Travel APIs can form the backbone of many brilliant new app concepts, but unless you know which of the many different options to use, you might find yourself overwhelmed by just how varied and competitive this market has become.
There are tons of APIs you can take advantage of that travelers will be thankful for – from accessing the exchange rates and currency conversion with currency conversion API to automatically redirect users to relevant sites based on their location with IP Geolocation API.
To give you a push in the right direction, here are just a few of the best travel APIs that should be on your watch list as you start the development process.
TripAdvisor
As one of the world’s most popular travel sites, it is no surprise to find out that the TripAdvisor API is also a widely used solution for those looking to build their own apps to take advantage of the vast amount of data it has to offer.
A whole host of location-based information can be delivered via the API, ranging from the specific address details of destinations and attractions right up to reviews, feedback, pricing and much more besides. In short, if you are looking for a data-rich, all-purpose travel API then this is the one to pick.
Skyscanner
Offering users a great way to compare prices across different flights, in addition to estimating additional fees and taxes which may be payable for particular journeys, the Skyscanner API lets you tap into the extensive capabilities of what this full-fledged service has to offer.
It is not just flight price data that is available through this API, but also information on which routes are the most affordable, giving users flexibility in terms of how they plan their trips to wring the most value out of their travel budgets.
Booking.com
When it comes to searching for, comparing and ranking accommodation, the Booking.com API, as well as its unofficial variants, is arguably the best way to go about finding hotel rooms around the globe.
There is a lot of useful info regarding each venue that is listed on the Booking.com database, including the types of rooms that are available, the additional facilities that are offered on-site, and the policies that the hotel puts in place which guests might need to be aware of.
TrailAPI
While the travel APIs listed so far can be generally useful in the context of developing an application, you might want access to a more specific type of data to cater to a niche audience. TrailAPI is a good example of this, as it targets fans of cool outdoor activities including hiking, skiing and camping by pooling details on lots of locations around the world where these pursuits can be carried out.
It is not just location information that the API offers up to app developers, but also images that can further enhance an app which is intended to generate good conversion rates.
Webcams.travel
Another media-rich API that can bring new life to your app, webcams.travel is intended to help you find live streams from some of the hottest destinations so you can add video and audio content.
All app innovators will want to make their newest projects stand out from the crowd and these APIs can go a long way to making this goal achievable.