diff --git a/frontend/src/css/ExplorePage.css b/frontend/src/css/ExplorePage.css
index ac8444e..e25ef7c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/css/ExplorePage.css
+++ b/frontend/src/css/ExplorePage.css
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ html[data-theme="dark"] .pill.active { background: var(--accent); color: var(--b
   align-self: center;
   margin-top: 12px;
   margin-bottom: 12px;
+  z-index: 100;
 }
 .explore-search.closer { 
   margin-top: 12px;
@@ -97,6 +98,8 @@ html[data-theme="dark"] .pill.active { background: var(--accent); color: var(--b
   border-radius: var(--radius);
   padding: 10px 12px;
   box-shadow: var(--shadow-1);
+  position: relative;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
 .search-input-wrap input {
   flex: 1;
@@ -113,7 +116,7 @@ html[data-theme="dark"] .pill.active { background: var(--accent); color: var(--b
   top: calc(100% + 4px);
   left: 0;
   right: 0;
-  z-index: 20;
+  z-index: 101;
   background: var(--bg-surface);
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   border-radius: var(--radius);
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/ExplorePage.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/ExplorePage.jsx
index 71a1dda..4cbc283 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/ExplorePage.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/ExplorePage.jsx
@@ -140,11 +140,20 @@ export default function ExplorePage() {
   const suggestions = useMemo(() => {
     const q = (query || "").trim().toLowerCase();
     if (!q) return [];
-    return locations
+
+    // hashmaps are o(1) lookup to track unique locations
+    const seen = new Map();
+    locations
       .map((r) => r.trip_location)
       .filter(Boolean)
       .filter((loc) => loc.toLowerCase().includes(q))
-      .slice(0, 8);
+      .forEach((loc) => {
+        const key = loc.toLowerCase().trim();
+        if (!seen.has(key)) {
+          seen.set(key, loc);
+        }
+      });
+    return Array.from(seen.values()).slice(0, 8);
   }, [locations, query]);
 
   // click-outside to close suggestions