How to Use TranslatePress with WP Travel Engine
Set up TranslatePress to send WP Travel Engine booking emails automatically in each customer's preferred language, including admin, customer, automator, customizer, and per-trip emails.
What TranslatePress does for your tour business
TranslatePress lets you translate your travel website into multiple languages. With WP Travel Engine, it can also help send booking emails in each traveler's preferred language.
A plugin is an add-on that gives WordPress a new feature. TranslatePress adds translation tools to your website, while WP Travel Engine adds travel booking features.
Say you run trekking tours in Nepal and receive bookings from travelers in France, Spain, and Germany. TranslatePress can help each traveler receive booking information in the language they chose on your website.
This guide covers admin emails, customer emails, emails from Advanced Email Automator, emails from Email Customizer, and Per Trip Email messages. You will first set up TranslatePress, then translate the email types you use.
What you'll need before you start
You will need a WordPress website with WP Travel Engine installed and activated. Activated means the plugin is turned on and ready to use.
You will also need TranslatePress installed and activated. Add the languages you want to support in TranslatePress before you begin. You might add French, Spanish, or German for your travelers.
TranslatePress's free version supports up to two languages. To add more than two languages, you need the premium version of TranslatePress.
Install and set up TranslatePress
Setting up TranslatePress first gives you the language choices you need when you translate your booking emails.
Upload the plugin
From your WordPress dashboard, open Plugins on the left sidebar. Choose Add New, then select Upload Plugin. Upload the TranslatePress plugin file.
Activate TranslatePress
Install the plugin, then click Activate. TranslatePress is ready when it is turned on and available in your WordPress dashboard.
Add your languages
From the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard, open Settings, then choose TranslatePress. Add the languages you want your travelers to use.
You can also set up the language switcher here. A language switcher is a small menu on your website that lets visitors pick their language.
Enable automatic translation (optional)
Turn on automatic translation if you want TranslatePress to create a first translation for you. Review the result before you use it in customer emails.
The front end is the part of your website that visitors see. The WordPress dashboard is the private area where you manage the website. Your languages and language switcher affect the front end, so check the visitor view before you translate your emails.
TranslatePress is now set up with your chosen languages. Next, connect those languages to your WP Travel Engine booking emails.
Translate your booking emails
Translated booking emails help international travelers understand their booking details, payment information, and next steps. They also make your business feel more organized when a traveler books a trek or multi-day package from another country.
You will translate email templates in WP Travel Engine. Templates are pre-written email layouts that get used every time that type of email goes out.
Step 1: Open your email settings
Opening the email settings takes you to the place where WP Travel Engine stores its booking email templates.
Open WP Travel Engine email settings
From the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard, open WP Travel Engine. Go to Settings, then Extensions, then Emails, and choose Notifications.
Review the email templates
Review the available templates. WP Travel Engine groups them under Admin Emails and Customer Emails.
Look near the top of the template list for the Email Language dropdown.
You are now in the email area. The language dropdown lets you work on one language at a time.
Step 2: Pick the language you want to translate into
Choosing a language tells WP Travel Engine which version of the email you want to edit.
Choose the email language
Click the Email Language dropdown near the top of the templates list. Select the language you want to translate into, such as Nepali, French, or Spanish.
Selecting a language switches the templates into that language's editing mode. You can now add the translation for that language.
For example, choose French if you want travelers booking your Annapurna Base Camp Trek from France to receive their booking email in French. You can repeat the process later for Spanish or German.
The selected language is ready for translation. Next, translate each email your travelers or staff receive.
Step 3: Translate each email
Translating the subject and message helps the right person understand the email as soon as it arrives. For example, the Booking Confirmation email is the message a traveler receives after booking a trip.
Open an email template
Choose the template you want to translate. You might start with Booking Confirmation or Payment Confirmation.
Translate the email
Translate the subject line and email content into the selected language. Keep the meaning of the original message clear for your travelers.
Save the translation
Click Save Changes after you finish the translation.
Repeat for other templates
Repeat these steps for every template you want to translate. Include the messages your travelers need after booking, such as payment confirmations and trip details.
Keep text inside curly braces, such as {trip_name}, exactly as it appears. Curly braces mark a fill-in-the-blank spot. WP Travel Engine replaces {trip_name} with the actual trip name, such as Annapurna Base Camp Trek, when it sends the email.
Do not modify or remove these dynamic tags. Changing a tag can stop the traveler's name, trip name, or booking details from appearing correctly.
Your selected email templates are now translated. Test them before sending them to real travelers.
Step 4: Test your translations
Testing shows whether the selected language, translated text, dynamic tags, and email formatting work together.
Switch the site language
Open the front end of your website in a browser. Use the TranslatePress language switcher to switch the website to the translated language.
Make a test booking
Complete a test booking on the front end. Use the booking details you normally expect from a traveler so you can check the full email.
Check the email
Confirm that the subject and content appear in the selected language.
Check that the trip name, customer name, booking details, and other changing information appear correctly. Also check that bold text, links, and other formatting remain intact.
Emails are sent automatically in the language selected during booking.
Dynamic tags are fill-in-the-blank spots that WP Travel Engine fills when it sends an email. For example, {trip_booking_details} can add the package name, trip start date, and trip end date to the message.
TranslatePress cannot translate the words generated inside dynamic tags. Use Loco Translate for those strings. Follow how to translate themes and plugins using Loco Translate.
Your standard booking emails are ready for testing in each supported language. The same language process also applies to the email add-ons below.
Translating emails from Advanced Email Automator
Advanced Email Automator is an add-on that lets you create custom automated emails. For example, you can send a reminder three days before a trek starts.
Translate these emails so travelers receive reminders and other scheduled messages in the language they selected.
Open the email notifications
From the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard, go to WP Travel Engine → Settings → Extensions → Emails → Notifications.
Choose the email language
Use the Email Language dropdown above the template list. Select the language you want to translate into.
Open your automated email
Find the automated email template you created with Advanced Email Automator.
Translate and save the email
Translate the subject and content. Click Save Changes when you finish.
Your Advanced Email Automator message is now translated for the selected language. The translated email will use that language when the automation runs.
Translating emails from Email Customizer
Email Customizer is an add-on that lets you design the look and layout of your booking emails with a drag-and-drop editor. You might use it to add your tour logo, organize payment details, or make a group discount email easier to read.
Translate the content after you finish arranging the email design.
Open Email Customizer
From the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard, open WP Travel Engine. Choose Email Customizer.
Choose the email language
Use the Email Language dropdown next to the template selection dropdown. Choose the language you want to translate into.
Translate the email
Translate the email content into the selected language. Click Save Changes when you finish.
Test the email
Make a test booking. Check the email to confirm that the content appears in the selected language and that the layout still looks correct.
Your customized email is now translated and ready for a test booking. Next, you can translate messages that belong to one specific trip.
Translating emails from Per Trip Email
Per Trip Email is an add-on that lets you create custom emails for individual trips. For example, you can give your Annapurna Base Camp Trek its own welcome message or send a packing list for that trek.
Use the language setting for each trip email you create.
Open Per Trip Email
From the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard, open WP Travel Engine. Choose Per Trip Email.
Open an email template
Open the email template you want to translate.
Choose the email language
Find the Language dropdown above the trip selection field. Choose the language you want to translate into.
Translate and save the email
Translate the email content. Click Save Changes when you finish.
Test the email
Make a test booking for the trip. Check the email to confirm that the content appears in the selected language.
Your trip-specific email is now translated for the selected language. You can repeat these steps for each trip and language you support.
If you're still stuck or have a question we didn't cover, our support team is happy to help. Reach out at our support page and we'll get you sorted.