Whether you’re planning a spontaneous weekend getaway or an international adventure, there's no shame in calling on a little help from technology to streamline your experience. From packing to train hopping to exploring local cuisine and more, there’s an app for that and this article showcases the best of the best. Read on and learn how you can use your smartphone to change the way you explore the world.
Packing
Let’s face it.
One of the worst parts of traveling is the anxiety that floats around the question “Did I remember everything?”. Luckily, there are some apps out there that will help erase that anxiety so you can focus on getting amped for your trip.
- PackPoint gathers the details of your trip, including duration, weather, and planned activities, and uses them to generate a customized packing list. You’ll never be that person who forgot their running shorts again.
- Packr Travel List is another excellent packing tool. It generates a packing list based on your destination, what the climate is looking like there, and your trip goals. It’s got a super user-friendly interface that takes the headache out of packing.
Itinerary
Are you a planner?
Use the following tools to help you structure your trip so that you can see and do everything you want to do with the people you want to do it with.
- Wanderlog simplifies trip planning for individuals and groups by providing a platform where you can create and organize your trip itinerary and collaborate with others. Coordinate your perfect trip with your favorite people, headache-free.
- TripIt is a comprehensive travel organizer that pulls information from your email to create an itinerary of reservations, activities, transportation, and more. It even keeps all of your travel documents in one place and allows you to share your itinerary with loved ones and/or travel companions.
Air and Ground Transportation
From navigating planes to trains to automobiles and more, you’re going to want some tools in your back pocket to help you get where you need to be when you need to be there. Here are some of the best travel planning apps on the market aimed at how to get you from point A to point B.
- Skyscanner allows you to search, compare, and book flights, hotels, and car rentals. It’s great for those of you looking for the best travel deals, fast. Especially on a multi-leg journey.
- Hopper is your go-to app for predicting flight prices. It makes it super easy to determine when you should actually pull the trigger to achieve the most cost-effective journey.
- Flightradar24 provides real-time flight tracking, allowing you to monitor flights worldwide. It’s one of the best travel apps for mitigating the inherent stress of air travel.
- Trainline offers a comprehensive platform for booking and managing train tickets. With real-time updates and a user-friendly interface, it's essential for those of you looking to hop around x, y, or z region via train.
- Moovit is a public transportation app that provides real-time transit information, route planning, and service alerts. It’s great for navigating unfamiliar cities via bus, train, and [insert other public transport options here].
- Uber - If you haven’t heard of Uber yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. Uber provides on-demand, safe, reliable rides that get you where you need to be. Request a ride, track your driver, and pay through the app (no need to carry cash!).
- BlaBla Car - Need a ride to a different town or city but don’t want to pay for a Taxi or public transit? BlaBla Car is your answer. This app connects drivers with empty seats to passengers heading in the same direction. It’s affordable, eco-friendly, and a fun way to meet locals and fellow travelers.
- Waze is a community-driven navigation app that finds you the fastest possible route to your destination by taking into consideration real-time, user-reported traffic updates and road conditions. By joining Waze, you join a community that helps you avoid all those traffic holdups that you wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
- Google Maps offers detailed maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and local business information. With awesome offline features including street views to help you confirm that you are, in fact, in the right place, it’s great for those of you exploring a new city or region via foot, bicycle, or car.
Lodging
Let’s face it.
After a long day of exploring a new city, you really want a safe, comfortable place to lay your head so you can get up the next day and do it all over again. Here are some of the best travel apps that will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
- Airbnb - Forget hotels, get your own little sanctuary with Airbnb instead. From private rooms with awesome hosts to entire apartments and homes, Airbnb makes it easy to find your home away from home no matter where you are in the world.
- Vrbo (Vacation Rental By Owner) is a platform that allows you to search for the perfect vacation rental. Its database includes houses, apartments, and condos for rent by the actual owner of the property. It's great for those of you seeking a more private and personalized lodging experience.
- com is a trusted online travel agency that simplifies the process of finding and booking lodging all over the world. From hotel rooms to apartments to entire homes, Booking’s extensive database will help you find the best deals for your travel preferences.
- Couchsurfing connects travelers with locals willing to offer free accommodations. No, it’s not always on their couch. You might even get a whole bedroom! Beyond a place to stay, Couchsurfing really empowers travelers to connect with locals in a way they might not have the opportunity to do otherwise.
