Ditch Tourist Traps Using Trip4real

This week in our travel start up series we meet Gloria Molins from our Travel Massive Barcelona chapter, CEO and Founder of Trip4real. Gloria works on helping people to ditch the tourist traps in exchange for authentic and local experiences.

Gloria starts up off with a few words to think about, “I believe you never know a place until you know it’s people which is why I created a community marketplace where people can discover one of a kind travel experiences guided by passionate and friendly locals!”

Who is your startup for?

Trip4real is for travelers and locals from all walks of life!  The community marketplace connects travelers with locals for one of a kind experiences, like a sweets tour of Paris with a  local pastry chef, or a graffiti tour with a local artist in Barcelona. Trip4real also makes it possible for locals to make money as guides which empowers local residents to take part in the industry.

What inspired you to create this startup? 

It all started when I myself was a traveler. I had been traveling all around the world, from Sydney to China, and I realized that the best experiences came from being with someone local, and venturing off the beaten tourist track. I have always been in tourism, so I did my research and realized that this could be an amazing business concept. I actually bought the domain trip4real.com from Cambodia!

How did you build your startup?

I began when I was backpacking around southeast Asia, and finding wifi was a difficult task. I relied heavily on the hospitality of the people in places I visited, yet I still managed to get done what I needed. It allowed me to clearly envision what I wanted for trip4real. These humble beginnings sum up the spirit of trip4real as a project with one aim: that everyone who is a part of it- the team, travelers, locals- enjoy themselves as much as possible. Of course when I got back to Barcelona I hustled to meet influencers and mentors in the city who could help me make my dream a reality. I started with a great founding team and went after investors!

What makes your startup different from other similar startups out there?

Trip4real provides something completely groundbreaking yet simple at the same time, changing the reputation of a tour as being monotonous or cookie cutter, and evolving it into something personalised and one of a kind. Our startup is different because it really incorporates every person involved. The locals in a way are part of the trip4real team, as are the travelers! It’s all peer to peer, creating a strong and authentic connection when traveling to different places, creating friendships all over the world. We also have the most unusual guides!

How did you get your startup off the ground and gaining traction?

Upon returning to Barcelona after completing my travels, trip4real had won a prize for the best startup. I soon partnered with 5 others who shared a passion for traveling and were experts in different industries (marketing, new technologies, innovation, tourism), creating my founding team. With the help of friends, family, the Spanish government, and people like Ferran Adrià, we were able to begin!

How is your startup changing the future of the industry or helping to make travel better?

When a traveler goes to a country for two or three days, they want authenticity. The people that use trip4real are the ones that want the revolutionary way of traveling that we offer, and the possibility of exploring a city through its people. We make travel better because we make it more real by creating an experience where people don’t feel like “tourist” with a “guide.” Here they’re our travelers, meeting our locals. No more fighting with maps, feeling ripped off everytime you go out to eat, or being surrounded by every language besides the native one. You let the locals show you their city, and make relationships along the way.

As a startup, what benefits have you seen from being a part of Travel Massive meetups?

It’s wonderful to be able to meet up with open minded people, to explore different perspectives, and it’s a learning experience both for the company and for the individuals! Plus, we’re talking about some new collaboration opportunities with fellow travelers in the city which could be great!

Do you have any tips for new entrepreneurs who want to create a successful startup?

At the beginning I had to give 150% constantly, but little by little we grow, and with time I began to relax and trust the team I had created. Learning how to trust the team and pass on tasks to others, trusting the expertise that they have, is very important. For this reason you have to make sure to hire the best talent possible!

How do you think we can be better travellers?

By looking for the authentic experience, and not settling with tourist traps and the “normal” experience. Traveling is about exposing yourself to new things and seeing new perspectives, and in order to do so you have to open your mind and get lost in the city you visit and connect with the locals who live there.

Why do you travel?

I always learn so much about myself on a trip. Travelling opens your mind and it’s a very creative exercise. When you travel you notice different perspectives, creating ideas for what you can do differently. Obviously, you come into contact with diverse people and you become much more tolerant. I think that it is a way of life and learning that offers so much. It is to enjoy and to live. If I could, I would make it obligatory that everyone takes a ‘traveling’ sabbatical at least once in their life!

What is your motto?

“I’m a traveller, not a tourist!”

For more information, you can find Trip4real on Facebook and Twitter, or check out their feature on Barcinno.

Travel Start-Up is a monthly series that profiles unique online travel start-ups in the Travel Massive community around the world. Connect with Gloria Molins and Trip4real on Travel Massive.