unusual travel apps

5 Travel Apps to Find Interesting and Unique Tourist Spots on Your Trips

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Tourist hotspots are easy to find, but the fun part of traveling is discovering unique and offbeat places. These travel apps will help you find something different and fun to do on your next trip, apart from suggesting the must-visit attractions.

We've already talked about some decision-making travel tools to find a destination that fits your needs. Once you're there, you need to figure out what to do. From asking friends for recommendations on a map to free guided walking tours, here's how you can make the most of your vacation.

1. Triptipedia (Web): Tips by Travelers and Locals

Wikivoyage and Wikitravel have a worthy rival in Triptipedia. Even if you use the two famous Wiki sites, you should also search this alternative for unique travel tips and advice in the form of personal experiences.

Triptipedia is completely user-generated, which means fellow travelers and locals add information about any place. The difference from the Wiki sites is that each entry about a place is like a blog post. A visitor or a local will share their insights on the city and the attractions. This also gives you the chance to comment on that post and get advice directly from the contributor, unlike Wikivoyage or Wikitravel.

The Travel Tips section is worth a look regardless of where you are going. These are often generic travel tips, such as how to plan a family trip. Try the Tours and Activities tab to find local experiences, most of which are paid.

2. The Culture Trip (Web, Android, iOS): Free Alternative to Lonely Planet

The Culture Trip is one of the best free travel guides on the internet today. It covers most cities in the world, with an emphasis on helping tourists discover the history and culture of that place in non-traditional ways.

Each destination has multiple articles and videos, all of which is original content for The Culture Trip. It lets you create a wishlist of items to see based on these. Some cities have full guides that are as good as any travel agent's efforts. I'd recommend downloading the app because you can then save articles and videos offline, which can help save data when you're in a foreign country.

Like Atlas Obscura, one of the best sites to randomly pick travel destinations , The Culture Trip points out a side of the city that you won't easily find in travel guides. That's what makes it special, and worth a gander even if you've picked up a Lonely Planet.

Download: The Culture Trip for Android | iOS (Free)

3. Where Would You Go? (Web): Ask Friends to Plot a Map for You

Google Maps has made it easier than ever to find your way around a city. So much so that if fellow travelers and locals told you where to go on a map, you'd manage the rest alone. That's exactly what you can ask friends for with Where Would You Go (WWYG).

WWYG doesn't require you to register, yet creates a unique map for you. Add your point of origin or first stop, your final destination, and a few preferences like the number of hours you're okay with traveling between two places or whether you'd prefer to stay in one place.

With your input, WWYG will create a map with a unique URL. Share this URL with your friends, or even on travel forums. People can add spots they think are particularly interesting, along with a comment on why they recommend it. WWYG can create the best possible route for you to see all of these points, but I'd still use Google Maps for that part of the exercise.

4. TravelChime (Web): Planner and Mapper, Especially for Groups

Whether you're traveling alone or in a group, it's a good idea to map all your points of interest in one app. TravelChime lets multiple users create a common itinerary, although you can use the app as an individual too.

The easy interface of TravelChime makes it special. Once you sign up and invite your friends to edit it, you can create lists, such as places to visit, food and drinks, etc. Now search for a place and add it. You can also use Google guides, available within the app, to add common touristy points of interest.

Like WWYG, you can ask non-group friends for advice by sharing the link to your map. But they will need to register or login with Facebook or Google.

The best part about TravelChime? Once you're done building the itinerary, you can export it to Google Maps. It's a unique map that you and your friends can follow, with all the places of interest mapped neatly on it.

5. FreeTour (Web): Find Free Walking Tours and Budget Activities

Most major cities have volunteers and guides that conduct free walking tours of certain parts of the city. It can be difficult to find these with a Google search. FreeTour aggregates major budget-friendly activities in one place.

The app lets you filter the activities by price, rating (powered by TripAdvisor), languages, and categories. Apart from walking tours, you can try cruises, day trips, food and drink, nightlife, private cars, or Segway tours. Interesting activities can be added to your favorites to check later.

Each activity has a detailed description, along with ratings from customers and user reviews. And there's a precise map pin for the meeting point. FreeTour has a large community, so you will find reviews and ratings for almost every activity, which makes it easier to find out information.

Download: FreeTour for Android | iOS (Free)

The Essential Travel Tools

Everyone has their own style of travel that they prefer, but it never hurts to get a few more ideas. While the above apps will tell you which spots to check out, there is more to traveling than that. Be sure to save these travel packing tips for your next trip .

From expert travel blogs and itinerary planners to customized packing lists and cheap ticket finders, our list of these cool travel tools will help you have a safer and more enjoyable trip.

• Cool Web Apps

RoadsideAmerica.com

Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

Find Attractions and Oddities

Quirky patterns.

Trunkations

Roadside America's Blog

• Muffler Man of Metal (And Neon)
• Conspiracy Thinking and Bathroom Convenience

Field Reports

• Sight of the Week , Oct 14, 2024: Boggy Creek Monster Mart
• Napa Toy Museum
• Parrot Mountain
• National Cave Museum
• Cowlossus of Roads
• Dark and Deviant Oddities
• Rainbow Rock Shop Dinosaurs
• Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum

More New Reports

Latest Visitor Tips

• Tessie: Recycled Sea Serpent , Saranac Lake, New York
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• World's Largest Spur , Lampasas, Texas
• World's Tallest Uncle Sam , Danbury, Connecticut
• Fake Town Clock , Florence, Arizona
• Murders, Executions, Cactus Living Room , Florence, Arizona
• World's Largest Bronze Gorilla , Greenwich, Connecticut
• Bonneville Salt Flats , Wendover, Utah
• 70-Ton Tortoise Made of Boulders , Fernley, Nevada

More Visitor Tips

October 17, 2024

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Roadside Videos

Giants Among Us - Muffler Men . Anthem of the Muffler Men. Their singular focus on our attention comes in a range of styles and accessories.

Bishop Castle , Rye, CO. Jim Bishop, one-man castle builder. Our 1994 visit meshed with our 2023 check-up on progress. Astounding!

Cookout of the Gods . Eat and grill like mighty deities of Olympus, as we salute ever larger-portions along the highway!

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Trip Planning Caution : RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead!

Credits, Media/Business Inquiries © Copyright 1996-2024 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors.

20 Best Travel Apps in 2024 (Plus They’re Free)

We frequently search for the best travel apps to make travel easier. We’ve tested hundreds of travel apps over the years, and we’re often asked to recommend the travel apps we can’t live without.

So, we wrote this post on the 20 best travel apps that helped us to visit every country in the world!

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary , some experienced hints and tips , or just craving a delicious food adventure , we’ve got you covered!

We may earn affiliate commissions from websites we link to, at no cost to you. Click here for details.

These travel apps were essential to navigating some remote places, saving money, and communicating with locals to experience unforgettable encounters and find unique places to stay.

Whether you’re looking to reserve a hotel room, dorm bed or apartment, book cheap flights, bus or train tickets on the go, translate a restaurant menu, ride local transport or chat with a local in a foreign language, we’ve compiled a list of the best travel apps you should have!

Let’s Dive In! 20 Best Travel Apps To Make Travel Easy

Table of Contents

1. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is the best travel flight app out there! It’s so easy to use and the prices are unbeatable!

Skyscanner is a metasearch engine that compares multiple airlines’ prices. To find cheap flights, enter your departure airport, destination, and date. 

You can filter results based on stops, duration, and airline. The’ everywhere’ option allows you to discover the cheapest flights from your departure airport. 

Don’t miss out on this one—it’s hands down one of the best travel apps for nabbing cheap flights! It’s worth mentioning here that the Skyscanner app is also a metasearch engine for finding cheap car hire and hotels. 

Our Favourite Feature: Skyscanner  allows you to compare multiple airlines, flight times, and prices. 

2. Booking.com

No travel app comes close to beating Booking.com for reserving accommodation for your trip.

From budget dorm beds in hostels and affordable hotels in great locations to luxury accommodations, including villas, apartments, and everything in between, Booking.com is hands down one of the best travel apps for reserving a place to stay.

Once you’ve made several reservations on Booking.com, you can reclaim awards and discounts on accommodation. Using this app has helped us reach Genius Level 3, saving us up to 15% on future reservations.

The Booking.com app makes it easy to keep all your bookings in one place, and you can impress taxi drivers with the app’s handy hotel address feature, translated into the local language.

Download this must-have travel app before you leave on your adventures!

Our Favourite Feature: Booking.com has i n-app only deals and discounts

3. Airalo eSIM

Nowadays, the best way to stay connected on your travels is with Airalo eSIM . 

The Airalo travel app has been essential for us to stay connected in multiple regions and countries as we traverse the globe. 

This travel app allows you to download an eSIM for 190+ countries effortlessly. It’s so easy, and it’s affordable too! Just download, activate and go! 

We LOVE this product. Read more about why we choose eSIM for International Travel.

Our Favourite Feature Is Discovering eSIMs that cover up to 130+ countries on one eSIM! Choose from a Data-Only eSIM or a Data, Call, and text eSIM to save you   huge $$$. View ALL Discover eSIM Packs here . 

Travelling to a country with a different currency? Avoid ATM transaction fees and pay in local currency with a Wise Card . We love this card; it has saved us so much in fees.

Skype is an excellent means to stay connected with loved ones back home while you’re away.

We use the Skype app when calling a business or private number that isn’t on WhatsApp. 

One of the best things about the Skype app is the ability to make free video calls globally, provided that both parties use Skype.

Additionally, you can place calls to landlines or mobile phones for a fee. 

Keeping your Skype credit topped up with $10-20 allows seamless calling from your mobile or landline, making it a cost-effective way to communicate worldwide.

Access to a wifi signal makes the possibilities endless; you can reach any number globally with super affordable bills.

For digital nomads and business owners who are constantly on the move, Skype proves to be an indispensable app. It lets you quickly jump on work calls, making it an ideal tool. 

  Best feature:  Make free calls/video calls to any country worldwide.

5. Google Maps

Google Maps is an essential app for every traveller. It’s one of our phones’ most frequently used travel apps. We especially love that you can save cafes, hotels or places you want to visit and mark that spot with selected labels. 

We use the ‘heart’ label to add our favourite places to eat, and in the notes section, we add what dish we’d like to eat there.

We like to use the ‘green flag’ label for places we’d like to visit, including attractions and landmarks. There’s a ‘blue bag’ label to pin accommodation options, too. This is handy for saving our hotel or apartment address, and you can customise the label and add notes here, too.

Our Favourite Feature:  The option to download and save offline maps. 

6. WISE 

WISE is an online account that lets you send money, get paid, and spend internationally.

This service has saved us loads of money in international transactions & ATM fees. With a Wise account, you can get paid in other currencies and send money overseas. The app is lightning-fast and super savvy.

This is a must-have travel app for every traveller, especially if you plan to travel long-term.

Sign up for a WISE account here  and send your first International transfer for FREE!

Our Favourite Feature is that fees are transparent and generally low, with no markup on exchange rates. Leave the big fees to the big banks and switch your banking needs to Wise!

7. Google Translate

What a savvy travel app this is! Google Translate is the best travel language app for communicating with the people you meet.

The app translates languages incredibly fast! With 100+ languages to access, you’ll breeze through interactions with locals.

From ordering the best meal, asking for directions or purchasing the correct train ticket or bus route, Google Translate has you covered. 

This app was an absolute gem to help us travel in China, our fantastic trip to Taiwan and decode menu items in Japan and Central Asia. 

Our Favourite Feature: Save particular words or phrases so you can access them quickly when needed.

Imagine checking just one place for ALL your travel details and getting notifications if things happen that may affect your trip. TripIt app is your personal travel organiser, and it will make your travelling life a breeze!

TripIt can organise your travel plans no matter where you book. Simply forward your confirmation emails to [email protected] , and in seconds, TripIt will create a comprehensive itinerary for every trip.

We used TripIt to keep our flights, accommodation, bus & train tickets and even reservations for day tours organised so we could access the app anytime and quickly source the information we needed. 

Believe me, you need this in your life! TripIt is free and one of the best travel apps for staying organised and stress-free on the road.

Our Favourite Feature:  You can also sync your plans with your calendar—no copying or pasting is necessary.

9. Surfshark VPN 

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a must-have tool for protecting your privacy and increasing your internet security.

Surfshark VPN  safeguards your connection with military-grade encryption so you can log into your accounts, make bank transfers, and shop online without worrying that your data may be compromised or hacked.

It works by encrypting communications so you’ll have an anonymous IP address. Surf Shark (or other good VPNs) allows you to access websites that are inaccessible in other countries. 

If you’re in a country like China that bans many social media networks, such as Facebook, you can still access Facebook by turning on Surfshark VPN if you’re travelling there.

Download Surfshark VPN to put your mind at ease while travelling. 

Our Favourite Feature:  Fast connection, easy-to-use app

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10. Trainline

Trainline  is an international rail and coach booking platform. The user-friendly app allows you to buy instant train tickets and railcards and gain free access to live train times and railway station information. 

It’s so handy; we use the Trainline app to book all our train tickets . It’s beneficial for those wishing to travel around Europe by train .

Our Favourite Feature:  The app has a section called ‘my tickets’, which is helpful for quick access to your already purchased train reservations.

RELATED POST –  7 Best Tips for Traveling to Europe

11. Rome2Rio

This app is excellent for comparing transportation options between destinations. 

Once you enter your origin and destination, the Rome2Rio app searches for train, flight, bus, and ferry options between locations. Cleverly, it also shows the driving distance for trips by car so you can quickly and easily see which option is best for your timing and budget.

We use this app frequently to get a quick idea of the options available to get from A to B anywhere in the world. 

Our Favourite Feature:  If you see a journey you’d like to book there and then, the Rome2Rio app connects you with transportation providers to make a reservation.

12. GetYourGuide

Travel with ease! GetYourGuide is great for discovering excellent experiences and tours. Just enter your city, and the app does the rest! 

Find the best food tours, city tours, cruises, wildlife safaris, island hopping adventures, private transfers, skip-the-line entrance tickets and more! 

GetYourGuide offers city passes like the ‘Vatican City & Rome’ Pass . This sightseeing pass provides free entry to Rome’s most popular attractions and museums, saving you up to 55%!

They’ve got everything from thrilling motorcycle tours in Vietnam to invigorating 14-day hikes in Nepal; reserve your spot here .

Book excellent activities, compare prices and read past guest reviews for peace of mind.

The best part is their flexible cancellation policy, no hidden fees, and mobile-friendly tickets.

Our Favourite Feature:  GetYourGuide offers a flexible free cancellation policy.

The ultimate activity and tour booking companion! Viator is a top-notch travel app with a stellar reputation.

Like GetYourGuide, Viator is one of the best travel apps for booking day tours, multi-day adventures, local experiences, entrance tickets, and more!

Viator offers excellent customer service, free cancellation, flexible payment options, and an overall excellent product.

Explore 300,000+ experiences across the globe – USA, Asia, Europe, Australia, and beyond! 

Need travel inspiration about where to travel next? Our guide on the cheapest countries to visit this year will help you decide. 

Our Favourite Feature:  Viator app offers 24/7 customer service & support.

Moovit provides travellers with a one-stop-shop journey experience to help them get from point A to B most quickly and efficiently. 

You may be surprised at how savvy this travel app is; a game-changer in my opinion.

Get train, metro and bus times, maps, and real-time arrival information in cities and destinations worldwide to plan your trip confidently and get mooving!! 

Our Favourite Feature:  The app allows you to add a line (frequent journey) to your ‘favourites’ section for quick access and instant information.

15. Grab (and other ride-sharing apps)

Ride-sharing apps have been a saviour for us as we’ve made our way around the world. 

As I understand, Uber was the first ride-sharing app to launch, but now there are many fantastic apps that can make your life so much easier on the road.

Depending on what country or region of the world you plan to travel to, we recommend downloading the ride-sharing apps below.

• Grab – For travel in Southeast Asia.
• Bolt – For travel in Europe, Tunisia (read these 10 Best Tips for Independent Travel in Tunisia ) and other nations in Africa too. 
• Uber – For travel in the USA, Canada, Europe & Australia
• FreeNow – Travel in Europe (up to 150+ cities)
• BiTaksi – For travel in Turkey.

And there are many more!

Most ride-sharing apps allow you to add your bank card to your profile to take care of the payment. We like this feature because you don’t need any local currency, and it cancels the chance of getting scammed by a taxi driver. Unfortunately, scams do happen.

Read our post about how to avoid 6 common tourist scams in China .

Our Favourite Feature:  Seeing the estimated price and journey time before you make a booking.

16. WhatsApp

Looking for a reliable way to stay connected with friends and family? Look no further than WhatsApp!

This is one of the best travel apps out there, and it’s used worldwide to keep people connected. 

WhatsApp offers a range of features, allowing you to send messages, make calls, and even video call other WhatsApp users for free, as long as you have a wifi connection.

Not only is WhatsApp perfect for keeping in touch with friends and family, but it also comes in handy while travelling. Nations worldwide communicate easily with WhatsApp, so it’s our top choice for the best travel apps to download to your device.

WhatsApp helps you to easily stay in contact with locals, tour operators, hotels, and companies, as many of them are readily available on WhatsApp. 

WhatsApp pairs perfectly with an international eSIM . An easy, reliable and affordable way to help you stay connected with the world.

Stay connected and travel easier out there – choose WhatsApp!

Our Favourite Feature:  The ability to video call, voice call or message other numbers for free, providing you’ve got a wifi connection (or an Airalo eSIM ) 

17. Xe Currency Converter

Use the Xe Currency Converter app to instantly check live market rates for every world currency on your Smartphone or device. 

That’s 170+ currencies that you can convert on the go. If you need to check the conversion of what 1 USD will give you in AUD, you can get your answer on this app within seconds.

We use this app to quickly check the latest exchange rates, handing over any currency in an exchange office or even to a money changer on the street. We frequently used this during our overland travels across Central & West Africa . 

If you’ve ever wondered about what it’s like to travel in this region, here are 17 ESSENTIAL Things to Know Before Travelling to West Africa from our experience.

18. Maps.me

Maps.me app is similar to Google Maps in some ways, but it’s much better for navigating rugged terrains!

Whenever we go hiking, we ensure we’ve got our map downloaded on Maps.me; it rarely lets us down. It does a great job of showing the small trails that Google Maps doesn’t usually pick up. 

It covers six continents, making it essential for unexplored or remote spots.

This travel app was handy in Africa, particularly when directing a taxi driver to our nominated address. Maps.me allows you to set up the navigation and press speak on the app, a voice will then guide you in the selected language. You should see the look on the taxi drivers’ faces when we do this; it’s pure amazement.

Maps.me is a must-have travel app for all travellers, especially those hoping to take off-the-beaten-track adventures.

Our Favourite Feature:  Maps.me offers a bookmark collection that allows you to build your ultimate trip!

19. Trusted Housesitters

If you’re planning to travel long-term, Trusted Housesitters is one of the best travel apps I’d recommend you download right now.

Every traveller finds out that accommodation is one of the most significant expenses on the road, and this app can help cancel that out entirely! 

Being a housesitter means free accommodation for you in return for looking after different homes around the globe. Choosing to join Trusted Housesitters was one of the best things we ever did!

Trusted Housesitters  is a fantastic website for saving money and house-sitting worldwide. 

Join now with our invitation  and receive a massive 25% off your membership!

Our Favourite Feature:  Use the filters on the app to set alerts for preferred cities or countries you know you’ll be visiting in the coming months. 

Make sure you get Travel Insurance before hitting the road. We recommend Heymondo & SafetyWing

Click here and get 5% off Heymondo from us!

Omio  is the best travel app and booking platform for travellers on the go.

The Omio easy-to-use app is seamless for booking tickets for trains, buses, flights, ferries, and airport transfers so you can focus on the journey.

They’ve got 1,000+ trusted travel partners listed across the platform, giving you many choices and options to book the most direct route at the best price.

It’s quick and reliable, and most importantly, Omio offers the best deals. 

Our Favourite Feature:  The Omio app keeps your list of ‘upcoming journeys’, which is helpful to ensure your travel plans are organised.

More Travel Tips

We have so many tips to help you travel more!

These 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you stretch your hard-earned dollars further.

Read our top 6 travel hacks to save money and the  20 best travel apps to make travel easier! 

For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies. And, if history is your thing, these 30 amazing historical places worldwide will fascinate you!

We have many tips to save money for travel and consider these 20 jobs that PAY YOU to travel the world to help you travel longer.

If you become a trusted housesitter , you can also get FREE accommodation worldwide. Read more about how this works .

Check out our ultimate packing list for travellers , and remember to pack travel insurance! We recommend these two travel insurance companies for excellent coverage.

Our  12 essential tips for safe travel in any country are worth a read. 

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling the world. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries , or consider  a Global eSIM if you travel to multiple countries or regions. This eSIM connects you in 124 countries , offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM .

The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour.

Check our Group Tours first for any upcoming trips you may be interested to join, or view these deals on worldwide group tours with Tourradar .

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.

Travel Planning Resources

✈️ Flights : We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.

🏨 Accommodation :  Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.

🏥 Travel Insurance : We recommend Heymondo ( Get 5% off Heymondo)  & SafetyWing

🚌 Transportation : Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.  

🚘 Car Rental : We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.

👫 Group Tours : We now offer Group Trips; view them here!  Alternatively, we recommend G Adventures OR Tourradar . For Europe, Expat Explore is a good choice. * Get 5% off  when you quote code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS to your Expat reservations agent. (* Valid for new clients only).

📸 Day Tours & Trips :  GetYourGuide  & Viator are the only two platforms you need.

📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks , and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)

🎒 Luggage :  Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack  or  Samsonite Luggage Range.

🛄 What to Pack:  Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good  power bank .  To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers .

🐶 Become a House Sitter:  Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.

💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE  &  Revolut  are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.

📶  Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use code RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM.

✅ Check out our Travel Gear  and  Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!

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1 Comment .

Heyy, very useful article, thanks! Perhaps to add on your list might also be this super useful app – ATM Fee Saver – gives ATM fees and withdrawal limits in many countries, really needed needed these days as atms abroad can become so expensive. Never seen anything like this before – it us sure to help lots of other international travellers like me!!!

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87 Unique Travel Tips & Hacks You Can’t Afford to Miss Out On

By: Author Aly Smalls

Posted on Published: October 23, 2023  - Last updated: October 31, 2023

Share with your friends!

After years of travel (and now full-time travel curator), I’ve put together my ultimate collection of unique travel tips, hacks and advice to help you plan your next trip with ease.

You’ll find everything from packing advice, the best travel apps, building the best travel itinerary, in-flight comfort tips, how to get through airport security in a breeze, budgeting & saving money, in-destination advice and more. 

I think these genius travel tips are pretty unique, so here’s the full list!

In this post, you’ll find:

Packing tips, travel planning and trip research, finding things to do, itinerary building, hotel booking tips, accommodation tips, booking flights, airport & security screening tips, in-flight comfort, best travel apps, budget tips, before trip departure, in destination tips, cultural tips.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase I may make a small commission. I only share information about things I know, love and trust!

DIY Clothing Hack for Packing Light

Mix Febreze and wrinkle release in a travel-sized spray bottle. This method allows you travel with fewer clothes and maximize a compact wardrobe.

It also prolongs the freshness and usability of your garments, which is especially helpful in humid climates.

Packing Cubes Help Keep Things Organized & Easier to Find 

Packing cubes are especially useful if you’re moving hotels every couple of days.

Make sure you get cubes with compression , and you can almost double the amount of clothing you bring.

Also, if your bag gets searched at the airport, everything stays together and it’s so much quicker to repack.

Split Your Clothing Up

If you’re traveling with a partner, split your clothes between both of your checked bags.

That way, if one of the bags goes missing, you both have clothes in the other bag.

Pack a Full Outfit in Your Carry-on

If you don’t want to split up your clothing, pack a full outfit in your carry-on.

 This is one of my favorite travel tips that has saved me more than once. 

In the event your bag does get lost, you’ll still have a full set of fresh clothes.

If I’m traveling to a warm destination, I always pack a swimsuit and a beach/pool outfit in my carry-on.

Even if my bag isn’t lost, sometimes you can’t check into your room for a few hours but can still use the pool/beach area while you wait.

Instead of digging through your tightly packed suitcase, you can quickly pull out your swimsuit from your carry-on and get down to the pool faster.

Pack Slippers

Hotel room floors are never as clean as they look, even the nice hotels.

I always pack a pair of thin memory foam slippers to wear in the room.

Especially helpful if the floors are cold or tile (like in Mexico, Caribbean, etc.).

Use the Rubberized Luggage Tags

Don’t use the belt buckle-style luggage tags which fail more often.

I like these rubber luggage tags that are one piece so you don’t have to worry about it breaking, and they come in bright colors for easy spotting.

Use a Quart-sized Ziploc bag for Packing Liquids in Your Carry-on 

Don’t waste money on “TSA approved” liquid bags (they’re often too big).

All you need is the quart-sized Ziploc bags, which also seal water tight. 

Pack Necklaces Inside Metal Straws

They’ll never get tangled.  

Compeed Blister Patches

If you’re prone to blisters, didn’t get the chance to break in a new pair of shoes you’re brining, or you know you’re going to be walking a lot – get Compeed .

These blister patches will save your vacation and you’ll never travel without them again.

Use Lotion Sticks Instead of Liquid Lotions or Creams

This helps reduce your amount of liquids.

I even do this when checking a bag because there’s no risk of it spilling or exploding in your bag.  

If You’re Going on a Long Trip, Get Yourself a Scrubba wash bag  

You put your clothes, soap and water in the bag, and swish it around for a bit.

Then wring out your clothes and hang and dry.

Sinks aren’t always practical for washing clothes or if you’re camping or backpacking, these work great. 

Use Toiletry Skins

For leak-proofing your bottles and containers, just stretch these toiletry skins overtop of the bottle. Works great for shampoo, sunscreen, micellar water, makeup, etc. 

Refill Travel Toiletries Bag Before You Pack it Away

Your bag will be ready to go for your next trip. One less thing to do when you’re stressed about packing!

Read the rest of my packing guides here:

• 13 Things You Should Never Travel Without if You’re Staying in a hotel
• My best travel tips for packing toiletries if you’re flying carry-on only

People always ask how I plan my itineraries – here’s what I do to get started.

Use Tour Company Websites as a Starting Point

To get me started with a rough idea of what I should include in my itinerary, I always start out by browsing websites like Exoticca, Intrepid Travel, Gate 1 Travel, G Adventures, or whatever your preferred tour operator is.

I scan the itineraries for the destination I’ll be traveling to, and this gives me a really quick rundown of the top places to visit and top things to do. As well as what’s realistic for traveling between different areas. 

Read the YouTube video comments

I always watch a few YouTube videos when I’m starting to plan a trip.

But make sure you read the video’s comments – they’re usually full of additional helpful tips from locals or seasoned travelers. 

Join Facebook Groups

You can find a Facebook group for almost every travel destination out there. In the search bar, type in your destination and then filter by ‘Groups.’

These groups are full of people who have taken trips similar to the one you’re planning, and I always find them so helpful.

If you’re traveling to another country, use an e-sim card 

I use Airalo , and all you do is purchase the sim card for what country you’re traveling to and you can purchase as much data as you want.

If you need more while you’re on your trip, you can reload more data with one click. 

Use Viator to Look for & Book Tours

Not only is this the biggest source of finding all available tours in whatever region you’re traveling to, you can use the “book now and pay later” feature.

This really helps with budgeting.

I’ve booked some of my favorite travel experiences through Viator, such as natural hot springs in Mexico and a sunrise horseback ride through the desert.

The majority of tours also offer free cancellation 24 hours before.

Use Airbnb Experiences

Often you’ll find much more local & immersive experiences.

If you’ve traveled to a destination before and are looking for more unique things to do, you’ll find them here. 

One of my favorite Airbnb experiences was sandboarding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico !

Use ChatGPT

You can use ChatGPT to help you build an itinerary for free. Here’s a prompt to get you started: 

• “Create a [duration] day itinerary for my trip to [destination]. My interests include [list of interests], and my budget is [budget]. I will be staying at [type of accommodation] in [preferred neighborhood or area]. Please consider the [season/weather] and any [additional information] that might be relevant to this trip.”

Use Thatch Guides

Thatch is where you can browse unique travel guides and services curated by travel experts around the world.

Many of the guides, maps and itineraries are free, or you can purchase custom itineraries.

Check out my Thatch profile for inspiration! 

Maximize your time as it relates to geography

Group your must-visit stops and restaurants together by geographic area.

By planning ahead and mapping out your route ahead of time, you can fit more in your schedule.

The Thatch map feature is great for this!

Build in Flex Time

There is always something that is going to go wrong when you travel.

Whether its delayed flights, lost luggage, bad weather, someone gets sick, etc., it’s important to be flexible.

Leave some wiggle room each day in your itinerary in case something happens. 

The best way to experience a place is through its food! 

Look up 1-3 local dishes before you go so you feel prepared to order something new & delicious.

Choosing a hotel to book is often the most stressful part of travel planning.

Here’s some advice to help you choose the best place to stay. 

Zoom in on Google Maps

Often you’ll want to stay somewhere that’s close to all the places you’ll be visiting and the attractions you want to hit.

Once I have an area narrowed down, I usually do a quick browse on Booking or Expedia to give me an idea of prices.

Then, I open up Google maps and zoom in on the neighborhood I want to stay in. This way I can see all the reviews to help me narrow things down. 

Price Things Out With Uber

If I won’t be renting a car, I usually open up Uber and plug in a few of the places I’ll be traveling to, which gives me an idea of how much the rides will cost.

This helps me choose whether to spend more money and stay closer to the action, or save a ton by staying somewhere a little further out and taking Ubers. 

Here are my best tips & things to do when you check into your hotel. 

Check Your Hot Water 

I like to make sure I have hot water and that the shower works properly as soon as I get to my room.

This way if I happen to take a late night or early morning shower and something doesn’t work, I’m not going down to the front desk at odd hours (especially if I’m on a schedule).

Luggage Storage

If you have a late flight and need to check out of your hotel by a certain time, hotels will hold your bags for you.

This also works the opposite way – if you arrive early but can’t check in. Saves you from hauling your luggage around all day.

Sink Stopper

Pack a universal sink stopper so you can wash your clothes in the sink or fill it full of ice to keep your drinks cold.

I do this in places like Las Vegas that never have mini-fridges in hotel rooms.

Read more of my essential items to pack for a hotel stay to help me feel comfortable and get a good night’s sleep.

You can save hundreds of dollars on flights just by setting cheap flight alerts with Faredrop .

It sends me notifications when flights drop in price from my home airport so it creates a lot more opportunity for budget travel! 

My favorite part is the flight deals on business class flights, like this recent deal for lie-flat business class fares from Calgary to Hawaii for $618, $1200 lower than the average price of $1900. 

Google Flights

If you have some flexibility with travel dates, the Google Flights ‘Explore’ feature shows you the cheapest airfare around the world.

If you’re eyeing up a destination, you can also set free price alerts to be notified when the price changes.

It’s also a great tool to show you the cheapest dates to travel as well as whether or not prices are currently, high, normal or low based on the flights you’re looking to book. 

Flight Connections

This website shows all non-stop flights from every airport to help you plan a long-haul trip. 

Flight Aware

FlightAware provides accurate, real-time flight tracking information.

It will typically show if your flight is canceled/delayed BEFORE your airline sends you a notification.

You can also track where your plane departs from to anticipate delays ahead of time.

Roame.Travel

Roame simplifies credit card rewards – helps you find the best redemptions for your credit card points and airline miles.

Just input your origin and destination airports and your date of travel, and the search engine will show you how many points it will cost to fly via different loyalty programs.

In the example above, it shows that you can fly first class from Las Vegas to New York City for $5.60 and 41,500 points.

Finding Cheap Business Class Flights Without Credit Card Points

While it’s very possible to fly business class solely on credit card points, not everyone wants to accumulate credit card debt or has the necessary credit score to apply for a premium credit card.

And depending on your home country, you might have limited options.

As a Canadian, I don’t get access to nearly as many travel rewards programs and credit cards as my American friends.

So, I wrote a guide on how to score cheap business class airfares like a pro, without having to churn credit card points by comparing the best flight deal tools, apps, websites and services.

If you’re parking at the airport…

Take a photo of which section you parked your car in to easily remember where your car is after your vacation. After a long flight, you’ll be tired and just want to get home.

Security Screening Tetris Tip #1

Put your possessions through the scanner in the order you need them to come out so they can easily be re-packed.

For example, send your backpack through first, so that as your items come out you can just place them right into your bag. 

Security Screening Tetris Tip #1.5

If you have a laptop or a valuable electronic, place it in the middle or second bin.

For example, I sandwich my valuables in between my personal item (first tray), and my carry-on luggage (third tray).

This keeps your valuable stuff safe from getting mixed up with other items, but it also makes it simpler when you need to pack everything back u

Luggage Cupholders are a lifesaver

If you aren’t an octopus and only have two arms, get yourself one of these luggage cupholders .

You just slip it over the handle of your suitcase and you can travel through the airport with ease when you’ve got a cup of coffee, water bottle, snacks, baby supplies, your phone, and anything else you need quick access to – now you’re hands free and not fumbling around.

Beware of Juice Hacking

DO NOT use one of the USB charging outlets at the airport.

Use a power bank to charge your phone instead.

Hackers are now using the public charging-USB ports at airports to infect your phone with malware and then steal your personal information.

The solution?

Use a power bank instead (handy to have when traveling anyway) or a charging-only data blocker cord .

Foot Hammock 

Nothing worse than a long flight where you can’t elevate your feet.

I always pack my trusty foot hammock which attaches to the seat in front of you for an instant foot rest. 

Just make sure you’re mindful of the person in the seat in front of you and avoid swinging your feet or moving them around too much.

Or Bring a Deflated Beach Ball

It packs flat and once you’re in the air, blow it up and now you have a foot rest.

Choose a larger size and only partially inflate it so that it’s a bit flat for more stability.

OR Use a small, folding step stool

As another way to prop your feet up on long plane rides – it feels like you’re in first class (and no risk of bothering the person in front of you).

Try this stool which folds up flat & is lightweight. Easily fits in your carry-on or backpack. 

For long-haul flights, bring a spare pair of dry socks to wear once you’re settled in on your flight. Makes a world of a difference for feeling fresh. 

Brushing your teeth…

is the quickest way to feel human again after a long flight.

Bring your own tea bags for the plane

Cabin air is dry and dehydrating, so bringing your own herbal tea helps so much.

You can usually get a cup of hot water for free (although I won’t be surprised if and when they start charging for that), but then you can have a nice soothing cup of mint or eucalyptus tea.

Emergency Row Exit Tip #1

Are you someone who likes to board the plane first ?

Purchase an emergency exit row seat – not only do you get more leg room, but guests in these seats get priority boarding so you can be first on the plane.

Emergency Row Exit Tip #2

If you’re on a plane with two rows of exit seats, the first row of emergency exit row seats don’t recline because they could obstruct the row behind them.

So if you plan on reclining your seat a bit, go for the second row.

Middle Seat Hack

Try the middle seat hack. If you’re traveling with a partner, try booking an aisle seat and a window seat.

There’s a big chance no one will book the middle seat and you’ll get the whole row to yourselves. 

Overhead Bin Tip

Put your carry on in the bin or rack across from your seat.

It’s much easier to grab at the end of the trip or to keep an eye on if you are nervous.

Here’s a list of my favorite travel apps that are a complete game changer.

Google Maps Offline

Make sure to download your map area to use offline, then you’ll never need WiFi or cell service to access where you are.

Make sure you’ve saved things like your hotel or Airbnb, restaurants and attractions so you can get directions any time. 

Another great use for Google Maps is when you’re on a bus in a foreign country where you’re not familiar with the language or if it’s loud and you can’t always understand the next stop announcement.

You can use maps to put in your destination and follow the route on your phone, so you know when to get off.

I also follow along when I’m in a taxi , so you can make sure you’re going in the right direction. 

Google Translate

Download the language of the country you’re visiting for offline use on Google translate. Just in case you need it and don’t have a connection.

My favorite features are the conversation mode for real-time interpretation and translating text – just point your camera at a sign or a menu and your translated text is displayed overtop.

An audio tour guide app with perfectly timed stories, tips & directions that matches your location.

A must-have if you’re on a scenic road trip, or traveling through national parks.

Faredrop is one of the best flight deals apps on the market. Get notified when flights drop in price from your home airport. 

Thatch 

Browse unique travel guides, itineraries and maps curated by travel experts around the world. 

TripIt keeps all your reservations and bookings in one spot.

Keep track of your flights, hotels, car rentals, confirmation numbers, and other details – all in one place – so you don’t have to search through multiple emails or apps to find what you need. 

PackPoint you organize what you need to pack in your luggage and suitcase based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip.

Timeshifter

The jet lag app that creates a personalized plan to minimize jet lag using the latest sleep and circadian neuroscience.

These are user generated maps to help  you navigate cities like a local – indicating things you should know about certain neighborhoods.

I find it’s useful when I’m traveling somewhere that I have very little knowledge about, and want to know about safety, where the super touristy spots are, or low key spots where locals hang out.

Even if you don’t plan to use Uber, it will give you an idea about how much a typical fare costs for your route.

For example, when I’m traveling in a country where I feel more comfortable using a taxi, I check a few Uber prices before negotiating with the taxi driver about how much the fare will be.

Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database.

Use it to help determine how much things cost in any city such as housing, restaurants, transportation, etc.

Use Cashback Programs 

Cashback programs work like a digital rebate where once you make a purchase, you get a percentage of your money back.

Popular cashback sites for travel bookings include WayAway, Rakuten and CapitalOne Shopping. 

Read more details about How to Get Cashback on Flights (+ other travel saving tips)

Sign Up for Flight Alerts

Want to find flight deals with minimum effort?. Instead of searching the internet for flight deals, have someone else find deals for you.

One of the most popular flight alert programs is FareDrop , which regularly sends out deals like this one:

• $516 round trip flights from San Francisco to Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Utilize Positioning Flights

A positioning flight is a separate, cheaper flight taken to reach your main destination, typically from a nearby airport.

Taking one of these flights allows you to access more affordable airfares from larger airports (and maybe snag those flight deals on business class fares from FareDrop ). 

Rick Steves’ Books 

Are a wealth of information, especially for European travel.

He’s got tons of advice on saving money when it comes to booking hotels, free self-guided tours & avoiding overpriced tourist traps.

View his travel guide book collection here

Stay in One Place Longer

Traveling in between locations eats up your budget (the more you move the more you spend). 

Often it’s much cheaper to stay in a central point and focus more on day trips. 

Swiss Half Fare Card 

If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, you can use the half fare card for all public transportation (trains, trams, buses, etc.) in Switzerland and can also be used for some attractions.

The card does exactly what the name implies, so if you’re doing a lot of train travel you can save a decent amount of money.

Saving on Car Rentals

If you’re renting a car – check to see if there’s a rental agency that’s a short cab or Uber ride from the airport. These places are usually significantly cheaper and have shorter wait times.

Open a Wise Account

If you haven’t yet, open up a Wise account .

The Wise card is a prepaid debit card attached to your Wise multi-currency account – you can load up multiple currencies and pay local like a local when you’re abroad. 

Save money on international travel by changing your money into a different currency without paying a lot of extra fees and getting better exchange rates.

Learn more about Wise here . 

Embrace Shoulder Season

To save money and travel at an affordable price, find out the off season of your planned destination and travel then. You also get the added bonus of fewer crowds. 

Become a House Sitter

Save money on accommodation by house-sitting and pet-sitting for locals while they’re away on vacation.

Trusted Housesitters is one of the best platforms to start house sitting. 

Stay Somewhere With Kitchen Amenities

Even if you book a hotel room or an Airbnb with a small kitchen that’s a little more expensive, you can save a ton of money by cooking your own meals.

Often when we travel, we make our own breakfast and lunch, and only go out for dinner. 

Go Where the Locals Eat

If you’re visiting a popular tourist city, do a little research beforehand to find out where the locals eat.

These restaurants will be a little outside of the main tourist spots, but 9 times out of 10, the food quality is much better and prices are a lot lower. 

Multi-attraction passes can save you tons

If you know you’re going to be hitting several main tourist attractions in the city you’re visiting, it can be worthwhile to purchase discounted access passes to multiple attractions.

GoCity is one of the best and is currently available in over 30 cities around the world. You often save up to 50% vs buying individual attraction tickets.

Do you get anxious or a little nervous leaving for a trip? Here are a few tips that help me feel better about being away from home: 

Get a Wyze Camera

Get an inexpensive camera that you can install either inside or on the exterior of your home.

You can check up on your place from wherever you are in the world for peace of mind. 

Do a weird dance…

when you lock the door so you’ll never forget that you locked it!

For real, do a shake, throw your hands up, whatever you have to do.

(works for other things too, like turning off the stove, etc.)

Confirm With Your Hotel

Email the hotel in advance of travel just indicating you’re double-checking your reservations.

If there are any issues when you arrive, you now have someone you’ve corresponded with at the hotel.

Once you’ve arrived at your destination and you’re officially starting your trip, here are my top pieces of advice to help you enjoy and navigate things smoothly. 

Foreign Currency 

The best way to get foreign currency (cash) is by withdrawing from an ATM on arrival (just avoid the ones at the airport). There will still be a fee, but it’s usually much better than the banks back home or currency exchange offices.

You can also use your Wise debit card for this, or if you’re from the United States, you can sign up for a Charles Schwab account, which gives you a rebate on foreign ATM fees at the end of each month.

Walking Tours & Food Walking Tours are Your Friend

As one of my favorite travel tips, I always recommend joining a free walking tour or food walking tour. 

Make sure to do it early on in your trip.

These are the best ways to get acquainted with the city.

Having a local guide take you to some local food joints is a great way to not only become familiar with the local cuisine, but can help you step out of your comfort zone.

Food vs. Views

When choosing a restaurant, remember that if the view is great, the food doesn’t have to be. 

Finding a Bathroom

If you need a bathroom, find a hotel, and walk in confidently like you’re a guest.

Bathrooms are usually located on the main floor somewhere near the elevators, at the beginning of a hallway or beside meeting rooms. 

Early Arrivals

If you have an early flight where you’re arriving in a city in the morning, take one of the hop on hop off city tours.

They start early and are a great way to spend a couple hours getting a lay of the land and familiar with the main parts of the city. 

Always try the local food! 

It’s often the best and the cheapest. Not sure where to go?

Look for places that have lineups – that also means food will be fresh.

Take Photos of Landmarks

When traveling in unfamiliar places or a busy city that you’ve never been to, use your phone to take pictures of landmarks that stand out.

That way if you want to get back to a certain place you have a picture on your phone to match with your map pin.

This is helpful when you’re getting an Uber or a taxi to drop you off in a certain pickup area – or if you parked your car somewhere.

Works great if you’re traveling around a downtown area and you want to meet back at a certain spot.

Ask for a Sunroof

If you’re renting a car and taking a scenic road trip, try to get a car with a sunroof – you’ll be able to see so much more of the scenery. 

Learn Basic Phrases in the Local Language

Before your trip, try to learn a few key words and phrases in the local language and practice them at home.

Look up basic greetings, please and thank you, and how to ask where the bathroom is located. 

Learn the local tipping customs to show appreciation without inadvertently causing offense.

More Helpful Travel Tips:

My biggest list of Mexico travel tips (that saved me so many times)

How to book a perfect Airbnb/vacation rental every time

How to plan a trip from start to finish (the easy & organized method)

How to Find Cheap Business Class Flights Without Credit Card Points

41 Best Travel Apps In 2024 You Need To Download Today

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Tips

Updated On: January 5, 2024

Dave and I have always believed that the best adventures are those unplanned. Spontaneous trips, unexpected layovers, and impromptu road trips have shaped our love for travel. Yet, these exciting journeys would not have been possible without the aid of technology. That’s right, from hailing a ride in a new city to finding a place to crash for the night, there’s an app for almost everything. Let’s dive into some of our favorite travel apps, carefully divided into various categories, to enhance your travel experience.

Table of Contents

The Best Travel Apps

It is hard to believe that we have used all of these at one time or another in our travels around the world. Some of them are free travel apps and others require a subscription or you have to pay for. Regardless, each travel app listed here has either helped us save money, get cheap flights, helped with travel planning, or just made our life easier on the road. Most of these apps are available for both Android users and Apple users.

Best Apps for Transportation

1. Google Maps – Your Personalized Navigator

Remember when we got lost on the way to that hidden beach in Bali? Google Maps came to our rescue! Offering precise directions for driving, walking, cycling, or public transport, Google Maps is more than just a mapping service; it’s like having a local guide in your pocket. With real-time traffic updates, it even rerouted us around a massive traffic jam in London. It is easy to see why this is one of the best free travel apps around.

The feature that allows users to download offline maps was a lifesaver during our hike in a remote part of New Zealand. And let’s not forget the restaurant recommendations, opening hours, and reviews from other travelers that enrich our city exploration. Google Maps doesn’t just show you the way; it makes the journey an experience. Get Google Maps

2. Uber – Your Ride, Anytime, Anywhere

How many times have you been waiting for an overpriced taxi? We have had this happen countless times so always make sure to have the Uber App loaded on our phones. It is especially handy in big cities and can often be cheaper than taxis in certain countries. Our first time in NYC we were out late on a cold winter night and Taxi cabs were nowhere in sight. Thankfully, the Uber app was our savior. With just a few taps, we found ourselves a warm car and a friendly driver.

Uber provides ride-sharing services in cities across the globe. Whether you need a quick ride to the airport or a luxurious car for a special night out, Uber has options for every budget. Don’t let language barriers or unfamiliar streets deter you; let Uber take the wheel! Google Play / App Store

3. Citymapper – Navigate Like a Local

If you have ever been to London you know that navigating the London Underground can be a challenge at the best of times. (At least it was for us). That is one of the reasons we use Citymapper. With real-time updates, the best routes, and even alerts for when to get off the bus, this app turned us into savvy local commuters.

Citymapper is the go-to app for public transportation in major cities. From trains and buses to ferries and trams, Citymapper has it all covered. Save time, money, and sanity by letting Citymapper guide you through the twists and turns of urban travel. Get the Free Version of Citymapper on the Google Play / App Store

4. Lyft – A Friendly Alternative to Ridesharing

You can’t mention Uber without mentioning Lyft. Both basically provide the same service but we recommend having both loaded on your phone so you can compare fares. We were often able to find cheaper fares depending on what app we were using.

Also, when you are traveling to many different countries you soon find out that sometimes Lyft operates in countries that Uber does not and vice versa. Lyft operates in hundreds of cities in the U.S. and Canada. With various ride options and a commitment to the community, Lyft makes getting around town easy and enjoyable. Get Lyft on Google Play / App Store

5. Moovit – Public Transit Unleashed

In bustling São Paulo, Moovit was our guide to efficient public transportation. Providing real-time transit data for buses, trains, and subways, it tells you exactly when the next one is coming. It also offers service alerts, so you know if there are any delays or interruptions. Moovit demystifies public transport, making it accessible to both locals and tourists alike. Get Moovit on Google Play / App Store

Best Travel Apps for Booking Accommodation

6. VRBO – Feel at Home, Anywhere

Who could forget our cozy cabin in the Swiss Alps or that trendy loft in downtown Tokyo? VRBO made those experiences possible. It’s not just about finding a place to sleep; it’s about finding a place that feels like home.

VRBO offers unique accommodations hosted by locals. From apartments and houses to treehouses and igloos, you can find the perfect spot to match your travel vibe. Connect with hosts, explore neighborhoods, and enjoy the comfort of home while exploring the world. It is a great alternative to a generic hotel room Get VRBO

7. TripAdvisor – The Wise Traveler’s Handbook

Oh, the countless times TripAdvisor has been our compass in the chaotic world of hotels, vacation rentals, and even restaurants! We’ll never forget that charming B&B we found in Tuscany or the perfect beachside resort in Belize, all thanks to the extensive user reviews and ratings on TripAdvisor. Its intuitive filters let us tailor our searches to fit our budget, preferences, and even specific needs like pet-friendly accommodations or family suites.

But it’s more than just a booking app; it’s a community of fellow travelers. We’ve laughed and learned from reviews, discovered hidden gems, and even made some travel buddies along the way! The “Things to Do” section led us to that unforgettable cooking class in Paris, too. TripAdvisor is like having a seasoned travel buddy who knows all the insider secrets, making every trip not just a journey but a rich experience. Get TripAdvisor

8. Hotel Tonight – Last-Minute Lifesaver

Dave and I are notorious for not planning well. We often wing it, especially on a road trip. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gotten to our destination without having a place to stay. That is why the Hotel Tonight app has come in handy on more than one occasion.

For last-minute hotel stays, Hotel Tonight finds empty hotel rooms and offers discounts to travelers needing to book right now. Hotels would rather sell a night at a discounted rate than leave a room empty. So if you’re flexible and willing to take a chance (or are completely disorganized like us), Hotel Tonight is a great choice! Get Hotel Tonight on Google Play / App Store

9. Booking.com – Options Galore for Every Traveler

When we wanted to explore a range of options from hostels to luxury resorts, Booking.com was our go-to platform. Its vast selection and user reviews helped us find the perfect beach bungalow in Thailand.

Booking.com offers accommodations of all types around the world. Filter by price, amenities, or guest rating, and find the place that feels just right for your next adventure. Get Booking.com

10. Couchsurfing – Connect with Locals and Culture

Couchsurfing gave us unforgettable experiences and lifelong friendships. During our time in India, we stayed with locals who showed us the hidden gems of their city. The app connects travelers with local hosts willing to share their homes for free. It’s not just about a place to stay; it’s about cultural exchange and community. Get Couchsurfing

11. Hopper – Book Hotels with Confidence

Our spontaneous beach getaway to the Cayman Islands was made flawless with Hopper. It predicts future hotel and flight prices with 95% accuracy up to a year in advance. When we saw the beachfront villa we desired a drop in price, Hopper alerted us, and we snagged the deal! For savings and smart bookings, Hopper is the way to go. Get Hopper on Google Play / App Store

Best Travel Apps For Flights

12. Google Flights – The Savvy Traveler’s Flight Finder

Our last-minute trip to Rome? That affordable flight we found was all thanks to Google Flights. Scouring the web for the best airfares across airlines, it presented us with options we never would have found otherwise. What we adore is the “Explore” feature, where you can search for flights to any destination based on your interests, like beaches, adventure, or culture. Plus, Google Flights’ price prediction tool warned us when fares were about to rise, allowing us to book just in time for a steal! We even got suggestions for alternative airports and travel dates to save more. Google Flights is more than a flight search engine; it’s a strategic travel planner that makes flying as exciting as the destination itself. Get Google Flights

13. Skyscanner – Flights, Hotels, and Car Rentals in One Place

From planning a last-minute blogging trip to New York to a leisurely holiday in Greece, Skyscanner has been our go-to app for all travel arrangements. It searches millions of flights, hotels, and car rentals to find the best deals. Its “Everywhere” feature even suggests destinations based on your budget. Skyscanner turns wanderlust into reality. Get Skyscanner

14. Kayak – The All-In-One Travel Companion

Our spontaneous getaway to Greece wouldn’t have been possible without Kayak. This all-in-one travel platform scours hundreds of travel sites, offering the best flight options tailored to our needs. Whether booking a week in advance or searching for last-minute deals, Kayak never fails to surprise us with great bargains.

The “Explore” feature became our inspiration, displaying affordable trips from our home airport to worldwide destinations. We also love how Kayak provides a fare prediction, guiding us on the best times to purchase tickets. Don’t forget its handy alerts, which notify us of price drops for chosen routes. For flight bookings made as thrilling as the travels themselves, Kayak is our reliable co-pilot. Get Kayak

15. Skiplagged – Uncover Hidden Flight Deals

During our adventurous globetrotting, Skiplagged has been our secret weapon for finding the best-hidden deals. By utilizing loopholes in airline pricing, it exposes “hidden-city” ticketing opportunities that regular search engines miss. This means flying cheaper by booking a flight with a layover as the final destination. It’s not just about the flights; it also offers great hotel deals. For those seeking adventure and unbelievable bargains, Skiplagged is a thrilling treasure hunt. Get Skiplagged

Best Apps for Booking Tours

16. Viator – Your Gateway to Adventures

Standing in line for hours to get tickets for the Colosseum? Not us! Viator took care of that and even threw in a guided tour with an actual historian. It turned a simple visit into an unforgettable experience.

Viator is a marketplace for tour operators, offering access to thousands of sightseeing tours, attractions, and experiences around the world. From skip-the-line tickets to private excursions, Viator connects you with the adventures that make travel truly extraordinary. Get Viator here

17. Klook – Explore Like Never Before

We were clueless about what to do in Hong Kong, but Klook turned our trip into a gastronomic and cultural feast. From dim sum making classes to nighttime harbor cruises, Klook offers activities that go beyond the typical tourist path.

Klook makes discovering activities and experiences in your travel destination easy and fun. Browse handpicked experiences, enjoy exclusive deals, and book with confidence. Turn your trip into an adventure with Klook! Get Klook here .

18. GetYourGuide – Customized Tours at Your Fingertips

We wanted to explore Rome at night, and GetYourGuide made it happen with a Vespa tour! Personalized experiences and excellent customer service set this app apart.

GetYourGuide helps you find and book tours, attractions, and activities. Create your perfect travel experience with exclusive offers and local insights. Get GetYourGuide

30. Airbnb Experiences – More Than Just Accommodations

Airbnb isn’t just for finding a place to stay. We discovered that Airbnb Experiences offers unique activities hosted by locals. In Tokyo, we joined a traditional tea ceremony led by a master. From art classes to food tours, Airbnb Experiences adds a personal touch to any trip, connecting you with the local culture and community. Get Airbnb Experiences

Travel Apps for Staying Connected

19. WhatsApp – Stay in Touch Without a Hitch

When we backpacked through South East Asia, Dave’s mom needed her daily updates. WhatsApp made international texting and calling a breeze. It’s our go-to for staying connected with friends and family, no matter where our travels take us.

WhatsApp is a free messaging app that works over your phone’s internet connection. You can call, text, and send pictures and videos without worrying about international charges. Group chats are perfect for sharing your journey with everyone back home. Get WhatsApp here.

20. Skyroam – Internet Everywhere You Roam

Skyroam is like magic. Seriously, how else would we have had internet while camping in the Australian Outback? It’s a portable Wi-Fi hotspot that lets you connect multiple devices in over 130 countries.

Whether you need to work on the go or just want to share your travel experiences in real time, Skyroam ensures that you’re never without a reliable internet connection. Pay for what you use, and stay connected everywhere. Get Skyroam

21. Google Fi – Flexible Mobile Service for Travelers

In Japan, our usual mobile plans were too costly. Google Fi offered a flexible solution with smooth service even in remote areas.

Google Fi adapts to your needs, providing data and calling in over 200 countries without the need for special plans or SIM cards. Stay connected without the usual travel hassles. Get Google Fi

22. Skype – Bridging Miles with Video Calls

Our business doesn’t stop when we travel, and Skype has been vital for our remote work. Offering video conferencing, screen sharing, and real-time translation, it has helped us conduct business seamlessly across continents. For professional or personal connections, Skype is a global communication powerhouse. Get Skype here.

Never again have we fretted about roaming charges or buying local SIM cards, thanks to Airalo E-Sims. With a wide selection of plans, it let us use our phones just like we do at home. Staying connected abroad has never been easier or more affordable. Get Airalo

Language and Language Translation Apps

24. Duolingo – Your Friendly Language Guide

Hablas Español? We didn’t, but Duolingo helped us with the basics before our trip to Spain. From ordering tapas to asking directions, Duolingo made communicating fun and accessible.

Duolingo offers bite-sized language lessons that feel more like games. Choose from dozens of languages, set your pace, and watch your fluency grow. It’s a delightful way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Get Duolingo here.

25. Rosetta Stone – Dive Deeper into Language

For those wanting to delve into the language’s heart and soul, Rosetta Stone is our recommendation. Dave’s Italian improved dramatically, turning our trip to Florence into a linguistic adventure.

Rosetta Stone focuses on immersive learning, helping you think and speak in a new language. Detailed lessons, interactive exercises, and real-life scenarios make it a comprehensive language-learning tool. Get Rosetta Stone here.

26. Babbel – Conversational Skills in Real-Life Situations

Want to chat like a local? Babbel’s real-life scenarios helped us break the ice with locals in Germany. Practical and engaging, it’s a winner.

Babbel focuses on helping you have real conversations in a new language. Lessons are tailored to everyday situations, making them practical for travelers. Get Babbel here.

27. Google Translate App – Our Multilingual Travel Companion

Let’s take a moment to relive our unforgettable journey to Japan. Without speaking a word of Japanese, how did we manage to navigate the bustling streets of Tokyo, order delectable sushi, and make friends with locals? Our secret weapon was Google Translate! This extraordinary app is like having a personal interpreter right in our pocket. From typing in phrases to translating handwritten kanji characters or even snapping a photo of a menu, Google Translate unlocked doors we never knew existed.

And remember the time we chatted with a delightful elderly couple in Kyoto? We spoke in English; they replied in Japanese, and Google Translate bridged the gap, creating a connection beyond words. With support for over 100 languages, it’s not just an app; it’s a passport to understanding and being understood, no matter where our adventures take us. From “hello” to “thank you,” Google Translate makes the world feel a little bit smaller, and our travels a whole lot richer. Get Google Translate

Travel Apps for Camping and Glamping

28. Hipcamp – Discover Hidden Camping Gems

Remember our night under the stars in California? Hipcamp made it happen. This app unlocks access to unique camping experiences on farms, vineyards, public parks, and more.

Hipcamp is like Airbnb but for camping. Browse thousands of locations, check availability, and book your next outdoor adventure. Whether you’re a traditional camper or prefer a little glam in your camping, Hipcamp has something for you. Get Hipcamp on Google Play / App Store

29. AllTrails – Find Your Perfect Hike

Our hike in the Rockies was unforgettable, thanks to AllTrails. From easy strolls to challenging mountain treks, AllTrails lets you explore the great outdoors with confidence.

AllTrails offers detailed trail maps, reviews, and user-submitted photos. Filter by difficulty, distance, or rating, and find the perfect trail for your next hike, bike ride, or run. Get AllTrails

30. Gaia GPS – The Ultimate Navigation for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Lost in the woods? Not us, thanks to Gaia GPS. From off-grid trails to topographical maps, this app is an outdoor lover’s dream. Gaia GPS provides detailed maps and navigation tools for hikers, bikers, and campers. Customize your maps and routes to explore the wilderness safely. Get Gaia GPS

31. The Dyrt – Camp with Confidence

On our quest for the best beach camping in California, The Dyrt became our trusted guide. With user-generated reviews, photos, and details of over 42,000 campgrounds, it gives you the lowdown on every site. Its community-driven content ensures that you always find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Get The Dyrt here.

32. Glamping Hub – Luxury in the Wilderness

For our anniversary, we wanted something special. Glamping Hub connected us to a luxurious camping tent in California. Offering unique accommodations like yurts, treehouses, and airstreams, it’s the place to find a unique outdoor stay with all the comforts of home. If you seek nature with a touch of luxury, Glamping Hub is your ticket. Get Glamping Hub

Best Apps for Travel Itinerary Management

33. TripIt – Your Personal Travel Assistant

Do you remember our chaotic escapade in Greece, where we almost missed the flight? TripIt was our lifesaver then. It consolidates all your travel details into one place, regardless of where you booked them. Flight details, hotel bookings, car rentals – it keeps everything neatly organized in one itinerary.

Real-time alerts about gate changes, delays, and cancellations keep you a step ahead. Plus, it’s not just for flights; TripIt can store plans for concerts, restaurants, and more. Never scramble through emails again; TripIt keeps your travel stress-free. Get TripIt

34. PackPoint – Never Forget Your Toothbrush Again

From the beaches of Bali to the icy landscapes of Greenland, PackPoint ensures you pack right every time. It creates a customized packing list based on weather, activities, and trip length, even reminding me to pack thermals for that Arctic winter escapade. No more forgotten essentials or overpacking, PackPoint is like having a personal packing assistant who knows exactly what you’ll need. Travel light and smart with PackPoint. Get PackPoint

35. TripCase – Keep All Travel Details Organized

TripCase helped us organize a complicated multi-country journey in Asia with ease. By simply forwarding confirmation emails, it creates a detailed itinerary with all bookings and reservations. With real-time alerts, document storage, and collaboration features, it keeps all travel information in one place. Stress-free travel is just an app away from TripCase. Get TripCase here

36. Pocket Earth – Offline Maps and Travel Guides

When we ventured off the beaten path in Kyrgyzstan, Pocket Earth was our guiding star. It provides offline maps, travel guides, and itinerary planning without needing internet access. Whether hiking in remote areas or exploring a city without Wi-Fi, Pocket Earth ensures you never lose your way. Get Pocket Earth here.

Best Travel Apps for Finding Food

37. Yelp – Find the Best Local Bites

From the finest sushi in Tokyo to Michelin-star restaurants in Spain, Yelp has led us to gastronomic heaven. With millions of reviews, ratings, and pictures from locals and travelers, Yelp provides insight into the best eateries around you. You can even make reservations and order takeout. Whether you want to dine like a local or indulge in gourmet delights, Yelp is your food guide to the world. Get Yelp

38. HappyCow – Veggie Love Worldwide

If you are a vegetarian, dining abroad could be tricky, but not with HappyCow. From vegan eateries in Prague to vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Buenos Aires, HappyCow is the ultimate directory. Browse user-submitted reviews, and photos, and save favorites. Filter by dietary preferences and find eateries that cater to your culinary choices. Don’t just eat; savor the flavors of the world, cruelty-free, with HappyCow. Get HappyCow .

39. OpenTable – Dining Reservations Made Easy

That popular Parisian bistro on a Saturday night? No problem with OpenTable. Browse menus, read reviews, and book tables at thousands of restaurants worldwide. Whether planning a romantic dinner in Rome or a family brunch in New York, OpenTable ensures you have the perfect spot. Customize your dining experience with preferences for table size, location, and time, all at the touch of a button. Dine in style, every time, with OpenTable. Get OpenTable

40. Vegan Maps – Plant-Based Eating Made Easy

A plant-based diet is no longer a hurdle on our travels, thanks to Vegan Maps. It lists vegan and vegetarian restaurants, cafes, and stores worldwide. User reviews and ratings guide you to the best options. In places where veganism was uncommon, Vegan Maps became our culinary compass. Get Vegan Maps .

41. Eater – For the Food-Obsessed Traveler

When we wanted to dive into Tokyo’s food scene, Eater was our gourmet guide. Providing city-specific food news, dining guides, and reviews, it helps you find the best restaurants, bars, and cafes wherever you are. If food is an essential part of your travels, Eater keeps you in the know. Get Eater here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What app do I need to travel?

Apps like TripIt for itinerary management, Airbnb for accommodations, and Google Maps for navigation are essential for smooth traveling.

Which is the most downlo a ded travel app?

