Wander – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Wander

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2021

35%

WISE Score

4.9

App Store

Luxury vacation rental booking app for adults with deep pockets—think Airbnb meets Four Seasons, but completely irrelevant for kids.

Wander

app

Everyone, 2021

35%

WISE Score

4.9

App Store

Luxury vacation rental booking app for adults with deep pockets—think Airbnb meets Four Seasons, but completely irrelevant for kids.

Jump to

Also rated on

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Look, this isn't kids' media. This is a luxury vacation rental booking platform for adults with disposable income.

Wander is essentially trying to be the 'Apple of vacation rentals'—sleek, controlled, premium. If you're an adult planning a high-end family getaway or workcation and $500+/night doesn't make you flinch, it might be a solid option. The concierge service and hotel-grade cleaning could genuinely reduce travel stress when you've got kids in tow.

But scoring this on the WISE rubric is like evaluating a mortgage application form. It's a transactional service, not content. Kids won't learn anything, won't be entertained, and won't even touch this app unless you need them to adjust the smart thermostat.

If you're looking for actual family-friendly travel content—shows about exploring new places, apps that teach geography, games about world cultures—this ain't it.

Age Fit

This is exclusively for adults 21+ who are booking high-end vacation rentals. Kids have zero use for this app. If your family is traveling and staying at a Wander property, kids might think the smart home controls are cool, but that's about it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A luxury vacation rental booking platform that promotes travel and family experiences. The service emphasizes quality time together and work-life balance ('workcation' concept), which can be positive. However, it's fundamentally a commercial service selling high-end accommodations ($495+/night) rather than content designed for family enrichment. The emphasis on luxury amenities (Tesla in garage, Herman Miller chairs) may normalize materialism.

Imaginative

This is a transactional booking app, not creative content. While travel itself can spark imagination and exploration, the app is purely functional—browse, book, control smart home features. The 'Split with Friends' payment feature and smart home controls are convenient but not imaginative. No storytelling, building, or creative expression involved.

Safe

As a booking app, it's relatively safe with no ads, no social features, and straightforward functionality. Requires users to be 21+ to book, which adds a gate. However, it does collect payment information and personal data for bookings. The app controls smart home features (door locks, temperature), which requires trust in the platform's security. No concerning content, but financial transactions and data privacy are considerations.

Enriching

Travel can be enriching, but this is just the booking mechanism. The app itself teaches nothing and provides no educational value—it's a luxury hospitality service interface. The experience of actually traveling to new places would be enriching, but the app is merely the transaction layer. It's like rating a hotel phone number for enrichment.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If you're an adult planning a high-end family vacation, the hotel-grade amenities and 24/7 concierge could make travel with kids less stressful
The 'Split with Friends' feature eliminates the awkward Venmo requests after group trips
Transparent pricing and no hidden fees is refreshing in the vacation rental space
Properties are company-owned (not random hosts), which means consistent quality control

⚠

What to Watch For

This is expensive—starting at $495/night means a week-long trip costs $3,500+ before you even leave the house
It's a booking app, not kids' content. Kids won't interact with this unless you hand them your phone to unlock the smart home door
The luxury emphasis (Teslas, Herman Miller chairs) might set unrealistic expectations for what 'normal' travel looks like

Conversation Starters

"Why did someone submit a luxury vacation rental app to a kids' media evaluation platform?"
"If we're planning a family trip, what matters more—fancy amenities or the experiences we have together?"
"What makes a vacation memorable for you—the place you stay or the things you do?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic