Show HN: Built a City Explorer Because My Wife and I Got Tired of Switching Apps
travo.me
You know that feeling when you're exploring a new city, and you stop in front of this stunning building or quirky statue, but have no clue about its significance? That was me and my wife last year, constantly switching between apps and guidebooks instead of actually enjoying our travels together.
After one too many times of saying "I wish we knew the story behind that," I decided to build Travo. It's a city guide that lives in your pocket, born from real frustration and countless hours of getting lost in beautiful places (sometimes intentionally, often not).
I've spent the past year working solo on this, turning those travel pain points into something I hope makes exploring cities more enjoyable and less about staring at multiple screens. The goal? Let you wander freely while still knowing the rich stories behind everything you're seeing. Travo transforms your smartphone into an interactive city guide that combines maps, audio narration, and local insights. It helps you discover hidden gems and cultural landmarks at your own pace. Here's what you get:
• Interactive city exploration with rich historical context • Self-guided tours with audio storytelling • 7-day customizable itinerary planning • Easy navigation with Google/Apple Maps integration • Stories available in 13 languages
I decided to keep it simple: start with 8 free cities and unlock more with one-time purchases. No subscriptions, no ads - just pure exploration. Special for HN readers: use code HN2024 to unlock one city of your choice!
The challenging part? As a solo developer, I've had my share of late-night debugging sessions and moments questioning my sanity. I'd love to hear from fellow developers about managing projects solo, and from travelers about what would make this more useful for you. Particularly interested in your experiences with the interactive map and content curation. Try it out and let me know what you think! I'm here to answer questions and learn from your insights.