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TravelMuse is a website that helps users plan their next out of town adventure. The website lets users save third parity websites in one place. The user can plan their travel itinerary and share with others who are going to be traveling as well. Users can collaborate by inviting others to participate in their travel planning or ask for advice on Facebook. The site can provide a list of ideas and suggested destinations as well as a number of popular travel tips and bookmarks that were submitted by other users. The Inspiration Finder tool helps users decide where to go and what to do by asking for basic travel details (such as duration, per person budget, number of travelers and departure airport). The user can choose interests from a tag cloud of activities and themes and set a maximum flight time to receive Inspiration Finder recommendations.

TravelMuse was founded by Eric Wood and Kevin Fliess in April of 2007. The application was previously named TripOvation before it was formally changed to TravelMuse. The website has received mentions all over the web, including on Mashable’s business page. Users have noted the site’s innovative features and many travel planning tools. The application continues to impress with helpful tips, destination information and many ways to come up with ideal travel plans.

TravelMuse offers information, but pairs that with a number of unique tools that help users plan their next journey. Many websites have tapped into the enormous travel industry by providing hotel and airfare searches and travel guides. TravelMuse offers similar information, but adds to it through features like its Inspiration Finder. Users can search for attractions, activities and places that meet their preferences and budget easily by filling out the simple Inspiration Finder form.

TravelMuse has a very lighthearted design that looks professional, yet original. The lightly colored background uses a gentle texture to give the site a little more depth. The clean interface includes convenient buttons and a built in search bar. Users will notice a few advertisements scattered throughout the site. Most of these are travel-oriented (although some are not) and don’t hinder the user’s ability to navigate the site. Overall TravelMuse provides unique experience in an industry that has seen just about everything.

A newcomer can explore TravelMuse without an account. Those that plan to use the site should register to access all features. New users will find a blue “Connect” button in the upper right hand corner that lets the user register with a Facebook account. Others can click the bold “Join TravelMuse” link to the left of the button. The registration form will appear on the next page and asks for a first and last name, email address, password and zip code. The user is automatically logged in after submitting the form.

TravelMuse offers access to all new users for free. There are no subscription fees and the user is not required to make any purchases or book any travel services to maintain account access. The site includes advertisements, which provide a source of income. The free price is a good choice because it makes TravelMuse appealing to users who might otherwise by turned off by the prospect of paying a fee to plan a trip.

TravelMuse is ideal for anyone who is planning a trip alone or with a group in the near future. Users can read about potential destinations and access recommendations based on their budget, preferences and location. The application is very easy to use and gives the user an overall positive experience. Guides, tips and other resources are available and users can interact with a large travel-oriented community currently thriving on the site.

• Inspiration Finder helps users search for travel destinations based on preferences and budget
• Travel guides share valuable information about specific locations
• Links can be explored and submitted by the community
• Users can invite others to participate in travel planning
• Facebook tools are built in and make it easy to ask for advice

TravelMuse video

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