When it comes to planning and taking a vacation, the delight is in the details. Want to find the best place to stay tonight? There’s an app for that. Want to do a currency conversion quickly? There’s an app for that, too. There’s even an app that lets you take a photo of a menu, then gives it back to you in English within a few seconds! Keep reading to learn about the apps that EVERY traveler should have in their phone.
But first, need to know how to use your phone in a different country? Click this link to decide if using your current data plan, getting a SIM, or just using WiFi is best for you.
Google Maps
Did you know that Google Maps can tell you the best public transit route to almost anywhere AND give you a link for where to purchase tickets? Google Maps can even tell you the hours of the place that you’re going and if it’ll be busy. In other words, Google Maps is your one-stop-shop for just about everything travel.
Pro Tip:
Did you know that you can use Google Maps to navigate offline (watch how-to here)?
Google Translate
If you’re traveling to a country that speaks a different language, download Google Translate. Google Translate even lets users take a photo of a block of text (super helpful when trying to read a menu!) and will translate it to your native language in a few seconds.
Pro Tip:
Download a language within the app so that you will be able to do basic translations while offline.
XE Currency
There are so many currency exchange apps available, but I’ve used several and find that XE Currency Converter is the easiest to use and most up-to-date. The app allows you to keep track of live rates of every currency and works offline.
Pro Tip:
Remember to download the conversion rate of every country you’ll be visiting before you leave and you’ll be good to go.
Most of the world does not use text message or calling. They use WhatsApp instead to do their texting, video calls, and voice calls. A lot of the time, business cards will have the WhatsApp number on them so you can make reservations or communicate with your hosts via WhatsApp rather than the lengthy process of emailing back and forth.
VisitACity
This is one of my favorite tourist tricks to keep up my sleeve. This free app has preplanned, interchangeable itineraries in most touristic cities around the world. It’s free, but it only works when you have Wi-Fi or data.
SkyScanner
While I typically use Google Flights or other websites on my desktop, SkyScanner is the best app for searching for cheap flights on a phone. Skyscanner allows users to search for one-way or round-trip flights on specific dates like usual. However, it also has an incredible flight comparison map to use if your vacation is flexible. It also has a ‘month view’ that allows you to be flexible on your travel dates to find the best flight deals.
Booking.com
Booking.com and Airbnb are the ONLY accommodation websites that I use. I love Booking.com because users can search for anything from 5-star hotels to hostels. There is a map feature that allows users to search for places in a neighborhood of their choice, and the filters are abundant and accurate. You can book right on the site and have open communication with the property you book through their chat feature.
Other Apps Every Traveler Should Have
Other apps to consider are:
- HitList- Find cheap flights but without control over dates
- Airbnb – Find houses, apartments, and rooms
- Couchsurfing – Meet locals and (possibly) stay with them for free
- Hotel Tonight – Last-minute hotels for cheap
- TripIt – Organize your travel itinerary
- LoungeBuddy – Get paid access to lounges in the airport you’re in
- Detour – Free guided audio tours in 17 cities around the world
Comment below: What other apps do you keep for traveling?
