New Peoples Media Center (Kilimani), Elgeyo Marakwet & Kilimani Rd Junction (Off Ngong Rd)
Info@novustelltravel.com bookings@novustelltravel.com
+254721115572 +254701363551

Project Documentation

Comprehensive guide to the Novustell Travel Django project architecture, user flows, and administrative features.

98
Destinations
30
Travel Packages
10
Published Posts

Project Overview

Novustell Travel is a comprehensive Django-based travel booking platform designed for East African tourism, featuring destination management, package booking, and specialized travel services.

Project Statistics
  • 98 Destinations
  • 30 Travel Packages
  • 34 Accommodations
  • 10 Blog Posts
  • 35 Registered Users
Key Objectives
  • Streamlined travel booking experience
  • Comprehensive destination showcase
  • Specialized travel services (MICE, Student, NGO)
  • Content management for travel blogs
  • Administrative dashboard for operations

Complete User Flows Documentation

Overview: This section documents all user journeys from entry point to completion, including step-by-step actions, form interactions, validation rules, and error handling.

1. Guest User Journey

Entry Points
  • ๐Ÿ  Homepage โ†’ Browse destinations/packages
  • ๐Ÿ” Search โ†’ Direct package discovery
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Social Media โ†’ Targeted landing pages
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email Marketing โ†’ Package promotions
  • ๐ŸŒ SEO โ†’ Organic search results
Browsing Actions
  • ๐Ÿ“ View destination details and galleries
  • ๐Ÿ“ฆ Browse package listings with filters
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Compare prices and inclusions
  • ๐Ÿ“– Read blog posts and travel guides
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Access contact information
Booking Decision Process
Guest sees package โ†’ Reviews details โ†’ Checks availability โ†’ Decides to book โ†“ Clicks "Book Now" โ†’ Redirected to booking form โ†’ No login required โ†“ Enters travel details โ†’ Selects accommodations โ†’ Chooses travel modes โ†“ Provides personal information โ†’ Reviews booking summary โ†’ Confirms booking โ†“ Automatic account creation โ†’ Welcome email sent โ†’ Booking confirmation

2. Registered User Journey

Login Process
  • ๐Ÿ” Email/Username + Password authentication
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Password reset via email if needed
  • โœ… Session creation and dashboard access
  • ๐Ÿ’พ Form data pre-population from profile
Enhanced Features
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Personal dashboard with booking history
  • โค๏ธ Bucket list for saving favorite packages
  • โšก Faster checkout with saved information
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Personalized email notifications

3. Admin User Journey

Content Management Workflow
Admin Login โ†’ Django Admin Dashboard โ†’ Content Management โ†“ Destinations: Create/Edit/Delete destinations with galleries โ†“ Packages: Manage travel packages, pricing, and availability โ†“ Accommodations: Add hotels, lodges, and accommodation options โ†“ Bookings: Review, confirm, and manage customer bookings โ†“ Users: Manage user accounts and profiles โ†“ Blog: Create and publish travel content

Visual Flow Chart

Interactive Flow Chart: Comprehensive visualization of all user paths, decision points, conditional flows, and error states.

Complete Application Flow

Detailed Booking Process Flow

Admin Management Workflow

Project Architecture

Django Project Structure

tours_travels
Main Project
adminside
Travel Management
blog
Content Management
users
User Management
Architecture Layers
Frontend Layer (Templates + Static Files) โ”œโ”€โ”€ Bootstrap 5 + Custom CSS โ”œโ”€โ”€ FontAwesome Icons โ”œโ”€โ”€ Custom Fonarto Fonts โ””โ”€โ”€ Responsive Design Backend Layer (Django) โ”œโ”€โ”€ Models (Database Layer) โ”œโ”€โ”€ Views (Business Logic) โ”œโ”€โ”€ URLs (Routing) โ””โ”€โ”€ Admin Interface Database Layer โ”œโ”€โ”€ PostgreSQL (Neon Cloud) โ”œโ”€โ”€ User Authentication โ”œโ”€โ”€ Content Management โ””โ”€โ”€ Booking System External Services โ”œโ”€โ”€ Uploadcare (Media Management) โ”œโ”€โ”€ Email Services โ””โ”€โ”€ Payment Integration (Future)

Guest Booking Process

Key Innovation: Our guest booking system allows users to complete bookings without registration, with automatic account creation upon confirmation.

