In the past, I would (a little nervously) switch off my devices during takeoff on flights. I would only reconnect with loved ones using hotel Wi-Fi at the end of the day or using a pay phone to call my parents. I know, I’m dating myself here, but there was an ease to simply disconnecting. Now, travel has changed. It’s so easy to be connected on the go, have all your travel details on your phone, and even make international calls. There are plenty of apps out there to help you, so I’m going over the best travel apps to download before you go.
These apps will provide assistance with planning, translations, currency exchange, and organizing documents. I also go over why I don’t recommend one of the top travel apps.
Trip Planning Apps
Google My Maps
Google MyMaps is the first place I start when planning a trip. I can put all my research in one place, on different layers, with emoticons and colors. It’s a Type-A Planner’s dream. Here’s my step-by-step guide to planning a trip with Google My Maps.
Pinterest is my second go-to place. It’s not technically a travel app, so I won’t spend too much time on it – but it’s got plenty of great, unique articles. It’s where I find a lot of my off-the-beaten-path destinations. Each trip has its own board which I save to add to my Google MyMaps.
Roadtrippers
The Roadtrippers app is useful for those (surprisingly) going on road trips. It helps users find places to eat, stay, and explore at their chosen destination. The most common destinations are the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
TripIt
Another helpful app is TripIt, which is great for travelers who are not naturally organized. I typically only recommend this app for people with multiple itineraries – different flights, lengths of trips, etc. If you’re traveling to one destination for a time frame, this may be over the top. Users can forward booking confirmations for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more directly to the app to create an offline itinerary. Additionally, users can add their entries to the app.
Hopper
Hopper is a valuable app for tracking flight prices and determining the best time to book your flights. With its prediction algorithm, Hopper can notify you with price alerts when prices are expected to drop or rise, allowing you to make informed decisions about when to purchase your tickets. This feature helps travelers save money by booking flights at the most cost-effective times. Additionally, Hopper offers travel protection options and a price freeze feature to help users lock in the lowest possible price on flights.

Top Language Apps for Travel
Google Translate
Google Translate is hands down my top travel app to download and use. It’s a great way to overcome language barriers. Google Translate offers translations in 109 languages, with 59 available offline. You can use your camera for instant translations or speak into the app to communicate in another language. This makes it easier to have conversations beyond basic phrases like “hello” and “thank you” when traveling.
iTranslate
iTranslate is a free app that offers text translation in over 100 languages and includes a variety of useful phrases. The pro version also includes camera translation for instant translation of text, as well as voice-to-voice conversations in four languages. Additionally, there is an Apple Watch app available and the ability to communicate with new friends from your travels through instant text message translations.
Using translation apps is helpful, but learning some local language words on your own is a good idea. Here are my 32 essential travel phrases to learn before you go.

Booking Apps
Skyscanner
Skyscanner efficiently locates flights, hotels, and car rental choices, and displays booking options. It’s orene of the easiest apps to use to get an idea of how much a vacation would cost and what the options are before diving in deeper.
Hotel Tonight
Many people typically book accommodations through VRBO (or AirBnB but I don’t recommend them due to my personal experience with customer service) or booking.com, which have convenient apps. However, if you’re not satisfied with your lodging or enjoy a more spontaneous approach, Hotel Tonight can help you find discounted rooms easily. It’s a great way to save money on accommodation if you’re not a type-A planner, like me.
Day Use
This app has over 5,000 hotels in 20 countries and is growing. If you have a long layover, this app can help you find a hotel room for a few hours for cheaper than paying the overnight rate.
BringFido
BringFido is a great travel app for those traveling with their dogs. Everything on the app is dog-friendly. Accommodations, restaurants, activities, dog parks, and more are all in the app.
Viator & GetYourGuide
These are my top two activity booking apps. From walking tours to multi-day guided tours, they have so many things to offer visitors that you’ll be glad you checked them out. The apps make it very easy to organize your activities, have your tickets on your phone, and get in contact if you need to!