As of this writing, apps like Airbnb, Uber, and TripAdvisor are among the most downloaded travel apps.

What app can I use to book a flight and hotel together?

Platforms like Expedia and Kayak allow you to book flights and hotels together, often providing discounts for bundled bookings.

Is there an app to store travel documents?

Apps like TripIt and Google Drive can store and organize your travel documents, ensuring that you have all the necessary information handy.

Traveling can be as unpredictable as it is exciting. Whether you’re like Dave and me, always on a whimsical adventure, or meticulously planning every step, these travel apps will be your virtual companions. From finding the best local food to ensuring you pack your toothbrush, technology has indeed revolutionized the way we travel.

Embarking on your next adventure? Make sure these apps are your travel buddies, and let the world be your playground!

Discover More Travel Planning Resources

• Best Travel Tips
• The Ultimate Pre-Travel Checklist
• What to Pack for a First Aid Travel Kit
• The Best Travel Gear – Unique Ideas for Smart Packing
• Essential Tips for Essential Travel
• The Best Anti Theft Travel Bags and Accessories
• The Ultimate Travel Packing List (By Professional Travellers)

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Safety Wing - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

You May Also Like

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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12 thoughts on “41 Best Travel Apps In 2024 You Need To Download Today”

Thank you for this fantastic article!

loved your recos on Skiplagged and vegan maps! had no idea these exist. i also came across atm fee saver – this one showed me list of atms with no fees in 4 countries i was travelling in. was suuper happy saving up!! could be on your list also!

Fantastic post! Thanks for sharing.

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

I love travel maybe i’ll visit one of these soon. thanks for sharing.

I really like your blog. I haven’t heard most of these apps before, which can help me to plan my trip. I will check them out. Thank you for sharing.

I love traveling and some of these apps are really helpful. Thanks a lot for sharing this. I might try some of them too.

This is a great list of travel apps and I use most of them especially Hopper, Kayak and XE. For hotels I usually go to Booking’s app but it depends as for Asia Agoda has the best prices. I didn’t know about KnowRoaming and I will definitely give it a try. Thanks

I’d like to share a short story with you and your readers. In January I got engaged in Thailand and my fiance had a visa to come visit me in Spain this spring. Shortly after the Covid virus appeared and basically destroyed our travel plans. Despite the fact I was checking the entry restrictions to Spain twice daily, my fiance’s visa expired yesterday, June 1. Life happens and we will get another visa. But I came up with an idea for an app which allows users to check the current entry restrictions for any country. It is called Open Borders and is very simple but I hope travelers appreciate it. Feel free to check it out on Google’s play store.

its really helpful information for travel blogger. thanks.

These are some incredible recommendations! I’ve used a lot of the “pre-trip” apps, for example, SkyScanner and the like, but not so much of the “while traveling” ones, aside from Uber or Lyft. I’ll be sure to download some of these and try them out on my next adventure. I’m particularly interested in CityMapper because I prefer to take public transportation when I’m in a new city.

ExpressVPN worked great when I was in China. Highly recommended.

I too have been an enthusiastic reviewer and user of TripAdvisor – until recently. One of the best aspects of how TripAdvisor USED to work is your own reviews were categorized by location. So if I wanted to be reminded what that restaurant we loved in Dusseldorf was called it was easy to look it up. About a year ago that system was dropped so now all my 700+ reviews are just listed in reverse chronological order and anything over 5 years old has been dumped – not that anyone has the time to scroll back through hundreds of screens to get back that far. This change is a real disincentive to writing any more reviews. I haven’t contributed in a while as a result. I’ve communicated my disappointment to TripAdvisor twice so far – with no result. If they fixed this I’d be back contributing in a heartbeat.

Flights and Airport Lounge Apps

Finding the best deals on flights is a breeze with these airfare apps. Google Flights allows you to easily track prices, pick flexible travel dates within a large date range, and filter for direct routes, layovers, flight times and more. The user-friendly interface makes creating complex multi-city trips simple.

Hopper makes smart predictions on whether flight prices will rise or fall and sends push notifications alerting you when to book at the best price.

Kayak is perfect for initially exploring destination options and hotel packages. Filter by price, airline, number of stops and preferred airports to find the right flights for you.

HelloLounge provides airport lounge access at 1500+ lounges worldwide. With an annual membership as low as $29, HelloLounge allows members to purchase an airport lounge access pass for themselves and up to 4 travel companions on demand. The lounge vouchers are sent by email upon purchase and are valid for a single use within 3 months.

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The 30 Best Travel Apps to Plan, Book and Navigate Your Next Trip in 2023

As the Apple adage goes, “there’s an app for that” — and traveling is no exception. Most of us use travel apps, like Uber , Google Maps , or Airbnb, to navigate, reserve and get around. We have used vacation apps for so long now that many travelers are entirely loyal to one trip app or another for particular travel needs. However, it’s a new year, and technology keeps improving.

It could be time to replace some of the dated travel apps on your phone or add a few new ones to improve how you plan, book, and navigate your time off this year. Whether you are an Android or Apple traveler; looking for planning, booking, or navigating apps, our list of the best travel apps of 2023 will have something new for you!

Here is everything you will find out about on this page:

Best Apps for Planning a Trip

Best apps for planning road trips, best apps for travel packing lists, best apps for tracking and booking cheap flights, best apps for hotels and apps like airbnb, best apps for planning rv and camping trips, best apps for rideshare and taxis, best apps for dog walking and sitters, best apps for gps and traffic, best apps for hiking and backpacking.

• Infographic: The 30 Best Travel Apps of 2023

( Back to Top )

Wanderlog - Travel Planner

The Wanderlog trip planner app lets you create, edit, re-sort, and expand trip itineraries in seconds. Plan entire vacations out point by point, including lodging, site-seeing, rest-stops, and every other detail using real-time Google Maps information automatically loaded into your schedule. With the tap of a button, you can get instant driving directions between your destinations, and Wanderlog will calculate the travel time between each location and the total time for each day in your schedule. 

Available on iOS and Android

TripIt: Travel Planner

When you start making travel plans, your inbox fills with confirmation emails, itineraries, and reservation receipts. It’s easy to lose track of all this information. That is where the TripIt trip planning app comes in handy! Simply forward your confirmation emails to [email protected] , and the app will curate a full itinerary for your trip. Upload additional information for each point on your schedule, such as documents and files, and then you will be one savvy, organized traveler! 

Lambus | Travel Planner

Lambus is one of the best travel-planning apps for expense tracking, especially when splitting the cost of a vacation; it helps track who paid for this meal or that parking meter. Like the other two best apps for travel planning, Wanderlog and TripIt, Lambus lets you create itineraries with all your planned stops and points of interest. Store confirmation documents and bookings, or even book transportation directly through the app!

Roadtrippers - Trip Planner

Are you planning a long multi-day cross-country road trip with numerous stops using Google Maps? Take a look at Roadtrippers . This road trip planner is a workhorse app that lets you create route itineraries with all your visits before your trip, then uses turn-by-turn navigation to execute your plan. The app will suggest the best places along your route to add and additionally calculate estimated fuel costs for your entire trip.

GasBuddy: Find & Pay for Gas

An excellent road trip planner app to consider is GasBuddy . The program’s primary function is to help you locate the cheapest gas near you and display this information on a detailed map or list of all nearby gas stations with updated prices. GasBuddy also shows you the spread between the lowest and highest gas prices in your area to further help you determine if heading to a particular gas station is worth the extra time.

iExit Interstate Exit Guide

Ever wish interstate exit service signs for food, lodging, and gas were more detailed or told you what was beyond the next exit? That’s what the iExit Interstate app will do. Using real-time location information, it shows what businesses are at the next 100 off-ramps ahead of you. iExit is the perfect app for planning a road trip if you prefer to plan stops in real-time instead of mapping your entire vacation itinerary out ahead of time.

PackPoint - Travel Packing List

We all experience feeling or realizing that we forgot to pack something. PackPoint can help ease that stress by creating a customized travel packing list for each trip based on your destination, duration, gender, travel purpose, activities, and weather forecast. The app generates a packing checklist for each vacation with quantities to pack. You can add and remove items, edit quantities then save your list to put those packing woes behind you! 

PackTeo - Travel Packing List

PackTeo is an excellent alternative to PackPoint that also lets you create travel packing checklists for every type of travel possible with every possible situation. The app generates lists based on various considerations, including your transportation and lodging choices, like flying or camping, and activities you might engage in, like sailing or partying. With the PackTeo app, every packing list is customizable for your vacation, and there is even a to-do list section to keep your packing and readying all in one travel list.

Available on Android

Packing Pro

Are you creating multiple packing lists that are somewhat identical yet require you to wrack your brain from A-Z for everything you need every time you plan a trip? If only there were an app that let you create a master catalog of all the items you ever bring on trips to pull from when creating each vacation packing list. Oh wait, there is — Packing Pro for iOS does just that, plus everything else you could want from a packing list app!

Available on iOS

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker

There’s a reason Flightradar24 is the best flight tracker app on the market today. The flight app is jam-packed with features that make it perfect for anyone from the casual user to the wanna-be flight traffic controller. Search for individual flights to track flight status, delays, ETAs, and weather conditions. Get real-time airport conditions, such as the current average flight delay. In addition to the plethora of valuable features, Flightradar24 gives you fun stuff like a Cockpit View and a real-time world map of flights worldwide!

Hopper: Flights, Hotels & Cars

Hopper is currently one of the all-around best travel app companions in the store today. The app helps find the best deals on flights, hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars. Focusing specifically on its utility as a cheap flight app, Hopper is a scout that uses its amazingly accurate price predictions to notify you of the best time to book a flight directly through the app. Additionally, the flight app’s deal calendar helps you find the best travel dates for your vacation if you know where you want to go but are flexible about when.

Skyscanner – Travel Deals

Long before Hopper, there was Skyscanner , and it’s still one of the best flight apps available today. While you can’t book flights directly with Skyscanner, the company has a long proven track record for predicting the cheapest flight dates and will notify you of tracked flight price changes. Skyscanner excels at open-ended searches, helping you find unique deals worldwide when you have no predetermined destination.

Booking.com: Hotels & Travel

Booking.com is one of the best hotel apps to download, no matter what kind of traveler you are. The primary reason Booking.com is valuable is the sheer volume of hotel listings available to book through the app. With a claimed “27 million hotels, vacation rentals, homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay,” the hotel app will eliminate the need to bounce between various booking services when comparing prices.

HomeExchange - House Swapping

HomeExchange is a vacation rental app like Airbnb that is more of a barter system. As the name suggests, the app lets you swap homes with another member. HomeExchange facilitates transactions with “Guest Points,” which are earned through hosting and spent by staying at another house. Your home is assigned a guest point value per night. The app is versatile in that you can either reciprocally exchange homes with another member on the same dates or at different times. You can also use guest points to book a stay without mutual exchange.

Hostelworld: Hostel Travel App

If the social aspect of Airbnb appeals to you, but if you are looking for a cheaper deal, you should check out Hostelworld . Part booking app, part social media, the Hostelworld travel app lets you browse over 16,000 hostels around the globe and see who is staying at each location before you book. Hostelworld users create profiles in the app; you can check these out to get a sense of your future travel friends and even chat with fellow hostelites before booking. The app is a great way to expand your travel network!

Outdoorsy - Rent an RV

Owning an RV can be liberating, but the cost-prohibitive ownership — not so much. Enter Outdoorsy — one of the best apps for RV travel. Outdoorsy makes RVing more accessible and is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to try RV camping without committing to a large rig parked outside your house 90% of the year. The app is like Airbnb for RVs; browse listings by location, travel dates, and vehicle types, then book instantly to reserve anything from a customized camper van to a luxury Class A drivable.

The Dyrt: Tent & RV Camping

Finding the perfect campsite online can be a painstaking process with information scattered across private camping and State park websites or Google Maps. The Dyrt simplifies this process, aggregating all the camping information on the web to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your campsite booking needs. The Dyrt is a community-led organization that crowdsources all the best campsites in the U.S. and presents that information in a highly user-friendly and easy-to-navigate format, making it one of the best camping apps and RV trip planners available today!

Recreation.gov

Not to be outdone, the federal park and land management organizations that comprise recreation.gov have contracted the creation of a free camping app that aggregates thousands of campsites across the U.S. for you to discover and reserve in the app! The app’s real-time availability feature lets you book campsites on the go, and the QR feature enables you to pay for a site you discovered on your own by scanning a code where available.

Uber - Request a Ride

Based on sheer availability, Uber is one of the best rideshare apps today. It is well-established in most U.S. cities and is one of the oldest car-sharing apps. Alternatively, Lyft is another excellent app like Uber; we recommend using both and seeing which works best for you. The two apps are very similar at this stage in the rideshare game! But if you are traveling internationally, Uber is your best bet; no other ride app comes close to its global coverage.

Curb - Request & Pay for Taxis

The Curb app is one of the best apps for taxi rides. Its interface is similar to Uber but connects you with taxi services in 65 major U.S. cities. Prices are more transparent; with the cab meter out of play, you will see your trip’s cost up front in the app. In certain cities, the app lets you pay for your fare through Curb, just like Uber, removing the need to pay with cash or a credit card.

Via - Smarter Mobility

Although lesser known nor as widely available than Uber and Lyft, Via offers cheaper and more environmentally friendly rideshares in large cities. The app combines private cars and public transit by matching you with a nearby driver who likely already has passengers. You will share your ride to your destination with drop-offs and pick-ups like public transportation. Expect some walking to or from your pickup and dropoff location. With just a few extra steps and a little sharing, Via can cost no more than your standard public transportation options. 

Rover—Dog Sitters & Walkers

Rover is the Uber of dog walking apps in that it connects pet owners with nearby trusted dog sitters and walkers. All 200,000 registered sitters and walkers on the app are background checked by Rover and backed by 24/7 support providing you with peace of mind. Rover can connect you with various pet services, from overnight boarding at your sitter’s home to house-sitting your pet and home to simple walking or just a drop-in visit!

Wag! - Dog Walkers & Sitters

Newer but already a fierce competitor to Rover, Wag! is one of the best apps for arranging dog sitters and walkers. It’s ideal for scheduling last-minute appointments using the on-demand feature. Each dog walker and pet sitter on the app goes through background checks, and you can monitor every walk your pet takes with real-time GPS tracking that even sends you instant pee/poop notifications. Wag! also offers boarding, overnight sitting, drop-in visits, vet consultations, and one-on-one personalized dog training sessions!

PetBacker: Dog Cat Pet Sitting

Another great pet-sitting app to consider is PetBacker . Boarding, sitting, walking, daycare, and grooming availability can vary by location, so if you are having trouble finding services in your area, someone could be close to you through a different app! All three apps, Rover, Wag! and PetBacker, also offer cat-sitting services. PetBacker ensures your pet during the booking duration, including emergency vet coverage and accidental injury insurance.

Google Maps

Having just celebrated its 18th birthday, Google Maps is a titan in the GPS app industry. The sheer volume of data that Google Maps has collected from its users over the years enables it to be one of the best driving apps, still nearly two decades since its inception. Whether you walk, drive, cycle or take a bus to your destination; Google Maps is a no-brainer traffic app every traveler needs.

Waze Navigation & Live Traffic

Do you ever feel like every driver around you uses the same traffic app, pointing you in the same direction on the supposed quickest route that becomes a traffic jam? That is one downside of relying on the most widely-used GPS apps. Waze can help alleviate this situation. Although Google also owns Waze, it differs from Google Maps primarily because the information is crowd-sourced. Waze will always offer multiple routes to your destination and even changes your path based on live traffic to avoid the above scenario.

Citymapper: All Your Transport

Citymapper solves the problem of bouncing from app to app when comparing transportation options. Backed by the data of Google, Uber, Apple, Lyft, and major global localities, the app lets you compare route options for almost every mode of transportation except flying. Find routes you never knew existed by combining Uber and Lyft rideshares, bus routes, nearby E-scooters, traditional cabs, local light rail, plus regular walking and driving navigation. Citymapper is one of the best navigation apps for travelers using various ground transportation methods. 

AllTrails: Hike, Bike & Run

Since 2010, the AllTrails community-driven and crowdsourced app has been a staple trail source for hikers, bikers, and runners globally. Over a decade of accumulated trail knowledge with nearly half a million routes at your disposal, plus a smooth user interface, makes AllTrails the best GPS for hiking or app for backpacking in the store today! Use the app to chart your next hiking trip or to discover paths in your backyard you never knew existed!

PeakVisor - 3D Maps & Peaks ID

If you are an avid trailblazer, you don’t want to miss PeakVisor . No other hiking apps can provide you with the level of detail that PeakVisor can with its 3D topographic maps. Grasp the actuality of the peaks and valleys in your proposed route using its high-precision terrain modeling. Answer all your questions on the trail using the app’s mountain identification features that let you find the name of peaks using your phone’s camera.  

TrekPack - Packing Checklist

TrekPack is simple but one of the best hiking apps you can download today. The app is a packing checklist explicitly tailored for backpacking. Generate automated checklists based on your travel duration, accommodation mode, pack weight preferences, and more! Customize your lists, then check off your items as you pack. Use the app to track and optimize your pack weight and share your lists with your travel companions to more easily share the load!

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Best travel apps in 2021

Beat the traffic, avoid flight delays and find a place to stay on your next trip

The best travel apps are the ones that take all the stress out of a trip, freeing you up to enjoy the journey. And fortunately, you've got a lot of choices when it comes to finding apps that can help you plan your next getaway. 

You'll find everything from trip planners and itinerary generators to online marketplaces for flights and hotels in both the Play Store and Apple's store for apps. Combine one of the best travel apps with some great travel tech , and your chances for a smooth trip will increase dramatically.

• These are the best Android apps overall
• Get better trip photos with the best Android camera apps

Not sure where to look first? We've found a list of the best travel apps for when you're ready to hit the road again after sticking close to home for more than a year.

1. MyTSA (Free: Android; iOS)

Before you hit the road, make sure you've got MyTSA on your smartphone. The official app of the Transportation Security Administration isn't going to win any beauty contests, but it will let you check wait times at security checkpoints at major airpots. And that can help you plan on how much travel time you need to allow.

The app includes historical wait-time data while also giving you the option of checking crowd-sourced reports of how long security lines are at that moment. The ability to search what you can bring on a plane, get live assistance and find out info on the TSA PreCheck program make this a good app for travelers to keep handy on their smartphone.

Download MyTSA: Android , iOS

2. Expedia (Android, iOS: Free)

If you're a frequent traveller, you need a good all-in-one travel app, and Expedia is a tried-and-true option. You can book every aspect of your trip through Expedia, including hotels, flights and rental cars. The app also lets you bundle deals on travel and lodging, look for cruises, and research things to do when you arrive at your destination. 

If you're looking to stretch your travel budget even farther, Expedia promises exclusive deals for mobile users, with members of Expedia's rewards program enjoying additional perks. 

Download Expedia: Android , iOS

3. Flighty (iOS: Free)

There are flight trackers, and then there's Flighty, an iOS app for people who really want to know the location and arrival time of their plane. The free version of the app gives you basic flight-tracking tools, but pay up for a subscription ($8.99 a month or $49.99 per year), and you get access to more sophisticated features such as push notifications, syncing with TripIt or with calendars, and an assistant to help with your flight connections. 

Flighty also claims to be able to predict flight delays by monitoring inbound planes for 25 hours and monitoring FAA-mandated delays. You can check out the portions of the paid app for free during a 14-day trial.

Download Flighty: iOS

4. Hopper (Android, iOS: Free)

Another app bringing big data and predictive algorithms to the world of air travel is Hopper It uses a massive database of airline prices and historical trends to predict when prices to a destination are likely to be lowest, when they're likely to change, and the best time to buy a ticket for a particular date and destination. 

You can watch flights on specific dates or destinations, and the app will advise you whether it's worth it to buy now or to wait, tell you the dates when it's likely cheapest to fly, estimate changes in price, and notify you of price drops or rises. You can also save your payment details within the app for quick booking.

Download Hopper: Android , iOS

5. iExit (Android, iOS: Free)

If your travel plans involve a lot of driving, iExit works as a handy freeway exit guide, listing nearby highway exits, as well as the kind of businesses and amenities there are nearby. Need to gas up or find some good food or a place to stay for the night? iExit’s search tools come to the rescue, showing you nearby gas stations (with price data powered by GasBuddy), motels, and even deals and discounts from nearby businesses.

Download iExit: Android , iOS

6. Waze (Android; iOS)

Nothing gets a vacation off on the wrong foot like getting stuck in traffic. Waze can't eliminate the traffic, but it can help you get around any jams, especially if you're in an unfamiliar city. 

The navigation app feeds your smartphone real-time traffic information, based on reports from other Waze users. That data includes accidents, speed traps and other hazards that might keep you from getting to your destination in a timely fashion. 

Other features sure to impress travelers include automatic rerouting, cheap gas alerts and the ability to send your ETA to anyone waiting at your final stop.

Download Waze: Android , iOS

7. Skiplagged (Android, iOS: Free)

If you're traveling light and looking to save a few bucks, check out Skiplagged. It's a neat app that can keep your travel costs down by taking advantage of "hidden city flights", where flyers get off at a layover, instead of at the final destination. 

Enter your origin and destination, and Skiplagged will show you the cost of a direct flight, as well as any cheaper "hidden city" flights that have your intended destination as a layover. The caveat? Stick to carry-on luggage, as any checked-in bags will go all the way to the flight's final destination. 

Skiplagged also allows you to book hotels, including last-minute deals and special offers.

Download Skiplagged: Android , iOS

8. Flio (Android, iOS: Free)

Flio aims to be the all-in-one companion app for harried travelers making their way through airports worldwide. An official partner of 300 airports, Flio also has info on thousands more. That lets the app feature terminal maps, a boarding pass scanner, a flight tracker and directions to shuttle buses and booking options for everything from parking to lounge access. 

The app's sheer variety of services and features make it a great addition to the app toolkit of frequent fliers and vacationers alike.

Download Flio: Android , iOS

9. AtYourGate (Android, iOS: Free)

AtYourGate is another helpful airport companion that focuses more about retail opportunities while you're killing time waiting at the airport. If you need food, supplies (like say a phone charger to replace the one you forgot to pack), or last-minute gifts, you can browse the AtYourGate app for nearby shops and restaurants instead of having to wander around the airport. 

AtYourGate users can order food or other items, pay through the app, and even arrange for the item to be delivered to them right at their gate, lounge, or other location. AtYourGate currently operates in a select number of major airports, including JFK, La Guardia, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Portland, San Diego, and Newark.

Download AtYourGate: Android , iOS

10. Mobile Passport (Android, iOS: Free)

Mobile Passport is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection-approved app that helps speed you through lengthy immigration lines. It allows anyone with U.S. or Canadian passports to submit their passport control and customs declarations through the app, replacing paper forms and providing faster processing in a number of major US airports where the Mobile Passport service is supported. 

The app will save you a good amount of time in line, but it’s no reason to leave your physical passport at home. Mobile Passport is a companion app, not a replacement.

Download Mobile Passport: Android , iOS

11. TripIt (Android, iOS: Free)

TripIt promises to cut back on the travel hassle by consolidating your travel plans into a simple, convenient itinerary. Viewable online and synced to your cell phone, you can also share itineraries with your contacts. 

You just link your email account to TripIt, and the service will automatically dig through your inbox for reservation confirmations and other forms. Using that data, TripIt builds an organized itinerary of your flight boarding times, hotel check-ins and more. While TripIt is a free download, a $48.99 annual subscription gets you features like real-time flight alerts and updates on how long airport lines are.

Download TripIt: Android , iOS

12. App In The Air (Android, iOS: Free)

App In The Air is designed to help you through the entire process of your airplane flight, serving as a booking assistant that reminds you of your gate, ETA, check-in requirements, baggage tips, and more. 

The app condenses all of this important information so that it's easy to refer to at a glance, while also providing handy extras. You can view a summary of your airline's baggage rules (or even have an augmented reality overlay that you can use to measure your baggage to see if it will fit for carry-on or overhead guidelines). 

Travelers can integrate the app with TripIt, track loyalty rewards, view airplane amenities and even forward their details to their Apple Watch or Android Wear device. A premium subscription ($29.99 per year) includes real-time flight status updates, automated check-ins, and more.

Download App In The Air: Android , iOS

13. GasBuddy (Android, iOS: Free)

If road trips are more your thing, consider GasBuddy, a mobile app that helps users track down the cheapest gas in their region. Users can tap into their GPS location through their phone, or search by address or zip code to find the nearby gas prices.

As many of the prices are based on user reports, GasBuddy rewards users with points for reporting and updating a station's prices, with points making you eligible for regular raffles of prizes like free gas.

Download GasBuddy: Android , iOS

14. Roadtrippers (Android, iOS: Free)

Another handy travel companion when you hit the road is the aptly named Roadtrippers, a trip planning and itinerary app that lets you plot your next road trip, and helps you discover destinations, attractions, and useful stops along the way. 

With Roadtrippers, you can share your route and schedule with friends and family. The app helps users find everything from diners and dives to hotels, restaurants, national parks, roadside attractions and other scenic points of interest. 

If doing that research on a small phone screen stresses you out, you can plan trips in the Roadtrippers web portal if you prefer, saving locations and stops into a trip plan which you can sync across multiple devices for easy reference.

Download Roadtrippers: Android , iOS

15. PackPoint (Android, iOS: Free)

PackPoint is a travel packing wizard that provides a checklist of travel essentials that you'll need to pack, depending on the nature of your trip. 

Simply create a trip profile with your destination, length of stay and purpose of travel. PackPoint then creates a customized packing and luggage checklist that takes into account whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, the type and amount of clothing to pack based on the weather forecast and other factors. 

The app also comes with a variety of premium features, such as TripIt integration for automatic packing list creation.

Download PackPoint: Android , iOS

16. TripAdvisor (Android, iOS: Free)

TripAdvisor is your crowd-sourced guide to hotels, restaurants and attractions worldwide. The app allows you to browse through plenty of reviews, images and videos featuring various establishments worldwide to get a better idea of what awaits you at your destination. 

You can also access contact details; search for nearby establishments; explore restaurants by food type, price range or rating; check out air fares; and even add to the knowledge base by posting your own reviews, images and entries for the places you visit. There are even some handy "Near Me Now" features to alert you of nearby points of interest once you're on the scene.

Download TripAdvisor: Android , iOS

17. Airbnb (Android, iOS: Free)

Airbnb is a marketplace app that allows users to search for and find unique accommodations across the world, from mom-and-pop B&Bs for a night, to a small apartment for a week, or even a castle for a month. There's no shortage of quirky and unique establishments. Airbnb covers a range of prices in more than 34,000 cities across almost 200 countries, which means the adventurous or flexible traveler has some interesting choices for accommodations on their next trip.

Download Airbnb: Android , iOS

18. Vrbo (Android, iOS: Free)

Vrbo's mobile app is another option for finding places to stay on your next trip. At Vrbo, the emphasis is on vacation rentals, and with 2 million unique places to stay in 190-plus countries, you've got plenty of options. 

Use the Vrbo app to search for vacation homes, plan your trip and book your lodging. The app also gives you access to key booking details — what is the Wi-Fi password at your rental property, anyway? — and lets you share your itinerary with friends and family.

Download Vrbo: Android , iOS

19. Hotel Tonight (Android, iOS: Free)

If you unexpectedly need to look for last minute hotel rooms, check out  HotelTonight. It offers last-minute discounts on vacancies and same-night accommodations from top-rated hotels. Users can search by category and quality such as Basic, Hip or Luxe; view information on nearby hotels; and quickly book accommodations from within the app.

Download HotelTonight: Android , iOS

20. GlobeTips (iOS: Free)

How much should you tip? GlobeTips is a handy app that can tell you how much gratuity is customary wherever you are in the world. In addition to global tipping guides, GlobeTips includes a calculator for automatically calculating the tip, splitting the bill, and handling sales tax.

Download GlobeTips: iOS

• Best iPhone apps

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40 Best Travel Apps for 2024: Plan, Book, Tech, Tickets & More

Home » Travel Style » Technology and Gear » 40 Best Travel Apps for 2024: Plan, Book, Tech, Tickets & More

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Updated: 24th November 2023

During the last decade, how we travel has been thoroughly reshaped. The internet and, more significantly, the smartphone have revolutionised how we plan our trips and explore this planet. Yet, with so many websites, apps, guides and resources now available, it can be overwhelming to decide which travel apps deserve a space on our home screens.

Of course, the travel apps you’ll need to download before your trip will vary depending on where you’re visiting, the type of traveller you are, and your priorities on the road. From those pre-trip essentials, such as finding cheap flights and securing hotel deals, to the boring but necessary tech to manage reservations, money and sometimes even access to the internet, there truly is a travel app for organising everything these days.

Then there are those glorious pocket-size pieces of tech that make our experiences so much richer. Travel apps that allow us to read constellations in the sky above Peru’s Andes, mind-blowing translation software which instantly reads a menu on a long train journey through China , or friend-finding solutions which can connect us with fellow travellers, generous hosts, road trip buddies and even waste-avoiding discount food. Sure, this little device might have taken some of the spontaneity out of our journeys, but there’s no denying that the best travel apps can also enhance our experience while exploring.

Editors note (AI): While I’m sure later in 2024, I’ll update this article again to include some AI travel apps, I haven’t as yet found one I believe is reliable enough. Having tested a selection of itinerary planning AI travel apps using Portugal as a destination (the country I live in, know very well, and write guidebooks for), I’ve received results littered with errors, out-of-date suggestions, or proposals that skip some of the best offbeat experiences in the country — likely because the training material that has been used is also not in-depth or up-to-date. I’m sure when live information integration arrives and things advance this year a few apps will start to stand out. But for now, I’ve skipped any solely AI-powered tools, especially as some seem to have been built exclusively to sell affiliate-linked tours and activities.

In this article...

Best travel apps for flights, lounges and compensation

These are my go-to apps for all things flying. You might also want to consider signing up for cheap flight-finding newsletters so you can get the best deals directly to your inbox.

Skyscanner (free travel app)

For over a decade, Skyscanner has been my preferred travel app for finding flights. While there are plenty of other options these days, such as Kiwi or Kayak, I still always opt for Skyscanner. It has a clean interface, there is no cookie tracking or worries about going incognito, and I nearly always find the best deals here.

Of course, the ‘search everywhere’ feature is always a winner for finding those bargain flights when you are up for going on a trip but don’t really mind where. The app also features ‘Price Alerts’ so you can track fares going up and down and third-party reviews to know how reliable the company advertising the flight is. As a bonus, the Skyscanner travel app now has a ‘Top Deals’ tab for spontaneous trips away alongside additional searches for hotels and car hire. Download on iPhone | Android

If you’ve ever dealt with trying to claim for a delayed flight under EU regulations , you’ll know it can be a challenging process. While there are various protections across the world to ensure compensation when delays or cancellations happen, sometimes it can be a drawn-out and even unsuccessful process. That’s where Colibra comes in, as it takes a different approach and pays out compensation for delays of over one hour or more due to any reason, such as strikes or weather, with the money supposedly hitting your account within 24 hours.

However, it’s good to know that the compensation you’ll receive through Colibra isn’t as high as doing it yourself. Their model works by getting you to download the app and register your flight before arriving at the airport — essentially taking a gamble as you then assign the legal right to Colibra to make the full claim. The advantage is that whether Colibra is successful or not in getting the compensation to them (often, if delays are just an hour or two, there is no cash compensation), you’re guaranteed to get your share of the pot.