Step-by-Step Booking Journey

Step 1: Package Discovery
  • โœ“ Browse packages by destination
  • โœ“ Filter by price, duration, activities
  • โœ“ View detailed package information
  • โœ“ Check availability calendar
  • โœ“ Read reviews and testimonials

Form Validation: No validation required at this stage

Step 2: Add to Cart
  • โœ“ Select number of adults (required)
  • โœ“ Select number of children (optional)
  • โœ“ Choose number of rooms (required)
  • โœ“ Package added to session cart

Validation Rules:

  • Adults: minimum 1, maximum 20
  • Children: minimum 0, maximum 15
  • Rooms: minimum 1, maximum 10
Step 3: Customization
  • โœ“ Select accommodations (optional)
  • โœ“ Choose travel modes (optional)
  • โœ“ Add custom accommodation requests
  • โœ“ Enable self-drive option
  • โœ“ Real-time price calculation

Error Handling: Invalid selections show inline errors

Step 4: Guest Details
  • โœ“ Full name (required)
  • โœ“ Email address (required)
  • โœ“ Phone number (required)
  • โœ“ Travel date (required)
  • โœ“ Special requests (optional)
  • โœ“ Terms acceptance (required)
  • โœ“ Marketing consent (optional)

Validation: Real-time validation with error messages

Step 5: Review Summary
  • โœ“ Package details review
  • โœ“ Selected accommodations
  • โœ“ Travel arrangements
  • โœ“ Guest information
  • โœ“ Total price breakdown
  • โœ“ Terms and conditions

Actions: Edit any section or confirm booking

Step 6: Confirmation
  • โœ“ Booking record created
  • โœ“ Unique booking reference generated
  • โœ“ User account automatically created
  • โœ“ Welcome email sent
  • โœ“ Booking confirmation email sent
  • โœ“ Admin notification sent

Result: Guest becomes registered user

Comprehensive Form Validation Rules

Field Type Required Validation Rules Error Messages
Full Name Text Yes 2-100 characters, letters and spaces only "Please enter your full name"
Email Email Yes Valid email format, max 254 characters "Please enter a valid email address"
Phone Number Text Yes International format (+country code) "Please enter a valid phone number"
Travel Date Date Yes Future date, within 2 years "Please select a valid travel date"
Adults Count Number Yes 1-20 adults "Please select number of adults (1-20)"
Children Count Number No 0-15 children "Maximum 15 children allowed"
Rooms Count Number Yes 1-10 rooms "Please select number of rooms (1-10)"
Terms Acceptance Checkbox Yes Must be checked "Please accept terms and conditions"

Guest-to-User Conversion Process

Seamless Conversion: Our system automatically creates user accounts for guests upon booking confirmation, providing immediate access to user features.

Automatic Account Creation Process

Guest completes booking โ†’ System checks if email exists โ†“ If email exists: Link booking to existing user โ†“ If new email: Create new user account โ†“ Generate secure password (12 characters: letters + numbers + symbols) โ†“ Create UserProfile with booking information โ†“ Send welcome email with login credentials โ†“ Send booking confirmation with dashboard access โ†“ User can immediately access dashboard and features

Account Creation Implementation

User Account Setup
  • ๐Ÿ‘ค Username: Generated from email
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email: From booking form
  • ๐Ÿ” Password: Secure 12-character generation
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ First/Last Name: Parsed from full name
  • โœ… Active status: Immediately activated
UserProfile Creation
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Phone: From booking form
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email notifications: Enabled by default
  • ๐Ÿ“ฌ Marketing emails: Based on consent
  • ๐Ÿ”— Booking linkage: Automatic association
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Profile completion: Partial (can be updated)

Password Security Features

Generation
  • โœ“ 12 characters minimum
  • โœ“ Mixed case letters
  • โœ“ Numbers included
  • โœ“ Special characters
  • โœ“ Cryptographically secure
Storage
  • โœ“ Django PBKDF2 hashing
  • โœ“ Salt-based protection
  • โœ“ Non-reversible encryption
  • โœ“ Industry standard security
  • โœ“ Regular security updates
Management
  • โœ“ Non-expiring passwords
  • โœ“ User-controlled changes
  • โœ“ Password reset via email
  • โœ“ Strength validation
  • โœ“ Change history tracking

Email Notification System

Welcome Email Content
  • ๐ŸŽ‰ Welcome message with branding
  • ๐Ÿ” Login credentials (email + password)
  • ๐Ÿ”— Direct dashboard access link
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Security information and tips
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Account features overview
  • ๐ŸŒ Travel inspiration content
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Support contact information
Booking Confirmation Email
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Complete booking details
  • ๐Ÿ”ข Booking reference number
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Payment breakdown
  • ๐Ÿ“… Travel dates and itinerary
  • ๐Ÿจ Accommodation details
  • ๐Ÿš— Travel arrangements
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ WhatsApp contact link
  • ๐Ÿ”— Dashboard access for management

Cart & Form Persistence System

Data Protection: Our advanced persistence system ensures no data loss during navigation, page refreshes, or browser sessions while maintaining security.

