Travel Resources
Travel Apps
FOR MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL APPS – see LIST below!
There is no use denying it – we’re all so attached to our phones for everything these days that when we think of having a holiday we could be inclined to say to ourselves – “put away your phone…. you’re on holiday!!!”…. but in order to make the most of your trip these days its quite the opposite – USE your phone, infact I suggest you get a battery pack so you don’t end up with a phone dying on you half way through the day, esp if you use your phone’s camera a lot.
Phone Camera’s are improving in leaps and bounds every year, and its the camera you’re most likely never to forget to have with you – but apart from that – there is now basically an APP out there for just about anything and everything to make our trips easier and more enjoyable – from Trip Planners and Currency Converters to Transit Maps & Navigation, Guide Books, Reviews, Translators and tons more.
Here are some of the more popular Travel Apps I’ve tried and use – I’ll be adding more over time as I come across ones that I have a need for.
TripIt Make sense of your travel plans – Travel Itinerary Organizer / Planner This is probably the best Trip Organizer out there. Create a trip – forward emails and info of your travel bookings – itinerary Fight, Train, Bus, Hotel info, bookings, confirmation numbers, add Documents, Photos, QR cods , Vaccination certificates etc etc and it gets added for you ALL in one spot, syncs to you calender, share with others – even if off line . For frequent Flyers there is a Pro version that is based on a yearly subscription and you get added features like flight status alerts, reminders to check in, Airport Terminal maps and more.
Packing Pro Travel Packing List Assistant The name says it all – one of Apples 10 Essential Apps for travel, also featured on CNN, BBC, Fodors and Travel & Leisure.
FLIGHTY LIVE FLIGHT TRACKING designed for passengers ..my favourite Flight tracking app as it syncs automatically with TRIP IT and your CAL.
UNMATCHED NOTIFICATIONS, LIVE GLOBAL TRACKING, ALERTS … Predict detays – automatically monitors and alerts you.
Plane info, weather info …share with friends, iCloud sync, past flight logs …
Priority Pass Priority Pass is a program that provides members with access to airport lounges around the world, including allowing holders to visit lounges with economy class or premium economy class tickets
VISA Airport Companion Airport Lounge Access If you travel a lot you have to get with this program. Access for over 1200 Airport Lounges Worldwide – which means free food & drinks, wifi, showers etc. Also discounts on retail and Dining
iOS – get from APP store
Android – get from Google Play
ROME2rio Global Transport Journey Planner
Find the best way to get from A-B anywhere in the world … Compare your options: plane, train, bus, car, ferry, bike share, driving and walking directions all in one search. Whether you’re after flight, train, bus, ferry, rideshare or rental car info, they will give you estimated prices, journey durations and booking details from over 5000 companies in more than 160 countries. Possible to Book through the App as well ..or go direct to Airline, car rental etc
Visit a City Create your Personal Travel Guide. Another Favourite app for planning. Starting with one of the adjustable PREMADE ITINERARIES is the easiest way to decide where to spend your time and how to get there. Up to date ATTRACTION info( so no wasting time going somewhere only to find the place is closed for the day etc) PURCHACE Tours or TICKETS directly through the App. Smart nearby info from offline maps gives you suggestions for things to do based on your location. Tons & Tons of TOURS / TIPS / THINGS TO DO AND SEE etc
Culture Trip Get a fresh look at places. . One of my Favourite GO TO for planning .Great Selection of Trips – World Wide: Unique Trips, Mini Trips ( 3-5 days) ideal for Solo travelers or couples or small groups.
I LOVE their GUIDE Section.. perfect to inspire you & give you tips! eg Best Markets to go to in a city, or Best Street Art or How best to spend 48 hrs in a city etc – also insider recommendations by local experts giving a new perspective on places beyond the usual tourist spots This is a bit of a Travel Mag and SEO combo driven site.
Trip Advisor Explore and find out about Places This is a great place to start when planning a trip to find out more about a place. Extensive online source for valuable info on towns, regions, reviews of places, restaurants, advice re best beaches, shopping etc all written by the Trip Advisor Community.
Currency Powerful and simple Currency Converter Over 150 currencies. Has been top currency converter for iphone since being launched in 2008. One of my favourites.
SPLITWISE Track balances …GROUPS & FRIENDS Keep track of shared expenses, balances, and who owes who. 100+ Currencies, split by % or shares, categorize expenses, cloud sync, offline mode….
Globe Tips Travel Tip Calculator & Tipping Guide Rated by Travel & Leisure as one of the best Tipping Apps. GlobeTips will give you precise advice on how to tip adequately in a specific situation in 240+ countries. Auto Country and Currency Detection, split bills, divide tips, tip rounding and more.
