EduTrip Planner

Core Functionality

• Smart Itinerary Builder: Drag‑and‑drop activities linked to lesson plans; auto‑generate daily schedules with travel times.
• Group Booking Engine: Bulk reservation for flights, hotels, and transport; real‑time seat/room availability.
• Curriculum Sync: Import standards or syllabi; app suggests sites, museums, and workshops that match learning objectives.
• Expense Tracker & Budget Planner: Allocate funds per student/group; auto‑calculate totals and flag overruns.
• Collaboration Hub: Shared notes, permissions for co‑teachers, and secure messaging with vendors.

Problem It Solves

Educators often juggle lesson planning, travel logistics, and budgeting separately, leading to fragmented spreadsheets, costly last‑minute bookings, and missed educational opportunities. EduTrip Planner consolidates these tasks into one intuitive interface, reducing administrative burden and ensuring trips align directly with curriculum goals.

Technical Requirements

• Backend: Node.js + Express for API; PostgreSQL for relational data (users, itineraries, bookings).
• Booking APIs: Integration with Amadeus or Skyscanner for flight data; Booking.com or Expedia for hotels; local transit APIs.
• Frontend: React Native for cross‑platform mobile app; responsive web dashboard using Next.js.
• Payment Gateway: Stripe for secure group payments and refunds.
• Authentication: OAuth2 with Google Workspace integration for school accounts.

Monetization Strategy

1. Subscription Tiers:

• Free: Up to 5 trips, limited vendor partners.
• Pro (₹199/month): Unlimited trips, full vendor network, priority support.
• Enterprise (custom pricing): Dedicated account manager, API access for school systems.

1. Affiliate Commissions: Earn a percentage on hotel/flight bookings made through the platform.
2. Sponsored Educational Content: Curated museum tours or workshop packages paid by institutions.

Implementation Approach

1. Phase 1 – MVP (Months 1‑3):

• Set up backend, database schema, and core APIs.
• Build basic itinerary builder and user auth.
• Integrate flight search API; mock hotel data.

1. Phase 2 – Booking & Payments (Months 4‑6):

• Add hotel booking integration, seat reservation logic.
• Implement Stripe payment flow and invoicing.

1. Phase 3 – Curriculum Sync & Collaboration (Months 7‑9):

• Build syllabus import feature; map standards to activities.
• Develop shared notes and vendor messaging.

1. Phase 4 – Scaling & Monetization (Months 10‑12):

• Roll out subscription plans, analytics dashboard.
• Onboard pilot schools for beta testing.

Potential Challenges

• Vendor API Reliability: Flight/hotel APIs may have rate limits or downtime. Solution: Implement caching layers and fallback providers; maintain a local database of popular destinations.
• Data Privacy & Compliance: Handling student travel data requires GDPR/FERPA compliance. Solution: Store only necessary information, encrypt sensitive fields, provide clear privacy policies.

Future Expansion

• AI‑Powered Recommendations: Use ML to suggest itineraries based on past trips and learning outcomes.
• Offline Mode: Sync itineraries for use in low‑connectivity regions.
• Gamified Learning Badges: Reward students with badges for participating in educational activities during trips.
• Marketplace: Allow local educators to offer custom tours, creating a peer‑to‑peer ecosystem.