The funds for this come from those who have been delayed for over three hours and get compensation via EU rules but take a lower share of their cut from Colibra’s claim, leaving money in the pot for those with shorter delays. There is also a flight booking feature called “Fly Now, Pay If Okay”, which allows you to book flights and pay after flying – thus, if there is a delay of three hours or more, you don’t pay anything. You can read more about how this works on their website. Let’s see if they become one of the best flight booking apps as they expand this feature. Download App

Priority Pass

Frequent flyers who don’t usually fly premium or own a credit card that comes with the benefit of lounge access may want to consider signing up for Priority Pass.

Offering membership to more than 1000 lounges in some 140-plus countries, this travel app, in connection with the Priority Pass Airport Lounge program , allows you and potentially a guest to enjoy all the amenities of a lounge; this usually includes both pre-flight and layovers. There are a few different pricing models, including a lower option with paid entrance to the lounges and a mid-range membership, which allows for ten free lounge visits. Of course, this means if you’re only flying a couple of times a year, it’s most likely not worth it. Sign up here and download the app

Best apps for booking travel by train, bus, ferry or car share

These are some of the best apps for travel planning in Europe; especially helpful if you’re considering an overland trip across the continent to seek out some of Europe’s hidden gems .

Rome 2 Rio (free travel app)

This website really is a leader in finding the best way to travel within or between countries. For example, I didn’t think getting a reliable bus timetable in Sri Lanka was possible until I fired up this trusty app. But where it really excels is when it comes to working out more complicated journeys, especially those that cross borders.

Simply type in your start and end point, and you’ll get a whole list of overland/water/air routes for your trip, often ones that other similar booking sites don’t bring up. The reason for this is that Rome2Rio was created to be a useful resource rather than to make affiliate income (the commission websites make by selling something), and therefore formed one of the most impressive databases of transport options in the world; it even often helps me where Google Maps fails. That said, they have recently started shifting into selling more tickets (also handy), but it seems they still show every option they know. With heaps of helpful info, such as approximate prices, distances, route numbers, and which operators to book with, it’s honestly the travel app I use most, and I can not praise these heroes enough for making multi-country travel so much easier to plan. Download on iPhone | Android

Omio (free travel app)

Omio is one of the best travel apps for planning your travels around Europe, allowing you to book and manage various transport and accommodation options in one interface. They proudly boast of an extensive collection of bookable bus and train options that some other aggregator websites and apps miss.

That said, they don’t cover all operators in every country. So, while this is a handy app for researching, planning and keeping your bookings together, it’s always worth checking local operators too. Often, smaller local players don’t have an integration with travel apps (or don’t want to pay them a commission for taking reservations), so you might need to hunt them out and book directly. Download App

Eurail / Interrail (free travel app)

The Eurail app is a godsend for planning train travel across Europe, as it covers more than 30 countries. While it’s actually designed for Interrail/Eurail pass holders, anyone can access and utilise the planning feature for free. Their travel app particularly stands out when it comes to planning multi-country train trips, often showing far more choices in connections than the other applications and websites I’ve detailed in this section.

For example, I just searched for Lisbon to Paris, and the Eurail planner highlighted all the train connections across Portugal, Spain and France I would need to take. Omio, on the other hand, tells me this journey isn’t possible by train as it sometimes struggles with cross-border rail searches.

While you don’t need to have purchased a pass to use the app, it’s well worth considering buying one if you plan to do a lot of rail travel on the continent over a month or two. If you live in Europe, you should look into the Interrail Pass, while non-European residents will need to learn how to use the Eurail Pass to be sure they get their money’s worth. Either way, their travel app is a great tool to have on your phone, especially as it even works offline. Download iPhone | Download Android

Rail Europe (free travel app)

Acting as an official agent for many of the leading train operators in Europe, Rail Europe is something of a one-stop shop for searching for and booking train travel on the continent and unlike the Eurail app, you don’t need a pass to book your tickets with these guys — hence my inclusion here.

However, not all countries are signed up. For example, in Portugal , you would still need to book with the local CP rail service directly, although much of central and western Europe is covered. Download the Rail Europe App

12Go (free travel app)

While many of my recommendations here are particularly geared up for planning travels around Europe, one of the best websites for researching and booking flights, ferries, buses and trains in Asia is 12GO . They cover a large range of countries, operators and transport options, and you can even book taxis in some countries too. That said, the Android version of their travel app seems to be much better quality than the iPhone version (which is unsurprising given Android holds more than 70% of the market share on the continent), meaning IOS users may find the website more helpful than the app. Download iPhone | Android

FlixBus (free travel app)

FlixBus (and now FlixTrain in Germany) has quickly grown to be one of the biggest inter-country bus operators in Europe. I remember when it first launched, and you’d be on a random local bus that sold tickets through the platform. Nowadays, the majority of the bus routes are operated by the official, modern, and green FlixBuses, although some remain franchises.

While Flix certainly isn’t a luxury option – what is on an 18-hour night bus? – They are fairly reliable and affordable, have toilets, and usually have wifi and plug sockets. Mainly operating in Europe, they also offer limited services in the USA with plans to expand into other markets in 2024. Download App

BlaBlaCar (free travel app)

BlaBlarCar might not appeal to everyone due to safety concerns, but it’s one of the most helpful travel apps for travellers like myself who can’t drive and are reliant on public transport. Sometimes, it’s hard to reach certain places, or you have restricted bus options, and that is where this app can be a life saviour. Think of it as a mix of Uber with normal people driving and pre-planned hitchhiking — it’s essentially a carpooling app which helps drivers split the cost of fuel. If you’re doing a big road trip and are looking to split some costs and share some company, you might even want to add your own trips to the app as a driver rather than a rider.

On the travel app’s simple interface, you search where you are going to and from, like on any other ride-share app, and it will show you any drivers doing the same route on the date you’ve searched for. If you find a good match, you can book a seat in their car and join them on a ride. The price usually is based on sharing the gas. Not only does this help you get from A to B, but it also helps you make new travel friends. I’ve mainly used this in Portugal and Spain, but they cover 22 different countries across Europe & Latin America. Recently, they have started offering bus services in France. Download on iPhone | Android

Best travel apps for accommodation

These are some of the best apps for finding alternative accommodation ideas , hotels, hostels or even free hosts. Just remember, you can often get a better deal directly from a hotel or hostel if you email them directly. This way, they won’t need to pay a commission to the OTA (Online Travel Agency) and can often pass that saving on to you. I haven’t recommended Airbnb here because I’ve seen first-hand how it sucked the life out of Lisbon, but there are a few more sustainable and community-concerned websites that I do love, Faribnb and Ecobnb ; however, as of 2024, they still haven’t launched dedicated apps.

Couchsurfing

Sadly, Couchsurfing is no longer as useful as it once was, which has led to plenty of alternative hosting sites cropping up, such as the free-to-use BeWelcome and women-only Travel Ladies app . However, in terms of membership numbers, Couchsurfing still seems to lead the way — even if it now costs a few dollars a month. There are a lot of complaints from long-term members about how the ethos of the company was destroyed after it went from community-owned to private, yet it still remains one of my favourite resources for both finding cool hangouts and traveller-focused events in new destinations, as well as offering to host, or finding a place to stay while on the road.

That said, the actual travel app isn’t the best (the website is easier to navigate), but it’s still worth having if you’re a member to use the ‘hangout’ and ‘local event’ features. Even though the app was born as a place to offer, or seek, a sofa/bed/room to crash for a night or two, even those who aren’t keen on staying with strangers will find good connections. While the payment model introduced has reduced the number of people active on the platform throughout 2023, I still made plenty of connections in person via the travel app, but mainly in larger cities. Download App

CozyCozy (free travel app)

One of the most interesting and newest accommodation search engines that has cropped up in recent years is CozyCozy , which has both a travel app and a website. I particularly like that it searches not just hotel booking websites but also the likes of Airbnb and VRBO, so you don’t need to run different searches on different platforms to find the best listings or the lowest prices. The filtering for the searches is also quite interesting and helpful. For example, you can look for camping or select the ‘ Unusual Places ‘ tab, which is always interesting for finding a different kind of stay. Think of unique stays such as hiring a houseboat in a marina to call a temporary home, treehouses, or mountain chalets.

The additional filters are also convenient, whether it be free cancellation or accessibility filters, which means not only do you need to search only one website, but you also don’t need to click into individual stays to check they meet your criteria. While CozyCozy only searched in around 40 destinations when it launched, it’s now expanded, with plenty more countries added heading into 2024. Download on iPhone | Android

Booking.com (free travel app)

I used to be a big hotels.com fan due to the book ten nights and get one free, but their app sucks. It’s slow to load, you need great wifi, and I’ve realised that the reward nights for booking ten and then getting an allowance for a free night means the costs are more than rivals. As such, I’ve returned to using booking.com as my go-to travel app for hotel stays. Yes, I know it’s not the best business model for the industry, and often you can get better rates if you email a hotel directly (Booking usually requires that the best ‘public-facing’ price is on their website, something I talk about more in this article on finding luxury travel deals ), but for ease of use and range of accommodation offered, it’s unrivalled.

Two other reasons that Booking is such a catch-all is they now have heaps of Hostel listings (hence why I no longer feel the need to recommend Hostel World) and even plenty of apartment stays, many of which are better value than those I see on Airbnb, particularly because cleaning and platform fees are nearly always included in the final quote.

Booking’s travel app also often has ‘Mobile Only’ pricing, meaning stays can be cheaper on the app than on the website, and after you have booked a certain number of nights, you’ll get access to ‘genius benefits’ such as additional discounts, late checkouts, in-hotel extras and quicker customer service. Having had a few problems in the past — such as hotels not existing or no one available for check-in — I’ve personally always had excellent service in resolving the issue with the support chat, and often an upgrade apology elsewhere at no extra cost. Download App

Best travel apps for tours and tickets

In many destinations, booking tickets for attractions directly is best. However, sometimes you want to book in advance or arrange a tour in a rush, and in those cases, these tour and ticket apps will come in handy.

Get Your Guide (free travel app)

Offering tickets to attractions around the world and a huge range of tours and attractions on their website , Get Your Guide also now has a handy app where you can make use of those tickets without the need to print anything — and I genuinely believe it’s better than competitors like Viator, though recently I have also started to use Tiqets for some museums that were better deals than GYG. I first started using this when I went to Milan to skip the lines for the Duomo rooftop, and if you have ever spent ages waiting to get into a big-ticket attraction, you’ll know how handy those fast-track tickets can be.

Likewise, when you’re planning a trip, it’s a good place to get some inspiration and see what activities are around. Recently, I was looking at stuff to do near home in Portugal and only found out about mountain Quad Bike tours from the app — so it can be a handy research tool too. New users of the app get a host of discounts and exclusives, such as discounts on luggage storage and partner bookings. Download App

TourRadar (free travel app)

TourRadar is another tour booking app, but it covers lots of big operators, such as G Adventures and Intrepid, alongside small local companies. This makes it a great search engine and one of the best travel apps for finding and booking multi-day tours, as they all appear in one place. While GYG is going to be helpful while travelling in general, the TourRadar app is a great resource for finding and booking a group or private tour before arrival. Download App

Best travel apps for maps, road trips, camping and hiking

These are some of the best apps for travelling overland, whether you’re in an RV, hiking, camping, or just looking for the best way to get from A to B.

Roadtrippers

For those who are planning an epic road trip across the USA, this travel app is a great starting point. You can punch in up to 100 stops when planning your route, and the app provides interesting suggestions for other places to pause on the way. Additionally, it allows you to collaborate with friends to pull plans together; it’s a super helpful pre-trip tool. Then, while on the road, the app provides live traffic updates, ensuring you don’t wast valuable vacation time. Download App

Google Maps (free travel app)

I’m not gonna lie: I find the recent November 2023 update to Google Maps frustrating. There seems to be more clicking and a more complicated interface than before. However, it’s still an absolute must for me when travelling, mainly because of the vast database of reviews, photos and public transport options — especially in destinations where it’s linked with public transport GPS to show you bus or train locations — that it provides. I also appreciate that when I’m travelling somewhere without a data connection, I can select which parts of the map to download to my phone to use offline. It’s a staple for me; I just hope in 2024, they revert back from this slightly more clunky interface. Download on iPhone | Android

Maps.Me (free travel app)

Sometimes, Maps.Me is the superior choice, and this can be especially true in more offbeat destinations. I was especially impressed at how much more helpful this travel app was compared to the big players when I visited Oman and Tajikistan.

The maps are downloadable, so you can be offline and still use them anywhere, but the best thing is they are powered by OpenStreetMap, which is open-source, so anyone can update details and add new openings and finds. Often, people also had helpful points for trails and viewpoints. This community aspect (rather than Google’s more curated, business-centric approach) ensures that not only is this one of the best travel apps for navigating more remote destinations, but it can often be the most helpful on certain types of trips. Download on iPhone | Android

While nothing can usually beat a local walking guide’s knowledge, the All Trails app comes pretty close. Hosting a huge database of official — and not-so-official — walking routes, reviews and crowd-sourced paths, this travel app can really help you explore more of a destination on foot or by bike. The free version is okay, but for those often hiking in new destinations, the paid additions may be handy.  Go Janutly is another excellent app to have if you’re looking for local walking trails and routes. Download App

What3Words (free travel app)

This is a unique map that gives a three-word name to every spot in the world. If you are travelling to more remote places where street names aren’t a thing or streets don’t exist, this can help you to get there. Likewise, in case of an emergency, it can be used to give a very precise location to emergency services. When I first listed this travel app here a few years back, it was very niche, but now, as we enter 2024, even delivery companies and guidebooks are using it. Download on iPhone | Android

Best app for travel itinerary management: TripIt (free travel app)

TripIt is a super handy piece of kit that will even auto-scan your emails and compile all your travel plans into one place. If you are a frequent traveller, this can become a super handy PA in your pocket.

The free version is still one of the best travel apps for most average people planning a trip, but if you are often on the road, the business upgrade will make things much more streamlined, compiling all of your plans into one place. Download on iPhone | Android

Best travel apps for documenting (and inspiring) your trip

Beyond the normal suspects, such as TikTok, Instagram, or even starting your own blog, there are a few travel app newcomers for documenting and keeping track of your travel.

Framey (free travel app)

So, if you have become as fed up with Instagram as I have, then you might be seeking a photo-focused app to document your travels and inspire your future trips, and Framey does exactly that. No more endlessly scrolling through random reels; Framey’s feed is the perfect place to share your photos with specific locations and find inspiration from your friends or travel ambassadors/creators. The search function also works great, so you can scan your next travel destination and find quick, bite-sized information underneath fantastic visuals or scroll through ‘collections’, bringing together everything in one place.

While on the road, it’s also a helpful travel app to find your way to key sights and great photo points around your location, thanks to the inbuilt map feature, which pins photos on an easy-to-use road map. Both during and before your trip, you can easily save your favourite finds to your own collections so you don’t miss or forget that perfect spot. Download on iPhone | Android  

Visited App (free travel app)

Simple and easy to use, VisitedApp is one of the best travel apps for country counters to keep track of everywhere they have been. Simply add in your visited destinations, and you can see them both on a list view or a highlighted map. The inspiration section, which works a little like Tinder where you swipe left or right depending on if you want to add it to your ‘wishlist’ is a nice feature as it doesn’t just focus on countries as a whole but also cities, national parks, and regions — with nice photos for inspiration — so you can use it both for documenting where you have been but also where you still want to go.

There are also specific categories for various types of travel, such as Art Museums and Wonders of the World, so you can keep adding to your lists of places you have visited and want to visit. The paid pro version allows you to record the places you have visited in even more detail, such as specific cities or regions. Download on iPhone | Android

Best apps for backpackers and solo travel

These are some of the more useful travel apps if you’re travelling solo or as a backpacker.

Radical Storage (free travel app)

One of the biggest hassles when backpacking is finding a place to stash the bags, especially if you’re not able to check in early or are just stopping somewhere for the day before taking the bus or train. Radical Storage is one of many new handy travel apps (others include Luggage Hero and Bounce) that will help you find a pre-booked place to store your bag if the local bus or train station does not have an option. Usually, the fees are pretty decent, and both times I’ve used it, I’ve had no problems, although sometimes the storage options can be a little obscure, and the exact location isn’t always displayed until after booking. Download App

Travello (free travel app)

Travello has made some significant inroads in the travel world over the past few years and has even been named one of the top apps by the Apple store — it’s come a long way since I first met the founders back in 2016. Still, this will mostly come in handy if you’re travelling in Australia and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand and Asia.

But what is it? Well, think Tinder, but for travellers. With a well-developed interface, this travel app will help you find other travellers with similar interests who are already in or heading to the same areas. You can also search the noticeboard for your upcoming plans and arrange shares/swaps in advance. Recently, they have expanded into selling tours and travel experiences through partners, so you can also book activities directly in the app too, and discounts are applied depending on how many ‘points’ you’ve earned through activity within the app community. Download on iPhone | Android

Meetup (free travel app)

Meetup is great whether you’re travelling or not; I’ve used it to attend events in my home city before. It will help you connect with fellow travellers nearby to attend group events and activities, which can be searched and filtered by interests. If you’re travelling and seeking new connections and people to share experiences with — but don’t want to get Couchsurfing — this is a useful app to have on your phone while travelling. Download App

Top travel apps for staying connected

VPN, eSIM, internet-only mobile numbers — the web has provided a whole new world of ways to stay connected while travelling, and these are some of the most handy travel apps to ensure you don’t get lumped with a hefty data roaming bill.

HolaFly eSim

An eSim is a virtual sim card and provides an alternative to having to buy a new sim card at each destination. There are many benefits to this, such as speed, ease and forward planning, although the costs can sometimes be more than buying a local card. I’ve written a detailed guide to the pros and cons in this eSim for Europe guide . However, HolaFly is my go-to choice, especially since they have started offering some unlimited data packages in certain destinations. Get a 5% discount with my code: DANFLYINGSOLO when you sign up, then Download the App

A VPN is handy for security, but in some places, like when I went on a tour through China, it is essential to keep you connected to all your favourite apps that may be blocked in other countries. I would love to recommend an underdog here, but ExpressVPN is the best and most consistent I have used, so they are the winner. A free alternative is Windscribe , which I’ve found useful in many situations, though sometimes it’s unreliable and doesn’t always work. Enjoy a free trial of ExpressVPN via their website

WhatsApp (free travel app)

I feel like everyone should know and use WhatsApp, but I’ve discovered that plenty of folks in the USA still don’t rate it — though perhaps that’s changing since Meta brought it into the Facebook family.

An end-to-end encrypted communication app, it provides all the benefits of iPhone devices, such as calls, video chat, and messaging over data, but it is open to Android users as well. But the reason this is one of the most helpful travel apps is that in many regions (particularly in some Asian countries), nearly everything is organised through WhatsApp. From booking guest house stays in Indonesia to arranging tour guides in Kazakhstan, without this app, I’d have missed out on a lot of local experiences you won’t find on the big travel aggregators. Download on iPhone | Android

I haven’t personally used Rebtel, but a good friend in the USA recommended I include it in this article as it offers cheap international calls (via actual phone numbers, so it is a good alternative to internet calling) without always needing an internet connection. Thus, it’s a handy app to have if you’re going to be travelling and need a way to call physical numbers rather than communicating through WhatsApp. Signup is required to download the app

Best apps for language translation and learning

These are some of the best language learning apps to master some basics before arriving at a new destination. Of course, these are quite generic, so if you want to take a deeper dive into a specific language, such as learning Spanish online , you’ll likely want a more in-depth course. 

Duolingo (free travel app)

I spent all of 2022 using Duolingo Plus (the paid version of the app) and covered the first half of the Spanish course and all the (Brazilian) Portuguese courses. For me, the adverts in the free version are now really annoying, and I didn’t love the recent redesign; however, as far as free language travel apps go, Duolingo remains one of the best if you have a little patience.

I like the fact it is more like a course in the palm of your hand than a list of jumbled words. It uses repetition and reviewing to make sure you have grasped it and mixes audio learning with visual prompts. You aren’t going to become fluent here, but you will have more than enough to get by. They also have a relatively wide range of languages, although some courses, such as French and Spanish, are more in-depth than others. Download on iPhone | Android

I seem to go through phases with different language apps, dropping in and out when travelling, but now, having moved to Portugal, I’m using language apps not just for a short trip but to support myself in learning a brand new language, Portuguese.

Drops is a relatively new language app, and my favourite thing about it is the different mediums it uses to support learning words. You get both written and audio words, but also visual graphics to help support the learning. You also have complete control over the phrases that you go through this process with, so if you are already confident with certain words, you can tick them off, and they won’t show up in the lesson format. Another thing I love about Drops is their commitment to lesser-known languages and preserving traditional and regional dialects, such as Samoan and Ainu. Download on iPhone | Android

Google Translate (free travel app)

Okay, so it might not be teaching you a language, but it is undoubtedly one of the absolute BEST travel apps that you absolutely must have on your phone. Be sure not just to download the app itself before your trip but also to download the language of the country you’re visiting. Then, the translations will continue to work offline. But it gets even better, as you don’t actually have to type; pointing the camera at a menu or an info board at a translation will near-instantly give you the image back in your own language. The app will even work with voice translations, and I can’t tell you how happy it has made me to be able to talk to locals on night trains in Uzbekistan or hold a basic conversation while hitchhiking in Georgia. Honestly, it’s the best thing Google has ever created. Download on iPhone | Android

Best travel apps for money management

These are some of the best travel apps for money management, whether it’s splitting bills, sending transfers, or working out the exchange rate.  

This super handy and simple travel app will help you keep track of costs on a group trip. I’ve used this on a few of my non-solo travels now, and it’s as easy as tapping in the costs as you go along, so you can easily divide and balance who owes who what at the end of the trip. It is much easier than manually keeping tabs on different people’s payments, and it takes the stress out of talking about money when you just want to make the most of being on the road. Download App

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

A complete game-changer in sending money abroad, the (Transfer)Wise app works uniquely. Rather than physically sending your cash overseas, they have bank accounts in multiple countries, which reduces conversion costs. Say you want to send money from Germany to the UK; you add the money into their German account, and someone else’s money, which is being held in the UK account, goes to yours. Given how low the fees are and the savings you can make when withdrawing cash from certain ATMs, it’s an excellent travel app to have. Another solid alternative is Revolut, which is particularly good if you want to set up a joint account with someone while travelling. Download App

XE Currency Exchange (free travel app)

This is a great and lightweight travel app to keep track of various currencies in your pocket in real time; it also works offline as long as you have updated your rates before leaving the internet connection. XE also has a new premium feature which will alert you when a rate hits the target you have set — handy if you want to withdraw or convert a big amount. Download on iPhone | Android

Best travel apps to improve your trip and experience

These are some of the best apps for travel which will enhance your experience. From stargazing and pollen counts to tracking the time of the month, these are some nice additions to make for a better travel experience.

Too Good To Go

This isn’t so much a travel app, but it is amazing, both for travellers and also in day-to-day life. To combat food waste, it offers businesses the chance to sell their products that may be going out of date or the day’s leftovers at a heavily discounted price to minimise food waste. Not only are you getting some great food at great prices, but you are also helping the environment. For those seeking sustainable travel tips , this could be helpful in a few ways.

Say you are staying in self-catering accommodation; you could order a ‘magic bag’ of discounted fruit and vegetables to help you cook and collect them at the end of the day. Or, perhaps you fancy a hotel-style buffer breakfast but aren’t staying in a hotel? Then you can look for hotels nearby, and often, there is something to collect around 11 am. When I lived in Granada, I would often do this to get a cheap carry-out brunch. You’ll also find restaurants on the app, so if you don’t mind eating later than usual, you can often find delicious meals that are going spare for a fraction of the price of a takeaway. Sadly, the app mainly works in European countries, Canada and the USA. Download on iPhone | Android

Weather Bug

While nearly all smartphones come with basic weather apps, Weather Bug takes it to a whole other level. Whether you suffer from hay fever and want to know the pollen count or need to keep track of lighting and storm warnings, this is a one-stop-shop for all things weather. There’s a whole host of different map options, 18-day forecasting and plenty more nifty additional features, and given how much the weather can impact your trip, it’s a handy travel app to have on hand. Download on iPhone | Android

Flo (free travel app)

Trying to make this list as broad as possible, my dear friend Vicky suggested this travel app, which is especially useful for long-term travellers. In her words: “It monitors when your period is and sends you alerts so you can plan it with travel. It’s SO useful when you’re on the go and don’t know what day it is”. Download on iPhone | Android

SkyView (free travel app)

I started digging this app when I got into night photography, but it’s a staple for anyone who has an obsession with the stars. Simply point it at the sky, and it will tell you which constellations are in the viewfinder. If you want to start photographing the Milky Way, this is a great travel app to get on your phone. Download on iPhone | Android

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I have been recently making photo books of my adventures with an app called Inkifi, their website is . They aren’t as well publicised as some of the other big print apps but their products are innovative and second to none.

great list, thanks for sharing :) i couldnt travel without apps :D there is one app i can recommend checking out, its called “ATM Fee Saver” and it shows atms around with no or low fees for withdrawing money. its super helpful i found :)

hi there – great article. Thought I’ll also share – I came across this app ATM Fee Saver – it gives atm fees and withdrawal limits in some 30-40 countries, it was super helpful, much needed these days. Helped me calculate my own fees also for my amount. Never seen anything like this before – should defo be on your list also, it will helps lots of other international travellers like me!!!

Being techy types as well as keen travellers here are a few different apps that my husband and I like to use:

* TripMapper: great for building our travel itineraries and keeping track of our budget. It also has interactive ‘inspiration’ itineraries you can download and customise which is super helpful.

* Dataman: to keep on top of our data. Our plans give us roaming, but it’s less than our typical monthly amount, so we just set the data cap to our roaming limit when we’re away.

* Surfshark: we got an excellent deal on a multi-year plan. It has been pretty good, and the unlimited device feature works really well for us as we have too many internet-connected devices.

* Flighty: for checking the status of our flights. It’s a beautifully designed app, too.

Thank you so much for that type of information. before this blog i know only about two google and apple . you share a lot of information with us thanks

Nice piece of information specially for those who wants to explore the world by him/her self. I also used to travel and looking for advice which is handy while traveling. Usually, I have few pre-installed apps which are enough for me like Google Maps is the only maps who acts as travel explorer for me in every way like tourist places I need to go, nearby hotels I need to stay, restaurants etc.

How come Xnspy didn’t make the list? It is such a cool app and its GPS location tracking and geofencing works in real-time. If you are traveling with kids and plan to split up and explore, you must get this app. You won’t regret it.

Like your list. Its got some of usual suspects, but the apps for handicapped plus meeting locals are great gems.

I’ve just come across this neat mobile app: potty poche. It highlights visiting the south of France: Languedoc and Provence, with the unique added feature of a public toilet locator for the places to visit; a necessity for France. And it identifies those that are handicap accessible plus has five language versions.

The app categorizes seaside towns, historic Cathar sites, beautiful and perched villages, famous french village movie venues, as well as practical guides to the lavender fields, favorite market towns, and places associated with famous painters.

I found the app on Apple and Google play stores

Very descriptive article it is…!! I usually use the google translate app for travel purposes. It is the best app from the above list. Thank you for the best suggestion I will try other apps also.

There are so many programs do download. I think it would be nice, if someone will made one platform for using all of these benefits on an app. I don’t have all of them, I use usually Airbnb, Skyscanner, Google maps or Maps.me and NordVPN Teams for mobile security. Till now it’s enough for my trips, maybe in the future I will need more, who knows!

Thanks for thelist. It helps me to get an overview about other travel apps. I’m also working on my own on a travel app in my freetime, which helps to create travel routes with AI. If you like it, you can maybe add it to the list :) https://yourtravelroute.com/

Greets David

I recommend “Leap” for planning and budgeting a round the world trip. Also helpful for digital nomads and full-time travellers.

I have found your article very informative and interesting. I appreciate your points of view and I agree with so many. You’ve done a great job with making this clear enough for anyone to understand.

Thanks for sharing this. This helps me a lot. :)

I am a big fan of Airbnb, and I think the good thing is I can go anywhere with my Chinese card. That’s the main reason for me to choose that App. I think your article is really useful for traveler. Thanks!

Nice list! One app which I use a lot is Leap. I heard about it from a movie on a German couple traveling the world. They basically used it to find out how much money they will need for their world travel depending on the countries where they want to go. I got inspired by them to travel the world so I have started using the app as well. It has a financial planner so I hope I will have my savings ready soon :-)

Thanks for the tip Asha!

Wow! I really enjoyed reading this post a lot because whenever I travel in a different country I tend to get lost. A couple summers ago, I went abroad to Spain and got lost many times! One of the apps I saw on this list was Google Translate, which I totally used all the time when I lived with my host mom. WhatsApp was another one I used all the time and I would agree it is very important when you are in another country. One of the favorite apps I read about on this post is Weather Bug because it seems very useful. A lot of the time my usual weather app was not accurate so this app would definitely be beneficial. I liked how you split up each up by using numbers to differentiate each app. It made it very easy to read!

Hey! you should check out Jetzy! its a travel app, and connects you with locals as well as people from all over the world! i think its pretty cool :)

i m still amazed why Make My Trip is not included in the list. No doubt that the apps which you mentioned above are great but we cant ignore make my trip too.

Great list. But what about Sygic Travel? It has offline maps and virtual reality videos… I am missing it here. I can activate you a Premium licence Daniel, if you want. Let me know. :)

Each country have their own favorite travel App. I prefer to use Tripoto while travel and it gives me good ideas about various places and things to do ! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful list !

This is a great post! Apps are so useful for every day life, but for travelling they can really make the experience much smoother and cheaper. Apps like skyscanner are a must for going around the world on a budget and making your travelling hassle free!

Awesome list. I have been hearing only good things about Skyscanner and Rome2Rio looks like heaven sent with all the local transport timings around the world. Herepin seems like a nice startup as it might make it easier to connect with fellow travelers rather than posting on Social Media and asking “who’s around”. A very useful list, thanks.

rome 2 rio just keeps getting better and better and has so much info not even google maps can pull up – god send! :)

Thanks for the great list, these are super handy – didn’t know about half of these. Another app I’d really recommend is Postsnap ( https://www.postsnap.com ), it’s a postcard sending app that’s perfect for sending travelling snaps back home when you’re abroad. Great to be able to use your own photos and write a personal message.

Sounds like a cool app!!

Thanks for this great list! We would like to add Tourlina – the first women-only travel app

Awesome, cheers Dan. I have just downloaded Rome 2 Rio and also the currency one.

Hope they came in handy. Rome2Rio is a lifesaver in some countries.

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47 Best Travel Apps of 2024 – For better Deals, Tracking and even Souvenirs

It’s a new year and a new decade! And whether you are planning a road trip across the US, backpacking through Southeast Asia, or hitchhiking around Europe, there are tons of useful apps that will help you maximize every aspect of your trip.

So take a look at our exhaustive list of all kinds of travel apps.

All will help you out when it comes to finding out where to eat, where to stay, managing your trips, meeting up with people, et cetera et cetera.

There are too many apps out there to make a truly exhaustive list. However, we’ve managed to put together one based on experience and usefulness that hopefully covers anything you may need during your wandering.

Shortcut to the Best Travel Apps (Update 2024)

Google maps, donkey republic, bird/lime scooters.

• Fog of World

Transferwise

Xe currency converter, 4. language, google translate, 5. accommodation, hostelworld, booking.com, hotel tonight, 6. meeting people, couchsurfing, airbnb experience, 7. communication, facebook messenger, flight aware, 9. hiking/nature, 10. planning your trip, onward ticket, worldpackers.

• Road Trippers

Visit a City

11. Photo and Video Edit

Now that you have seen the list, let’s take a deeper look into it in this part of the guide.

Introduction about Apps

This list : This list features a big pile of the best travel apps out there.

