Traverse+ Travel Experience & Needs Deep-Dive Survey

Hello, fellow traveler!

We are developing Traverse+, a next-generation travel assistant app dedicated to providing safer, more reliable, authentic, and inclusive travel experiences. To ensure Traverse+ solves real problems for travelers like you, we invite you to share your experiences and insights. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes. Your input is incredibly valuable – thank you for your time!

Part 1: About You & Your Travel Habits (The Basics)

Which best describes your preferred travel style? (Single Choice)

A. Solo independent travel

B. Independent travel with friends/partner

C. Independent family travel

D. Package tours / Group travel

E. Other (please specify)

On average, how many long trips (cross-province or international) do you take per year? (Single Choice)

A. 0 (virtually none)

B. 1-2

C. 3-4

D. 5 or more

How do you typically research and plan your trips? (Select all that apply)

A. Social travel platforms (e.g., Xiaohongshu, Mafengwo, Reddit travel subs)

B. Short-video/photo platforms (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)

C. Booking platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Booking.com, Ctrip)

D. Review sites (e.g., TripAdvisor, Google Reviews)

E. Recommendations from friends/online communities

F. Guidebooks

G. Other (please specify)

Part 2: Travel Pains & Negative Experiences (The Deep Dive)During the planning stage, which of these information gaps do you most commonly encounter? (Select all that apply)

During the planning stage, which of these information gaps do you most commonly encounter? (Select all that apply)

A. Unclear or hard-to-find actual opening hours/closed days

B. Confusion about how/where to buy tickets (online/onsite, need for reservations)

C. Lack of clear information on connections between transport modes

D. Unclear discounts/restrictions for specific groups (students, seniors, etc.)

E. None of the above, information is usually clear

Have you ever experienced a significant "expectation vs. reality" moment with a location's appearance? (Single Choice)

A. Frequently, many places look nothing like the photos online

B. Occasionally, it happens from time to time

C. Rarely, most places are fairly accurate

D. Never

If yes, where did this most often occur? (Select all that apply - shown if Q5 is A or B)

A. Accommodation (hotels, hostels, rentals)

B. Restaurants (food quality/presentation)

C. Natural landscapes (e.g., water color, size of a flower field)

D. Cultural sites/museums (scale, exhibits)

E. Markets/neighborhoods (atmosphere, environment)

F. Other (please specify)

Have you ever missed out on a planned activity, site, or restaurant due to inaccurate information (wrong time, permanent closure, etc.)? (Single Choice)

A. Yes, it happens more often than I'd like

B. Yes, it has happened a few times

C. Almost never

Have you ever felt you were charged a significantly higher "tourist price" for goods, food, or transport? (Single Choice)

A. Frequently

B. Occasionally

C. Rarely

D. Never

While traveling, have you ever felt disrespected or discriminated against based on your background (e.g., nationality, accent, race, gender, sexual orientation)? (Single Choice)

A. Yes, I've had clear, unpleasant experiences

B. I've sensed it might have happened, but it wasn't explicit

C. No, never

Beyond the above, what other common travel frustrations have you faced? (Select all that apply)

A. Language barriers

B. Poor connectivity, unable to look things up

C. Difficulty finding amenities for my needs (e.g., dietary, accessibility, religious)

D. Feeling unsafe (e.g., theft, scams, walking alone at night)

E. Misunderstandings due to cultural differences

F. Other (please specify)

Part 3: Evaluating Your Current Travel Tools

(5-point Likert Scale: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Neutral, 4=Agree, 5=Strongly Agree)Please rate your agreement with the following statements regarding the travel apps you currently use (e.g., Google Maps, TripAdvisor, Ctrip, Instagram, etc.).

The reviews and ratings are authentic and trustworthy.

很不同意

很同意

The information provided (e.g., hours, price) is always up-to-date and accurate.

很不同意

很同意

They effectively warn me about potential cultural taboos or legal risks.

很不同意

很同意

They are good for finding unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

很不同意

很同意

The community is friendly, with little hostile or discriminatory content.

很不同意

很同意

What do you like BEST about them? (Select all that apply)

We are all ears.
Please share one of your most memorable (good or bad) travel experiences. What did it reveal about the shortcomings of existing travel information? How could your ideal travel app have helped prevent or mitigate the problems you faced? What are your biggest hopes for an app like Traverse+?

(Please share your thoughts here)

Closing:
Thank you so much for completing this survey! Your experiences are the blueprint for building a better way to travel. We appreciate your honesty and detail.

Your gender:

male

female

other

your perspective