This Exclusive Travel App Will Help You Plan Your Vacation in Minutes — and It Launches This Week

Plotting out your next vacation could be as simple as opening an app on your phone. 

Essentialist, the members-only travel service specializing in bespoke trips since its launch in 2016, announced that it’s launching a new app exclusively for its users. The app, the company explained, will allow members to plan bespoke trips in minutes. 

“We give our members the possibility to go beyond the usual travel experience by finding those singular moments that make you feel you have uncovered the essence of a place,” Joan Roca, the founder and CEO of Essentialist, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “This new home base for our members will be equally unique in the industry. Our app is the only one in the marketplace that has the ability to marry personalized client data with our insider destination content to curate the perfect trip every time and in a fraction of the time it takes others in the industry.”

Within the app, users can manage their entire journey, from inspiration to travel planning, all the way to a post-trip survey. Travelers begin by requesting a trip to their chosen destination. Then they can view sample itineraries made from aggregate recommendations from the more than 200 travel editors and local experts working with the app. This team ensures members can find the best of the best experiences, as well as gain access to local secret spots you may never hear about otherwise. 

“We rely on their expertise and recommendations to curate the best of the best in each location,” Roca added. “This allows us to provide our members with a truly curated selection of itinerary elements suited specifically to them, instead of providing them with long lists to choose from.” 

After inputting all the information, the app then remembers each user’s favorites and uses internal AI to match their interests and offer more options for their intended trip. 

Finally, a customized proposal will be shared with the member on the app. The user can then work with their personal Member Experience Manager to book each element of the itinerary. And, even on the trip, you’re never alone, as members can also chat with their dedicated travel time in real time if they want to mix things up while on the go. 

And, if you’re someone who likes to plan well in advance, Roca added, this is the app for you. 

“We help our members proactively manage their yearly travel calendar, starting with an annual consultation call,” Roca said. “We will handle getting in touch with them when it’s time to start planning so that they never have to worry about or stress over planning a trip again.” 

The Essentialist app is now available to download on both IOS and Android devices. It is only accessible to members. The annual membership fee begins at $2,600 per household