Shopping Cart System

Cart Operations
  • Add packages to cart
  • Update quantities (adults, children, rooms)
  • Add accommodations and travel modes
  • Remove items from cart
  • Clear entire cart
  • Real-time price calculation
Session Management
  • Session-based storage
  • 24-hour session timeout
  • Cross-page persistence
  • Mobile device compatibility
  • Secure data handling
  • Automatic cleanup after booking

Form Data Persistence Implementation

FormDataManager Class: โ†“ save_form_data(step, data, merge=True) โ†’ Stores form data in session with timestamp โ†’ Merges with existing data or replaces completely โ†’ Validates data integrity and format โ†“ get_form_data(step=None) โ†’ Retrieves stored form data for specific step โ†’ Returns all data if no step specified โ†’ Handles missing or corrupted data gracefully โ†“ clear_form_data(step=None) โ†’ Clears specific step data or all data โ†’ Called after successful booking completion โ†’ Maintains session security and cleanup

Advanced Persistence Features

Step Navigation
  • โœ“ Forward/backward navigation
  • โœ“ Data preserved between steps
  • โœ“ Validation state maintained
  • โœ“ Progress tracking
  • โœ“ Step completion validation
Page Refresh
  • โœ“ Data survives page refresh
  • โœ“ Form fields auto-populated
  • โœ“ Cart contents maintained
  • โœ“ User selections preserved
  • โœ“ Progress indicators updated
Browser Session
  • โœ“ Multiple tab support
  • โœ“ Browser close/reopen
  • โœ“ Session timeout handling
  • โœ“ Secure data storage
  • โœ“ Automatic cleanup

Session Data Structure

Cart Data Format
session['cart'] = { 'items': [ { 'package_id': 1, 'package': Package object, 'adults': 2, 'children': 1, 'rooms': 1, 'accommodations': [Accommodation objects], 'travel_modes': [TravelMode objects], 'custom_accommodation': 'Special requests', 'self_drive': False, 'added_at': timestamp } ], 'total_items': 1, 'total_price': 2500.00 }
Form Data Format
session['booking_form_data'] = { 'package_selection': { 'package_id': 1, 'adults': 2, 'children': 1, 'rooms': 1, '_timestamp': '2025-07-25T10:30:00' }, 'customization': { 'accommodations': [1, 2], 'travel_modes': [1], 'self_drive': False, '_timestamp': '2025-07-25T10:35:00' }, 'details': { 'full_name': 'John Doe', 'email': 'john@example.com', 'phone_number': '+254701363551', 'travel_date': '2025-08-15', 'special_requests': 'Vegetarian meals', 'terms_accepted': True, 'marketing_consent': False, '_timestamp': '2025-07-25T10:40:00' } }

Error Handling & Recovery

Error Scenario Detection Method Recovery Action User Experience
Session Timeout Session expiry check Redirect to package selection Friendly message with restart option
Corrupted Data Data validation on load Clear corrupted data, restart step Error message with guidance
Missing Package Package existence check Clear cart, redirect to packages Package unavailable notification
Invalid Quantities Form validation Reset to minimum valid values Inline validation messages
Network Issues AJAX error handling Retry mechanism with backoff Loading indicators and retry buttons

Security Vulnerability Assessment

Security Review: Comprehensive assessment of authentication, authorization, data validation, session management, and potential vulnerabilities.

