Travel Apps
There’s no shortage of travel apps cluttering up the Android and Apple marketplaces these days — and that’s a problem, as most of them are terrible. Sorting out useless ones from those worth installing is not the most fun you’ll ever have with your smartphone, but no one wants to pay for a worthless app.
If you’ve got a trip coming up, rather than wasting a week of your life downloading useless junk, start with these 21 great travel apps instead:
| Category | App Name | Description |
| Trip Planning | TripIt | Organizes itineraries and travel documents in one place. |
| Flights | Skyscanner | Finds deals on flights from various airlines. |
| Accommodation | Airbnb | Books unique accommodations around the world. |
| Navigation | Google Maps | Provides offline maps, directions, and public transportation info. |
| Navigation (Alternate) | Citymapper | Offers real-time public transportation info and routing. |
| Language Translation | Google Translate | Translates languages in real-time, written text, or voice. |
| Currency Conversion | XE Currency Converter | Offers currency conversion rates and tools. |
| Packing | PackPoint | Creates customized packing lists based on destination and weather. |
| Things to Do | GetYourGuide | Books tours, activities, and experiences at your destination. |
| Food | HappyCow (Vegetarians/Vegans) | Finds vegetarian and vegan restaurants worldwide. |
| Restaurants | Restaurantji | Find restaurants, pubs, local eateries (Canada and USA) |
| Weather | WeatherBug | Provides detailed weather forecasts for your destination. |
| Connection | OLA | Purchases data eSIMs for international travel (avoid roaming charges). |
| Flights (Alternate) | Flightradar24 | Tracks flights in real-time and provides flight information. |
| Navigation (Alternate) | Waze | Offers community-based traffic info and real-time navigation. |
| Navigation (Alternate) | Maps.Me | This app is a great alternative to Google Maps, especially in areas with limited internet access. It offers offline maps that you can download for free. |
| Communication | This free messaging app is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family back home, as well as with locals you meet on your travels. | |
| Monetary | Splitwise | This app is a great way to split expenses with friends and family while traveling. You can add expenses, assign them to different people, and see who owes what. |
| Hiking | Alltrails | This app is a great resource for finding hiking and biking trails. It provides maps, reviews, and elevation information. |
| File Storage | Dropbox | This app is a great way to back up your photos and videos while traveling. You can access your files from any device, and you can even share them with friends and family. |
| Data Privacy | NordVPN | This app is a virtual private network (VPN) that helps you protect your privacy and security online. It’s especially important to use a VPN when you’re using public Wi-Fi. |
