In the nearly four years that I’ve run Bohemian Trails, I’ve only worked with a select number of brands. The main reason for this is because as a writer, my biggest power lies in the readers that value the content I create. Out of respect for my readership, and because I’m an avid traveler myself, I only work with platforms that I’ve tried and tested or companies with a profound mission. Luckily, my latest collaboration has both!
It all started a few months ago when I was approached by the team at Yonderboound to test out their site, create a few Yonderboxes (more on that below) and to send along any suggestions on how their technical team could improve the user experience. Over the past year I’ve started branching out to tech writing for both Bohemian Trails and a few of my other outlets so reviewing apps and new sites hardly feels like work. Shortly after their initial launch, I met up with the Yonderbound founders in New York and discussed other ways we could work together.
Over the next few months, and hopefully longer, I’ll be participating in an affiliate program with Yonderbound so while there’s absolutely no pressure to book through this site, just know that it’s an option. Although I’ve been aware of Yonderbound since late last year, the site is pretty new; in fact, it’s still in BETA. Below are a few screenshots of what the interface looks like to new and returning users. I’ve also included some tips for creating Yonderboxes, guides for navigating through the platform and ultimately and suggestions for finding the right accommodation for your travel style.
Getting Started
Creating a profile is fairly simple and intuitive to new users. There’s an option to sign up via Facebook, which is what I did, but you can also just set up an account by entering your name, email and a few other details. The avatar you see is the profile picture of my personal Facebook account. That image is generated automatically so whenever you update your profile picture on Facebook, that same photo will appear on Yonderbound as well. Alternatively, you can upload your own photo manually.
Navigation
The picture below is probably pretty self explanatory but I’ll delve a bit deeper into how it all comes together. The “Search” functionality allows you to search for boutique and budget hotels around the world. All you need to know is the location you’re going to, the dates and the number of travelers in your group. You can then sort by four different filters: Distance, Lowest Price, Highest Price and Trip Advisor).
Not sure where you want to visit? Then just click “Explore” and browse through suggested destinations from other members of the Yonderbox community. “Trips” take you to a page of recent bookings and Yonderboxes while “Yonderfund” is where the real fun is and by fun, I mean contests. Head to that page to check out how you can score a free trip compliments of Yonderbox. “History” simply reminds you of all the locales you’ve recently searched.
Creating a Yonderbox
Ok, time to explain what these “Yonderboxes” are and what exactly they entail. I like to think of Yonderboxes as inspiration boards but with both visual and photo information. Yonderboxes might come across as somewhat confusing at first but they don’t actually take much time to compile. The biggest perk of creating one is that it ultimately saves you time when you’re finally ready to book your trip. Instead of starting your search from scratch, Yonderboxes serve as visual reminders of your desired destination, preferred dates of travel and how much each hotel will cost.
I created three to begin with: Brooklyn (where I live now), London (where I studied abroad) and Barcelona (where I visited for only one day).
Although it’s been about two years since my last visit to London, I still felt confident writing this Yonderbox. I mixed things up a bit by suggestion both museums and cozy cafes. Markets are also a great way to explore the city and they don’t cost a dime…unless you buy something of course! Since I was only in Barcelona for one day, many of my recommendations include major neighborhoods and iconic city landmarks. I also included a few hotels that cater to every budget, whether splurging on a 5-star hotel or sticking to something more affordable.
More recently, I’ve added Berlin, Portland and Maui to my collection.
First, add a cover photo and write a brief description of the trip you are intending. For example, I focused on a few popular neighborhoods in Brooklyn and listed a few hotels that I’m familiar with in the area. There are two ways to look at a Yonderbox. Firstly, this is a great tool for planning your trip and choosing a hotel that fits within your budget for your specific dates of travel. A lot of research goes into any vacation and this tool lets you have some fun with it. The other approach is to create your Yonderbox after your trip like I did to better help other members of the community.
Thinking of joining Yonderbound? Connect with me there or reach out to me with any questions on social media!
*This post is in collaboration with Yonderbound.
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