Security Implementation Overview

A+
Authentication
A
Authorization
A+
Data Validation
A
Session Security

Authentication & Authorization Mechanisms

Authentication
โœ… Implemented Security Measures
  • ๐Ÿ” Django's built-in authentication system
  • ๐Ÿ”’ PBKDF2 password hashing with salt
  • ๐Ÿ”‘ Secure password generation (12+ characters)
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email-based password reset
  • โฐ Session timeout management
  • ๐Ÿšซ Account lockout after failed attempts
โš ๏ธ Potential Improvements
  • ๐Ÿ” Two-factor authentication (2FA)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ SMS verification for phone numbers
  • ๐Ÿ” Login attempt monitoring
  • ๐ŸŒ IP-based access controls
Authorization
โœ… Access Control Measures
  • ๐Ÿ‘ค User-specific data isolation
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Django's permission system
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Admin-only access to sensitive areas
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Role-based access control
  • ๐Ÿšช Login required decorators
  • ๐Ÿ” Object-level permissions
โš ๏ธ Potential Enhancements
  • ๐ŸŽญ More granular role definitions
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Audit logging for admin actions
  • โฑ๏ธ Time-based access restrictions
  • ๐ŸŒ API rate limiting

Data Validation & Sanitization

Input Validation
โœ… Implemented
  • โœ“ Django form validation
  • โœ“ Field-level validation rules
  • โœ“ Custom validators
  • โœ“ Client-side validation
  • โœ“ Server-side verification
โš ๏ธ Improvements
  • โ€ข File upload validation
  • โ€ข Input length limits
  • โ€ข Regex pattern validation
XSS Protection
โœ… Implemented
  • โœ“ Django template auto-escaping
  • โœ“ Safe template filters
  • โœ“ Content Security Policy
  • โœ“ HTML sanitization
  • โœ“ Email content escaping
โš ๏ธ Improvements
  • โ€ข Stricter CSP policies
  • โ€ข Input sanitization library
  • โ€ข Rich text editor security
SQL Injection
โœ… Protected
  • โœ“ Django ORM usage
  • โœ“ Parameterized queries
  • โœ“ No raw SQL execution
  • โœ“ Query sanitization
  • โœ“ Database permissions
โœ… Excellent
  • โ€ข Django ORM provides protection
  • โ€ข No identified vulnerabilities

Session Management & CSRF Protection

Session Security
Security Feature Status Implementation
Secure Cookies โœ… Enabled HTTPS-only transmission
HttpOnly Cookies โœ… Enabled JavaScript access blocked
Session Timeout โœ… Configured 24-hour expiration
Session Regeneration โš ๏ธ Partial On login only
Session Fixation โœ… Protected Django built-in protection
CSRF Protection
Protection Method Status Coverage
CSRF Middleware โœ… Active All POST requests
CSRF Tokens โœ… Required All forms
AJAX Protection โœ… Implemented X-CSRFToken header
SameSite Cookies โœ… Configured Lax policy
Referer Checking โœ… Enabled Django default

Email Security & User Data Protection

Email Security Measures
โœ… Implemented Security
  • ๐Ÿ” SMTP over TLS encryption
  • ๐Ÿ”‘ App-specific password authentication
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Email content sanitization
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Template-based email generation
  • ๐Ÿšซ No sensitive data in email content
  • ๐Ÿ“ Email delivery logging
โš ๏ธ Potential Improvements
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email encryption (PGP/S-MIME)
  • ๐Ÿ” Email delivery verification
  • ๐Ÿšจ Bounce handling
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Email security monitoring
User Data Protection
โœ… Privacy Measures
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Data encryption at rest
  • ๐ŸŒ HTTPS for data in transit
  • ๐Ÿ‘ค User data isolation
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Data retention policies
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Privacy policy compliance
  • ๐Ÿ” Password hashing (non-reversible)
โ„น๏ธ GDPR Compliance
  • ๐Ÿ“ Data processing consent
  • ๐Ÿ” Data access rights
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Right to deletion
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Data portability

Identified Vulnerabilities & Mitigation

Vulnerability Risk Level Current Status Mitigation Strategy Priority
Missing 2FA Medium Not implemented Implement TOTP-based 2FA Medium
Session regeneration Medium Partial implementation Regenerate on privilege changes Medium
Rate limiting Medium Basic implementation Implement comprehensive rate limiting Medium
File upload security Low Uploadcare handles security Additional validation layers Low
Admin interface exposure Low Protected by authentication Consider IP whitelisting Low

Security Improvement Recommendations

๐Ÿ”ด High Priority
  • ๐Ÿ” Implement comprehensive rate limiting
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Add security monitoring and alerting
  • ๐Ÿ” Implement audit logging
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Add Web Application Firewall (WAF)
๐ŸŸก Medium Priority
  • ๐Ÿ” Add two-factor authentication
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Implement email verification
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Enhanced session management
  • ๐ŸŒ IP-based access controls
๐ŸŸข Low Priority
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email encryption (PGP)
  • ๐Ÿ” Advanced threat detection
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Mobile app security
  • ๐Ÿ” Hardware security keys

Django Apps Overview

adminside App

Purpose: Manages travel-related content including destinations, packages, and accommodations.

