How Tara Built a Two-Sided Marketplace for Unique Travel Experiences
From idea to live marketplace with booking calendars, map integration, and dual listing types, starting with Mexico
The Challenge
Tara had a vision: create a curated marketplace that would help travelers discover unique properties and authentic experiences, starting with Mexico and expanding to other destinations. But she faced significant challenges:
Complex Requirements
- ✗Dual listing types (properties + experiences)
- ✗Booking calendar system
- ✗Google Maps API integration
- ✗Video uploads for listings
Technical Barriers
- ✗Building from scratch would take months
- ✗Hiring developers = $10,000+ investment
- ✗Stripe Connect payment integration
- ✗Custom domain and professional emails
Traditional marketplace platforms couldn't provide the specific features she needed, and building custom would be too expensive and time-consuming.
The Solution
Tara discovered Prometora and used AI-powered prompts to build her marketplace with exactly the features she needed. Here's what she implemented:
Smart Search Wizard
Hero section with intuitive search that filters results via URL parameters
Map Integration
Google Maps API with address selection and lat/long for remote locations
Booking Calendar
Built-in booking system with availability management
Video Uploads
Sellers can showcase properties with images or video content
Pre-Booking Messages
Users can message sellers before committing to a booking
Listing Approval
Quality control with approval workflow before listings go live
Key Implementation Details
- Dual Listing Types: Configured both "Stays" and "Experiences" similar to Airbnb's model
- Stripe Connect: Multi-vendor payment processing set up for commission-based revenue
- Custom Domain: Professional branding at rareroamer.com with custom email addresses
- Search Filtering: Hero search wizard that passes parameters to listings page for instant filtering
- Moderation Controls: Enabled "approve listings before they go live" for quality assurance
RareRoamer in Action
Explore the key features that make RareRoamer a sophisticated marketplace platform
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Smart Search Hero
Users can quickly filter properties and experiences right from the homepage
Listings with Map Integration
Browse properties on a map view with precise Google Maps locations
Interactive Booking Calendar
Users can message sellers and check availability before booking
Dual Listing Types
Sellers can create both Stays and Experiences listings, similar to Airbnb's model
The Results
RareRoamer is now live and helping travelers discover unique properties and experiences across Mexico:
“With Prometora, I was able to build a sophisticated two-sided marketplace that would have cost me tens of thousands of dollars and months of development time. Now I can focus on growing my business instead of wrestling with technical challenges.”
— Tara, Founder of RareRoamer
What Tara Achieved:
- Launched a fully functional two-sided marketplace with complex features
- Professional custom domain with branded email addresses
- Complete control over listing approval and quality
- Integrated payment processing with Stripe Connect
- Saved thousands in development costs and months of time
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