Here you can find the apps we find most valuable and helpful when it comes to anything relating to travel. We couldn’t live without these apps to help us get around safely and find everything we need! It’s also definitely recommended to download them before you go. Therefore, you won’t get stuck with no apps and bad WiFi!
Best apps for Planning & Booking Travel
Skyscanner – Find the Cheapest Flights
Skyscanner is the first place we check when it comes to finding the best flight prices. In our experience, is very rare that we find better value ones elsewhere.
The Hopper App – Price predication & Travel alerts
Hopper is a fantastic app that teams up with Skyscanner very well. As we mentioned, Skyscanner is great for finding the best flight prices. However, this is only at the time of searching. Alternatively, Hopper lets you know when the best time is to book those flights in order to get the cheapest flights overall. Therefore, check Hopper to see when the best time to book is and then take your search to Skyscanner during that time.
Best Apps for Acommodation & Local Stays
HostelWorld – Hostels & Budget Stays
If you like to stay in hostels during your travels, Hostelworld is the go-to app. You’ll be able to see what’s available, check out the reviews and amenities. Also, the really important stuff, like if breakfast is included.
Booking.com – Hotels & Apartments
If hotels are more your thing or you’re treating yourself to one after many a dorm room, Booking is the place to go. This is also a great place to check in more remote locations. We often find some great apartment hotels, which beat hostel prices!
Airbnb – Unique Local Stays
One more for accommodation. Airbnb is a great in-between for hostels and hotels, and can sometimes work out cheaper than a hostel for a whole apartment. Always a great option for deals if visiting somewhere during a particularly expensive period of time. For instance, the Rio Carnival, the Olympics, etc.
Best Navigation & Travel Apps for Travellers
Google Maps – Offline maps & Saved places
Google Maps has saved us on many occasions during our travels and can really be taken advantage of when it comes to organising trips. We tend to save all the main attractions, restaurants, bars etc we want to visit. Thus they are easy to find at any time. Following this, we then download the map so it can be viewed offline.
Best Ride Hailing Apps for Travellers
Ride-hailing apps like Uber, Bolt and Lyft are often the most affordable way to get around, alongside public transport. These taxi and ride-sharing apps operate in countries all over the world, making them a reliable option for travellers. Most now include helpful safety features such as PIN-code ride verification, live location sharing and trip tracking. To find the best option for your destination, head to your app store and search “best taxi app in [country]” to see what’s available locally.
Getting an eSIM, local SIM card or Wi-Fi access while travelling is easier than ever, with free connections often available in cafes, libraries and shopping malls. However, when we travelled through South America in 2018, budget SIM options were limited, so we sometimes relied on locals’ hotspots to order taxis or use translation apps. Knowing a few basic phrases helped, and in many countries we could have a ride booked on a local app and pay cash at the end of the trip. While this isn’t ideal for solo travellers, we had no issues on the occasions we needed it when our phones died.
Rome2Rio
Type in any two destinations from anywhere in the world, and Rome2Rio will let you know how best to get from one to the other. It should be noted that the prices shown can often be much higher than the actual price. Therefore, we wouldn’t pay much attention to that feature. However, we can vouch that the routes are very on point, though!
Best Practical Travel Apps for Everyday use
Google Translate
XE Currency Exchange
Not the prettiest of apps, but easily one of the most useful travel apps for planning and budgeting, XE Currency is our go-to when checking exchange rates on the road. If you’re travelling long-term or trying to stick to a budget, XE is one of those must-have travel apps you’ll open daily without even realising it.
It works offline, so you don’t need Wi-Fi to figure out whether you’re getting a good deal — whether that’s at a cash exchange, booking accommodation, or comparing tour prices. We also use it as a quick calculator when weighing up different foreign exchange options or trying to understand price differences between competitors in another currency. Simple, reliable, and surprisingly handy when travelling.