We use them personally, and we recommend them 100%. We will try to keep this post for the coolest travel apps always updated. (Last updated October 2024.)

Popularity : Most likely any app is used in different parts of the world. Even the world-famous WhatsApp is well known over the Western world like Europe, Australia, and the US, but in South East Asia they use a different app called LINE, for instance. So bare this in mind.

For some destinations, you may want to download an extra app so you can use the restaurant’s scene in Paris or the museums in London. Keep an eye open!

Paid vs Free : Some travel apps or actually in general apps are free while others are paid. We think it is worth it to pay a few $ on an app when it has proved itself useful.

In-App purchase : There is a third way how apps make their money. It is with so-called “in-app purchases”.

This means while you have the application open, you can buy additional app features. This is very common for games, for instance.

On the other hand, you can deactivate in-app purchases in your settings. This way you are safe and you will never buy anything accidentally.

Android vs iOs : There is basically two types of Smartphone, the iPhones with iOs and all the others are Android.

Now, both systems have their very own app-shop. It happens that you can download a specific app in one store, but not the other. This is because the developers have to program two completely separated apps.

List of the Best Travel Apps

Just keep scrolling and you will find out more about the best travel apps you might need in your next trip. We also added videos to the applications, sharing how they work.

Happy reading!

No matter where you are traveling, you’ll definitely be needing some maps and transportation apps to help you get around.

Here are some of the best.

By far the most useful and universal way of getting around all over the world is through Google Maps .

Google’s maps are reliable, detailed, and give you excellent dining out suggestions and landmarks for sightseeing.  You can also use Google Maps for transportation around whatever city you’re visiting.

You can toggle between bus, train, walking and driving route options when you’re trying to get from A to B.  The “explore nearby” option is great for discovering cool cafes and shops, and they have weekly updated suggestions for where to eat and drink nearby.

Offline Mode : Also, you can download a map or a route for accurate offline use if you’re data-deficient.

Note: Just be careful relying too much on Google Maps if you’re driving in certain countries.  I’ve found it a bit unreliable for driving directions in places like Turkey, for instance.  Sometimes local map apps can be more helpful.

Moovit is a great app specifically built for public transportation within cities.

Offered in over 3,000 cities around the world, Moovit makes it super easy to get from A to B within a city.  It gives you multiple transportation options, wait times for buses, ferries, trains, and even Uber and scooters.

It shows accurate travel times, it’s great for locating bus stops in an unfamiliar city, and it has a map feature that shows you a big-picture view of your urban transport options.

Note: Unfortunately, there are no offline maps with Moovit. So you’ll either need data or plan your trip ahead of time with Wifi.

This one is known already, right?! When you’re traveling around Europe or the US/Canada, then Uber is a reliable and easy option for getting around.

Although a bit more expensive than public transport, Uber is still very easy to use and doesn’t require as much effort or even knowing the language. A good option for a late-night rides back to your hostel if you’ve wandered too far and had a bit too much to drink.

Note: In some countries Uber and Grab work better than others. Uber in Spain is not as useful. In destinations like Chiang Mai Uber and Grab are fantastic.

BlaBla Car is a good app for those of us trying to travel medium to long distances for very cheap.

It’s a ride-sharing app that lets you input a possible destination and see who’s driving there.  A good option for hitchhikers who may need a break from thumbing or drivers who want to find some people in order to share gas costs.

Note: One drawback of Blabla Car is that it can be a bit unreliable. You’re never 100 percent sure whether you’ll find anyone going where you are at the spur of the moment, so best not to rely too much on this app.

Another con is their customer service. We have experienced their customer service as not very helpful.

Another great app for people renting a car or road tripping is Waze .

Although Google Maps works perfectly well, Waze is especially good when it comes to live traffic updates and finding cheap gas along your route. This is super useful.

We also love to user Discover Car Rentals for rent a car abroad.

Note: Waze also offers a carpool app that could come in handy for getting to the airport or train station.

Donkey Republic is a bike-sharing app that I’ve had a lot of fun with around Europe.

Offered in bike-heavy cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, these orange bikes are easy to spot, affordable and usually in really good condition.

With the app, you can see on the map where the available bikes are located, then just walk up, use your phone to scan the barcode to unlock it by paying with a credit card, and peddle away for as long as you want.  When you’re finished, just drop the bike near a drop point.

Note: The only problem here is that you’ll need data/wifi to unlock the bike.

Scooters are everywhere in LA. So much so that it’s pretty annoying!

And while scooter traffic and scooter litter (piles of scooters on street corners) definitely need to be managed as part of this new fad, Lime Scooters it’s certainly a convenient and fun way to get around in a city.

Just be careful about riding them. It would be best to take them for a spin somewhere less congested if it’s your first time riding one.

Note: Like Donkey Republic, you scan the barcode on the scooter to unlock it and pay by the hour.  Unlike the Donkey Republic, you can jettison the scooter wherever you want, which can lead to the aforementioned scooter litter.

Fog of World (map your way)

Let’s start with the most awesome travel app ever – sorry, we really love this application!

Fog of World is a super cool app that lets you track your travel routes as a kind of game. You remove the fog on your map as you physically travel the world. It features excellently detailed maps, badges and game-like features that encourage more and more travel.

It’s kind of like Pokemon Go, but for backpackers.

Note: The only problem with this one is it costs around 15 dollars, but for those of you with a bit of disposable income and a kick in the butt that’ll get you traveling more, this app could be for you.

Where again was that beautiful and delicious restaurant we went to in Menorca?

With Fog of World, you can tell your friends exactly where you’ve been, and where some places are located on a map. Stop guessing, no “ Maybe here ”, or even worse you do not remember at all – with Fog Of World, you can check simply and quickly where you have been. The app is tracking your route, so afterward you can see exactly where you have been.

Cool feature : The App counts the km² you traveled and shows you what percentage you have seen from mother earth. Also, the application gives you some badges for discovering new things – well, ok…

Although this marketing stuff is just for fun, the initial idea of tracking your travel route is a great tool for flashpackers.

Food apps are great for discovering places to eat wherever you are.  A lot of them can be location-specific though, so it can be useful to check out apps for whichever city you happen to be in.

That said though, here are some apps that are useful all over the place.

Foursquare is one of the best apps for finding food and bar options in cities around the world.  It’s like a more detailed version of Google Maps’ “explore nearby” option.

You can join communities of foodies who share similar tastes, you can make lists of places you’ve been and want to go, and the tips and suggestions are very helpful.

In-app links to directions are also quite helpful for getting to that dive bar or hole-in-the-wall, a cash-only restaurant that you discovered.

This way you can find more local places when traveling to big touristy destinations such as Paris , or London .

The Fork is a great app for finding restaurants and making reservations around Europe, although the app is expanding, and now offers service in Australia and Brazil.

The Fork is perfect for foodies looking for local suggestions around Europe.  A cool feature is the Chef Suggestion option, which gives you trusted reviews from the people who know food best.

Note: The app also has discount options for selected restaurants.

Available in over 180 countries, Happy Cow is an app that helps vegans find the best vegan options wherever they are.

You can save places to view offline if you’re data-deficient, share spots that offer vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free options, and use the interactive map that allows you to see what’s nearby.

Note: The app isn’t free, unfortunately, but its $2 purchase price certainly won’t break the bank.

Previously called Urbanspoon in the USA, Australia, and Canada. Zomato is available in tons of counties, including more obscure locations for the more adventurous, like Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Chile.

You can search for restaurants, view menus and reviews, and even order food online for delivery in India, UAE or Lebanon.

It’s a truly international food app that is available in places where a lot of food apps aren’t.

Whether you need to split up a bar tab with your buddies, exchange currency or make an international transfer, there’s an app for that.

Here are a few of the best apps when it comes to handling your money while you travel.

The Cash App is a great way to send and receive money while you travel.  You can send money to your friends for free, and it offers discounts at different stores and restaurants.  You are also able to buy and sell Bitcoin, as well as play the stock market a bit if you’re so inclined.  The cash app is a trusted and secure app.

Note: The only problem is that it only works in the US and the UK.

Transferwise is a great app for sending and receiving money in different currencies around the world.

They do charge a fee, but it’s usually much lower than going transferring directly between banks.  It’s a great option if you’re low cash in local currency and need to transfer your dollars or euros into Thai baht or Turkish lira, and helps you avoid super high charges from ATMs.

The app is very easy to use and the converted money will usually be available in a few hours.  The only rub here though is that not all currencies are covered.

For example, you can convert dollars to the Turkish lira, but you can convert lira back to dollars.

Splitwise is a great app to keep track of who owes who on group trips.

I used it on a trip across Scandinavia a few years back, and it was perfect for seeing who paid for what and made it super easy to balance out the costs of the trip between the four of us. It supports over 100 currencies, and if you all live in the same country you can pay each other directly through the app.

This is also the ultimate app for hostel travelers. This way everybody can participate and you know exactly who paid what – and who owes money.

Note: Unfortunately, it doesn’t support international transfers, but it is still a great app for the more monetarily egalitarian group travelers.

This app is great for finding out the exchange rates in whatever country you’re traveling in.

XE Currency Converter allows international travelers to convert money and send it across borders quickly and easily.  The exchange rates are usually very competitive, and the app is easy to use.

You can also choose to get alerts about exchange rate changes, so you can keep track of when the right time to exchange your currency is so that you’re maximizing your money.

It’s always a good idea to learn a bit of the language spoken in whatever country you’re traveling in, so here are a few of the best apps when it comes to learning a language beforehand or communicating while you’re abroad.

Tried and true, Google Translate gives you the ability to translate into just about every language.  You can speak into it or type a word you need, as well as take photos of a menu option or road sign and get an instant translation.

You can add an offline dictionary that you can access sans-data for translation in a pinch in places with limited cell service.

Note: One downfall with Google Translate is that is doesn’t work well with full sentences; the grammar will be clunky and it doesn’t do well with colloquialisms and phrases.

Duolingo offers an easy and addictive way to learn a language on your phone.  It has a great interface, with step-by-step learning goals that are practical and super useful for learning everyday phrases, vocabulary, and grammar in over 30 languages.

The in-app goals and hot-streak feature give you some added motivation to keep a daily learning streak going which will help keep you engaged and consistent in your language learning.

Note: The other great thing?  It’s free!

Babbel has developed a great app that features short, effective lessons, practice with reading, writing and speaking, and excellent speech-recognition that helps you more effectively practice your pronunciation.

While you don’t have as many language options to choose from as Duolingo, with only 13 languages offered, the courses they do offer are more in-depth and extensive than Duolingo.

You can start off with a free trial, but after that, you’ll have to pay for a subscription.

Google Translate is a powerful tool for travelers, offering a wide range of language support and features. Simply type, speak, or even take a photo of text to instantly get translations in over 100 languages. Whether you’re trying to decipher a menu, ask for directions, or have a conversation with a local, Google Translate can bridge the language gap.

For visual translations, use the camera feature to translate text from real-world objects like signs, menus, or documents. Need help with pronunciation? Listen to the audio pronunciation of translations to ensure you’re saying things correctly. And if you’re traveling to an area with limited internet connectivity, download language packs for offline use.

Want to find the cheapest places to stay during your travels?

Here are a few apps that offer great deals, easy ways to compare hostels and hotels, and user-friendly interfaces that make finding one fast and easy.

Hostelworld is a great app that compares cheap hostels all over the world.

You can easily filter your searches by price and location, and see where each hostel is on a map so you can make sure it’s in a convenient location.  The reviews are usually pretty accurate and reliable, and they even offer travel guides for destinations all over the world.

We wrote a big review on the Hostelworld App here .

Note: Another nice thing about Hostelworld is that you can just pay a small deposit to reserve a room or bed if your travel plans are uncertain.

A great option for comparing prices of both hotels and hostels, Booking.com is another great app that lets you filter your search preferences and shows you an option on its in-app map so that you can easily compare your options and see where they are.

Booking.com gives you lots of variety when it comes to the types of accommodation options available as well, and you get free cancellations in most rooms that you book.

Airbnb is a great app for really experiencing the local vibe of a place.

There are lots of super cool apartments for daily or weekly rent, and you can save some money by booking a room in a shared apartment, which has the extra benefit of maybe meeting some cool people and experiencing more what a city has to offer with local tips and insights.

Airbnb hosts also sometimes offer guidebooks that guests can access when they book a room, with suggestions of places to go and restaurants to eat at and stuff like that, which is a pretty useful feature.

Hotel tonight offers great deals on last-minute bookings by finding empty rooms that are available on short notice.  But it’s also great for more long term bookings.

It has simple categories that make searching for a hostel or hotel easy and has lots of filtering options that help narrow your search.

Note: Hotel Tonight also has a perks program that’ll give you discounts the more you book through their app, which can definitely add up if you’re a frequent traveler.

Traveling alone?  Traveling with some friends but still want to get out and meet some people?

There are a lot of apps out there that’ll help you meet people, whether you’re looking for group events like bar crawls or sightseeing tours, want to hook up, or just want to find someone with similar interests to experience the city with.

Couchsurfing kills two birds with one stone.  You’ll get a free place to stay and probably meet cool, open-minded people to hang out with.

Set up a profile, make it interesting, and then see what options you have on the in-app map.  You can check out your prospective host’s profile and see if they seem like a good match, see their availability, and then send them a message to get the ball rolling.

I’ve used this app to great effect over the years, and have met lots of cool people and saved money at the same time.

The Meetup app is a great way to find local groups filled with people who are interested in similar things.

There are lots of different categories, like hiking, photography, food/drink, new in town, and sightseeing, to name just a few. For those of you who want to meet people in a new city, but don’t want the Tinder tension, the Meetup app is a good option.

Speaking of attraction tension, Tinder . Although your humble writer has been out of the dating game for years now, he is still aware of the benefits and drawbacks of using this app to meet people in a new city.

Swipe away, friends.

Read : Netflix and Chill – The 10 Do’s and Dont’s.

Bumble is a bit tamer than Tinder.  It features options for dates, friendships, and networking, so you have more than just the casual hook-ups offered on Tinder.

Also, the dating portion of the app is always initiated by the women.  If you match with someone, it’s the woman that gets to make the first move, which can definitely eliminate some of the creepiness associated with testosterone-driven dating sites.

A fairly new addition to Airbnb , Airbnb experience allows you to check out different events and get-togethers happening in the city you’re visiting.

It’s a cool way to get out of your comfort zone a bit, and because it’s connected to Airbnb, you can be sure that it’s safe and verified.

No matter where you are, here are some invaluable messaging apps that will help you keep in touch with family, friends, and coworkers.

Whatsapp offers secure messaging, audio calls and video calls all over the world.  It’s a great app that gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your data is secure.

It also helps cut down on phone bills and is a great option to make calls or chat with your friends no matter where you happen to be.

Note: Whatsapp is generally not used as much in the United States or Southeast Asia, but is popular just about anywhere else.

Speaking of Southeast Asia, Line is a super popular messaging app in countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

It has lots of different emojis and stickers, which is pretty entertaining for someone only used to your standard iMessage or Whatsapp emojis.  So if you’re traveling around Southeast Asia it could be helpful to check out Line.

Another tried and true app that helps you keep in touch with people no matter where you are.  Skype ’s video quality is better than Whatsapp’s, facetime’s or facebook’s, and the messaging and voice calls are also reliable and easy to use.

Skype is a great addition to your app collection whether you’re traveling or not.

A great way to keep in touch with your Facebook friends no matter where you are, Facebook’s messenger app connects you with all your friends and allows you to share photos and memes simply and easily.

Just don’t care too much about your data sovereignty.

Finding affordable flights is a huge part of traveling on a budget.  A good flight-finding app can sometimes save you hundreds of dollars.

Additionally, it’s always smart to use flight alerts and look at certain days where flights may be cheaper.  Airline prices can vary drastically due to airport taxes in different countries, so it’s good to be aware of this as well.

Skyscanner is a great app for comparing prices across airlines and booking agencies.

For travelers with a bit more flexibility, choose the “whole month” option in the search bar and look at a calendar that’ll show you the various prices each day.  This allows you to choose the dates that’ll be the cheapest by fiddling with departure and return dates.

Here is our big review on Skyscanner .

Or if you’re super flexible, click on the “cheapest month” in the search bar and find the absolute lowest prices anywhere in the world.

Much like Skyscanner, Kayak allows you to compare flight prices between hundreds of airlines and travel companies.

Unlike Skyscanner, Kayak also lets you compare rental cars and hotels, and you can bundle them all easily and effectively which makes it a great one-stop choice for planning your next trip.

Kayak also offers deals and discounts through the app and allows you to organize everything in one place.

Note: The price alert notification is a nice way to keep up to date about any price changes so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

FlightAware is a great app for tracking flights in real-time, which will definitely come in handy if you have some skin-of-your-teeth connecting flights or want to have to pick your friend up at the airport.

Note: The radar map is just generally interesting to look at if you want to get some perspective on the sheer numbers of flight traffic around the world.

For travelers who love the outdoors, there are some pretty cool apps that’ll help you out when it comes to finding hiking trails, checking out the topography of your surroundings, and identifying plant life.

And while these kinds of apps may seem a bit contradictory to the whole point of getting out into nature, they still allow you to plan a hike or check out the terrain before you stuff your phone into your bag and forget it for a while.

Gaia GPS started as a backpacking app but has now expanded to include things like day hiking, camping, hunting mountain biking, and backcountry skiing and mountaineering.

It allows you to view topography, save routes for offline use, and use its discover tab to find nearby hiking trails.

Note: Hardcore hikers can pay 20 bucks for the premium subscription and have access to a whole mess of cool features.

PlantSnap is a cool little free app that allows you to identify all kinds of plant life.

And while it’s maybe better to put your phone away and just enjoy nature, it can also be fun to occasionally take it out and see what type of mushroom that is.

The app also has a community feature that lets you connect with other tree heads and share your photos with people from all over the world.

AllTrails is a bit more user-friendly than Gaia GPS, with over 100,000 trail maps all over the world.  It works through crowdsourcing, so photos, routes, and reviews are all submitted by other users.

This makes it possible to find some more out-of-the-way, obscure trails that you may not be aware of otherwise.

Ok, technically this app is not about hiking. However, we use it in a way to find spots we have not explored it.

GeoCaching is an outdoor game for geeks and nerds, hunting small containers from all over the world, happening right now around you and wherever you are going – this might be a decent summary.

This simple and at the same time brilliant game offers big value for travelers looking for undiscovered spots and hidden gems.

While a lot of us really enjoy spur-of-the-moment, spontaneous adventures where we end up somewhere we couldn’t ever have expected, it can also pay to plan ahead.

Here are a couple of trip-planning apps that are great for just that.

Did you know, some countries require proof of onward travel? Meaning, when entering the country you need to show proof that you are leaving the country again before your visa expires.

Onward Ticket is your absolute go-to for finding an affordable and genuine onward flight ticket, for just $12!

Always check in advance if you require an outbound ticket and avoid being turned away at the airport.

We wrote a detailed guide and review of Onward Ticket and why you need it.

Find below our video for you. It shows the easy steps to get your proof of onward travel.

Would you like to work and travel? Worldpackers isa collaborative community that connects you with hosts worldwide, where you can stay in exchanging your skills for accommodation.

You can find volunteering opportunities around the world; from Guatemala to Australia. You can apply for different programs and work type such as

• organic farms
• content creation
• animal sanctuaries

We wrote a big guide on volunteering at hostels here . The job opportunities are almost unlimited.

There is an annual fee with Worldpackers, starting at $39/per full year – a very fair deal. The 3 packages are:

• Apply to and contact all of our hosts
• Count on our support team and WP Insurance
• Contribute to the community and earn money with WP Programs.
• All benefits of the Solo Trips Plan above
• Access to the Academy track: Planning and budgeting for travel
• Access to the Academy track: Make a living while traveling as a lifestyle
• Invite and connect your accounts to apply together to volunteer opportunities that accept couples or friends.

Read our full guide on Worldpackers .

https://youtu.be/Ore60EKL5G4

Polar Steps

Easily Track your travels with Polar Steps .

This tiny little app lets you write your own online journal with many interactive features. You can instantly upload your photos, add location and so much more.

And the best part: After your travels, you can create your own travel book with all your photos and notes you took during your travels.

This is absolutely beautiful and many travelers we meet have been using this app.

Tripit helps streamline all your reservations—hotels, car rentals, bus tickets, flights, or any other plans you make—into one easy to access itinerary.  It’s a great tool to help keep you organized and avoid forgetting anything last minute.

Definitely great for those of us who are constantly forgetting which email has the barcode scanner that is your bus ticket as you scramble to get to the station before you miss it.

Roadtrippers

For those of you planning a road trip in the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, Roadtrippers is a must-have app that allows you to plan an epic road trip.

Plan a route and check out campsites, cool diners, roadside attractions, national parks and lots of other awesome spots along the way.

Note: The app is free, but if you upgrade to pro you can plan up to 150 possible waypoints as opposed to 7 with the free version.

Visit a City gives you access to over 1,000 travel guides in cities all over the world.  The great thing about this app is that it can be used offline, so you don’t have to worry about data.

The guides featured in the app include all the must-see attractions in whatever city you’re in, as well as pre-made itineraries.

11. Photo and Video Editing

When travelling the world, you will come across incredible places. Nowadays you can impressive and unreal photos with your phone itself. This itself is no secret anymore.

Yet, you need some cool apps to add a little bit of spice to them. Here are our favorite photo and video editing apps.

Instasize (for Video and Photo)

A little secret App is Instasize . You can instantly make your photos look better with 130 free photo filters. Enhance your image with editing tools including contrast, exposure, saturation, and clarity. Very handy is the build-in feature to resize the photo to fit any social networks like Instagram, TikTok and as well Snapchat.

Also, you can edit your videos. This is however a Premium Feature only.

Good to know : The app is available for iOs and Android .

Below I add a great tutorial on how instasize works.

Lightroom by Adobe

Second on the list is the famous Lightroom Adobe . Other than the Lightroom for your computer, the Lightroom App is actually free; most people do not know this and skip this app from the start….and that includes me, actually.

Lightroom is a powerful App that lets you edit your photos within a few clicks. You have a few presets included.

Good to know : Many bloggers and influencer sell amazing presets for Lightroom as well.

Peter McKinnon made this useful video on how to edit like an absolute pro.

Summary of our Favourite Travel Apps

There are many awesome travel apps out there, making the travel life easier. We will try to keep this article updated. A good travel app does not have to cost any money. Yet, some are really worth it as they really help you to ave money, take cool photos and simply make your life easier.

Do you have your own favorite travel app? Then come on and write it down in the comments.

We are 100% Independent: Some links on Hostelgeeks are so-called affiliate links. If you decide to book through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you . Your support allows us to keep producing high-quality, independent content free of influence from hostels or external advertisers. Learn more here . 🙏

✏️ Read our Editorial Guidelines

I have a free travel app for your list. The name is Open Borders and it has info about covid entry restrictions and quarantines for all countries.

Thanks for adding this. Do you have a link to this app? Cheers, Matt

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Best Travel Apps: Essential Guide for Savvy Explorers

Last updated on October 7, 2024 by Shannon

Travel today doesn’t much resemble travel 30 years ago, or even 10 years ago. A lot has changed about how people travel the world —the tools they use to plan travel, but also how they navigate the world once they’re on the road.

When I left in 2008 for my yearlong trip , smartphones were brand-new and far from ubiquitous. In the span of a few years, both travel apps and online photo-sharing platforms (i.e. social media) is the norm.

Now, planning and organizing travel has never been easier, thanks to a myriad of travel apps at your fingertips. From flight and hotel booking, currency conversion, to transportation and local navigation, digital platforms have streamlined travel planning for all types of travelers. There are even a number of sustainable travel apps that can help you lower your travel footprint while also seeing a more local side of each place you visit.

The apps below are on my iPhone and work for all the different stages of a trip. These are my favorite road-tested travel apps that I have used to help visit many of the 70+ countries that I’ve explored since my first round the world trip in 2008.

And if you’re still looking for travel advice, head over to my master world travel resources page .

Table of Contents

Best General Travel Apps

These travel apps will not only make your life easier but also help you discover new experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations that you may not have considered before. With the right blend of user-friendliness and innovative features, these must-have travel apps are sure to be your faithful companions on the road ahead.

Google Maps

Google Maps  is an essential app for every traveler. You likely already use it around your hometown, and it’s just as good in the vast majority of places you visit. With its reliable and accurate navigation, you can easily find your way around unfamiliar places. It offers various transportation options, such as directions for walking, driving, or public transport—and you can even ask it to route you on public transport via routes without stairs (in case you’re in a wheelchair or traveling with a stroller). You can also save maps offline for when you don’t have an internet connection.

You can also use it as an informal travel guide, searching for general things like “vegetarian restaurants,” “best things to do nearby”—then you can pick a place using the user-generated recommendations and reviews.

I’ve used a lot of VPNs over the years, and NordVPN remains the most reliable app to access the internet as if you’re browsing from the U.S. This may not seem important at first, but there are a large number of websites that block IP internet addresses outside of the U.S.—this is common with news and food sites, but also Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and others.

NordVPN regularly runs great promotions and I’ve used it for more than five years now as an expat living in Spain , and it’s works 100 percent of the time with all of the major streaming platforms (if it doesn’t work on one connection, you can reconnect on a different one and it will). It works on both your laptop if you’re bringing one , and your cell phone.

I mapped an entire two month Eurail adventure primarily using Rome2Rio in 2023 and it was flawless. It uncovered routes and timelines I couldn’t easily surface anywhere else. Travel planning with this app becomes more accessible and convenient. It allows you to compare various transportation options—including trains, buses, cars, and flights, to determine the best way to get from one place to another.

Key Rome2Rio features include:

• Comprehensive database of worldwide travel options
• Price estimations for different transportation modes
• Booking options and links to official websites
• Accurate route planning with distances and travel times

Rome2Rio is owned by Omio, which I just don’t like as much, by the way!

If you’ve already traveled a fair bit, or have friends or family living outside of the country then it’s a good bet you have WhatsApp on your phone. If you don’t yet have it, download it and you’ll likely find a lot of your friends already there. I have an international cast of friends I can text with for free through WhatsApp. It’s a standard in the travel sphere because the app works on all smartphone systems. It works over wifi and for friends in any country in the world. Even outside of keeping in touch with friends, this is the go-to app for hotel and tour owners too. I used WhatsApp almost exclusively to reserve rooms, book accommodation , and communicate with the owners while walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain , for example.

App in the Air

App in the Air  is a personal flight assistant that helps you keep track of your upcoming trips and flight details. It works best if you go all in on using it. It offers real-time updates on delays, gate changes, and boarding times, so you won’t miss any essential information.

Some of its useful features include:

• Offline access to your flight details
• Countdown timer for checking flight status
• Airport maps with terminal layouts and Wi-Fi passwords
• Loyalty program tracking for frequent flyers

Booking flights through this travel is also novel as it offers an AI driven search tool that travelers just love. It’s the best travel app that you’ve probably never heard of.

You’ve likely come across Seat Guru while researching where to sit on a certain type of plane. Whether you hate being near the loo or you get claustrophobic in the center of the plane, this app has you covered. It let’s you check out the best and worst seats so you can pick a good one for your next flight. I never pick my seat on a plane until I’ve checked the Seat Guru listing for the plane flying my planned route.

XE Currency

XE Currency is only currency conversion and rate app you need. It’s the best—the interface is dead simple to use, meaning you can convert across multiple currencies in a hot second. I’ve used it for well over a decade and have never felt like there was something else it needed to do. It does this one thing well, so put it on your phone.

Don’t forget to  book travel insurance for your trip —a great policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies, lost or stolen gear, adventure sports riders, and more. I’ve used  IMG Global  for more than a decade  highly recommend it !

Best Accommodation Booking Travel Apps

Booking.com

This is the first place I look for accommodation. Booking.com has a user-friendly platform for finding and booking accommodations around the world. It also offers a wide variety of accommodation types , including hotels, apartments, and hostels, so I always easily find a place that suits my preferences and budget. The interface is easy to navigate, with filters to narrow down your search quickly. It’s also widely used, so you can read reviews from other travelers to ensure that you’re making an informed decision—and that the place has the vibes you’re looking for in a place to stay.

One bonus for using this travel accommodation app? It offers a loyalty program that accumulates rewards the more you use it. So you can earn 10-20% a good many hotels in their search engine, and even score free breakfast. This loyalty is partly what has allowed Booking.com to outstrip the competition for me in terms of finding good deals.

VRBO offers a great alternative to traditional hotels, giving you a unique opportunity to stay in local homes, apartments, and even villas, treehouses, and more. VRBO connects travelers with property owners and managers for vacation rentals. I like the apps user-friendly interface for browsing and filtering properties based on location, dates, price, and amenities. Naturally it has property descriptions, photos, and reviews, and it also has in-app communication between you and the host

Hostelworld

A very large portion of my travels these past 15+ years was as a backpacker. If you’re a budget-conscious traveler, Hostelworld is a must-have app. It specializes in listing and booking hostels. This travel app is slick, and it offers a clear and easy-to-use interface, allowing you to search for available hostels by city, price, and amenities.

Backpackers are also pretty candid, so the ratings provided by fellow travelers offer a clear idea of what to expect before booking. As an added bonus, Hostelworld often features exclusive deals and discounts for app users, which can saves you even more money during your travels.

Best Transportation Travel Apps

While Google Maps is a go-to in general, these transportation apps offer you a bit more help getting from here to there.

Uber is my go-to app for ridesharing (although I also use local versions in places where Uber doesn’t work). That said, Uber has availability in many cities across the globe, and you’ll find it convenient for transportation. You should download this app to your phone and set up payment before you leave. That way it’s ready to use when you need it—even if that’s in a sketchy neighborhood of a sketchy city at dusk (true story).

Citymapper is an excellent app for navigating public transport in several major cities. While Google Maps does a good job, Citymapper does a terrific job at just that task. Some of its features include:

• Real-time departure information
• Step-by-step directions
• Alerts for any disruptions in service

To get started, input your destination, and Citymapper will provide you with various options to reach it, including buses, trains, and walking routes. If you’re a budget travel, using this travel app saves money since you always find and use the most efficient routes and transportation methods.

If you’re roadtripping in the U.S., then ditch Google Maps and embrace the wonder that is Waze . Although I often use Google Maps around town for quick trips, Waze is an incredible travel app for navigating long road trips.

The key features? It offers real-time traffic information, turn-by-turn directions, and various features to help optimize your route. Waze relies on user-generated data, allowing drivers to report accidents, traffic jams, road hazards, and police presence, providing up-to-date information to fellow users. It also suggests alternative routes to avoid heavy traffic and provides estimated arrival times.

Notable Mentions

• Bikemap : Bikemap is a travel app that provides over 11 million mapped cycling paths worldwide. It allows users to rent bikes and explore new cities responsibly. The app offers user-generated routes in 100+ countries and encourages contributions to expand its database. Bikemap has nearly 8 million users and helps lower carbon footprint during trips.
• BlaBlaCar : BlaBlaCar is a ride-sharing app that provides a faster, more direct, and sustainable alternative to trains and car rentals. It is popular in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia, with limited availability in the US. The app offers trusted carpools and bus routes along popular routes. Make sure to download the specific BlaBlaCar app for the country you’re traveling to (as there are different apps for each country where it operates).

Language Translation Apps

Google Translate

If you’re traveling the world, it’s a fair bet that you’ll face language barriers during at some point during your trip. Google Translate is a handy travel app to have on your smartphone. It offers translations in over 100 languages and works offline with 59 languages. You can translate text, images, and even spoken words, making it an invaluable tool for navigating foreign countries. The image translation feature is amazing for reading a menu in a new place.

