StayFinder 🏡

StayFinder is a full-stack accommodation booking platform where users can explore listings, book stays, and interact with hosts. Hosts can manage properties, approve guest bookings, and track listing status in real-time.

🚀 Features

• 🔍 Browse Listings

  • Search stays based on location, category, and price filters
  • Filter properties by type (apartments, villas, hotels, etc)

• 🏡 View Property Details

  • Access listing pages with full details:
    • Image gallery (stored via Cloudinary)
    • Description and amenities
    • Price per night
    • Host details and reviews (future scope)

• 📅 Book a Stay

  • Request bookings with check-in/check-out dates and guest count.
  • Supports auto-confirm or host-approved bookings

• 📦 Track Booking Status

  • See live updates of your booking states:
    • Pending
    • Confirmed
    • Cancelled
    • Rejected

• 💖 Wishlist Feature

  • Add or remove properties to/from wishlist for later booking.

• 🔄 Real-Time Updates

  • Get instant UI feedback when booking status changes via Socket.IO.

• 🏗️ Create and Manage Listings

  • Add new properties with image upload and custom details.
  • Edit or delete listings anytime.

• 👥 Manage Bookings

  • Approve or reject booking requests.
  • See guest details and booking messages.

• ⚡ Real-Time Notifications

  • Instantly see new bookings and actions via WebSocket events.

• 📊 Host Dashboard

  • Visualize all listings and their booking statuses.
  • Control availability, pricing, and approval settings.

🌐 System-Wide Capabilities

• 🔐 Authentication & Authorization

  • Secure login/register with JWT tokens.
  • Role-based access for users and hosts.

• ☁️ Media Uploads

  • Upload property images to Cloudinary directly from frontend.

• 🔌 Socket.IO Integration

  • Real-time updates for bookings, confirmations, and cancellations.

• 📁 Modular Architecture

  • Clean codebase with separated contexts, routes, and API logic.

🛠️ Tech Stack

Frontend

• React.js (with Context API & Hooks)
• Tailwind CSS for styling
• Socket.IO Client for real-time sync
• Axios for API calls

Backend

• Node.js + Express
• MongoDB with Mongoose
• JWT for authentication
• Socket.IO for real-time communication
• Cloudinary for image uploads

🧩 How to Initialize Everything

git clone https://github.com/your-username/stayfinder.git
cd stayfinder

cd backend
npm install
npm run server


cd frontend
npm install
npm run dev


PORT=3000
MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_url
JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret
CLOUDINARY_CLOUD_NAME=your_cloud_name
CLOUDINARY_API_KEY=your_api_key
CLOUDINARY_API_SECRET=your_api_secret