CityMapper Travel as Stress Free as Possible – Live Metro, Bus and Train Time. EASILY NAVIGATE YOUR CITY WITH TURN BY TURN DIRECTIONS FOR ALL YOUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND WALKING, CYCLING & SCOOTER TRIPS.
Simple city navigation and trip planning combining bus 🚎 subway 🚇 train 🚄 ferry ⛴ cabs 🚕 ride share 🚖 car share 🚗 bike share
APPLE – One of Apps of the year, 5 years in a row
Maps.Me #1 OFFLINE Maps App – Download a map, choose your route, and get ready for a great journey. LOVE THE WAY YOU CAN CHOOSE A CATEGORY IN THE CITY – Attractions, Entertainment, Business, Lodging …map shows where they are ..CHOOSE and GO
Google Maps Great Transit – way more than just maps In many places I’ve found it to be better than most local transit apps with spot on timing for trains, underground, buses and seamless connections between them – not to mention searching for places nearby your location, be it coffee shops or gas stations – also linked to traffic in most places so will redirect you if need be – maps can be downloaded for traveling so ideal for when offline.
RoadTrippers Driving Trip Planner For Driving in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand only. Lets you know about scenic points, quirky attractions, national parks, restaurants, hotels, attractions etc. Get inspired by pre made guides, plot with up to 7 waypoints – after that you’ll have to subscribe monthly or annually to RoadTrippers Plus which lets you have up to around 150 waypoints plus additional features.
ALL Trails Hiking, Running Mountain Bike Explore the outdoors – Over 75000 Hiking backpacking running and biking trails from all over the world – incl dog friendly trails – Download offline maps – GPS activity tracker so you dont get lost. Track and share your activities, save favourite trails, explore national parks.
UBER Ride Sharing. Uber is the best known ridesharing app out there- fast, reliable rides in minutes – day or night. With Uber, you just tap to request a ride, and it’s easy to pay with credit card and set up your account so no fussing with the driver re anything – cash (in selected cities only). Variety in vehicle choices – no haggling re fees, and safer in many places than cabs ie South Africa, where taxis are notorious for being hell on wheels.
FIND YOUR CAR with AR. EASY TO USE just hit the button I PARKED HERE .Useful even if you are not traveling. On your travels a lifesaver if you rent a car and park it in a town with a maze of streets you are not familiar with. Works off-ine as well …just follow the arrow back to your car.
NordVPN Virtual Private Network For Online Security and Privacy wherever you are. A good VPN service is worth every cent, and when you travel a lot and access the internet from all over and need to do just about everything on line, I strongly advise getting a VPN. Also If you try connecting to the internet in places like China or other countries where online access is restricted, it allows you to get to those sites you would otherwise be blocked from. As your access is rerouted you might lose speed in your connection, but I’ve had great success and hardly noticed a drop in speed with Nord – their Quick connect feature is great and fast. They are a bit pricier than others, but you get what you pay for and they sometimes have specials on 2 or 3 year subscriptions, which makes it quite affordable, and you can have it on up to 6 of your devices.
ExpressVPN Virtual Private Network The other big player for Online Security and Privacy wherever you are. A good VPN service is worth every cent, and when you travel a lot and access the internet from all over and need to do just about everything on line, I strongly advise getting a VPN. Also If you try connecting to the internet in places like China or other countries where online access is restricted, it allows you to get to those sites you would otherwise be blocked from.
WiFi Finder & Map Speedspot WiFi Finder Hundreds of thousands of WiFi spots around the world. Look for WiFi spots in your vicinity. Download maps for off line use while traveling, and it shows you WiFi rated by Hotspot speed.
Trip Whistle Global SOS International Emergency Numbers Show you location while on call. Dial with a single touch.
Life360 SAFETY & LOCATION sharing App. Share realtime locations in a private circle. Location History, Place Alerts, Crash Detection, SOS Help etc. Yearly or Monthly Fees Apply.
Google Translate Powerful Translator Like their Maps – this is the translator to beat. Voice and text in over 103 languages. 59 Languages available to download for offline use. 32 Languages available to Translate bilingual conversations – great feature and works brilliantly. Instant Camera Translation. Save words or phrases for future use.
Say Hi Translator Easy to use – talk text either way … Have a conversation in two languages and hear your voice translated instantly. I find myself using this one the most – and also helpful when learning a new language.
Zomato Restaurant Finder & Delivery Search for Restaurants, Cafes, Clubs, Bars by Location or Cuisine or Name. View Menus, Pictures, Read Reviews or Get Directions, Bookmark your Favourite Places. Use the map to find places near you. Now available in over 10000 cities across India, the USA, Australia, the UK, UAE, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Portugal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Chile, Italy, Lebanon, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Qatar. More locations constantly being added.