Are you a careful travel planner? Do you research potential places to visit? Do you grab the best deals? To tackle these issues and more, let’s explore some of the best travel apps. Why use them anyway? They make your journey easier, saving time, money, and stress.
Most of these travel apps are available at no cost. Whether you want great deals, local tips, hidden gems, or practical tools, this article will give you over 10 essential travel apps to install before setting off on your adventures.
Plan and Get Ready
You expect every trip to be perfect. For that sake, a starting point must be planning. It’s a matter of taking some essential steps to ensure you don’t waste precious time waiting in lines or miss top attractions because you didn’t secure your spot. After all, you’re there to savor every second, and for that, you need a blueprint. Let’s find out then what these travel apps bring to the table.
1. PackPoint
Have you ever struggled with making a packing list? Well, you’re not alone, and the minds behind this travel app shared have been there too.
PackPoint aims to simplify the packing process by making a custom checklist for your next trip. Just as simple as entering a specific place, dates, duration, and any activities you plan on doing. The app then crafts a tailored list that you can edit to add or remove items that match your needs, and quantity, and even mark items as packed. In addition, it provides weather updates and enables users to share their packing lists. Thanks to this app, packing has never been this easy!
If you’re planning a trip to Spain and prefer an old-school approach, read our packing travel guide all year round.
Book your flights
2. Skyscanner
Skyscanner is my preferred app to save on cheap flights and compare my options. It even suggests hotels and car rentals. With millions of flights scanned from many sources, it provides the best deals. Also, you can sort by price, duration, stops, airline, and more, ensuring the most suitable flight. One standout is that it lets you search for flights to any location, just enter the departure airport and travel dates, and it displays all available choices. Other great features are price alerts to notify you of price drops and the ‘Greener Choice’ to opt for flights with lower CO2 emissions.
3. Hopper
Should you wait or book your flight right away? This travel app promises to solve this critical issue. Hopper’s mission is to help you decide when it’s best to book, predicting the optimal time to find affordable flights. This app also features a price-monitoring function, and a price freeze feature to secure you the lowest price. With a nearly 95% accuracy rate, Hopper empowers users to compare the prices and amenities of over 250 airlines and stay informed about airfare flash sales.
Book your accommodation
4. Booking.com
An incredibly user-friendly app to search from a wide range of lodging options, not just hotels. Some options may surprise you, for example, treehouses, hostels, homestays, condos, cottages, and even boats. What’s more, you have the control to narrow down your choices to your liking and budget. A handy feature on the site is the ‘show on map’ function, where you can see the exact location and its nearby attractions.
Want to get some gifts and bargains? Their loyalty program offers many benefits such as discounts, upgrades, and gifts at specific hotels, making it a worthwhile program to join.
5. Airbnb
The Airbnb app gathers all your essential travel information in one place, making it easy to revisit or share your trip details with others. It helps you locate accommodations, whether in a modest room in someone’s residence or a fancy beachfront property. You also have the option to chat with your host and stay updated with live booking notifications. Furthermore, it offers a wide range of travel-related reservations, including tours, classes, and workshops.
Overall, what makes Airbnb one of the best travel apps is its affordable rates, which is what every traveler seeks to fulfill their wanderlust.
Secure seamless connectivity
6. Proton VPN
Chances are you will need to connect to a public Wi-Fi while you travel, and that would pose a major risk.
(If you’re not willing to take such a risk, skip directly to our next travel app)
To kick things off, we advise you to enhance your data security against cyber threats by using a virtual private network. A VPN is designed to encrypt your information, ensuring a private and secure connection. Our top choice is Proton, a free app that you can use for long-term stable connections.
In short, unlike other “free” or paid apps, Proton offers all the core privacy features, without restrictions, for you to stay secure online. If you ever feel uncertain, simply connect to Proton VPN.
7 Yoho Mobile
To avoid the hassle and risk of installing a VPN app, consider getting an eSIM card instead. It’s the most convenient way of staying connected while you travel the world! Haven’t heard of eSIMs, don’t worry, we’ve explained it all here.
We’ve selected Yoho Mobile as it is a leading eSIM provider in 192 countries. Not only do they offer some of the most competitive prices, but they also have tailored data plans for pretty much every region. Likewise, unlimited plans and, of course, no roaming charges. You can even set it up before you land, as it is a 100% online service.
Book your tours
8. Get Your Guide
GetYourGuide allows you to book your tours and activities across 150 countries. Indeed, they function as an online travel agency and a marketplace that links travelers with tour guides. Their options cover a diverse array of products, extending beyond tours and excursions to include activities like cooking classes, whale watching, and hiking expeditions. In essence, they provide travelers with the ability to compare prices, peruse reviews, and access detailed information about each activity via their app or website. Whether you’re in the initial planning stages or seeking adventures while in a new country, GetYourGuide is a valuable resource for finding and booking exciting experiences.
Enhance your experience
9. Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers is the go-to travel app, having facilitated over 25 million trips covering a stunning 16.9 billion miles. It changed the way people explore the world by road by seamlessly adding discovery, planning, booking, and navigation into a user-friendly platform.
Overall, this travel app places a strong emphasis on optimal routes, activity suggestions, and gas cost estimates. So, discover amazing places to visit during your road trip using this aptly named app.
10. Tripadvisor
TripAdvisor is a must-have travel app. It serves as a kind of inspiration, enabling you to read reviews, compare options, and even book excursions right within. Precisely, the reviews are notably trustworthy and reliable, made by fellow users. It’s an extensive resource, akin to a vast ocean of comments, photos, and reviews on hotels, restaurants, and attractions. As we’ve realized lately, reviews play a crucial role when making travel choices. They allow you to gauge the experiences of others, sort of “testing the waters” before committing.
In moments where you find yourself in an unfamiliar place, Tripadvisor is the go-to solution.
Bonus: other travel planner app
XE Currency Converter
This app is an essential tool for any traveler, with which you can save money and organize multiple currencies. It stands as the most widely used currency app, enabling you to calculate exchange rates for 170 currencies. What’s best, it works offline, so even without data or Wi-Fi, you can still obtain a price estimate while shopping. They also have an encyclopedia, a travel expense calculator, and the latest forex news.