Apps for Budgeting & Money
In full honesty, I am still a work in progress in using tracking apps for my budget. I save a lot for travel so I can spend it while traveling. I do know that budget and expense tracking apps can help you stay on your budget and control spending.
Trail Wallet
Trail Wallet for iOS lets you set budgets and easily track expenses, showing a breakdown with a pie chart. Travel Spend for iOS and Android works offline and converts expenses in any currency into your own.
XE
Be cautious when exchanging money abroad to avoid being overcharged. Check out my guide to figure out how much cash you should get out before you go. I use XE Currency to compare exchange rates before making a transaction. It can be used offline as well.
Revolut
Revolut is an app, more for digital nomads or those that work with a number of currencies. It offers convenient money management for travelers, allowing transactions in multiple currencies with competitive rates and no hidden fees.

Apps for Remote Work
Workfrom
Being a digital nomad has become more convenient with the help of apps like Workfrom. This app allows you to easily locate Wi-Fi-equipped cafes, restaurants, and coworking spaces for work. Additionally, you can create or join a virtual cafe for socializing and networking, with options to personalize the ambiance with scenery, music, and ambient sounds. This can even be used if you’re not traveling and just want to work somewhere that isn’t home.
Evernote
While not specifically an app for travel, Evernote is a great app for organizing on the go. Evernote is a useful tool for staying organized and productive, whether you’re on or offline. It functions as a notetaking app, where you can store various types of content like clips, PDFs, images, and more in different notebooks. Additionally, Evernote offers features such as scanning documents, recording audio, and sharing content and ideas.

Apps for Getting Around
Google Maps
As a self-proclaimed directionally challenged traveler, getting around is one of the hardest things for me to do. I tend to lean in to getting lost and just enjoying exploring. However, there are plenty of times when I needed to get to my destination by a certain time (whether for a tour or a reservation). Google Maps is hands down my go-to app for getting around. It gives me live traffic updates, recommendations for public transport, and walking directions. All of it! I love it! The only problem that I have with it is that sometimes in cities with skyscrapers (i.e. Chicago), it can take a little time to calibrate. Google Maps is available for iOS and Android.
Citymapper
Citymapper is another great map. You can easily find the fastest route with various modes of transportation. It gives you real-time updates for buses and trains so you don’t miss them. One of the unique things about Citymapper is the ability to keep your travel buddies up to date with your ETA and current location. It’s available on both Android and iOS.
Uber
Uber is available in over 10,000 cities and airports worldwide, following a familiar process. It’s reassuring to have the app handy, even if it’s not actively being used. I always keep Uber on my phone when traveling so I do not have to worry about taking a taxi. I had a terrible experience with a taxi driver in Prague who significantly overcharged us and made us feel unsafe. Ever since, I negotiate the price before getting into the car, but I don’t have to do that with Uber! It’s easier and less stressful for me.
FlightAware
Knowing where the airplane is can be helpful if you’re flying between destinations, like we did in Colombia. FlightAware Flight Tracker is a useful tool for tracking flights and knowing their exact location and landing time. It often updates faster than the airline app does directly.
GasBuddy
GasBuddy is a must-have app for road trips or if you’re renting a car during your travels. It helps you find the nearest gas stations and provides real-time gas prices, allowing you to compare prices and save money on fuel. You can search for gas stations along your route, filter by fuel type, and even earn points and rewards for reporting gas prices. This app will ensure that you never run out of gas or pay more than necessary during your travels.

Time and Weather Apps
Timeshifters
Timeshifters is an app designed to assist with transitioning to a new time zone. By entering your flight details, the app provides personalized recommendations to help minimize jetlag. Taking suggested actions such as adjusting caffeine intake, sleep patterns, and exposure to light can help ease the transition. Be sure to check my guide for how to sleep on a plane so you arrive as well rested as you can.
World Clock or 1Weather
For those seeking additional features like easy time-zone conversion and long-range weather forecasts, consider using World Clock App (iOS) or 1Weather for more accurate information.

The One App I Don’t Recommend
Wanderlog
It’s on so many lists, and originally I thought it was great as well. Then I realized that they take content from creators (like me) and scrape it. They also attack our sites with spammy links. I was the victim of this a couple of times. I cannot in good faith recommend them due to the hurt they cause people.
Final Thoughts
Having the right travel apps downloaded on your phone can greatly enhance your travel experience. These apps can save you time, money, and stress from tracking flights to finding the best gas prices. However, it’s important to be cautious and avoid using apps like Wanderlog, which are known to take creators’ content and engage in spammy practices. You can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable by carefully selecting and utilizing the best travel apps available. Happy travels!
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