GETAWAY GUIDE
How to create your first hangout
Name it, give it a mood-setting cover, pick a theme and animated effect, lock in a date with friend availability (or decide later), invite your people, and add venue and dress code details once live.
STEP 1 · NAME IT
Name your hangout & pick a title style: Setting the tone from the start
A hangout is any get-together that isn’t an extensive multi-day journey — a Saturday rooftop board game session, birthday dinner, sundowner barbecue, movie marathon, or casual Friday drinks. Giving it a distinctive name and typography makes it instantly recognizable in your friends’ calendars and notifications.
- Tap ”+” Button
- Select “Hangouts”
- Type Event Name
- Pick Title Style
- Tap Next Arrow (>)
Tap ”+” on your home feed
From the home tab (“What’s the plan, Maxx?”), tap the central + button. A bottom sheet titled “Start something interesting 🚀” appears with three clear paths: Trips, Hangouts, and Guide. Tap Hangouts.
Give it a clear, recognizable name
Type a title your friends will understand at a glance: “Saturday board Games”, “Rohan’s 30th 🎂”, or “Sunday Brunch Club”. The title input is responsive and displays your chosen font immediately.
Choose from 8 curated title styles
Set the vibe before anyone even opens the invite. Tap any font style chip below the input — Classic, Eclectic, Fancy, Simple, Chill, Retro, Cinematic, or Elegant — to see your text instantly transform in real time.
Advance with the circular arrow button
Once your name and typography feel right, tap the circular > button at the bottom right to continue.
STEP 2 · SET THE MOOD
Add a cover: GIF, photo, or text card
The cover is the visual centerpiece of your hangout invite. Events with a striking, humorous, or aesthetic cover get opened and RSVP’d to significantly faster.
- Tap “GIF” on Cover
- Search GIPHY Clips
- Or Upload Personal Photo
- Or Type a Text Card
Search animated GIFs on GIPHY
Tap the GIF pill directly on the cover card. An integrated GIPHY browser opens where you can search keywords (e.g. “Board Games”, “Rooftop”, “Cocktails”), browse trending tag suggestions, and pick the perfect animated loop.
Upload personal photos or artwork
Tap the image gallery icon ([+]) to upload a custom graphic, celebration flyer, or photo straight from your device’s camera roll.
Type a vibrant text card
No image handy? Tap Tt in the preview to render a bold high-contrast typographical card with a punchy message like “Bring your best board game & good vibes”.
Keep the default suggested artwork
Getaway automatically pre-loads a tasteful cover (such as the acoustic “BONFIRE” scene with atmospheric string lights) so you can create a complete hangout in seconds without searching for assets if you’re in a hurry.
STEP 3 · INVITE
Invite guests, or plan it directly from a group
Gathering your crew is effortless. Select existing connections on Getaway, send instant share links across chat apps, or launch the hangout straight from a group so everyone is automatically on the guest list.
- Fast External Share Pills
- Select Up to 3 Groups
- Check Off Friends
- Advance with Arrow (>)
Fast external share shortcuts
At the top of the Invite Guests screen, 4 dedicated quick-action buttons let you reach anyone outside the app: Copy link, Messages, Email Invite, and WhatsApp. Guests don’t need the Getaway app to view the invite and RSVP on the web.
Include entire groups in one tap
Under the Groups section (0/3 groups · 0/100 guests), tap any of your existing circles — like “Weekend Wanders” or “Wander Boys”. Every member of the selected group is added to the hangout automatically.
Search and select individual friends
Use the Search friends bar or browse your connections list (e.g. Toto Wolff, AK). Tapping a friend adds a checkmark and updates your guest counter in real time.
Instant notification upon creation
You can adjust the guest list at any time. When you publish the plan, everyone selected receives an immediate push notification to RSVP.
STEP 4 · WHEN
Pick a date & time with live friend availability
Eliminate the endless back-and-forth of “Are you free Saturday?”. Getaway’s scheduling engine surfaces calendar availability directly on the date grid so you can pick a winning slot with full confidence.
- Set “FROM” & “TO” Hours
- All Day / Multi-Day Toggles
- Check Availability Dots
- Or Tap “Skip for now”
Precision start and end times
Set custom start and concluding hours (e.g. FROM 20:00 to TO 23:00) using the 24-hour time selector with clock icon so attendees know the exact window.
All-Day and Multi-Day modes
Toggle All Day for open-ended gatherings without strict hours, or switch to Multi-Day for a weekend house party or camping retreat.
Live friend availability dots
Notice the color-coded status dots beneath each date on the calendar: green dots indicate high availability among your invited crew, while orange dots flag potential scheduling conflicts.
Bottom availability confirmation drawer
When you tap a date (e.g. Sat, Oct 24), the Availablity bar at the bottom displays the avatars of your invited friends (e.g. T for Toto, AK for AK) with prominent green checkmark rings confirming they are free!
Not sure yet? Tap “Skip for now”
If plans are still tentative, tap Skip for now (with the clock icon) to launch the hangout with Date TBD (“Set it later from the plan, or let friends vote”). You can run a date poll inside the hangout later.
STEP 5 · PREVIEW & LAUNCH
Theme, animated effect & final preview
The Hangout Preview screen lets you review exactly what your guests will experience. Here, you can personalize the backdrop canvas, add dynamic animated overlays, and finalize interactive options.
- Review Hangout Card
- Select Canvas Theme
- Add Animated Effect
- Tap Checkmark (✓) Button
Inspect the live preview card
Review your stylized title (e.g. “Saturday board Games”), animated cover, Hosted by Maxx Boy badge, scheduled hours (Sat, Oct 24, 2026 · 20:00 - 23:00), and guest avatars.
