IzdevīgiCeļojumi.lv AI-powered flight price comparison platform

About the Project

IzdevigiCeļojumi.lv is a large-scale and technically complex web project — a fully functional flight price comparison portal built for the Latvian market. Every day, the platform automatically monitors prices from Riga to 60+ destinations worldwide, collects and analyzes data from multiple sources, and presents users with clear, up-to-date flight prices organized by month.

This is far more than a simple website — it is an automated platform powered by artificial intelligence, real-time data processing, personalized user experience, and integrated social media marketing.

Technology and Development

Platform foundation:

WordPress with a custom-built plugin (4,000+ lines of PHP code), written from scratch
Custom database structure for storing prices, wishlists, and user data
REST API integration with Travelpayouts / Aviasales price database
Automated task scheduling — prices updated twice daily (9:00 AM and 6:00 PM)
Multi-layer caching system for fast page loading

Price monitoring engine:

Automatic price retrieval for 60+ destinations from Riga every day
Dual API request strategy — direct flights and 1-stop connections, always picking the cheapest
Prices displayed by month — best available round-trip fare for each
Dynamic price updates without page reload
Admin email notifications if the API fails to return data

AI Assistant — “Antons”

One of the core elements of the platform is the AI assistant Antons — an interactive chatbot powered by the Claude AI model (Anthropic). This is not a simple FAQ bot — Antons is a fully capable travel consultant with contextual understanding.

What Antons can do:

Analyzes user behavior on the site — viewed destinations, filter preferences, trip duration — and adapts recommendations in real time
Suggests personalized flight options based on user interests (“Cheap this summer”, “Exotic destinations”, “Sun in winter”)
Communicates in natural language — users can ask “Where is cheapest to fly in August?” and receive a specific answer with prices
Has access to live price data on the site and can present offers directly in the conversation
Helps users save interesting deals to their wishlist

AI-generated content:

Every destination page includes AI-written descriptions: history, climate, culture
“What to eat” section — local dishes with descriptions and recommendations
“What to see” section — main attractions with contextual information
All 60+ city pages fully prepared with AI assistance, saving hundreds of hours of manual work

Personal Wishlist

Sign in with Google — quick and passwordless
Save specific destinations and months with the price at the time of saving
Automatic email notifications when the price drops
The AI assistant can analyze the wishlist and provide additional travel suggestions

Automated Facebook Marketing

Every day at 9:30 AM a European flight deal is published automatically
Every day at 6:30 PM an international deal is published (Americas/Asia alternating)
Dynamic post text with destination, price, dates, and link
Rotation system — a different destination every day with no repeats

Unique Advantages

All prices shown round-trip — no hidden fees or surprises
Monthly price view — best available fare calculated automatically for each month
Riga-only focus — built specifically for Latvian travelers
Maximum 1 stopover — a quality filter that saves time
Live prices — updated twice daily
AI travel consultant built directly into the site
Free price drop notifications — no premium subscription needed

Technologies

PHP 8.x · WordPress · MySQL · JavaScript · Travelpayouts REST API · Facebook Graph API · Anthropic Claude API · Google OAuth · Linux hosting

Project Significance

IzdevīgiCeļojumi.lv is one of the most technically advanced WordPress projects in Latvia — combining real-time data processing, artificial intelligence, automated marketing, and personalized user experience into a single cohesive platform. The project demonstrates that a modern, AI-driven product can be built without a large development team, using smart architecture and automation as a strategic advantage.

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