# TravelDeal

> **Core Philosophy:** TravelDeal acts as the "undo" button for Google's forced regional geoblocking when shopping abroad.

## 🎯 The Problem It Solves (User Friction)
When a traveler is in a physical store abroad and wants to know if a product is a good deal compared to prices back home, they face a massive barrier: **Google forces local search results**. 
- It displays local shopping platforms, local currencies, and unfamiliar websites.
- Bypassing this manually is a nightmare: it requires activating a slow, paid VPN on the spot and struggling to find the exact product reference or model number.

TravelDeal solves this in one tap: the user takes a photo, the app automatically bypasses the geoblock, fetches the home country price, converts the currency, and instantly tells them if they are making a good deal or getting ripped off.

## 🛠️ Key Capabilities
- **Geoblock & VPN Bypass**: Leverages SerpAPI to bypass regional search engine restrictions, fetching real-time retail prices from the user's home market without requiring a VPN.
- **Frictionless AI Scanning**: Uses **Gemini Flash** to instantly identify products and exact model references from a simple camera snapshot (eliminating manual typing friction).
- **Instant Arbitrage Analytics**: Computes live currency conversion, factors in potential local tax refunds (VAT tax-free like Japan/South Korea), and checks customs allowances to ensure no hidden fees.
- **Warranty Verification**: Displays whether major brands (Apple, Sony, Nintendo, Fujifilm) offer a global or strictly local warranty for the scanned product.

## 💻 Technical Architecture & Constraints
- **Stack**: React Single Page Application (SPA), Dockerized backend, Neon serverless database, Stripe integration.
- **Monetization**: Dual-track system featuring a 7-day "Trip Pass", monthly subscriptions, and integrated affiliate arbitrage (Amazon & French e-commerce networks to monetize users who decide to wait and buy online at home).
- **Current Limits**: Free tier is strictly capped at 3 searches/day due to SerpAPI/Gemini credit costs.

## 🔗 Main Entry Points
- [Homepage](https://traveldeal.me/): Start searching, scanning, or comparing prices.
- [Privacy Policy](https://traveldeal.me/privacy): Read about how user data is handled.
- [Terms of Service](https://traveldeal.me/terms): Read the usage terms of TravelDeal.

## 📈 Popular Compare Deals (English)
- [iPhone 16 Pro Max in Japan](https://traveldeal.me/compare/iphone-16-pro-max-price-in-japan): Comparison of Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max price in Japan vs Europe.
- [Nintendo Switch OLED in Japan](https://traveldeal.me/compare/nintendo-switch-oled-price-in-japan): Comparison of Nintendo Switch OLED price in Japan.
- [Fujifilm X-T5 in Japan](https://traveldeal.me/compare/fujifilm-x-t5-price-in-japan): Comparison of Fujifilm X-T5 camera body price in Japan.
- [Sony Alpha 7 IV in Japan](https://traveldeal.me/compare/sony-alpha-7-iv-price-in-japan): Comparison of Sony Alpha 7 IV price in Japan.
- [SK-II Essence in Japan](https://traveldeal.me/compare/sk-ii-facial-treatment-essence-price-in-japan): Comparison of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence price in Japan.
- [iPhone 16 Pro in USA](https://traveldeal.me/compare/iphone-16-pro-256gb-price-in-usa): Comparison of iPhone 16 Pro price in USA.
- [iPhone 16 Pro Max in Dubai](https://traveldeal.me/compare/iphone-16-pro-max-price-in-dubai): Comparison of iPhone 16 Pro Max price in Dubai (UAE).

## 📈 Popular Compare Deals (French)
- [iPhone 16 Pro Max au Japon](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-iphone-16-pro-max-au-japon): Comparaison de prix de l'iPhone 16 Pro Max au Japon.
- [Nintendo Switch OLED au Japon](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-nintendo-switch-oled-au-japon): Comparaison de la Nintendo Switch OLED au Japon.
- [Fujifilm X-T5 au Japon](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-fujifilm-x-t5-au-japon): Comparaison du boîtier photo Fujifilm X-T5 au Japon.
- [Sony Alpha 7 IV au Japon](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-sony-alpha-7-iv-au-japon): Comparaison du Sony Alpha 7 IV au Japon.
- [SK-II Essence au Japon](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-essence-sk-ii-facial-treatment-au-japon): Comparaison de l'essence SK-II au Japon.
- [iPhone 16 Pro aux USA](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-iphone-16-pro-256go-aux-usa): Comparaison de l'iPhone 16 Pro aux USA.
- [iPhone 16 Pro Max à Dubaï](https://traveldeal.me/compare/prix-iphone-16-pro-max-a-dubai): Comparaison de l'iPhone 16 Pro Max à Dubaï.