How it works
From strangers to trip crew.
Find a trip, check who's going, talk it through and go. Or post your own and choose who joins.
Step by step
If you're joining a trip
- 1
Discover & filter trips
Search by destination, category (treks, road trips, beaches, cultural events), budget or dates. Location detection surfaces plans near you.
- Location & destination search
- Budget & date filters
- Category & interest tags
- 2
Check profiles & reviews
Look at connected Google, LinkedIn and Instagram badges and read reviews from past trips before you ask to join.
- Social account badges
- Companion ratings
- Past trip reviews
- 3
Join or get auto-approved
Send a join request with a short message. If the host has turned on Auto-Approve, your spot is confirmed straight away.
- Direct join requests
- Instant auto-approve
- Live notifications
- 4
Travel & review
Plan in the group chat, vote in polls on dates or activities, share details with family and leave a review when you're back.
- Group polls
- Contact details protected
- Verified trip reviews
Why HangoutU
Better than a random group chat
Features
Everything built for travelling together
Safety & trust
Profile verification
Google, LinkedIn, Instagram and phone badges build trust at a glance.
Companion & host reviews
Ratings after every completed trip keep the community accountable.
Contact privacy
Your phone number stays hidden until you accept a join request.
Discovery
Destination & interest filters
Filter by place, category, budget and dates.
Plans near you
Find what's happening around your current location.
Auto-approve
Hosts can let verified travellers join instantly.
Instant notifications
Hear about requests, approvals, polls and announcements as they happen.
Group tools
Trip polls
Settle dates and activities with a vote, not an argument.
Public or private trips
List publicly or keep a plan for invited people only.
Easy sharing
Share a trip card with friends and family in one tap.
For organisers
Organiser dashboard
Screen applicants, manage your team and see analytics.
Followers & public page
Travellers follow you and get notified about new trips.
Safety
Travel smart, stay safe.
A few habits that keep every trip on HangoutU safe for everyone.
Money safety
HangoutU is a social travel platform. Don't send advance payments or unverified transfers to individual users or hosts. Handle shared expenses directly and transparently during your trip.
- Check verification badges and past reviews before accepting or joining.
- Meet new companions in public, well-lit places the first time.
- Keep private contact details to yourself until a request is accepted.
- Share trip links and itinerary details with friends or family before you leave.
- Never send money in advance to unverified travellers or unconfirmed third parties.
- Report suspicious behaviour or policy violations to our moderators straight away.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is HangoutU free for travellers?
Yes. Creating an account, discovering trips, sending join requests, taking part in polls and reviewing companions are all free.
How does verification work?
You can connect Google, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts and verify your phone number. Verified profiles show trust badges across the platform.
What happens when I send a join request?
The host is notified with your profile, message and badges. Once they accept, you get full access to trip details and contact info.
What is Auto-Approve?
A setting hosts can turn on so travellers join immediately without waiting for manual approval.
Can tour operators list trips?
Yes. Organisers and tour companies can use the organiser dashboard to publish itineraries, manage leads, invite team members and collect reviews.
How are my contact details protected?
Your phone number and private contact info never appear on your profile or trip cards. They're only shared with trip members after a request is accepted.
More answers in the Help Centre.