Travel apps is something we have used a lot all over the world. Here are some of the most useful ones we use on almost every journey.
When I was a child on holiday with my family we would drive from motel to motel at night, ask about the price for a room in the reception and do a visual inspection of the rooms. After a few visits we would find a place that looked OK and book a room. Through the night we would quickly find out if there was water leakage, cockroaches or if the beds were rock hard. Today a simple mobile app replaces this whole process with a few keystrokes, not to mention with a way better outcome.
There seems to be an app for almost everything these days. Now and then we download and use some new apps, but most of them go out of use quite quickly. Therefore we have made a list of 8 free travel apps we actually use on more or less every single journey.
#1: Google Maps
Everyone knows Google Maps, but not all know how much this app can actually do. The map itself is given and most people are also aware of the road directions it provides, both for travelling by foot and by public transport as well as by car. But, did you know that it supports offline maps? This is super useful when travelling to places without WiFi or free roaming. Even when you are online the maps load faster when they are stored offline. Another really useful feature is the traffic function, letting you know if there is a traffic jam up ahead. Never be late for your flight again!
#2: Airline apps
Most airlines offer apps for checking in, getting your boarding card and so on. We use many of these apps, but one app is probably more crucial than others, namely the United Airlines app. Unlike most other airlines they have removed their in-flight entertainment screens and replaced them with a streaming service that can be accessed through their mobile app. If you are going for a long haul UA flight it is therefore critical to download the app in advance if you want access to their in-flight entertainment. The Norwegian airline Norwegian Air Shuttle also offers a similar service, but on their long haul flights they have monitors in the seats, so the app isn’t as critical as the one from UA.
Download UA’s app: iOS, Android
#3: TripAdvisor
TripAdivsor’s app is also quite well known. We don’t have any magical secrets to share about this one, but feel that the app deserves a spot on the list as we use it very often. There is a plethora of apps telling you what to do around the world, but most of them are quickly forgotten. TripAdvisor is the one app we keep using time and time again. Remember to download offline information for this app as well!
#4 & 5: Duolingo & Clozemaster
Knowing a few words and phrases in the language they speak where you are travelling to can open new doors. People are usually more open and welcoming if you show an interest in their language and culture and in some places the English proficiency is so limited that it might be hard to communicate even the most basic things without a basic understanding of their language. Duolingo offers courses in 31 languages and different ways of learning new words and sentences. Rather than focusing on grammar and theory it focuses on practical phrases that are useful.
Although we are big fan of Duolingo it is always a good idea to learn from more than once source. Therefore we also recommend Clozemaster that provides similar functionality as Duolingo. Don’t judge the app on it’s 90’s look, it is actually very useful!
Download app: Duolingo to iOS and Android, Clozemaster to iOS and Android
#6: CheckMyTrip
CheckMyTrip does something as simple as providing basic information about your flight such as departure times, connections, delays and so on. Don’t you know this already? Yes and no. Some airlines are very good at presenting this information, others are downright awful. You might also have multiple flights booked through different companies. CheckMyTrip collects the information from all your flights and presents it in a consistent manner. Sometimes the travel agencies also use internal reservation numbers that aren’t recognised by airlines. CheckMyTrip often has both these numbers in its system and can “translate” between the two. The app solves a problem that shouldn’t exist, but until the travel agencies can sort out their awful booking systems this app keeps saving us again and again.
#7: SeatGuru
Going for a long haul flight? Better get a good seat then. But how do you know which seats are better than the others (apart from the obvious difference between an economy and business class seat)? SeatGuru is made by TripAdvisor and collects information about airplane seats for different airlines and airplanes. If you have a media box under the seat in front out you (causing less leg room), if a seat is uncomfortably close to a toilet or if a row does not have a window the app will let you know. Benefits, like additional leg room, is also mentioned. The app is super easy to use and by taking a few seconds to check if you can save yourself hours of less comfortable flights later on.
#8: Triposo
We have saved the best for last: If you are just going to download one app it has to be this one. Triposo is an all-in-one app we almost never travel without. Like TripAdvisor it offers a list of sights to see, restaurants, hotels and so on, and all of these are available on an offline maps that works great. Information is pulled from WikiTravel about how to get around with public transport, safety, recommended sights, understanding the culture and so much more. It also contains a basic phrasebook, currency converter and weather forecast.
Which travel apps do you use? Leave a comment below if you have an app to recommend 🙂