Some of the key features of Google Translate include:

• Offline translations : Download language packs for offline use.
• Camera translations : Point your camera at text and get translations instantly.
• Conversation mode : Have bilingual conversations with real-time translations.
• Handwriting : Write text in 93 languages and get translations.

I live as an expat in Barcelona, Spain , and I use Google Translate as my go-to when there’s a breakdown in my Spanish and my ability to get my point across.

iTranslate Voice

If you prefer voice translations, iTranslate Voice is a great option. It supports 40 languages, and the travel app allows you to speak directly into your phone, translating your words to the desired language. It’s ideal for quick conversations, getting your message across, and understanding locals.

iTranslate Voice features:

• Instant voice translations : Speak into your phone and hear translated phrases.
• Text translations : Type in text and get translations in real-time.
• Language detection : Automatically detects the language of your input for even quicker translations.

Travel Budget Management Apps

Managing your budget while traveling the world isn’t always the most fun part of travel, but the right budgeting app can make or break a long-term trip. If you’re keen to track your travel expenses, you have three main travel budgeting app options. While there used to be a fantastic on built by long-term travelers (Trail Wallet).

TravelSpend

TravelSpend is a user-friendly budgeting app that helps you keep track of your expenses during your trip. You can easily categorize your spending, and the app shows you a daily summary of your expenditures. It’s a feature-rich app that includes:

• Real-Time Budget Tracking:  Monitor your spending as it happens, and see how much you have left in your budget.
• Multiple Currencies:  The app automatically converts expenses to your chosen currency.
• Customizable Categories:  Organize your expenses into custom categories so you can see where your money goes.

The app has a forever free option, but you’d likely need the paid monthly premium version if you’re using it a lot, or for long-term travel.

TrabeePocket

TrabeePocket is a simple yet effective app to manage your travel budget. It not only tracks your expenses but also helps you plan your travel budget before setting off on your journey. Key features of this budgeting app include:

• Expense Tracking:  Add expenses quickly and easily, complete with photos of receipts.
• Budget Planning:  Set a budget for your trip and allocate amounts for different categories.
• Currency Conversion:  Supports multiple currencies, making it convenient for international travels.

Tripcoin is another excellent travel budget management app, perfect for those who prefer a visually appealing interface. The app focuses on making budget tracking enjoyable and easy. Some standout features of Tripcoin are:

• Visual Data Representation:  View your expenses in colorful charts and graphs for better understanding.
• Offline Mode:  No need for an internet connection; track your expenses even when you’re off the grid.
• Expense Filtering:  Sort and filter your expenses by date, category, and currency for a comprehensive overview of your spending.

It’s not quite as feature rich as TravelSpend, but it’s free, so that’s a help for those traveling on a tight budget.

Best Travel Apps to Find Local Experiences

I love EatWith , a travel app that connects you with locals who host unique dining experiences. Whether you’re jonesing for a home-cooked meal or an exclusive cooking class, this travel app has you covered. The app offers a wide range of cuisines and experiences to suit anyone’s taste buds and dietary preferences (I’m vegetarian, for example). It’s easy to browse something neat near your and then book directly from the app. Using EatWith let’s you can immerse in the local culture, make new friends, and savor authentic flavors. It’s a win all around.

Viator is one of the most well know places to book local tours and activities nearly anywhere in the world. It has a website, of course, but also an easy-to-use app that allows you to browse, compare, and book numerous excursions. Viator let’s you:

• Find exclusive deals on exciting activities
• Read reviews from fellow travelers
• Save your favorite experiences for easy access

Things you can book include guided walking tours, food crawls, scenic boat rides, private sightseeing adventures, and so much more.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide  is a rival to Viator, and although some local tours overlap on both sites, there’s a lot of unique offerings on GetYourGuide. On a recent trip to Norway in June 2023, I found a fantastic day cruise to the fjords on GetYourGuide and it better fit my schedule than Viator. So, that means you should check both apps to really understand what you can do in each new place—you’re looking at over 50,000 activities to choose from. App features include:

• Comprehensive reviews and photos of experiences
• User-friendly booking and cancellation process
• Attraction tickets, city cards, and local transportation

GetYourGuide covers everything from skip-the-line passes to top attractions to guided food tours. This versatile app is a valuable resource for enhancing your travel experience and exploring your destination like a local.

Best Misc Travel Apps

Some of these apps aren’t exactly travel-specific, but they can be essential tools to help some aspects of your travel experience.

Evernote or Trello

In my early years of round the world travel, I used Evernote for every aspect of my life, trip planning included. I used folders for each potential location I planned to visit at some point, and over the years I clipped interesting articles and advice into country folders. Then about 10 years ago I started using Trello for business, and found that it was effective for planning trips too! Now I use boards for all of my trips, and future trips. The fact is, if you’re already using a project management system, assess if there’s a way use it for your travels.

Packing Planner App

I love this app when planning for everything from short trips to long-term travel too. And it’s free! While Packing Planner App is only available on iOS, this travel packing app helps you get everything sorted and into your bag. I especially like the potential for helping me re-pack after I have spread out in a guesthouse. It’s pretty, useful, and free.

US Public Lands

If you’re traveling the US and plan to camp, then this app is just about the best investment you’ll find, the app details all the public land in the US where camping is free. US Public Lands provides comprehensive information about national parks, national forests, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas, wildlife refuges, and other public lands.

The app offers a user-friendly interface with maps, detailed descriptions, and key features of each public land area. It includes information about camping, hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, picnic areas, visitor centers, and recreational activities available in each location.

One of the app’s notable features is its offline functionality, allowing you to access maps and information even without an internet connection. This is particularly useful when traveling through remote areas with limited connectivity.

Skype and Google Voice

I have used Skype for years and it’s a trusty standby. Skype-to-Skype calls are free, and calls to your home country cost mere pennies. Though I often use Google Voice for free when I need to call a phone, there are times Skype is more reliable (and vice versa) so having both is beneficial. It’s also a standard in business as well, and it’s how I connect with my clients while traveling. Although you can connect with family through WhatsApp, and even hotels, there are times when you might need to call ahead to the somewhere in the next country you’re visiting, so perhaps you don’t have a local SIM card yet.

Bonus Download! 

If you’re backpacking the world, or even just traveling for a week or two somewhere chances are you will need to pass the time. RadioLab is my favorite podcast, ever. It has accompanied me on trains across India, buses in Guatemala, and all the flights and places in between. I love podcasts as a way to pass time on transportation where reading is tough. Other podcasts I love are listed here .

Essential Travel Planning Resources

❗ Yes, you need travel insurance . IMG Global is the travel insurance I’ve used for well over a decade of traveling solo, and with kids. Here’s why .

🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for world travel , gear to keep you safe on the road, my favorite travel books , and more.

🛏️ Find great accommodation . Booking.com is essentially the only hotel booking site that I use. It has a wide and affordable selection of traditional hotels, but also hostels and vacation rentals, too. Use these pro tips to find the best travel accommodation .

📍 Navigate more effectively. Rome2Rio is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on RentalCars.com .

✈️ Book affordable flights. Expedia is one of the first places I look for low-cost flights .

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

2 thoughts on “Best Travel Apps: Essential Guide for Savvy Explorers”

My handicap wife & I are traveling to Panama & Costa Rica. We’d love to find great guides to help with traveling. Our budget is “moderate”, can you help with guides & places to stay? Thank you, Jerry

Hi Jerry, thanks for reaching out! These are not services that I offer, unfortunately, but I wish you the best of luck! :)

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What are you looking for?

35 best travel apps [the definitive 2024 guide].

Traveling is one of the best things in the world, but the fact is that it can be difficult to plan a trip , especially when you’re on a budget or you’re just not sure where to start.

Luckily, there are plenty of fantastic apps out there that can help you with so many things! 

Whether you’re looking to …

• Organize a trip
• Find travel inspiration
• Book accommodation
• Or keep entertained on the go

There really are endless options when it comes to apps for travel. 

Some of them will allow you to benefit from in-app discounts, others will help you find the best tours in the area, and many of them are simply there for inspiration! 

Wherever you’re planning to travel, there are some applications out there that will help you along the way and make your life so much easier.

Although the majority of apps in this guide have a desktop version too, it’s often much handier to have the platform right at your fingertips! 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best travel apps (in our opinion at least …).

Travellerspoint

The best apps for organizing your trip

1. wanderlog.

Cost: Freemium: Free, Pro Monthly: $16.99 per month, Pro Annual: $49.99

Device: Android / iPhone

Review score: Google Play: 4.7/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: You can collaborate with friends and family if you’re traveling as a group 

Wanderlog is a travel itinerary and trip planner that allows you to create the trip of your dreams without hassle. 

You can create a fully mapped-out itinerary of your travels, take inspiration from free guides, and put a budget together for your trip. 

However, one of the best things about Wanderlog is that you can collaborate on a trip itinerary together. This makes traveling as a group super easy!

Wanderlog is undoubtedly one of the best travel planning apps out there, and has so much to offer.

The free version is incredible, but if you’re looking for enhanced features such as being able to use the service offline or exporting information to Google Maps, then you can pay a subscription fee. 

2. Get Your Guide

Review score: Google Play: 4.7/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: Get Your Guide has a very flexible free cancellation policy

We always use Get Your Guide when we travel as it’s one of the best ways to search for experiences and tours in your chosen destination. 

All you have to do is type in your city or place, and there will be a wide variety of activities available. This can include safaris, city tours, theme parks, and cruises, so there’s something for everyone! 

You can even purchase city passes like this New York City Pass which can save you up to 40% off attractions.

Booking activities and tours through Get Your Guide allows you to look at reviews, book attractions in advance, and compare prices!

They also have a very flexible cancellation policy, no booking fees, and mobile-friendly tickets so you won’t need to print anything out.

Best feature: 24/7 award-winning support so there’s always someone available to help you

Like Get Your Guide, Viator is one of the best travel apps out there for booking activities, experiences, and tours. It’s owned by Tripadvisor and has a fantastic reputation!

There are plenty of reasons to book your activities with Viator including their award-winning support, free cancellation, variety of payment options, and high-quality standards.

There are over 300,000 experiences available to book on their website and app, and this includes destinations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia among others! 

Just type in the place you’re visiting, and you’ll be shown a variety of activities ranging from helicopter tours to hiking. No matter what you’re interested in you’ll find something to your liking.

If you're still in the process of planning a trip and you're unsure of where to choose then check out our guide on the best places to travel to ! 

Cost: Standard: Free, TripIt Pro: $49 per year

Best feature: Being able to sync confirmation emails to your itinerary

TripIt is another highly-rated trip planner if you hadn’t guessed by the name, and it’s a fantastic app for putting together a detailed itinerary. 

The app allows you to sync flight and accommodation confirmations from your email, access the latest travel guidance, and add documents to your travel plans!

There’s a free version that does pretty much everything you need to or you can opt for TripIt Pro which is a paid service. This will allow you to access interactive maps, your flight status, and a fare tracker among other features.

Either way, this is a great travel app for organizing your trip as you can keep everything in one place!

5. Roadtrippers

Cost: Standard: Free, Road Trippers Plus: $29.99 per year

Review score: Google Play: 3.9/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Roadtrippers Plus allows you to add up to 150 stops on your itinerary

This is one of the best apps for travelers as you’ll get to put together the ultimate road trip itinerary! This includes sights and attractions, places to camp, and activities. 

With Roadtrippers , you can even add fuel and rest stops to your map/itinerary, as well as bars, restaurants, and shops! What more could you need? 

Not only is this app super easy to use, but you’ll have access to a wide range of articles and guides detailing interesting places to visit. 

Driving around the world is our favorite thing to do, and we’ve road-tripped endless countries including Norway , Ireland , Portugal , and Alaska . 

This nifty app makes it so easy to plan the perfect route, so make sure you give it a go! 

The best apps for accommodation

6. booking.com.

Review score: Google Play: 4.6/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: You’ll find plenty of in-app only deals

Booking.com is one of the best vacation rental sites out there and is a fantastic option if you’re looking for accommodation. 

Although there’s a desktop version, having this app at your fingertips will come in handy. In fact, you’ll be able to find plenty of in-app deals which are often cheaper!

We've also got an in-depth guide on how to get cheap hotel rooms if you're interested in further discounts...

If you’re still not convinced, then you can even find cheap flights, rental car deals, and taxis on the app. 

Not only that but you’ll have your booking information (or bookings) in one place, and having the app is a great way to show your hotel address to taxi drivers.

This is undoubtedly one of the best apps for travel so make sure you download it before your trip!

Review score: Google Play: 4.5/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: There are over 5.5 million listings to choose from!

Everyone has heard of Airbnb as it’s revolutionized the accommodation industry since it was founded in 2008. It’s one of the best free travel apps out there so we couldn’t leave it off this list. 

Boasting over 5.5 million accommodation listings worldwide, you’ll find tons of places to stay on this app. Many of the listings are self-contained holiday homes and apartments so you’ll have plenty of space. 

However, you’ll also find a variety of unique accommodation options on Airbnb including cabins, igloos, treehouses, and boats!

This app offers some of the most affordable accommodation options in the world and is a must-have if you’re traveling on a budget.

However, if you’ve got plenty of cash to splash don’t worry as there are lots of luxury stays available too! 

8. Hostelworld

Review score: Google Play: 4.8/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5 

Best feature: 24/7 customer service so there’s always someone there to help

Speaking of traveling on a budget, have you tried Hostelworld ?

Whether you’re looking to visit Rome , Thailand , or New Zealand, this fantastic travel app has over 36,000 budget-friendly listings in over 170 countries.

Offering both dorm beds and private rooms, this is the app you’ll want to download if you’re looking for a bargain. Many of the properties also feature plenty of awesome facilities. 

This ranges from an onsite restaurant to a rooftop area, and some of the hostels even offer free walking tours.

Not only does Hostelworld offer ‘ROAMIE’s which are awesome budget travel tours, but they’re also currently working on a ‘common room’ feature where you’ll be able to connect with other travelers!

Best feature: Kayak offers price alerts for accommodation to help you get the best deals! 

Next up on this list is Kayak which is a comparison platform that compares accommodation, car rentals, transport, and more. It's also a great platform for finding cheap flights.

It’s one of the best all-rounded travel apps, and it even lets you set up a price alert system. This means you’ll be notified when the price drops, and you can sometimes save up to 35% off hotels.

Showing results from over 2 million properties, boasting endless verified reviews, and featuring an easy-to-use layout, it’s no wonder that Kayak is such a big hit.

If you’re still not convinced to download this app from the app store, then they also have a rewards system where you can rack up points to redeem against hotel stays!

10. iOverlander

Review score: Google Play: 3.8/5, Apple Store: 3.5/5

Best feature: Offers an endless list of amenities and camping locations to help you with your road trip

There are plenty of fantastic travel apps out there if you’re looking for cheap hotel rooms, but what about if you’re road-tripping?

That’s where iOverlander comes in! 

iOverlander is a nonprofit project that’s run mostly by volunteers, and it’s one of the best apps for travelers if you’re driving a car or motorhome.

Featuring incredible wild camping locations, petrol stations, hostels/hotels, and mechanics in case you run into a snag, this fantastic app has so much to offer. 

This app also allows users to add locations and amenities, so there are always new places being added.

You’ve also got Park4Night which is one of the best travel apps for Europe road trips! 

If you're planning to convert a campervan and hit the road, then honestly we can't recommend this way of exploring enough. However, just keep in mind that van life isn't for everyone.

The best apps for transportation

11. skyscanner.

Review score: Google Play: 4.7/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: You can compare a variety of airlines, flight times, and prices 

Skyscanner is currently one of the best flight apps on the market as it’s a metasearch engine that searches high and low for the cheapest airline prices.

All you need to do is enter your departure airport, destination, and the date you want to fly. You can then filter out the results by the number of stops, duration, and airline.

Skyscanner also has a handy ‘everywhere’ option so you can just enter your departure airport, and find the cheapest flights on offer! 

If you're looking to travel cheaply , then I 100% recommend downloading this app as you'll benefit from some great flight prices.

The one thing to keep in mind is that you won’t be booking your flight directly through Skyscanner, instead, you’ll be taken to a third-party website. 

Always check that website on Trustpilot before booking your flight - we can’t stress this enough! 

There's no denying that Skyscanner is one of the best travel apps for flights so make sure you download it.

Review score: Google Play: 4.8/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: The app is very easy to use, and you just scan the QR code to unlock your e-scooter or e-bike.

Lime is a micro-mobility app that allows you to use e-scooters and e-bikes without having to rent them. You simply have to download the Lime app, and then use it to locate a ‘vehicle’.

All you have to do then is scan the QR code to unlock your e-scooter or e-bike and you’re good to go. Not only is it a great way to get around, but it’s more environmentally friendly too!

Lime is our favorite e-scooter app, although they’re all typically very similar. The exact app you download will depend on the country you’re in so make sure you do your research first. 

For example, Lime is available in certain areas of Australia, Canada , Europe , the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Best feature: Being able to see the price upfront and ETA

Uber has been given some stick over the years (and understandably so) but today, it’s one of the best ways to get around if you’re planning to use taxis.

It’s a ride-hailing service that allows you to book a taxi where you’ll get to see the price upfront, and the estimated time of arrival (ETA). 

For starters, this stops you from getting ripped off and you won’t need to haggle a price if there aren’t any meter-ran taxis in the area. You can even reserve a ride in advance which is always handy! 

There are plenty of other ride-hailing apps to choose from aside from Uber but it all depends on the location you’re planning to visit. Other options include Grab , Lyft , InDrive , and Bolt . 

14. Airline app

Device: Depends on the airline, but the majority of them operate on Android and iPhone

Review score: N/A

Best feature: Many of the airline apps allow you to check in, in advance 

One of our top travel tips is to have the airline app downloaded onto your phone for whoever you’re flying with. 

For example, I always have Ryannair downloaded on my phone as we fly with them a lot when we’re in Europe. If you fly with various airlines, then you can just download and delete airline apps as needed. 

There are plenty of reasons to download an airline app, but the main reason is that they’re more convenient for checking in. 

You no longer have to queue for hours at the airport desk, and you’ll have easy access to your boarding passes! Many of them offer you the chance to purchase add-ons too! 

Review score: Google Play 4.2/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: Busbud offers a rewards program so you can save money every time you use it

Busbud is one of the best tourist apps out there if you’re looking to book transport! Although its name may not suggest it, you can actually use it to book buses, trains, and hotels. 

This app is partnered with some of the world’s best transport providers including Flixbus , Greyhound , Amtrak , and National Express , so it’s a great option if you’re looking to compare prices.

All you have to do is type in your departure point, your destination, and the date of travel and you’ll be offered several options - some for as little as $3!

Other fantastic transport apps include Check My Bus and 12Go Asia with the latter being great for traveling through Southeast Asia.

The best apps for easy travel in your destination

16. google maps.

Review score: Google Play: 4.1/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: You can download offline maps that have your ‘points of interest’ on 

Google Maps is undeniably one of the best apps for traveling! Whether you’re looking to find local businesses, get driving directions, or explore the area, this app has it all. 

Offering maps of over 220 countries and territories, you’ll have no problems getting around your chosen destination with this app. Most of the amenities listed on these maps have reviews and images too! 

However, one of my favorite things about Google Maps is its ‘Your Places’ feature where you can create your own lists and maps! 

In these lists, you can create the ultimate itinerary by bookmarking popular tourist attractions and restaurants, before downloading your map. You can then use your map offline whilst you’re on the go. 

17. Maps.me

Review score: Google Play 4.1/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Maps.me offers a bookmark collection so you can create your ultimate trip!

Maps.me is very similar to Google Maps and covers six of the seven continents. So, why will you need this one you ask?

Well, Maps.me is very handy for countries that are a bit more rugged. The reason I say this is because these apps are mapped out by photography from cars. 

Unfortunately, there are some areas where Google Maps cars are yet to venture which is where this app comes in…

We actually needed this app quite a lot in Eastern Europe as we traveled through some more off-the-beaten-track locations. In fact, the road markings were much clearer here too! 

So what are you waiting for? Make sure you check out this travel app! 

18. Google Lens

Review score: Google Play: 4.6/5, no specific Google Lens app on the Apple Store

Best feature: Can translate documents for you such as menus and brochures

We’ve all been there, you’re in a foreign country and you’ve sat down at a restaurant. You get excited to try some local cuisine and then you take a look at the menu, and you’ve got no idea what it says…

Luckily, Google Lens is here to help!

All you have to do is take a picture of your intended document, and then the app will translate the text to your preferred language.  

How handy is that!?

It’s a game changer for menus in particular.

Google Lens can also find clothes online from a picture, solve problems, and help you identify a species of flower, I mean it can pretty much do everything! 

Just keep in mind that the only way to access this app on iPhone is to first download the Google app, and then you’ll have to use it through that. 

19. Google Translate

Review score: Google Play: 4.4/5, Apple Store: 4.3/5

Best feature: You’ll have the power of language right at your fingertips!

Google Translate is AMAZING and we’ve used it in nearly every country that we’ve traveled to. 

Many people choose to just google “translate [Language] to English” but it’s handy to have the app installed as it’s often much quicker!

You can translate over 100 different languages with this app, and it’s a great way to interact with the locals if they don’t understand your language. 

If you’re a keen traveler then you’re likely to need Google Translate plenty of times throughout your lifetime. Whether that be translating a road sign, speaking to your taxi driver, or haggling a deal! 

Google Translate is one of my top recommendations when it comes to travel apps as it’s helped us out a lot over the years!

20. Revolut

Review score: Google Play 4.5/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Allows you to save money on ATM withdrawals whilst abroad 

Using a traditional bank account can get expensive if you’re a long-term traveler or digital nomad , which is why many people apply for a card from Revolut .

This travel card offers fantastic exchange rates, helps you save money on transfer fees, and gives you an allowance of up to $240 for no-fee ATM withdrawals.

Revolut offers a free account and paid plans, with the latter allowing you access to a variety of awesome features including travel insurance, cashback options, and airport lounge access. 

We've actually written an in-depth Revolut review if you're interested in learning more...

Aside from Revolut, there are plenty of other banking apps that you can use including Monzo and Wise ! Before you decide which one to use, do some research and see which company is more suited to you. 

21. NHS App

Review score: Google Play: 3.1/5, Apple Store: 2.9/5

Best feature: You can easily access your health records 

The NHS App is UK-specific, but perhaps your country offers something similar so make sure you do a bit of research before your trip.

The great thing about this app is that it gives you access to the newest version of your health records, your vaccinations, and Covid passes (if they’re required). 

This is vital during today's climate, especially as the pandemic has altered the entry requirements for a variety of countries! 

You’ll also be able to access services online which is always handy, but of course, this will be limited if you’re abroad. 

If your country doesn’t have something similar, then make sure you download a general health app that can give you guidelines. An example of this is My Travel Health ! 

22. Priority Pass

Cost: Standard: $99, Standard Plus: $329, Prestige: $469

Review score: Google Play: 3.8/5, Apple Store: 4.6/5

Best feature: Offers you free (or discounted) access to 1,300+ airport lounges

Priority Pass is an airport lounge access program that requires you to have a membership. 

There are three options; Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige, and each one has an annual fee. 

However, once you’ve paid the fee you’ll get free (or discounted) access to airport lounges all around the world. This is perfect if you’re traveling a lot or you’re a digital nomad so you work on the go! 

We usually sign up around Black Friday for the cheapest rate, and then use the QR code on the app for access.

Although this may seem like more of a niche travel app, it’s a great one to have if you spend a lot of time traveling! 

The best apps for entertainment purposes 

23. spotify.

Cost: Spotify Free: free, Spotify Premium: $4.99-$15.99 per month

Review score: Google Play: 4.4/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: Allows you to download music and listen offline whilst you’re traveling 

Spotify is a digital music service that gives you access to over 50 million songs ranging from the likes of Queen to local artists that are a little less well-known!

You can download albums, make your own playlists, listen to other users’ playlists, or listen to songs that the app recommends based on your music style. Spotify also has plenty of podcasts that you can listen to!

Although Spotify is one of the most popular music apps, you’ve also got the likes of Amazon Music , YouTube Music , and Apple Music . 

Whichever one you go for, I’d recommend going for a plan that allows you to download songs for offline use! 

24. Audible

Cost: $9.50 per month 

Review score: Google Play: 4.6/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: Amazon Prime members get exclusive offers!

I love listening to audiobooks, especially on long drives as it’s a great way to zone out and learn something new. Either that or I listen to a fiction book which is something I don’t usually have the time to do! 

Audible is the best option for this as it offers unlimited listening time when it comes to podcasts, audiobooks, and audibles! 

Although you have to pay for the service it’s totally worth it in my opinion, as you’ll have access to thousands of options.

So if you’re looking for an app for your vacation then I highly recommend downloading this one! There’s even a free 30-day trial if you’d prefer to try it out first before you commit to it.

25. Netflix

Cost: Basic: $6, Standard: $13, Premium: $19 per month

Review score: Google Play: 4.4/5, Apple Store: 4/5

Best feature: Being able to download movies and watch them online!

Everyone is likely to know Netflix and although it’s not a travel app, it’s very handy whilst you’re on the go. 

It’s one of the best apps for trips, especially if you’re going to have long journeys and flights, or spend a lot of time at the airport. 

There are three plans to choose from, and each one offers unlimited access to thousands of films and tv programs. 

The highlight of Netflix is being able to download your favorite movies and tv shows, and then watch them later offline - just keep in mind that the basic plan doesn’t offer this. 

Disney Plus and Amazon Prime also offers you the chance to download offline movies if you’d prefer to go for something else! 

Cost: Kindle Unlimited: $9.50 per month

Best feature: You’ll have access to millions of books on the go

Kindle is undoubtedly one of the best apps for travelers, especially if you’re a keen reader. 

Unfortunately, when we travel we’re subject to strict luggage allowance which means you can’t take a ton of books with you on holiday. 

This is where a kindle comes in handy, as you can purchase books online and then read them digitally on your device. 

Although you can simply download books to read, you’ve also got Kindle Unlimited which is a subscription service. This service allows you access to select magazine subscriptions, millions of books, and thousands of audiobooks! 

There’s so much choice, and you won’t be short of books to read by the pool!

27. Surfshark

Cost: $2-$13 a month depending on whether you choose to pay monthly, yearly, or every 24 months 

Review score: Google Play: 4.2/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: Allows you to access websites and TV series that would otherwise be inaccessible abroad

Surfshark is the VPN of our choice, and a VPN essentially means ‘Virtual Private Network’. 

It technically works by encrypting communications so you’ll have an anonymous IP address. Not only does this help keep your connection secure, but it’s got plenty of other fantastic features too.

For starters, Surf Shark (or any VPN) allows you to access websites that are inaccessible abroad, so for us a lot of .co.uk websites don’t seem to work overseas. 

You’ll also be able to watch TV shows and films that aren’t available in certain countries , as a VPN essentially changes your IP location. 

Having a VPN is also a great option for digital nomads or those with travel jobs as your connection will always be secure.

The best apps for travel inspiration

28. instagram.

Review score: Google Play: 4/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Allows you to find some awesome travel destinations 

Instagram is one of the most popular apps in the world as it allows you to keep connected with friends and family, whilst showing off your photography skills.

Although social media can often feel draining, this app has so much to offer if you’re a keen traveler!

Instagram allows you to connect with like-minded travelers, inspire your travels, and find fantastic ‘Instagrammable’ locations that you wouldn’t otherwise know about. 

We follow hundreds of our favorite travel photographers, vloggers, and bloggers, and we’re inundated with new places to add to our bucket list on a daily basis! 

Not only will you get to view new destinations through images and reels, but you’ll often get a more realistic experience through stories too. There’s nothing better than that! 

29. Pinterest

Best feature: Can create your own boards and save ideas to them! 

Next up on this list is Pinterest , which isn’t a travel application but it’s got a lot to offer. 

Pinterest works almost like a huge mood board where you can find inspiration on just about anything, and that goes for fashion, recipes, and home decor. 

The best thing about Pinterest is that you can create boards dedicated to your interests, so in this case, it would be travel! 

This is great for travelers, as you can create a variety of awesome boards on ‘bucket list’ experiences, specific countries, budget travel, etc. Then, all you need to do is save those pins and you can come back to them later! 

Pinterest is a very visual platform, and if you want more information you’ll be directed to the pin’s website.

Best feature: You can favorite videos and add them to your own ‘collections’

Although TikTok may not be for everyone, there’s no denying that it’s a fantastic app for travel inspiration! 

TikTok is essentially a video-sharing app and it’s one of the best apps for tourists who are choosing their destination or looking for places to visit after booking a holiday. 

Many travel bloggers, vloggers, and photographers have started to understand the importance of this app as a marketing tool , and that means lots of travel content!

You can favorite the videos that you like and create your own collections e.g. United States, bucket list, Wildlife, etc., and then you can watch them back whenever you like. 

There’s no limit to the number of videos you can save, and you’ll find some great travel tips along the way! 

31. Polar Steps

Review score: Google Play: 4.8/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: The App can physically track your travels whilst you’re on the move

Polar Steps is technically a travel planner and tracker, however, it’s a great app for travel inspiration as you’ll have access to a variety of guides. 

There are plenty of travel guides to read, and all you need to do is search for your destination! From there, you’ll get to see images, attractions in that area, recommended accommodation options, and restaurants. 

Another fantastic feature of Polar Steps is that it can physically track your travels as you go along. Not only will you get to see your travel route, but you can even create a cool travel book with the information! 

You can also add on past trips if you can remember the route, so you’ll have all your travels in the one app.

32. Locationscout

Review score: Google Play: 2.9/5, Apple Store: 3.8/5

Best feature: All the ‘photo spots’ are uploaded onto a map which you’ll have access to

For this travel app guide, I had to include Locationscout ! 

Although it’s not one of the more popular apps, it’s fantastic for those who are looking for some travel inspiration - especially keen photographers. 

Locationscout essentially works by showing ‘photo spots’ in a variety of cities and countries across the world. 

You can then click into each destination (say London for example), and you’ll be given an overview of that place, a grid of ‘photo spots’, and a map that has them all included!

The app then goes further into detail about each photo spot, including information on the best time to visit, tips to get the best photographs, and how to get there. 

If you're a keen photographer looking to improve your skills then why not check out these fantastic online photography classes too!

The best apps for keeping connected with home

Cost: Free (but there’s a cost to ring from landlines or mobiles) 

Review score: Google Play: 4.1/5, Apple Store: 4.5/5

Best feature: Can make free video calls to anywhere in the world! 

Although Skype isn’t considered to be a ‘travel app’ it’s a great way to keep connected with your friends and family back home. 

It allows you to make free video calls worldwide if you’re using skype-to-skype, or you can call from a landline or mobile for a fee. 

If you’re calling from a mobile or landline, then you just need to top up your credit every now and then. As long as you have a WiFi signal, you can call any number in the world and the bill will be extremely cheap! 

Skype is also a great app to have for digital nomads and business owners who are always on the move, in case you need to jump on a work call! Although Zoom is often the more popular option for this! 

34. Whatsapp

Review score: Google Play 4.3/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Being able to message, call, and video call other numbers for free as long as you’ve got WiFi

Another great app to have if you’re wanting to stay connected to people is Whatsapp !

It's a messaging app that allows you to message, call, and video call other Whatsapp users for free, as long as you’re connected to WiFi.

Not only is Whatsapp useful when it comes to contacting friends and family, but it’s also a great way to keep in contact with people in the region you’re traveling.

Many tour operators, hotels, and companies have Whatsapp, which means you can contact them with any queries and you won’t need to spend money to text or call from your phone. 

If you’re only able to download a couple of apps during your travels, then make sure Whatsapp is one of them!