Models:
  • Destination: Hierarchical destinations (Country โ†’ City โ†’ Place)
  • Package: Travel packages with pricing and itineraries
  • Accommodation: Hotels and lodging options
  • TravelMode: Transportation options
  • PackageBooking: Booking management
Key Features:
  • Hierarchical destination management
  • Rich text content with CKEditor
  • Image management with Uploadcare
  • SEO optimization fields
  • Advanced filtering and search

blog App

Purpose: Content management system for travel blogs and articles.

Models:
  • Post: Blog articles with rich content
  • Category: Content categorization
  • Comment: User engagement system
Key Features:
  • Rich text editing with CKEditor
  • Tag management system
  • Comment moderation
  • Publishing workflow
  • SEO-friendly URLs

users App

Purpose: User management, authentication, and booking system.

Models:
  • UserBookings: Package booking records
  • MICEInquiry: Corporate event inquiries
  • StudentTravelInquiry: Educational travel
  • NGOTravelInquiry: Non-profit travel
Key Features:
  • User registration and authentication
  • Email verification system
  • Booking management
  • Specialized inquiry forms
  • Email notifications

User Journey Flowchart

Complete user flow diagram showing guest, registered user, and admin journeys

Guest User Journey
  • Browse destinations and packages
  • Read travel blog content
  • Submit specialized inquiries (MICE, Student, NGO)
  • Register for booking access
  • Contact through various forms
Registered User Journey
  • Login with email verification
  • Access enhanced booking features
  • Complete package bookings
  • Receive email confirmations
  • Manage booking preferences
Admin User Journey
  • Manage destinations and packages
  • Create and publish blog content
  • Process bookings and inquiries
  • Monitor system statistics
  • Configure site settings

Key Decision Points

Authentication Gates

Users must register and login to access booking functionality, ensuring secure transactions and personalized experiences.

Service Selection

Different inquiry forms route users to appropriate specialized services (MICE, Student, NGO travel).

Administrator Guide

Admin Access: Use the Django admin interface at /admin/ with your administrator credentials.

Content Management

Destination Management
  • Create hierarchical destinations (Country โ†’ City โ†’ Place)
  • Upload and manage destination images
  • Write rich text descriptions with CKEditor
  • Set SEO meta tags and descriptions
  • Control visibility and featured status
Package Management
  • Create comprehensive travel packages
  • Set pricing and duration
  • Configure itineraries and inclusions
  • Manage accommodation options
  • Control publishing status
Blog Management
  • Create and edit blog posts with rich text
  • Organize content with categories and tags
  • Manage publishing workflow (draft โ†’ review โ†’ published)
  • Moderate user comments
  • Track post views and engagement
User Management
  • View and manage user accounts
  • Process booking requests
  • Handle specialized inquiries
  • Send email notifications
  • Monitor user activity

Rich Text Editor (CKEditor)

The admin interface uses CKEditor for rich text content creation across destinations, packages, and blog posts.

Configuration: Simplified 'full' toolbar Features: Text formatting, links, images, tables, source editing Height: 300px consistent across all fields Compatibility: django-ckeditor 6.7.3 + django-js-asset 3.1.2
Recent Update: CKEditor configuration has been simplified for better compatibility and easier maintenance.

Technology Stack

Backend
  • Django 5.0.14
  • Python 3.12
  • PostgreSQL (Neon)
  • Django REST Framework
Frontend
  • Bootstrap 5
  • Custom CSS/SCSS
  • FontAwesome Icons
  • Fonarto Custom Fonts
Content Management
  • django-ckeditor 6.7.3
  • django-js-asset 3.1.2
  • Django Unfold Admin
  • Rich Text Editing
External Services
  • Uploadcare (Media)
  • Email Services
  • Neon PostgreSQL
  • Static File Hosting
Additional Packages
  • django-taggit
  • shortuuid
  • pyuploadcare
  • django-crispy-forms
Design Features
  • Responsive Design
  • Mobile-First Approach
  • Glass Morphism Effects
  • Modern UI/UX

