta-search engine idea and gather user feedback.

 

• Focusing on essential features and functionality first can speed up the development process and get your product to market faster.

 

• Building an MVP also helps you test the viability of your travel aggregator website while keeping development costs and risks low. 

 

Once you've confirmed your concept and received feedback, you can iterate and improve your travel metasearch engine based on real-world insights, ensuring its continuous improvement. 

 

 

4. Collect and aggregate travel data

To gather and organize travel data effectively, follow these steps:

 

• Find reliable data sources. Look for trustworthy travel websites, airlines, hotels, and other service providers. Partner with them to access their APIs or set up data feeds.

 

• Retrieve up-to-date information. Use these connections to get the latest info on flights, accommodations, car rentals, and other travel services.

 

• Ensure accuracy. Choose sources that provide accurate and comprehensive data to maintain high-quality search results.

 

• Aggregate the data. Combine all the information into a centralized database. Organize and categorize it to make it easily searchable for your users.

 

• Regular updates. Keep the data current by regularly updating and refreshing it. This ensures your meta-search engine remains reliable and provides accurate results for travelers.

 

5. Design eye-catching interfaces and streamline user experience

Creating your travel meta-search engine involves several essential steps to ensure a user-friendly and efficient platform. Here's how we approach the design phase:

 

Define UX goals

 

• Identifying your target users and their specific needs and preferences.
• Outlining the typical user flow from search to booking, including interactions with search filters, results pages, and booking processes.

 

Wireframing and prototyping

 

• Developing low-fidelity wireframes to sketch out the layout, structure, and navigation of key pages (e.g., home page, search results, booking form).
• Building interactive prototypes using tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma to simulate user interactions and validate design concepts.

 

Visual design

 

• Defining a consistent visual style, including color scheme, typography, icons, and imagery that align with your brand identity and appeal to your target audience.
• Ensuring responsive designs provide optimal viewing and interaction experiences across various devices and screen sizes.

 

Implementing functional design elements

 

• Designing intuitive search interfaces with advanced filtering options (e.g., date range, price range, location) to streamline travel planning.
• Creating clear and straightforward booking forms and confirmation pages that guide users through the booking process with minimal friction.

 

 

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Travel Metasearch Engine?

Developing a custom travel search engine is a complex and resource-intensive project involving several stages, each with associated costs and time requirements.

 

Below, the Onix experts break down the estimated costs and timeframes for each stage of development, including key features.

Travel search engine website development costs

 

It's important to note that these figures provide a sample estimate of costs. After reviewing the estimated cost, reach out for a proposal, which will enable us to align on the best strategy and provide you with an accurate quote.

 

Onix Experience in Building a Travel Aggregator Website

The Onix team created MisterB&B, a specialized travel booking website catering to LGBTQ-friendly accommodations.

 

Available on both a website and two mobile apps, MisterB&B goes beyond standard private properties and LGBTQ-friendly hotels. It offers comprehensive guides to major destinations, global Gay Pride events, and other essential information for the community.

Travel search engine website built by the Onix team

 

Key features we implemented:

 

• Enhanced search engine: enabled quick searches across a vast database of over 2 million listings using various filters.

 

• Technological upgrades: implemented RoR for the backend and React for the frontend, enhancing app performance, scalability, and functionality.

 

• Integration with property aggregators: seamlessly integrated with major listing providers like Booking.com, Rentals United, and others, expanding the platform's listing base and business opportunities.

 

• Fraud detection system: developed a robust system to detect and prevent illegitimate financial activities, ensuring financial security for businesses and users.

 

• Secure payment systems: integrated Stripe, Paypal, Payoneer, and Adyen for secure online payments and payouts, automating financial processes and enhancing payment tracking within the platform.

 

Conclusion

In this article, we've covered the essential steps of travel aggregator website development, shedding light on the costs you can expect along the way. With this knowledge, you're ready to start creating your travel meta-search engine confidently, avoiding potential setbacks that could impact your project's timeline and budget.

 

You don't have to go it alone. With our wealth of experience and proven strategies, we're committed to supporting you through every development phase.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to Onix. We're here to ensure your path to success is smooth and rewarding!

 

 

FAQ

 

How can Onix help in starting a travel search engine website?

Onix is an IT outsourcing company with vast experience in building travel and hospitality software and web and mobile booking systems. We can help with the following needs:

 

• Consultations and product requirements analysis
• Custom travel search engine development
• UX/UI design services with an emphasis on responsive design principles
• Integration of APIs and third-party services like payment gateways, maps, etc.
• User data and transactions security and compliance
• Performance optimization to enhance loading times and responsiveness
• Continuous improvement and maintenance, and more.

 

What are the legal considerations when collecting and aggregating travel data?

When collecting and aggregating travel data, it's essential to consider key legal aspects:

 

• Data privacy. Adhere to regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Obtain explicit user consent for data collection and processing.

 

• Terms and policies. Clearly outline data practices regarding service and privacy policies, including data security measures and third-party sharing.

 

• Security measures. Implement robust security protocols to safeguard data from breaches or misuse.

 

• API compliance. Respect API terms and conditions regarding data usage, limits, and attribution.

 

• User rights. Provide users with clear consent and opt-out options, ensuring data handling transparency.

 

• Cross-border compliance. Ensure compliance with laws on international data transfers if operating globally.

 

How long does it take to build a travel meta search engine?

Development time can vary but typically ranges from 9 to 18 months, depending on the complexity of features and customization required.

 

How can I monetize a travel meta-search engine?

Monetization strategies include affiliate marketing (earning commissions from bookings), premium listings or advertising, and offering premium subscription services for enhanced features.

 

What are the best practices for implementing secure payment systems on my travel meta search engine?

Implementing secure payment systems on your travel meta search engine involves these best practices:

 

• Choose trusted payment gateways. Use reputable processors like Stripe or PayPal that are known for their security.
• Encryption. Secure sensitive data with SSL/TLS encryption.
• Tokenization. Replace card details with tokens for safer transactions.
• PCI DSS compliance. Follow PCI DSS standards for handling card information.
• Two-factor authentication. Add 2FA for added security.
• Fraud detection. Employ systems to detect and prevent fraud.
• Regular audits. Conduct security checks regularly.