35. Moonpig

Best feature: You’ll often get in-app discounts 

If you travel a lot, then unfortunately you’re going to miss a lot of birthdays!

Luckily, there are apps out there where you can send birthday cards back home for friends and family members. 

Our favorite is Moonpig as it’s super easy to use, and you can set reminders for birthdays so you don’t forget. 

Not only can you send cards, but Moonpig also has a wide variety of presents, birthday balloons, and flowers available among other items.

They even offer personalized gifts for that someone special , and there are a variety of shipping options to make sure it gets there in time! 

There is a desktop version of Moonpig, but if you download the app you’ll often have access to specific in-app discounts.

Which travel apps will you use?

As you can see, there are so many fantastic apps for traveling. The question is, which ones should you download?

This all depends on what you’re looking to do; book accommodation, find travel inspiration, look for discounts, or keep yourself connected with home! 

Now, everyone knows that phones all have limited memory so it’s not viable to download every single app in this guide. Just make sure you prioritize the ones you think will help the most!

A few of our favorites include Booking.com, Skyscanner, Get Your Guide, Google Maps, and Instagram of course! 

Now you've got an idea of the best tourism apps out there, it's time to start planning your trip.

Here are some guides for inspiration:

• The Best Cheap Places To Travel
• The Best Backpacking Destinations Around the World
• The Cheapest Countries To Visit In Europe

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20 Essential Travel Apps for Awesome Road Trips

By Jason Barnette | Travel writer and photographer with 15+ years of road tripping experience

• Last Updated on October 9, 2024
• Published on August 14, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Affiliate Disclosure here .

When I was a kid on family vacation, I sat in the backseat of the car with nothing more than a paper map and a pen to trace our route. I always knew where I was, and where we were going, but nothing else. Today’s world is different; road trips are dominated by mobile apps and GPS devices meant to connect us to the world before we even arrive. But which apps do you really need?

These are my favorite apps that I use almost daily when road tripping. I’ve had most of these for years now, but I’m always looking for something new to develop. Here are my favorite apps for road trips.

Road Trip Planning

Every great road trip needs to start with a plan. That plan may be nothing more than a route from Point A to Point B. But sometimes, a road trip plan needs to include business hours of attractions, various routes to drive, and things to do along the way. That’s where these next few apps come in handy.

Roadtrippers

Roadtrippers is the ultimate planning resource for any road trip. The app contains thousands of user-generated points of interest like parks, museums, attractions, and restaurants. The user interface is pretty simple: launch the app, search a map of your current location, or use the search bar for another destination. With the app you can save POIs, create routes, and plan entire road trips.

The app is free to download, and the free account allows you to search, save, and plan your road trip. For $29.99/year users can subscribe to Roadtrippers Plus that allows you to design longer routes and download maps for offline use.

iOS (iPhone and iPad) | Android

Google Maps

Google Maps is my favorite tool for planning the route of a road trip. I begin the process on my laptop by entering a starting and ending point for a road trip, then I click to drag the route to include other destinations along the way. Once I have a route established, I begin scouring the mapping tool for POIs. My Maps is a way of creating fully customized road trip routes and itineraries you can then access through Google Maps.

The app is free to download and use. My Maps is also a free utility by Google.

Roadside America

Roadside America is one of the most fun apps for road tripping. The app is filled with listings for quirky roadside attractions like largest fire hydrant, oldest tree, and a cellphone tower in Mississippi designed to look like the Washington Monument. The app uses your current location to show a list of nearby attractions, or you can manually search for an upcoming destination. Details for each listing include GPS address for directions, hours of operation, and what to expect when you arrive.

The app is free to download and users are allowed to select one region for free. The app divides the US into six regions with each region costing $1.99 to unlock.

iOS (iPhone only)

Fantastical

For the longest time I was just like so many other travelers who kept a loose itinerary scribbled on a notepad. Eventually, I got frustrated with arriving at a museum five minutes after it closed or a restaurant on the one day a week it wasn’t open. I started taking notes in the calendar app and planning itineraries.

Fantastical is without a doubt the most powerful calendar app I have ever used. Using Cloud storage, the app flawlessly links the calendars on my phone, tablet, and computer for easy planning. I can create multiple calendars; I have a calendar for travel times, places to explore, and lodging. It’s also really easy to drag and drop to move items around so I can still be spontaneous, but have a bit of a plan.

iOS (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch)

During the Road Trip

There is no greater travel feeling in the world than hitting the start of a road trip. But the moment the trip starts, so do the necessities. Where is the next gas station? Place to eat? What’s the weather doing tomorrow? These next few apps will help you keep the road trip going once you’re on the road.

Once upon a time I was one of those people who would spend thirty minutes sitting in gridlocked traffic to get to the other side of town so I could save three cents per gallon on gasoline. I’m not quite that picky anymore, but I do still use the GasBuddy app when I’m traveling.

Just two clicks after opening the app will load a map with my current location and all the gas stations nearby. GasBuddy is user-generated content, so someone needs to have inputted the gas prices for you to see that price as you scroll the map. But in my experience about 70% of the gas stations will have a price. It is without a doubt the easiest way to find a gas station and check the price while traveling.

iOS (iPhone, iPad, Watch) | Android

National Park Week 2024

Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.

My Golden Rule for Road Trips is to never travel an interstate highway. However, I realize that’s not always possible or desirable. For those times you find yourself driving hours on the interstate, iExit is a great way of finding food, lodging, and gas.

Think of iExit as a preview of all the interstate highway signs you’ll pass. The app uses your current GPS location and heading to create a list of exits ahead of you. Each exit lists an icon for gas, food, lodging, transportation, and so much more. Click on the exit number and you’re given details of all the businesses along with websites, phone numbers, and even gas prices!

Everybody needs a little music for a road trip! I have been a big fan of Pandora almost since the app first debuted years ago. Although I have tried Spotify in the past, and it has a huge following, I have found Pandora to be the better app for road trip music.

For $4.99 per month, the Pandora Plus plan, which is the plan I use, you get an ad-free experience, unlimited skipping, replaying songs, and higher quality audio. For $12.99 per month, Pandora Premium also allows you to search for particular songs to play on demand. And for those times in the mountains where you inevitably lose cellular signal, both plans allow you to listen to music on four channels in offline mode.

AccuWeather

I once watched a document about how meteorologists generate their predictions for the weather forecast. I couldn’t help but laugh when I realized there were almost two dozen models and basically the person standing in front of the camera just picks one.

Over the years, I have found AccuWeather to be the most accurate for predicting the weather. The radar loads pretty quickly, even in low-signal areas, and the hourly forecast is usually pretty close to accurate. It’s on the first screen of my phone because it’s one of my most-used road trip apps.

One of my favorite features of the app is the weather alerts. Severe weather such as approaching thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and heat are pushed to devices as soon as they are issued. On my Apple Watch, I’ll receive a notification so I’ll know if I need to duck for cover on a trail.

iOS (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch) | Android

Finding Things to Do on a Road Trip

Even with all the meticulous planning and research, being spontaneous is still a great feeling on a road trip. These next few apps are great at helping you find things to do based on your current location, so they’re actually better to use on the road than sitting at home.

It was love at first sight when I discovered this app. AllTrails is my go-to app for finding hiking trails, but there is so much more to the app than just a search engine. This app has grown over the years to be a fantastic planning and recording tool for outdoor adventures.

The app syncs smoothly with their website so you can begin the planning from the comfort of your computer, but hopefully not while you’re at work. The website and app has a search feature to quickly find a specific trail, state or national park, or destination you want to hike. You can also search via map if you know the route you are driving and want to find something interesting along the way.

With the app on your phone and smartwatch, upgrade to their AllTrails Pro plan for the option to download hiking maps for offline use. With their free plan, you can create lists to easily find particular trails later and you can record your hike for posterity!

iOS (iPhone, Watch) | Android

The Outbound

When I first came across The Outbound, I realized I had stumbled upon more than just an app for finding outdoor adventures. It was a community of travelers who thrive in the outdoors, create stories of their adventures, and share points of interest for others to find.

The app has a pretty amazing search feature, and you can also use your current location to search for adventures on a map. The adventures include information on how to get there, where to park, admission if applicable, and photos of previous users who have taken the option. It’s more than just hiking trails; The Outbound is all about getting outside, so the app includes parks, trails, waterways, beaches, pretty much anything that puts the sun on your face.

Google Maps is a great tool for finding business nearby, but what about the menu at a restaurant, ratings at the bar, and photos to get you inspired? Yelp is my absolute favorite tool for finding food, museums, and shopping as I travel.

It’s user-generated content so you know you can trust the reviews, although a few false Yelpers have snuck onto the platform over the years. The greatest advantage of the app is the access to information like photos of the menu, hours of operation, website address, and phone number. Be sure to sort the reviews in order of rating instead of Yelp’s built-in suggestion for the most accurate picture of what to expect.

I was never a big fan of Groupon until I came across the Powder Magazine in Charleston, South Carolina. I was visiting for a week and wanted to check out some of the museums. When I walked into the two-room museum, the manager asked if I had the Groupon discount. As it turns out, for just two dollars more than general admission I could have an annual pass! I used it twice that week and saved money.

The Groupon app uses filters based on your interests to help find discounts on admissions to museums and attractions, discounts on meals (especially for families), and opportunities for discounted packages for travel. I have found guided tours through the Groupon app not listed anywhere else that led to some wonderful times!

Where to Stay on a Road Trip

Sleep in your car, grab a hotel room, or park your RV, everyone needs to sleep at some point on a road trip. I prefer to sleep every night. These next few apps are my favorites for finding a comfortable and safe place to get some sleep, and some of these apps have perks I quite enjoy.

Trucker Path

I discovered Trucker Path during my three years of road tripping in a camper van. The app is designed for truckers, but it works just as well for people who sleep in their vehicle. The app locates truck stops on a map and lists details such as number of showers, current gas prices, and other amenities.

With filters, uses can narrow the list to particular chains of truck stops or even Walmart’s that allow overnight parking. Reviews of the stops are also helpful, even for non-truckers, in deciding if it would be a good place to spend the night.

There are a lot of apps for finding and booking hotel rooms, but I have always used Hotels.com for one simple reason: book ten nights and you get one free. The one free night is worth the average of the ten previous nights, so don’t expect to spend a free night at a five-star resort, but you’ll still get a good deal.

The app has a wonderful search feature using your current location with filters for whittling down the list to find exactly what you want. Details on each hotel includes amenities, types of rooms, and nearby attractions. Sometimes, the app includes discounts for getting a few dollars off the price of a room.

I have booked hotel rooms while sitting in the parking lot and walked inside to find the reservation already registered. It’s usually pretty fast, and after ten years of using the app I’ve only had a reservation lost once.

Pro Travel Tip: Hotels usually do not list every room on third-party booking websites like Hotels.com or Expedia. If you’re browsing a booking app and the hotel doesn’t have any vacancies, it’s possible they still have rooms – just not on the app. Give the hotel a call and see if they have any available rooms.

Using the Airbnb app during a road trip can get a bit tricky. Airbnb has grown as the world’s top resource for short-term rentals, otherwise known as a place to spend a vacation that is owned by an individual instead of a company.

When planning ahead, Airbnb can lead to fantastic lodging options in places you otherwise could not afford. Sometimes the rental includes only a bedroom in an occupied house, but quite frequently the lodging has a private entrance or includes the entire property.

The only downside to using the Airbnb app while traveling is spontaneity. Owners of properties must approve renters, and sometimes that takes a day or two. If the owner does not live on site, it can also be difficult to get access with less than a forty-eight hour notice. When using the Airbnb app to book lodging, plan ahead.

Capturing Memories on a Road Trip

How often do you use your cellphone to capture photos and videos on a road trip? Cellphones have become the most common way to capture memories during all sorts of travel. Although I’m still a DSLR photographer, I use several apps and features with my phone and tablet to capture better photos and videos to remember my trips.

The Photographer’s Ephemeris

The Photographer’s Ephemeris has been my favorite travel app for years. It’s a bit overkill for the average road tripper, but I have it to be essential. The app uses Open Street Maps to find your location and then shows lines depicting the direction of sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset.

I use the app constantly while road tripping to determine the best place to see a stunning sunset. When I get close to the last hour of sunlight, I use the satellite image option of the map to begin looking for a scenic overlook with a view of sunset.

I would label this an essential app for anyone traveling through national parks, scenic byways, and coastal areas. Everybody enjoys a great sunset, right?

GoldenHour.One

I use the GoldenHour.One app with a grain of salt, but it’s still useful. At the very least, the app displays sunrise and sunset times along with Golden Hour and Blue Hour times for great photography.

The one feature I use the most is the Weather feature. The app uses local weather reports to determine the chances of seeing a brilliantly colorful sunrise or sunset. On a scale of 1-10, the app will announce opportunities like, “Decent chance to catch a good photo.” However, I will admit the app’s fortune telling are wrong as often as right, but it’s still a good tool.

Have you ever wanted to take manual control of your cellphone camera? For most people, this answer would be an emphatic no. But for those who would like a little bit of control for better photos on road trips, I highly recommend the Camera+ 2 app.

The app allows the user to take manual control of the ISO, shutter speed, and white balance of photos. The user can also manually pick where the camera focuses, especially useful when you want the subject off-center.

The app comes with several pre-defined shooting settings like Portrait, Macro, and RAW. The RAW feature is the one of the best because it allows users to fully edit a photo later for better results.

Pro Camera by Moment

Moment is a company founded on a simple principal: help people capture better quality photos and video on a cellphone. They started with a series of high-quality lenses that screw into custom phone cases, but since then they have expanded with a rather wonderful app.

The Pro Camera app is better camera app than the one that comes with your phone. The app is set for automatic camera settings by default, but more advanced photographers can set custom values for ISO, exposure, and focus. The app also comes with presets for custom settings on demand for special effects. Since buying the full set of lenses, the Moment camera app has become my go-to for photography on the road.

Even the best of photographers need to post-process their images, and don’t let them try to convince you otherwise! The Snapseed app is the best mobile image editing software I have used, and that includes the cumbersome Lightroom.

With Snapseed, it is simple to open the most recent image or quickly browse for a previous photo. The app has the ability to process DNG files captured in RAW format. A full suite of tools are available including levels, crop and rotate, white balance, and about a dozen other tools for special effects. When you’re done editing, you can save a copy or overwrite the original, all within seconds of capturing the photo.

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The 8 Coolest Apps You've Never Heard Of

If you're looking for something new to try, the app stops here

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• Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

There are many lesser-known yet awesome apps waiting to be discovered and downloaded onto our mobile devices. The coolest apps, however, usually tend to be fun, entertaining, or uniquely helpful. After searching for a bit, we found several apps that reflect some or all of those same qualities.

Here is our list of nine really cool apps you've never heard of.

Learn to Code in Your Spare Time: Programming Hub

Text-to-Speech feature allows for an immersive experience. 

Over 20 programming languages.

Free for iOS and Android.

Your progress goes unsaved if you quit mid-lesson.  

Premium features require a subscription.

With lessons broken down into easy-to-understand steps and consistently encouraging feedback, Programming Hub is a great app for those who want to learn a programming language at their own pace. There are over 20 programming languages to choose from, including HTML, Python, Java, and C programming.

Programming Hub is free to download for iOS and Android devices, but premium features such as no ads, offline mode, and unlimited access to all courses require a subscription.

Download For:

Explore the Night Sky: Stellarium Mobile Sky Map

Illustrations for each mythical creature by constellation.

Built-in GPS feature.

Details provided for stars and planets, not constellations. 

No free tier of the app for iOS.

Perfect for astronomy buffs, the Stellarium Mobile Sky Map app helps you explore the night sky to learn about stars, constellations, and planets with a swipe and a tap. There's even a GPS feature, allowing you to navigate the stars by waving your phone in different directions.

You can download the Stellarium Mobile Sky Map app for free on Android devices and for a one-time fee on iOS devices.

Spice up Your Social Media Posts: Adobe Creative Cloud Express

A seemingly endless amount of templates.

Designs and layouts are professional-looking. 

Templates are easy to customize.

The image editor has a minimal workspace.

There's no zooming feature while editing.

Adobe Creative Cloud Express (formerly Spark Post) is a graphic design app with loads of ready-to-use, customizable design templates. The app comes with numerous customization options, including image filters, resizing, recoloring with different color palettes, and layout choices. CCE also offers access to an extensive collection of free-to-use stock photos for use within the app.

Once you create your desired image, you can save it, share it on your social media accounts, email it, or text it. It's free to download and use on both Android and iOS mobile devices.

Help out With Cancer Research While You Sleep: DreamLab

Control the amount of data DreamLab uses. 

Benefits cancer research.

Reported device overheating with prolonged use.

DreamLab helps further a cause that's incredibly important: the search for a cure for cancer.

DreamLab supports cancer research by allowing your phone to help conduct the research. By harnessing your phone's processing power to process calculations for a cancer research project, the research speeds up, inching the world closer to a cure and better cancer treatments, and it's all done while your phone's charging.

Once the app completes its calculations, the data goes to the  Garvan Institute of Medical Research . DreamLab is free to use and download on both Android and iOS devices.

Read Your Favorite Comic Books: Comics

View preview pages before purchasing.  

Store purchased items on an SD card.

Requires an Amazon or comiXology account.

Doesn't allow users to sign in with Google Play or Apple ID/Apple Account.

With the Comics app by comiXology, you can purchase, read, and store your favorite comic books and graphic novels on your mobile device.

The Comics app has a vast collection of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, including titles from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, IDW, Image Comics, and Dark Horse. Other features of the Comics app include storing your purchased comics on an SD card and offline reading.

The Comics app by comiXology is free to download for Kindle Fire devices, but the app charges varying prices per book. Another payment option is the comiXology Unlimited monthly subscription, allowing you to read any of their content for a monthly fee.

Avoid Tourist Traps When You Travel: Spotted by Locals

City guides suggest landmarks, small restaurants, and parks.

Locals provide the suggestions and tips.

Travel guides are accessible offline.

Free preview of each city.

Complete city guides require purchasing.

Challenging to know if guides are worth buying.

The Spotted By Locals app lives up to its name. It's a travel app that recommends places to visit within your desired destination based on curations from people who live in and around the area.

Instead of visiting the most popular places for tourists, you can experience the area like a local. The travel guides within the app are accessible offline, and you'll have continuous access to updated information.

The Spotted By Locals app is free to download, but city guides require a purchase. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Create Fun Short Animations Right: PicsArt Animator

Brief yet helpful tutorials. 

Tools include animations, sketching, and voiceover.

Free to download and use.

Unintuitive interface.

There aren't enough tutorials to cover all the app's features. 

PicsArt Animator is a fun, creative app that lets you make short, shareable videos, animations, and GIFs on your mobile device. It offers numerous creation tools, including frame-by-frame animations and editing, drawing and sketching tools, and the ability to record voiceovers.

PicsArt Animator is completely free for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

DIY Your Very Own Podcast: Spotify for Podcasters

Record directly to your phone.

Add people to a recording session by sharing a link.

View analytics about the number of listeners you have.

Only allows 15-second fast-forwarding or rewinding.

The Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) app lets you record, edit, and publish your podcast using your mobile device. Your show's analytics are also accessible, so you can track how many people listen to which segments of your podcast.

Spotify for Podcaster is free to use and available for both Android and iOS devices.

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The 20 Best Travel Apps to Help You Make the Most of Your Travels

From trip planners like TripIt to deal finders like Hopper, the best travel apps can streamline every step of the travel process.

Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or an occasional traveler, having the right tools at your fingertips can make a world of difference. This is where travel apps come in.

As an avid traveler who’s explored countless destinations across the globe, I’ve come to appreciate the incredible power of technology to transform our journeys. Gone are the days of lugging around bulky guidebooks and paper maps. Today, your smartphone can be your ultimate travel companion, packed with apps that make every aspect of your trip smoother, more enjoyable, and often more budget-friendly.

With so many apps available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why want to share my expertise and personal experience with you, highlighting the best travel apps across various categories.

I’ve tested dozens of travel apps, and I’m excited to share with you the cream of the crop. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, these apps cover everything from trip planning and booking to navigation, language barriers, and even finding travel hacks. Let’s dive in and explore how these digital tools can change your travel experience.

Travel Booking Apps

Skyscanner : your ticket to affordable flights.

Skyscanner has been my go-to app for finding great deals on flights for years. It’s a powerful travel search engine that compares prices for flights, hotels, and car rentals across various providers.

What sets Skyscanner apart is its comprehensive search capabilities. It doesn’t just show you prices for the dates you input—it can show you prices for entire months, helping you find the absolute cheapest days to fly. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars on flights thanks to this feature.

I’ve tested dozens of flight booking websites , and Skyscanner was consistently one of the best at finding the lowest prices.

Momondo : The All-in-One Travel Fare Finder

Momondo is another fantastic tool for finding great travel deals. Like Skyscanner, it’s a travel search engine, but it often finds different results, which is why I always check both.

Momondo provides a clear breakdown of prices and options, making it easy to compare different choices. The app also has a unique “Trip Finder” feature that suggests destinations based on your budget and preferences.

It also offers a price forecast for flights, giving you an idea of whether prices are likely to rise or fall.

Hopper : Predict and Save on Travel Costs

Hopper is like having a crystal ball for travel prices. This innovative app predicts future flight and hotel prices and notifies you of the best times to book.

What makes Hopper unique is its use of big data to predict price trends. It can tell you whether to book now or wait for a better price, and it will send you notifications when prices are expected to rise or fall, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars on your travel bookings.

I’ve found its predictions to be surprisingly accurate, and it’s helped me score some fantastic deals.

Booking.com : The Top Travel Booking App

Booking.com has been my reliable companion for finding and booking accommodations around the world. But it’s more than just a hotel booking site—it’s evolved into a comprehensive travel booking platform for hotels, flights, rental cars, and even entire vacation packages.

What I love about Booking.com is the sheer variety of options it offers. Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort, a budget hostel, or a unique local experience, you’ll find it here. The user reviews and detailed information about each property are invaluable in making informed decisions.

Hotels.com : Earn Free Nights as You Travel

Hotels.com is another excellent option for booking accommodations, with a unique twist that frequent travelers will love.

Their rewards program offers a free night for every ten nights booked through the app, effectively giving you a 10% discount on your stays.

Unlike some hotel loyalty programs that are complex and restrictive, Hotels.com’s program is simple and flexible. You can apply your free nights to a wide range of properties, not just a specific hotel chain.

Hostelworld : Budget Accommodations Made Easy

Staying in a hostel is a budget-friendly alternative to a traditional hotel. It’s an ideal approach for solo travelers. Plus, you’ll get the chance to meet cool people as you travel.

I’ve done my fair share of backpacking on a budget, and Hostelworld is my go-to resource for finding affordable accommodations. It provides detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, and reliable user reviews. These reviews are crucial when you’re trying to find a clean, safe, and social place to stay on a budget.

Hostelworld even has a new chat feature that lets you connect with other travelers who will be staying at your hostel.

Hotel Tonight : Last-Minute Hotel Deals

Hotel Tonight has saved me more than once when I’ve needed a last-minute hotel room. This app specializes in last-minute bookings, offering significant discounts on rooms that hotels are trying to fill at the eleventh hour.

What’s unique about Hotel Tonight is that it can get you into high-end hotels at a fraction of the usual cost. I’ve stayed in luxury hotels for the price of a budget room thanks to this app. It’s perfect for spontaneous trips or when your plans suddenly change.

GetYourGuide : Explore Like a Local

GetYourGuide allows you to book tours, activities, and attractions around the world, often with skip-the-line options that can save you hours of waiting.

What I love about GetYourGuide is the variety of experiences it offers. From guided city tours to cooking classes to museum tickets to outdoor adventures, there’s something for every type of traveler. The user reviews are incredibly helpful in choosing the best activities.

I’ve found some truly unique experiences this way, like a secret food tour in Rome and a sunrise hike in Bali.

Rome2Rio : Multi-Modal Transportation

Rome2Rio is like a Swiss Army knife for planning transportation. This ingenious app helps you plan trips by showing routes that include flights, trains, buses, ferries, and driving options.

It’s been invaluable for me when planning complex itineraries or traveling in areas with less straightforward transportation options.

The best thing about Rome2Rio is that it can piece together multiple different types of travel. If there’s not a direct flight to your destination, you can take a train, then a bus, and then a ferry. The app will show you multiple routes so you can compare prices and travel times.

Travel Planning Apps

Roadtrippers : your ultimate road trip companion.

Have you ever dreamed of taking that perfect road trip, discovering hidden gems along the way? That’s where Roadtrippers comes in. This app never fails to surprise me with its ability to turn a simple drive into an adventure.

Roadtrippers is all about the journey, not just the destination. It maps out your route and suggests attractions, lodging, dining options, and activities along the way. What I love most is how it uncovers those lesser-known spots that often become the highlight of my trips.

Here’s how it works: You input your starting point and destination, and Roadtrippers does the rest. It creates a detailed route with suggested stops, complete with user reviews and information about each location.

Roadtrippers is perfect for those who love to explore and aren’t afraid to take the scenic route.

Timeshifter : Jet Lag's Worst Enemy

Jet lag can really put a damper on your trip, especially if you’re traveling for business or have a packed itinerary. As someone who frequently crosses time zones, I can’t stress enough how much I’ve relied on Timeshifter . 

Timeshifter takes a scientific approach to managing jet lag. It creates a personalized plan based on your sleep patterns, travel itinerary, and your personal preferences. The app tells you when to seek or avoid light, when to sleep or stay awake, and even when to have that all-important cup of coffee.

TripIt : Your Personal Travel Organizer

TripIt is like having a personal assistant who specializes in keeping your travel plans organized. As someone who juggles multiple trips and reservations, I can’t imagine traveling without it.

The beauty of TripIt lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. It consolidates all your travel details—flights, hotel reservations, rental cars, and activities—into one master itinerary. No more frantically searching through emails for confirmation numbers or addresses. It’s all in one place.

Tripsy : Collaborative Trip Planning Made Easy

Tripsy is a relatively new addition to my travel app arsenal, but it’s quickly become my favorite app for group trips. It’s a trip planning and itinerary management app that allows you to organize travel details and collaborate with others.

What sets Tripsy apart is its focus on collaboration. You can create a trip, add all the details like flights and accommodations, and then invite others to view and edit the itinerary. It’s saved me from major headaches when planning family vacations and group getaways with friends.

If you often travel with others and find yourself playing the role of coordinator, Tripsy can make your life much easier.

Travel Hacking Apps: Maximize Your Rewards

Cardpointers : optimize your credit card rewards.

As a frequent traveler, I’m always looking for ways to maximize my credit card rewards, and CardPointers is an awesome tool for doing that. This app helps users manage and maximize their credit card rewards by tracking bonus categories and offers.

To use CardPointers, you input your credit card details, and the app provides recommendations on which card to use based on current offers and bonus categories. It’s like having a personal credit card rewards expert in your pocket.

The Points Guy : Master the Art of Travel Rewards

Think of The Points Guy (TPG) app as your personal travel rewards assistant. It helps you make sense of all those credit card points and airline miles you’ve been collecting, bringing them together in one user-friendly place where you can track your rewards.

Whether you’re a seasoned points collector or just getting started, TPG makes it easier to turn your everyday spending into memorable travel experiences. It’s like having an expert friend who’s always ready with advice on how to make the most of your travel rewards.

The Points Guy (TPG) app is also a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in travel rewards. It provides invaluable guides and tips on how to use travel points and miles effectively.

Other Favorite Travel Apps

Faye : comprehensive travel insurance at your fingertips.

Faye has changed the way I think about travel insurance . This app offers not just insurance coverage, but real-time support and claims processing, making it a comprehensive travel assistance tool.

What sets Faye apart is its user-friendly approach to travel insurance. You can manage everything right inside the easy-to-use app.

To use Faye , you purchase an insurance plan through the app before your trip. During your travels, you can access your policy details, file claims, and get support in real-time if needed.

If you’re looking for reliable and easy-to-use travel insurance, especially for trips to multiple destinations, Faye is worth considering. It’s particularly useful for those who want peace of mind and quick assistance in case of travel disruptions or emergencies.

App In The Air : Your Personal Flight Assistant

App in the Air is one of my most-used apps when I’m in the airport. It lets you track flights, manage itineraries, and receive real-time flight status updates.

You can import your flight information from your confirmation email, and then the app provides detailed flight information, including gate changes, delays, and check-in times. The app even offers airport maps and tips, which have been invaluable when navigating unfamiliar airports during tight connections.

If you’re a frequent flier or anyone who wants detailed flight tracking and travel organization, App in the Air is an excellent tool.

NordVPN : Digital Security While Traveling

In an era where we’re constantly connected, online security has become a crucial concern, especially while traveling. That’s where NordVPN comes in. This app offers a secure VPN service that protects your internet connections and personal data.

To use NordVPN, you simply connect to the VPN service before browsing the internet or using apps that require an internet connection. The app encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, adding a layer of security to your online activities.

If you frequently use public Wi-Fi while traveling, access online banking or other sensitive information on the go, or want to access content that might be restricted in certain countries, NordVPN is an essential tool for your digital safety.

AllTrails : Your Guide to Outdoor Adventures

I’m an avid hiker, and AllTrails is my go-to app for finding great trails wherever I travel. It provides detailed information on hiking, biking, and running trails around the world.

You can find trail maps, read user reviews, view photos, and even use GPS tracking to ensure you stay on the right path.

You can even filter trails by difficulty, length, and features like waterfalls or scenic views.

LoungeBuddy : Elevate Your Airport Experience

LoungeBuddy has transformed the way I view layovers and airport time. This app offers information and booking for airport lounges worldwide, turning potentially tedious wait times into comfortable, productive, or relaxing experiences.

Even if you don’t have elite status or a premium credit card, you can often purchase one-time lounge access through the app. The detailed information about lounge amenities helps you decide if the cost is worth it for your specific needs.

If you have long layovers, frequently travel for business, or simply want to make your airport experience more comfortable, LoungeBuddy is a great app to have. It’s especially useful for those times when you need a quiet place to work or freshen up between flights.

Building Your Travel App Toolkit

As we’ve explored, there’s a wealth of apps available to make every aspect of your travels smoother, more enjoyable, and often more cost-effective. From planning and booking to navigation, language barriers, and even travel hacking, there’s an app for nearly every travel need.

Remember, the key is to choose the apps that best fit your travel style and needs. A business traveler might prioritize apps like TripIt, CardPointers, and Priority Pass, while a budget backpacker might lean more heavily on Hostelworld, Rome2Rio, and GetYourGuide.

Don’t feel like you need to download every app we’ve discussed. Start with a few that address your most pressing travel needs, and gradually expand your digital toolkit as you become more comfortable using these tools.

The beauty of these apps is that they allow you to spend less time worrying about the logistics of travel and more time immersing yourself in the experience. They can help you save money, avoid hassles, and even discover experiences you might have otherwise missed.

What is the best travel app to use?

TripIt , Booking , and Uber are some of the best apps any traveler can have.

What is the most downloaded travel app?

Google Maps is the most downloaded travel app worldwide.

Are travel apps worth it?

Travel apps are definitely worth it. The best travel apps can streamline planning, packing, navigation, and more.

What is the best app to make an itinerary?

TripIt is one of the best apps for planning a trip itinerary.

What is the number 1 flight app?

Skyscanner is the number 1 flight booking app we recommend.

Jeremy Scott Foster

This is a great list and we use most of these apps too. Thanks for including Trail Wallet and I’m glad you’ve found it useful!