18 Curated canvas themes
Tap the Theme chip to open the theme bottom sheet (“Choose a look for this hangout”). Pick from None, Minimal, Paper, Pinboard, Clouds, Starry Night, Ocean, Sunset, mesh gradients (Vapor Sunset, Midnight Mesh, Bubblegum), or tap the color palette icon at top right for a custom solid hue.
Ambient animated overlay effects
Tap Effect to layer an animated particle effect over the screen. Choose from party classics (Confetti, Balloons, Hearts, Sparkles, Fairy Lights), nature (Snow, Petals, Autumn Leaves, Thunder), or gaming retro favorites like Space War, Snake, Bats, or Blocks (falling 8-bit Tetris blocks!). Tap the dice icon to shuffle a random effect.
1-Tap “Match cover”
Want your theme and effect to harmonize instantly with your cover? Tap Match (magic wand icon) to let Getaway automatically select colors and particle effects derived from your GIF or photo palette.
Questionnaire & Polls
Tap Questionnaire to collect dietary needs or beverage choices upon RSVP, or add interactive Polls to let friends vote on game picks or dinner options.
Launch with the metallic checkmark button
When you are ready, tap the floating metallic circular ✓ button at the bottom right. Your hangout is created immediately!
STEP 6 · CELEBRATION & DETAILS
Launch confirmation & Overview details
The moment you tap the checkmark, Getaway confirms your launch with a celebration modal and immediately docks your new hangout on your personal feed.
The “Plan created!” celebration modal
You are greeted by a celebratory popup: “🎉 Plan created! Adventures are better shared. Get your first crew on board!” with a progress wheel (e.g. 2/3 friends added). Tap Invite more friends to blast links, or tap Maybe later to enter your plan.
Visible immediately on your home feed
Your hangout card immediately appears on your home dashboard under “What’s the plan, [Name]?” featuring your cover, date, hours, and a golden 👑 Hosting badge.
Fleshing out logistics in the Overview
Open the plan’s Overview screen at any time to add logistics and interactive modules:
| Module | What it adds to your hangout | How guests experience it |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Exact address, venue name, and GPS coordinates | 1-Tap navigation opening Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Uber/Ola |
| Dress code | Guidelines such as “Casual Chic”, “All White”, or “Retro 90s” | Prominent visual badge on the invite card so no one arrives out of theme |
| Food situation | Meal plan (e.g. artisanal pizza, BYOB, potluck, or catering) | Clear expectations for eating, drinking, and dietary coordination |
| Cost | Estimated spend per person (e.g. ₹1,200) | Transparent budget clarity before guests confirm their RSVP |
| Schedule | Run of show timeline for arrival, board games, dinner, and dessert | Live timeline card keeping the night flowing smoothly |
| Polls | Single or multi-choice polls for games, food, or playlist preferences | Interactive voting directly inside the hangout feed |
| Attach & Notes | Important reminders, gate security codes, terrace Wi-Fi, or tickets | Pinned reference cards accessible to all attendees |
CHECKLIST & FAQ
Your hangout launch checklist
- Tap ”+” on home → choose Hangouts from “Start something interesting 🚀”.
- Give your hangout a clear name and pick one of the 8 curated title styles (Classic, Fancy, Cinematic, etc.).
- Add a mood-setting cover (animated GIPHY search, photo upload, or bold text card).
- Select friends to invite, or include entire groups (up to 3 groups · 100 guests) in one tap.
- Set hours (FROM/TO) and check the calendar availability dots and friend avatars to pick a conflict-free date.
- Pick a canvas theme and animated effect (like falling retro Blocks or sparkling Fairy Lights).
- Tap the metallic checkmark (✓) button to publish your hangout and alert your crew!
- Open the Overview screen to pin the Venue GPS link, Dress code, Food situation, and Schedule.
Common questions
Can I change the theme, effect, or cover after creating the hangout?
Yes. Open the hangout, tap the edit icon or settings sheet, and you can freely change the cover GIF/image, canvas theme background, and animated effects at any time.
Do my guests need the Getaway app to view the invite and RSVP?
No. When you share via WhatsApp, Messages, or link, invitees open a responsive web page on app.usegetaway.com where they can see the full event details, cover, theme, and submit their RSVP with zero friction.
How does the Friend Availability indicator work?
When selecting dates on the calendar, green dots denote days where invited friends are free, while orange dots flag conflicts. Tapping a date opens the Availablity drawer at the bottom displaying friend initials (like T for Toto and AK for AK) with green checkmarks confirming who is free during those hours.
What is the difference between a Hangout and a Trip in Getaway?
Hangouts are single-day or weekend gatherings focused on vibe, animated themes, covers, RSVPs, and day-of run-of-show schedules. Trips are multi-day travel plans equipped with AI itineraries, route optimization, map routing, lodging bookings, flight trackers, and group expense ledgers.
I selected “Skip for now” for the date. How do I finalize it?
Your hangout will display Date TBD (“Set it later from the plan, or let friends vote”). You can open the plan and set the date directly once decided, or launch an in-app Date Poll so your invited guests can vote on their favorite time.
Why can’t I create a hangout directly from my group?
Only group owners and designated admins have permission to launch official plans for the entire group. If you are a member, you can suggest the hangout in the group chat and ask an admin to launch it.
Are invited friends notified the moment I create the hangout?
Yes. Friends selected from your Getaway contacts receive an instant in-app push notification when you tap the metallic checkmark button. Guests invited via shared links or WhatsApp will receive your invitation as soon as you share the link with them.