13 Best Travel Apps to Download Before Your Next Adventure
Booking a trip can be a lot like herding cats: flights need to be booked, hotels need to be reserved, local attractions need to be visited, and there’s a language barrier to overcome. Luckily your smartphone can double up as your trusted travel companion, packing a world of help into your pocket. You can make your travel experience smoother, more enjoyable and even a little magical with the right apps.
But here’s the thing: there are thousands of travel apps out there and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to choose the right ones. This is where this list is helpful. Whether you’re cruising across the country or halfway around the world, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you 13 of the best travel apps that will make your next journey unforgettable.
Google Maps
Google Maps is practically a digital Swiss Army knife for travelers and a must have app. It’s got you covered if you’re looking for the best local eateries or finding your way around a new city. Plus, you can use its offline maps feature to download maps beforehand and not rack up data charges. Bonus: Google Maps highlights bike routes, making it a favourite for green travelers.
Hopper
If you’ve ever made a costly mistake booking a flight too early or too late, Hopper will be your new best friend. It’s an app that tells you the best times to book flights and hotels, and sends you alerts when prices drop. It’s not perfect, but it’s eerily accurate, think of it as a crystal ball for your travel budget.
TripIt
For the perpetually frazzled traveler, TripIt is the ultimate organizer. You forward your flight, hotel and rental car confirmations to the app and it’ll create a streamlined itinerary for you. It’s like having a personal assistant who never sleeps, always on time and where you need to be.
Duolingo
Heading to a country you don’t speak the language? The basic part of learning is turned into a nice game on Duolingo. Bite-sized lessons and cheerful rewards mean you’ll be picking up useful phrases in no time. Just learning a handful of phrases — even how to order a coffee or thank someone — will win over locals.
PackPoint
Packing doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Download PackPoint, an app that builds custom packing lists, based on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and what you plan to do. It even takes weather into account! Now, you’ll no longer have to visit the beach resort only to discover you neglected to pack a swimsuit!
XE Currency
When you’re traveling abroad, money matters, and XE Currency will keep you up to date on exchange. Live updates and offline mode make sure you can always find out how much you’re spending, be it on souvenirs or street food.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner should be in your toolkit if you love browsing travel deals. This app searches for flights, hotels and car rentals on multiple platforms to help you get the best price. Feeling adventurous? Use the “Everywhere” feature to discover budget-friendly destinations you didn’t know about.
Airbnb
Airbnb is a classic for a reason — it lets you stay in everything from cozy apartments to stunning villas. The app’s Experiences gives you the option to buy tickets to activities hosted by locals, such as cooking classes or guided tours, adding some immersive merit to your travels.
Rome2rio
This is like having a travel guide with you while you travel. Rome2rio simply knows every possible way from A to B. Just enter your starting point and destination, and it’ll give you a mix of flights, trains, buses, ferries and even driving routes. If you’re overwhelmed with a complex itinerary, this app is for you.
Google Translate
Sometimes, it’s not enough to bring a whole stack of phrasebooks when you have an unexpected language barrier. Instant translation of texts, speech and images are soon everywhere with Google Translate. All you need to do is point the camera at a menu or sign and the app will translate it for you.
LoungeBuddy
Purgatory, or layovers, are no fun, but LoungeBuddy transforms them into a mini vacation. This app allows you to find and access airport lounges to relax, eat, even shower. LoungeBuddy lets you enjoy a taste of first class even when you’re not flying one.
Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers is a game changer for those who love the open roads. It helps you plan epic road trips by displaying attractions, restaurants, and oddities of the road along the way. It’s great for finding gems you wouldn’t otherwise know about.
Citymapper
Getting around using public transportation in a foreign city can feel like solving a Rubik’s cube. Citymapper simplifies things by giving you step-by-step directions for buses, trains and subways in cities all over the world. It will take you from point A to point B without breaking a sweat, or getting hopelessly lost.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
