How it works
All of NiceThings, step by step.
Searching, getting there, voting as a group, sharing: here is how each thing works, in a few lines.
The film
See it all in 46 seconds
From “where are we going?” to arriving: search, the weather, the group vote, sharing, the guidance, guests. The film is in French, and it only loads if you play it.
- 1
Search
Say it the way you would to a friend.
- Type what you want: “grilled fish in Douala tonight”, “quiet café to study”.
- NiceThings understands the neighbourhood, the budget, the day and the mood, and shows the places that fit.
- The buttons under the bar narrow it in one tap: Around me, Eat, A coffee…
- 2
The map
Everything around you, at a glance.
- Every dot is a place: tap it to see its page.
- “Around me” starts from your position; otherwise, pick your neighbourhood.
- Twenty cities are covered: change city at the top of the map.
- 3
A place's page
What we know, and where it comes from.
- Hours, prices, contact, how to get there: only what is known, nothing made up.
- The blue tick means the place has been checked, on the spot by the team or from public sources. The page says which.
- Photos and videos come from the team and from visitors, published after checking.
- A mistake? “Report a problem”, at the bottom of the page.
- 4
Getting there
Spoken directions, all the way to the door.
- On a place's page, tap “Directions”: by car or on foot, with the time and an idea of the taxi fare.
- A clear voice tells you where to turn, in French or in English.
- Near the end, you are asked whether you see the place. If not, the map keeps following you while you find it.
- “Send to driver” shares the position with your driver.
- 5
Saving
Your favourites, without creating an account.
- Tap the heart on a place.
- Find them under Saved, the heart in the menu. They stay on your phone.
- 6
Where shall we meet?
The group votes, and it is settled.
- Save two to four places you are hesitating between.
- Under Saved, tap “Let the group vote”, pick the places, then “Create the vote”.
- “Send to the group”: everyone opens the link and votes, no account needed. The bars move live.
- 7
Sharing
A place is sent as a card.
- On a place's page, tap “Share” and choose WhatsApp or another app.
- Your friend receives a card with the place's photo and name: they tap it, the page opens.
- 8
Right now
What is worth it, right this minute.
- On the home page and in every city: places open at this hour, picked for the time of day.
- When it rains or gets very hot, the suggestions change.
- “Tell me when it rains”: a notification with places that are open. Once a day at most, never at night, and you stop it with one tap.
- 9
Culture and stories
The country tells its story.
- The Culture zone: places with a story, and articles about dishes, peoples and sites.
- The Street chronicles: the grill, beignets and beans, chicken, home dishes, and where to find them.
- The blog: neighbourhood guides and ideas for going out.
- 10
Back home
For those who are coming home.
- The table for the first evening, where to see everyone again, a weekend in Kribi, the country to rediscover.
- You can keep that page on your home screen for the length of your stay.
- 11
Adding and correcting
This guide is built with you.
- “Add a place”: one minute. The team checks before publishing.
- On a place's page, add a photo or a video of what you saw: it appears after checking.
- Under an article, leave a comment: it appears once the team has read it.
- 12
The guests
Cameroon, through their eyes.
- A chef, a creator, a traveller: each guest has their page, “Yaoundé, as seen by …”, with their places, their photos and their words.
- A place they chose shows their face under its name. Give them a heart, leave them a word in their guest book.
- Guests come by invitation: ask for yours on the guests' page, and the team answers in a private message.
- 13
Do you run a place?
Your page belongs to you.
- Under “For businesses”, claim your page: hours, prices, menu, contacts, you update them yourself.
- Print your place's poster, with its code to scan, for your counter.
- 14
On your home screen
NiceThings opens like an app, without going through a store.
- On Android: the browser's menu, then “Add to Home screen”.
- On iPhone: Safari's Share button, then “Add to Home Screen”.
- 15
What we do not ask of you
No account, no password, no money.
- Everything is free, in French and in English.
- Your saved places and your choices stay on your phone. The rest is explained, in plain words, on the Privacy page.