- HostelWorld is a go-to app for booking hostels worldwide. With an extensive database of budget-friendly accommodations, user reviews, and secure booking options, it one of the best apps for travel for those of you seeking affordable communal lodging.
- Worldpackers works to connect travelers with volunteer opportunities worldwide in exchange for free lodging. It's the best if you want to save a little (or a lot) of money, connect with local communities, and make a difference.
For Foodies
Food is one of the best parts of exploring a new culture. There are so many places to eat and drink out there, though. How does one choose? With a little help from these nifty apps. That’s how.
TripAdvisor is your one-stop shop for gathering intel on the restaurants, attractions, and accommodations of your next destination. Find out what others are saying about that café on the corner and do your part, too, by leaving a review.
- Eatwith connects travelers with local hosts for unique dining experiences. From home-cooked meals to culinary tours, Eatwith offers a chance to savor local flavors and connect with food enthusiasts in their environment.
- HappyCow is an app specifically designed for food enthusiasts following vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based diets. It helps users worldwide discover and explore nearby restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores that cater to their dietary preferences.
Get Out There and Make Some Friends
Solo travel is great but sometimes you just need a little human interaction past the barista. Here are some of the best travel apps that will help connect you to locals and fellow travelers alike.
- Backpackr is a social network that works to connect fellow travelers and adventurers as they explore the world. The app also features hostel recommendations. It’s the perfect, comprehensive platform for those of you backpacking through new and exciting territories and looking to make connections along the way.
- Meetup is a social platform that works to bring people with shared interests together. Connect with like-minded locals and fellow travelers around food, culture, athletic ventures, and more.
- Bumble BFF is an extension of the popular dating app but takes the romance out of it. Swipe through fellow travelers and even locals and decide who you want to haul along with you on your next museum outing.
- Airbnb Experience gives locals the opportunity to showcase their culture and share it with travelers looking for a taste of the authentic. From cooking classes to guided tours, Airbnb experiences are a great way to absorb the hidden gems that your destination has to offer.
- WithLocals connects travelers with local guides for personalized tours and experiences. It's a great way to explore and experience things you wouldn’t as “just a tourist”. Let the locals paint a picture of what they love about their city and soak in every detail.
- Culture Trip gathers information from seasoned travelers and locals alike to curate top-tier recommendations for activities, restaurants, and attractions in the city you are visiting. It's an awesome resource for those of you looking to explore your destination’s cultural and artistic offerings.
- LikeALocal helps you get off the beaten path and into some seriously unique, authentic local attractions, dining spots, and cultural experiences. Immerse yourself in the culture for a zero-regrets kind of trip.
- Tiqets streamlines the often clunky process of booking tickets to popular attractions and cultural sites worldwide. Skip the hassle and get your dose of museums, landmarks, and entertainment venues all in one place.
For Communicating with Locals
If you are traveling to a country that doesn’t speak your language, you’re going to want to learn at least enough of theirs to get by. Here are a couple of good places to start.
- Pimsleur is a language learning app that skips all of the fluff and gets you straight to speaking. Put some concentrated effort into your 30-minute language classes and you’ll be chatting like a local in no time.
- Duolingo turns language learning into a game. Acquire basic language skills and key phrases in a fun, interactive way.
- Google Translate allows you to communicate in almost any language even if you’ve never heard a lick of it in your life. Just type or speak the message you would like to convey and Google Translate will do the rest. You can even use the camera function to translate signs, menus, and more. Look out world, here you come!
The Nitty Gritty
Now that you’ve got all the tools you need to book your flights and train tickets, meet up with locals, explore authentic cuisine, and more, it’s time to take care of some logistical issues that are often overlooked. Money and WiFi.
- My Currency Converter provides real-time exchange rate information, making it easy for travelers to convert currencies and manage their expenses accurately.
- WiFi Map is especially useful for those of you digital nomads out there looking to link up to WiFi on the road. It’s a community-driven app that maps out Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide. Stay connected without those crazy roaming charges.
To wrap things up, the key to a seamless and enjoyable travel experience lies in not only letting loose and having a great time but also in leveraging the right set of apps that will help you achieve a smoother, more worry-free day-to-day. Whether you're a meticulous planner or a spontaneous adventurer, the apps listed above cover every aspect of your journey. Don’t get too stuck in your phone but don’t be afraid to let these tools guide you toward the best travel experience possible. Happy downloading,