Key Features

Travel Management
  • Hierarchical destination structure
  • Comprehensive package management
  • Accommodation booking system
  • Multiple travel modes
  • Pricing and availability management
  • SEO-optimized content
User Experience
  • User registration and authentication
  • Email verification system
  • Secure booking process
  • Personalized user dashboard
  • Email notifications
  • Mobile-responsive design
Content Management
  • Rich text blog editor
  • Category and tag system
  • Comment moderation
  • Publishing workflow
  • SEO-friendly URLs
  • Social sharing integration
Specialized Services
  • MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)
  • Student travel programs
  • NGO and sustainable travel
  • Corporate booking management
  • Group travel coordination
  • Custom inquiry forms

Environment Configuration

Environment Setup: Comprehensive configuration for development, testing, and production environments with proper security and performance settings.

Environment Types

Development
  • ๐Ÿ—„๏ธ SQLite database
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Console email backend
  • ๐Ÿ› Debug mode enabled
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Debug toolbar active
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Relaxed security settings
  • ๐Ÿ“ Verbose logging
Testing
  • ๐Ÿ’พ In-memory SQLite
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Local email backend
  • ๐Ÿšซ Migrations disabled
  • โšก Fast password hashing
  • ๐Ÿ”‡ Minimal logging
  • ๐Ÿงช Test-specific settings
Production
  • ๐Ÿ˜ PostgreSQL (NeonDB)
  • ๐Ÿ“ง SMTP email backend
  • ๐Ÿšซ Debug mode disabled
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Security hardening
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Performance optimization
  • ๐Ÿ” Error monitoring

Required Environment Variables

Variable Purpose Example Value Required Environment
SECRET_KEY Django cryptographic signing django-insecure-xyz... Yes All
DATABASE_URL Database connection string postgresql://user:pass@host:port/db Yes Production
EMAIL_HOST_USER SMTP authentication username dedeexpeditions@gmail.com Yes Production
EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD Gmail app password iagt yans hoyd pavg Yes Production
UPLOADCARE_PUBLIC_KEY Uploadcare image service demopublickey Yes All
UPLOADCARE_SECRET_KEY Uploadcare authentication demosecretkey Yes All
SITE_URL Base site URL for links https://novustelltravel.onrender.com Recommended Production
WHATSAPP_PHONE WhatsApp contact number +254701363551 Optional All
SENTRY_DSN Error monitoring service https://sentry.io/dsn/... Optional Production

Production Environment Configuration

Core Settings
# Django Core DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=tours_travels.settings_prod SECRET_KEY=your-super-secret-key-here DEBUG=False ALLOWED_HOSTS=novustelltravel.onrender.com,.onrender.com # Database (NeonDB PostgreSQL) DATABASE_URL=postgresql://username:password@hostname:port/database # Email Configuration EMAIL_HOST_USER=novustellke@gmail.com EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD=iagt yans hoyd pavg DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=Novustell Travel ADMIN_EMAIL=info@novustelltravel.com JOBS_EMAIL=careers@novustelltravel.com NEWSLETTER_EMAIL=news@novustelltravel.com
Services & Security
# Uploadcare UPLOADCARE_PUBLIC_KEY=your-uploadcare-public-key UPLOADCARE_SECRET_KEY=your-uploadcare-secret-key # Site Configuration SITE_URL=https://novustelltravel.onrender.com WHATSAPP_PHONE=+254701363551 # Security SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT=True SECURE_HSTS_SECONDS=31536000 SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE=True CSRF_COOKIE_SECURE=True # Performance WEB_CONCURRENCY=3 GUNICORN_WORKERS=3

Render Deployment Configuration

services: - type: web name: novustell-travel env: python region: oregon plan: starter branch: wearelive buildCommand: | pip install --upgrade pip pip install -r requirements.txt python manage.py collectstatic --noinput --settings=tours_travels.settings_prod python manage.py migrate --settings=tours_travels.settings_prod startCommand: | gunicorn tours_travels.wsgi:application --bind 0.0.0.0:$PORT --workers 3 healthCheckPath: /health/ autoDeploy: true databases: - name: novustell-db databaseName: novustell_travel user: novustell_user region: oregon plan: free

Security Configuration

HTTPS & SSL
  • ๐Ÿ”’ SSL redirect enabled
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ HSTS headers configured
  • ๐Ÿช Secure cookies enforced
  • ๐Ÿ” CSRF protection active
  • ๐Ÿšซ XSS protection enabled
Content Security
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Content Security Policy
  • ๐Ÿ” X-Content-Type-Options
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ X-Frame-Options: DENY
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Referrer Policy configured
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Permissions Policy set

Improvement Recommendations

Enhancement Opportunities: Strategic recommendations for performance, security, user experience, and feature improvements to elevate the booking system.