Of course! Trail Wallet is one of my favorite apps! 🙂

Great list of travel apps. Some of them I was using already, but at least I discovered a few new apps that will be very useful while travelling. Evernote will come in handy among others 🙂

Great! I’m glad you found some new ones. I don’t know what I’d do without Evernote. It helps me keep both my travels and my life organized!

I tried TripIt once and it was a good thing to have – but only because I had a lot of connections (from trains, through coaches, taxis and planes) during my trip so it helped me to keep the record of my journey. Otherwise I don´t use any apps (sometimes google maps but rarely when I am actually on road). But I think I am an exception because I´m not a friend with my smartphone! 😀 I will definitely use Dropbox on my travels out of Europe but so far I haven´t felt the need…thanks for the useful tips anyway 🙂

Google Maps is great when you’re on the road, because it shows you exactly where you are! I never get lost, all thanks to Google 🙂

Simply Decalre is an app to help you organize your receipts for customs declarations, it has real time currency, many other features like snapping a picture for your records. We have used it on the last couple of foreign trips, and it just makes life a whole lot easier. Simple to use. Another great app for your readers.

Fantastic resource man! Ive spent a good chunk of time traveling and I’m always looking for ways to make life on the road easier. Cheers!

That said, I have some thoughts with regards to the prolific use of tech on the road that I thought I’d share. Tech, as wonderful and as convenient as it is, has the ability to withdraw you from the present moment of travel, and all the exciting lessons on offer.

The world is becoming smaller, tech is largely to thank for this, and I appreciate that people nowadays feel the compulsive desire to ‘stay connected’ to current events, homeland, relationships etc. (or sometimes to gloat to those who decided not to join in on the adventure – not recommended). I think for many travelers, especially the younger generation, clinging to tech and searching for the nearest free WiFi is an attempt to bring familiarity with them on their journey. Connection with their familiar life back home provides a level of comfort and security – knowing that people back home care, are informed, and are supporting your ‘crazy’ decisions along the way (even if in reality, they aren’t).

Speaking from experience, this connection to familiarity is useful when you reach a low spot on your travel journey (which all of us will at some point), and it is also a hinderance when it comes to building authentic, genuine connections with the place, the people, and the culture you find yourself amongst.

It is truly a pet annoyance of mine to see people clinging to their smartphones, huddling around the nearest free WiFi zone, and checking facebook / instagram / twitter updates, when there is a wondrous world of activity happening right in front of them.

Tech makes life on the road easier, yes. But it takes away the intimacy of connection with people, places, and cultures that encompass travel. I’m not saying tech is taboo, however I feel that it’s use in the travel society is becoming so prevalent that good old face-to-face relationships are becoming endangered, and a forgotten shade of the travel canvas.

Maybe if people had a better appreciation of self, were more certain of their destiny, and were courageous enough to embrace a new world without the constant desire to cling to their beliefs back home, we would see more genuine connections on the road?

Just some thoughts. Indeed, your apps may in fact reduce the need to be constantly on our smartphones attempting to track the necessities of life. I’ll let you know on that one!

Jason Townsend – www.kickstartacause.com

Thanks so much for your insightful comment. I believe that, in today’s world, with the advent of technology, the most important thing we can do is limit it. I do rely on technology on a daily basis, especially since I work and travel at the same time, but yes, finding the right balance can be hard.

To frame things differently, perhaps staying connected to home allows people who wouldn’t otherwise go travel to feel more comfortable going out into the world. And sometimes, especially when we are constantly surrounded by new people and places, it can be nice to have something comfortable to lean back on.

I think we’re on the same page here. Technology is extremely accessible, and too much of a good thing can definitely be bad. As for me, I make efforts, whenever I can, to put the phone down and just enjoy 🙂

Great reframe Jeremy. That’s an excellent point.I can relate to this in my early traveller days…

Enjoyment comes from the simplest things. Life happens outside the ‘idiot box’ (a.k.a television) 😉

Jason Townsend

I would add diveadvisor to that list for Scuba Diver centric travellers.

It shows you articles on best places to dive, list of dive centres by country etc.

Also, airbnb imo should definitely be on there.

Otherwise cool list 🙂

Oh cool! I hadn’t heard of DiveAdvisor. Going to check it out 🙂

Although Jason rightly pointed out the hindrance that staying connected brings, I do enjoy its conveniences and the help that comes from the apps you listed. In fact, I just re-downloaded the Google App to take advantage of the cards. I forgot how awesome they were and appreciate you mentioning them.

One thing I’d like to add is instagram, and its usefulness when traveling. One time, my wife and I were in Gyeongju in Korea and drunkenly doing a photo search of instagram to see if there was anything we could see one night. This really beautiful pagoda came up and after piecing together enough pigeon Korean to ask a person about it, off we were to a previously unknown place.

Other than that, I like using instagram to see the perspectives that others are employing when taking shots of famous places. Just thought I’d that but besides that, this is a wonderful list. I actually played on the Google app for about ten minutes after reading this, haha. Thanks for sharing, Eric!

I do love Instagram, and these days, especially with the more enhanced location features, it’s increasingly more easy to find people and places nearby. I read an article recently about whether the recent advance in technology has stripped travel of its magic, and though I do think it has to an extent, I also really appreciate the conveniences that it provides.

But ultimately, it’s up to the user to decide how much they use it, and how much they want to get out of the real world vs. the online world.

I agree that keeping track of awards programs/points can be a pain. I am definitely going to look into the AwardWallet. The Foursquare also looks interesting.Thanks for the great tips/suggestions.

I was so optimistic when I saw this list just when I was trying to find how to get to my closest train station in Yongin, but alas, google maps tells me I can’t walk to either one when I walked to the furthest one, has none of the major landmarks I recognize to help orient me, and has no transit directions for the new train line here.

2gis was a GREAT app for this kind of thing, but other than randomly Santiago, Chile, 2 cities in Italy and 1 in Czech Republic, they’re ALL Russian cities. So disheartening!

Great list. Hopefully this can be great for us! Cheers and Thanks for this.

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The Best Road Trip Apps That Help You Find Cheap Gas, Avoid Traffic, and More

Download these before you hit the highway.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Carmen Martínez Torrón/Getty Images

Technology has revolutionized the way we travel in countless ways. Paper maps and GPS navigation systems have been replaced by Google and Apple Maps, old-school CDs by music streaming services, and guidebooks by apps that can notify road-trippers of roadside attractions in real time. One thing is certain: the smartphone has made road trips infinitely easier and, arguably, cheaper.

Whether you need a digital road trip planner to map out your next journey or something to help you avoid traffic jams, here are 11 of the best road trip apps to download ahead of your next adventure.

Roadtrippers

Roadtrippers is one of the most practical and popular road trip planning apps out there. Maybe you want to see national parks or the quirkiest roadside attractions. Perhaps you want to stop for the night at an iconic or underrated hotel. You can plan your stops right in the app, adding up to three waypoints for free or 150 with a Roadtrippers Premium account. There are also Basic and Pro memberships that allot you 20 and 50 waypoints per trip, respectively. The higher-tier memberships allow you to collaborate with friends and family and use navigation. The app features lodging, sights, outdoorsy destinations, restaurants, activities, shopping, fuel, and more all around the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The app is free, but you have to upgrade to a membership plan to enjoy all the bells and whistles. The Basic plan costs $40 a year, the Pro plan $50 a year, and the Premium $60 a year. It's available on iOS and Android .

Google Maps

Every road-tripper needs a trusty navigation app in their arsenal, and Google Maps is consistently one of the most — if not the most — downloaded in the U.S. every year. Its dominance can be attributed to how comprehensive its data is, which allows it to generate the very best directions based on distance, road conditions, and traffic patterns.

Google Maps gives you route options and provides accurate estimates of how long it takes to get from A to B. Plus, you can plot several waypoints along your route — be it a mid-morning coffee stop or a hotel for overnighting (you can see reviews right in the app).

Google Maps is free and available on iOS and Android .

Waze is another one of the top navigation apps. With real-time updates that help you avoid traffic jams, construction, and more, it will have you navigating new cities and unfamiliar streets like a seasoned local. It's perhaps a little more proactive than Google Maps in changing up a route when problems arise, and that means Waze users should prepare for their drive to be a little unpredictable.

No one wants to spend hours sitting in traffic instead of exploring, so the fact that Waze collects data from other drivers to streamline the driving experience is a huge help. The app is free and available on iOS and Android .

Paying for fuel can eat up a good chunk of your road trip budget, but GasBuddy can save you a few bucks. The app crowdsources up-to-date fuel prices for more than 150,000 gas stations around the U.S. and Canada. The app also tells you how recent the submission is so you know whether it's outdated.

GasBuddy is not just helpful for finding cheap gas but also for finding gas stations in general (and parking), which can be difficult in foreign territory. The app is free and can be downloaded on iOS and Android . While using it, be a good road-tripper and submit gas prices you see as you travel.

Roadside America

Barry Winiker/Getty Images

The offbeat and kitschy roadside attractions you can find throughout the U.S. are often some of the most delightful parts of a road trip. The Roadside America app helps you find the most unique attractions worth stopping for, like the large sculpture of a cartoon mouse holding a cheese platter in Plain, Wisconsin — where else? — or the decidedly odd larger-than-life-sized three-way electrical plug that rests on a lawn in Philadelphia. The app features museums, murals, tours, quirky restaurants, and photo ops.

Roadside America costs $3 to download, which gets you access to one region in the app. You can purchase more regions for $2 or get access to all of the U.S. and Canada for an extra $7. The app is available only on iOS .

iExit Interstate Exit Guide

Knowing where to stop for road trip snacks, a drive-through latte, or a public restroom can be challenging with all the exit signs whizzing by at 70 mph, but iExit Interstate Exit Guide takes the guesswork out of it. The app will list which exits are coming up on your route, what's there, and what they offer — including food, lodging, fuel, and even hospitals. It pulls fuel prices from OPIS (the Oil Price Information Service) and displays Yelp reviews for businesses.

The app is free to download. Find it on both iOS and Android .

HotelTonight

Even if you've planned out all your stops ahead of time, you might find that you need to pull over for a night unexpectedly. Driving is tiring, and unplanned naps can be life-saving. HotelTonight can help you find accommodations in a pinch. The app offers day-of deals on unsold rooms, and the user-friendly interface means you can book a discounted room in minutes. There are well over 1,000 properties to choose from in cities all over the world, from Mexico City to Jakarta (in case you happen to take your road-tripping global).

It's free to download and available on iOS and Android .

If staying in a tucked-away A-frame cabin, a yurt, or a private guest house in someone's garden is more your travel style than bouncing between hotels, then Airbnb is the ticket. On the Airbnb app, you can search properties (millions in the U.S. alone) on a map and read reviews before you book, which you can do in advance or at the last minute.

The app features not just vacation homes but also activities, so if you're keen to experience a city like a local you can do so via a pottery class or a guided walking tour, for example.

The Airbnb app is free. You can download it on iOS or Android .

Patchareeporn Sakoolchai/Getty Images

Travelers who dream of camping out under the stars should download The Dyrt , a free app that helps you find tent, RV, and cabin sites across the U.S. One of the top camping apps on iOS and Android , it has more than a million registered users who submit reviews, pictures, and tips. On The Dyrt, you get real intel on campsites and a built-in community that makes camping on a road trip especially fun and safe. You can even book some of the campsites right on app.

The app is free, but there's a premium version for $36 a year that allows you to plan trips and search campsites while offline — convenient for remote regions.

What is a road trip without a perfect playlist? Whether you're keen to create a soundtrack of nostalgic singalongs, modern pop songs, or music inspired by your destination, you'll find even the most obscure tunes on Spotify , a catalog of more than 100 million tracks. When you tire of Taylor Swift, you can turn to podcasts or an audiobook to keep you company. Road trips are a great opportunity to delve into a docuseries like "Serial," an all-time favorite.

Spotify is free to download and listen to, but the ad breaks are annoying and streaming can chew through your phone data. A better option is to purchase a premium membership for $11 a month. It's ad-free and you can download music to listen to offline. The Spotify app is available on iOS and Android .

Electric vehicles are increasingly commonplace and great for more environmentally friendly road-tripping. The problem is often finding charging stations, as most EVs can go 100 to 300 miles before they need to be plugged in. PlugShare lists 700,000 charging stations across North America, Europe, and beyond. Users share their reviews of the stations, helping to guide EV drivers to the best, fastest, and most reliable charging spots.

PlugShare is free and available to download on iOS and Android .

Related Articles

30 essential travel apps every traveler needs before their next trip

When it comes to planning and taking a vacation, travelers rely on their phones now more than ever.

Travel apps are a source of inspiration and are extremely useful for booking and managing logistics — even making restaurant reservations or finding a great fitness class wherever in the world you're flying next.

From apps that help with everything from day-of hotel bookings and last-minute flight changes to those that serve as guidebooks and foreign-language dictionaries, travel is infinitely easier thanks to technology.

Apps can help you navigate a new city, make currency conversions, pack a perfect suitcase and even provide on-the-ground local expertise. Whatever you need when you hit the road, there's an app for that.

We've rounded up the most-loved apps here at TPG. Some may be obvious, and others more obscure, but either way, get ready to download.

Best apps for researching and booking trips

In addition to the apps for the airlines you fly most frequently and your favorite hotel brands, these apps can help you save money on flights and accommodations.

Hopper has changed in recent years from just offering a price prediction tool for flights to being a true online travel agency. The app helps travelers find the cheapest flights, hotels and rental cars.

Of course, Hopper also still offers its signature price prediction technology to help you plan out when to book, as well as travel protection options and a price freeze to help you lock in the lowest possible price on hotels and flights.

Kiwi is used mainly to book flights, but it also helps you book hotels (using its partnership with Booking.com) and car rentals (using its partnership with RentalCars.com).

Some of the app's most interesting features include the "Deals" section, which pulls in discounted flights, and the "Travel hacks" section, which includes options for hidden city ticketing, throwaway ticketing (making one-way flights more affordable) and free price alerts.

Hotel Tonight

A dream for last-minute travelers, Hotel Tonight ( now owned by Airbnb ) lets you book stays for the same evening up to a few months in advance in thousands of cities worldwide. Available hotel rooms are categorized into sections like basic, luxe, hip, charming and solid, so you can select what works for your vibe. Take advantage of the daily drop feature, where you swipe to find a personalized deal with a special price only valid for 15 minutes after unlocked.

At TPG, we love a good loyalty program, and HT Perks, the app's nine-level reward program, is extensive. Not unlike a video game, you "level up" by reaching specific spending thresholds on the app, and you'll gain access to perks like discounts, VIP customer support and credits. Also, your levels never expire, so you can only continue to move up.

To book home rentals instead of hotels, use the Airbnb app. After entering your destination and dates, you can filter results based on the home type, price, requisite amenities and more. If you find something you like, you can book directly through the app.

The app is ideal for managing your trips while on the road — you can access all your bookings under the "Trips" tab, where you can view your reservation (and the address or directions), contact the host or change your reservation. Once you have a booking, you can also explore and book local experiences in your destination, such as wine tastings, kayak tours, hikes, shows and concerts.

We can't talk about travel apps without mentioning the TPG App. Use it to track your credit card, airline and hotel points balances; earn points and miles efficiently through using the right credit card ; and research how many points or miles you'll need to book your dream getaway. You can even curate your own news feed so you see the news and advice that matters most to you first.

The TPG App is available for download on iOS . Android users can join the waitlist here .

Related: The TPG App has arrived — here's why you should download it now

Best apps for organizing a trip

From keeping all your documents in order to perfectly packing your suitcase without forgetting a thing, these are the best apps for organizing travel plans.

TripIt declutters your itineraries and documents by keeping them organized in one place. You can set your reservations to automatically send to TripIt, which lets you view travel confirmations, flight itineraries, tickets, hotel and Airbnb booking information, rental car reservations, ferry tickets and driving directions without ever leaving the app.

TripIt also makes it simple to share your trip plans with whoever picks you up from the airport or train station or anyone else who may need to coordinate with you. TripIt Pro subscriptions cost $49 per year and include extras like real-time flight alerts, security wait times, baggage claim information and updates on your loyalty reward programs.

Roadtrippers

Perfect for organizing that epic road trip you've always wanted to take, Roadtrippers plans out your driving route and lets you book hotels and activities along the way. The app is especially useful for finding interesting and off-the-beaten-path roadside attractions, cool restaurants and can't-miss landmarks you can bookmark.

A Roadtrippers Premium membership includes offline maps, live traffic information, overnight RV parking and more for $59.99 per year. For those looking to only venture on a few road trips per year, the app also offers a Pro ($49.99 per year) and Basic ($35.99 per year) membership.

PackPoint takes all the stress out of packing . The app shows you what to bring based on the length of your trip, the weather in your destination and any activities you're planning along the way. If you have access to laundry facilities at your destination, PackPoint even allows you to account for washing your clothes and wearing them multiple times.

Just download and install the app, type in the city you're visiting and plug in your travel details. So, stop waiting until the day before your trip — or the hours before you have to leave for the airport — and start packing now.

Best apps for navigating the airport and flights

Track flights, navigate airports and find airport lounges with these apps.

LoungeBuddy

LoungeBuddy offers access to premium airport lounges around the world, regardless of the airline or class you're flying. When you create a trip in the app and type in the credit cards you currently hold, it will tell you which lounges you have access to based on the airports you'll be transiting through and how to purchase access if you don't already have it.

You can purchase access on the day you're traveling or up to two months in advance if you're the plan-ahead type. If you prefer to search by lounge or lounge program, the app will tell you exactly what is needed to use them.

Priority Pass

Priority Pass offers access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide and provides meal vouchers at select airport restaurants across the world for an annual fee starting at $99.

Several cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express , the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve , offer Priority Pass memberships for all cardholders (enrollment required). Otherwise, you'll have to pay an annual fee to be a member and, depending on your membership tier, a fee to enter each lounge on top of the annual fee.

To use the Priority Pass app, enter the name or code of the airport you're in, and Priority Pass will pull up the lounges or restaurants that you have access to, including photos, hours, amenities and specific location information. For more information on the Priority Pass Program and how to gain lounge access, click here . Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: The best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access

FlightAware

The FlightAware app allows you to track flights online, see a live map of a flight and check on delays, cancellations and gate changes. This app is especially helpful if you have a tight connection or want to track your flight.

It's also useful when picking up friends and family at the airport, as you can track their flight and see updated landing times or delays. AvGeeks will enjoy digging into flight statistics, flight maps and community aviation discussions on the app.

Best apps to use during your flight

Timeshifter.

What better way to cure jet lag than with an app? Timeshifter actually helps you avoid jet lag long before your flight takes off and also offers inflight and post-flight suggestions. The app relies on neuroscience research about sleep and circadian rhythms to provide personalized recommendations, taking into consideration your age, gender and normal sleep patterns — as well as specifics about your trip and travel plans. Timeshifter maps out when you should avoid or seek light, take a nap or try to stay awake. It even tells you if you should consider supplementing with melatonin or caffeine.

Your first jet lag plan is free, then $9.99 per plan, or you can enjoy unlimited plans for a year for $24.99.

Flying can cause anxiety — or provide a welcome relief from constant contact with our digital devices. Either way, use travel as an opportunity to relax, meditate or listen to soothing sounds that will lull you to sleep or a deep, relaxed state. Or, perhaps, you'll simply find it helps pass the time during a long flight.

Calm offers meditations on topics such as self-awareness, calming anxiety, breathing, lowering stress levels and happiness, among others. The app also has music options for focusing, relaxing and sleeping, as well as stories for adults and content for kids.

A limited selection of meditations and music is available for free (which you can download to use when you're offline or in flight). The premium version of the app costs $14.99 per month or $69.99 annually.

OK, so Netflix isn't really a travel app, but it can be a lifesaver during a long flight on an aircraft without seatback inflight entertainment or at the airport during an unexpected flight delay or boring layover. If you have a Netflix account, the app allows you to download your favorite shows onto your device to watch offline.

Just make sure to download your shows while connected to Wi-Fi before flying and check them again preflight to make sure they haven't expired (you can usually renew any expired downloads, but you must be connected to Wi-Fi or data to do so). Monthly prices vary depending on the plan.

Another app that's not really a travel app, Spotify can still be incredibly useful during tedious travel moments — just pop in those noise-canceling headphones and listen to your favorite music, meditations, podcasts and more.

The app's Premium plans (prices vary) allow you to download all your content offline on your phone, so you'll have it during long flights or when you don't have data or Wi-Fi access. Whether you want to take a morning jog in Bali to your favorite tunes or pass the time with a podcast on the metro in Barcelona, Spotify has it all.

Best apps to use in your destination

From exchanging money and sightseeing to communicating and knowing all the local tips and tricks, you don't want to land in a foreign city for the first time without these key apps.

XE Currency Converter

The XE Currency Converter app quickly provides live, up-to-the-minute currency rates, then allows you to store and view them even when you're offline. You'll never need to wonder if you're really getting a good deal in another country if you have this app.

Google Translate

Google Translate is a translation app that allows you to do it all — translate into more than 100 languages by typing, access 59 languages offline, translate via photo, translate bilingual conversations and even use the handwriting tool to translate.

The app is simple to use, too, with icons at the top you can click on to draw, take a photo, speak or type.

Not quite sure how much to tip when traveling internationally? GlobeTips will advise you on how to tip appropriately in more than 200 countries. It also offers a tip calculator for easy math. Globe also has apps for currency conversion, unit conversion and more that may be useful for travelers.

Related: The ultimate guide to tipping while traveling

For travelers globe-trotting with friends and family members or simply splitting the cost between groups, Tricount calculates shared costs and splits bills so you don't have to think twice about who owes what. Just enter your trip and currency and invite your travel mates to join your trip.

Each time someone pays for something, you enter the amount in Tricount, and the app splits everything up. You can also snap and store photos of receipts in the app. At the end of your trip, it will show the balances of who owes who what, making it easy to settle up.

Metric Conversions

Never be baffled by Celsius temperatures or suitcase weight in kilograms again with the Metric Conversions app . Whether you're measuring flour to cook at your Airbnb, figuring out distances for your Europe road trip or deciding whether to take a sweatshirt with you during your walking tour of the Great Wall of China, this app has you covered with easy conversions in volume, weight, temperature, area and more.

Google Maps

Google Maps is essential when visiting a new city (or even for getting around your hometown). You can map locations, get directions (walking, driving, public transportation, ride-hailing services and beyond) and see how crowded your subway will be in select cities .

You can make restaurant reservations, save your favorite spots and read and write reviews of attractions, eateries, shops and more. Make sure to download specific city or area maps ahead of time for offline access if you know you'll be without internet at your destination. For obvious reasons, the app works best when your GPS is turned on.

WhatsApp is a handy messaging service for travelers abroad as it uses an internet connection to avoid SMS fees.

It works like most other messaging apps: You start by creating an account, then add your friends and family members to contact and voila! You're able to call, video chat and send messages, images, voice memos, gifs and files just as you would in, say, iMessage (but with Android users too). You can also download WhatsApp on your Windows or Mac computer.

Best apps for planning activities

Traveling is about more than just getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for activities to add to your itinerary, check out these apps.

Meetup is an app designed for interacting with locals and other travelers who have mutual interests or shared hobbies. Whether you're traveling or at home, take what you love and do more of it with Meetup.

The app shows you groups that are formed around particular interests in your city, including yoga, photography, cooking, wine tasting, hiking, cinema and other activities. You can join groups to get updates on particular events you may want to participate in. The app can even help with networking, as there are many groups dedicated to business and technology. You might even be able to join a coworking group. Travelers with kids can participate in family-friendly meetups, and it's a great way for solo travelers to make friends and connect with others.

TheFork is one of the most useful resources for making restaurant reservations in Europe. Similar to OpenTable or Resy, the app lets you browse different restaurants by category and make reservations. TheFork features more than 60,000 restaurants in cities like London, Madrid and Geneva, as well as spots outside of Europe like Sydney, Australia.

The biggest perk is that many restaurant reservations come with discounts — in some cases, you can get up to 50% off your meal just by reserving a table through TheFork. Since we here at TPG are always down for earning rewards, make sure to monitor your YUMS — TheFork's reward system. You'll earn YUMS with each reservation, and when you hit 1,000, you receive a discount on your bill. Foodie travelers should also consider downloading these apps , too.

Happy Cow helps vegan and vegetarian eaters locate more than 180,000 restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, farmers markets and grocery stores in over 180 countries around the world. The app allows you to filter by not only vegan and vegetarian but also gluten-free and cuisine types. You can also read reviews and get recipes on the app as well.

The app does cost $3.99, but it's a one-time expense.

TripAdvisor

Besides reading reviews of restaurants, hotels and attractions, you can book almost anything on TripAdvisor, from vacation rentals and restaurant reservations to tours and tickets.

The app has grown to include almost all things travel, allowing you to search by destination or interest (like the outdoors, food and drink, family or by the water, for example), which can give you inspiration for a trip or help you get your activities, meals and accommodations organized before traveling or on the fly.

With over 400,000 curated trails, AllTrails can help you find the hike or walk perfect for you and your group. It's not just mountain trails — AllTrails offers city walks, too, like easy meanders through the Marais district in Paris or peaceful strolls through Bangkok's Lumpini Park in Thailand.

See photos, updated weather predictions and key information about each route and connect with other travelers through reviews and forums. Access to AllTrails+ is $35.99 per year, which offers perks like offline maps and wrong turn alerts.

Best apps for staying safe

Use these apps to stay safe when traveling.

Smart Traveler

Smart Traveler is a free service that offers tips and information specifically for U.S. travelers. You can see what visas and vaccines you'll need before traveling and where to find help if you need it during your trip.

Register your trip on the app, which gives your information to local embassies and consulates in your destination. If there's any kind of disaster or tragedy, the local embassy can contact you to see if you need help.

TripWhistle

Another app dedicated to keeping you safe, TripWhistle maps your location and allows you to easily text or send your GPS coordinates or location. It also provides emergency numbers for firefighters, medical personnel and police in nearly 200 countries. After all, 911 is only for U.S.-based emergencies: Each country has its own specific emergency number.

Yes, Uber (or any local ride-hailing service app) is convenient, but it may also keep you safe. Using this app when traveling means you'll never get stuck wandering around in an unfamiliar area late at night or have to deal with unscrupulous taxi drivers trying to scam you. Uber also has in-app safety features such as an emergency assistance button which will allow you to call local emergency services right in the app.

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The 14 Best Apps You’ve Never Heard Of

Zombies, Run!

CARROT Weather

Good Sudoku

IFTTT (or “If This Then That”) is a clever and powerful app available for iPhones and Android devices. The concept is simple. If “X” happens, then “Y” happens. For example, if I turn off my smart alarm on the door, the living room light turns on. IFTTT connects smart devices, apps, and productivity tools in a streamlined flow. The app is still relatively young but there are plenty of supported programs so you can start integrating across a variety of apps. You won’t be able to schedule any complicated commands at the moment, but for basic things like calendar events, weather alerts, and much more, IFTTT is more than capable. iOS Android

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NOTICE October 16, 2024

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Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 31, 2024, see individual summaries.

Updated to reflect U.S. government restrictions on travel to Northern Israel, and information for U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents and qualifying immediate family members seeking assistance in Gaza.

Do Not Travel To:

• Gaza due to  terrorism  and  armed conflict
• Northern Israel within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders due to the rising tensions between Hizballah and Israel  

Reconsider Travel To:

• Israel due to  terrorism  and  civil unrest
• West Bank due to  terrorism  and  civil unrest

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning.

Some areas have increased risk. Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Israel and the West Bank, and Gaza.

Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

If you decide to travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

• Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .
• Check the most recent Alerts at the  Embassy  website for the latest information on travel in all of these areas. 
• Maintain a high degree of situational awareness and exercise caution at all times, especially at checkpoints and other areas with a significant presence of security forces.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials.
• Beware of and report suspicious activities, including unattended items, to local police.
• Learn the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened shelter. Download the  Home Front Command Red Alert application  for mobile devices (available on devices within Israel) to receive real time alerts for rocket attacks.
• Obtain comprehensive travel medical insurance that includes medical evacuation prior to travel. Most travel insurance packages do not cover mental health related illnesses/care. 
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and X/ Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Gaza – Do Not Travel

Do not travel due to  terrorism  and  armed conflict .

The U.S. government is unable to provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Gaza as U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling there. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are conducting large-scale military operations in Gaza against Hamas, a U.S. government-designated foreign terrorist organization, which was responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel. As a result of the armed conflict, the security environment within Gaza and on its borders is extremely dangerous and volatile. The pedestrian crossing between Gaza and Israel was damaged on October 7 and remains closed, and the pedestrian crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed since May 7 and it is unknown when it will re-open.   There are sporadic telecommunication and internet outages within Gaza further inhibiting the ability of residents to obtain information.  

If a U.S. citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), or qualified immediate family member desires our assistance and has not already provided their information to the Department of State, please email U.S. Embassy Jerusalem at [email protected] with a copy of the individual’s travel document as well as an explanation or proof of relationship.

Visit our website for  Travel to High Risk Areas .

• If you decide to travel to Gaza:
• Be prepared for an indefinite stay as the crossings between Gaza with Israel and Egypt can close without advance notice and for long periods during times of unrest and armed conflict.
• Have a plan for entering and departing Gaza that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Households with infants and young children should plan for food and supplies, such as diapers and wipes, formula or baby food, and a change of clothing.
• If you take medication, make sure to have at least five days’ worth at any given time – if you can, we encourage enough for two weeks beyond your scheduled trip and have a copy of your prescriptions handy.
• If you use assistive or medical devices that require a power supply, be sure to find backup power or other ways that will sustain your device or equipment during a power outage.
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.

Please be sure to visit our website for  How to Prepare for a Crisis  for information that may be helpful.

Israel – Reconsider Travel (see below for specific advice on travel within 2.5 miles of Lebanese and Syrian borders)

Reconsider travel due to  terrorism and civil unrest .

The security situation remains unpredictable, and U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often take place without warning.

• U.S. government employees in Israel under Chief of Mission security responsibility are currently restricted from personal travel to the following locations:
• Within seven miles of the Gaza demarcation line, as well as the cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon; and
• Within 1.5 miles of the Israel-Egypt border.

Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. government employees under Chief of Mission security responsibility, with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats.

Northern Israel (within 2.5 miles of Lebanese and Syrian borders) – Do Not Travel

U.S. government employees in Israel under Chief of Mission security responsibility are currently restricted from personal travel within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders. Any U.S. government travel to this area is done in full coordination with Israeli security forces.

Due to the ongoing active hostilities between Israel and Hizballah, the U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that U.S. citizens do not travel within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders. Cross-border rocket, missile, and drone strikes continue to impact this area daily and have resulted in casualties. The Israeli authorities already restrict travel to these areas.

West Bank – Reconsider Travel

• U.S. government employees in Israel under Chief of Mission security responsibility are currently restricted from all personal travel to the West Bank, except:
• U.S. government employees can use Routes 1, 90, and 443 at any time. 
• U.S. government employees are permitted personal daylight travel to Jericho and Bethlehem, including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.   Given continued closures of checkpoints throughout the West Bank, the only permitted and accessible route into Bethlehem for U.S. government employees and their family members is through Checkpoint 300 near Rachel’s Tomb. 
• U.S. government employees are permitted daylight travel to: Inn of the Good Samaritan, An-Nabi Musa, Wadi Qelt Nature Preserve, and St. George’s Monastery along Route 1; and Qumran, Kalia Beach, St. Gerasimos/Khogla Monastery, Al Auju, and Qasr al-Yaud baptismal site along Route 90. 

Over the past few months, there has been an increase in settler violence, Israeli military operations, and terrorist attacks.

Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. government employees under Chief of Mission security responsibility with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats.

Travel Advisory Levels

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