Fascinating overhaul of standard search tools on a travel site with the launch of a new system for UK-based camping and holiday park service PitchUp.
Working with mapping and location platform provider Geo.me, visitors to PitchUp can now abandon the old destination and date search modules in favour of a map-based system with a dizzying array of tools to help the user find the right product.
The system, known as Camp Sight, starts by plotting (in groups) every product in the system on a map of the UK and Ireland. Once a user drills down to a particular region, each caravan park, campsite, lodge and other product is plotted on the map.
All very simple. But then the fun begins.
First of all the user can turn on and off a series of buttons to strip out products they do not want, but then content and attractions can be added using the Geo.me system.
Things to do such as beaches (including the water quality) are illustrated, alongside World Heritage Sites (yes, there are actually nearly 20 in the UK!) and other attractions. For those that need to stay in touch during a camping trip, wireless hotspots from network provider BT are also shown.
The mashup madness continues.
In any location on the map a user can turn on other modules containing content from around the web.
Such as services include relevant (has the same geo information) images from Panoramio, Wikipedia entries, live webcams and videos from YouTube.
The map can be toggled between terrain, satellite, night and aerial versions. Live traffic can be added on the day of travel to check for delays.
A driving route planner is also included.
PitchUp launched in 2009 by ex-Lastminute.com exec Dan Yates. The site has around 5,000 products across the UK in the system and is gradually adding full booking capability to many of the sites listed on the system.