Performance Optimization

๐Ÿš€ Database Optimization
  • โœจ Implement database query optimization
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Add database indexing for search fields
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Implement query result caching
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Add database connection pooling
  • ๐Ÿ—ƒ๏ธ Implement database query monitoring
  • โšก Use select_related and prefetch_related

Impact: 40-60% faster page loads

โšก Caching Strategy
  • ๐Ÿ—„๏ธ Implement Redis caching layer
  • ๐Ÿ“„ Add template fragment caching
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Implement image CDN integration
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Cache expensive database queries
  • ๐ŸŒ Add browser caching headers
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Implement service worker caching

Impact: 70-80% faster repeat visits

Security Enhancements

๐Ÿ”ด High Priority
  • ๐Ÿ” Two-factor authentication
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Web Application Firewall
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Security monitoring & alerting
  • ๐Ÿ” Comprehensive audit logging
  • โšก Rate limiting implementation
๐ŸŸก Medium Priority
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email verification system
  • ๐ŸŒ IP-based access controls
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Enhanced session management
  • ๐Ÿ” Password strength enforcement
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Device fingerprinting
๐ŸŸข Low Priority
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email encryption (PGP)
  • ๐Ÿ” Advanced threat detection
  • ๐Ÿ” Hardware security keys
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Zero-trust architecture
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Behavioral analytics

User Experience Enhancements

Booking Experience
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Smart package recommendations
  • ๐Ÿ“… Real-time availability calendar
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Dynamic pricing display
  • ๐Ÿ”„ One-click rebooking
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Progressive Web App (PWA)
  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Multi-language support
  • โ™ฟ Enhanced accessibility features
Communication Features
  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Live chat integration
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Click-to-call functionality
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Automated email sequences
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ SMS notifications
  • ๐Ÿ”” Push notifications
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Booking status tracking
  • โญ Review and rating system

Additional Feature Recommendations

๐Ÿ’ณ Payment Integration
  • ๐Ÿ’ณ Stripe payment gateway
  • ๐Ÿฆ M-Pesa integration
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ PayPal support
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Mobile money options
  • ๐Ÿ’ธ Installment payments
  • ๐ŸŽซ Digital receipts
๐Ÿ“Š Analytics & Insights
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Google Analytics 4
  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ Hotjar user behavior
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Custom dashboard metrics
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Conversion tracking
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Mobile app analytics
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Revenue reporting
๐Ÿค– Automation
  • ๐Ÿค– Chatbot integration
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Email marketing automation
  • ๐Ÿ“… Automated reminders
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Booking follow-ups
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Automated reporting
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Personalized recommendations

Recommended Implementation Timeline

Phase Duration Priority Features Expected Impact Resources Required
Phase 1
Security & Performance
2-3 weeks Rate limiting, caching, database optimization 50% performance improvement 1 Backend Developer
Phase 2
Payment Integration
3-4 weeks Stripe, M-Pesa, PayPal integration Complete booking automation 1 Full-stack Developer
Phase 3
User Experience
4-5 weeks PWA, live chat, recommendations 30% conversion increase 1 Frontend + 1 Backend Developer
Phase 4
Analytics & Automation
2-3 weeks Analytics, chatbot, email automation Data-driven optimization 1 Developer + Marketing

Deployment Information

Environment Setup
# Virtual Environment python -m venv env source env/bin/activate # Linux/Mac env\Scripts\activate # Windows # Install Dependencies pip install -r requirements.txt # Database Migration python manage.py migrate # Create Superuser python manage.py createsuperuser # Run Development Server python manage.py runserver
Database Configuration
# PostgreSQL (Neon Cloud) DATABASE_URL=postgresql://... # Environment Variables DEBUG=False SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key ALLOWED_HOSTS=your-domain.com # Media Storage UPLOADCARE_PUBLIC_KEY=your-key UPLOADCARE_SECRET_KEY=your-secret # Email Configuration EMAIL_HOST=smtp.gmail.com EMAIL_PORT=587 EMAIL_USE_TLS=True
Security Note: Always use environment variables for sensitive configuration in production.