APPS I USE FOR TRAVELING

📍Aegina, Greece

The internet has completely changed the way the travel industry operates -- for the better! Everything can be booked online in an instant and hordes of information is readily available at your fingertips. Here are the apps I use when planning, booking, and taking my vacations.

I book travel mostly online, as I like comparing prices on different tabs, but I frequently use the web versions of these apps.

Side note: I cannot even imagine trying to orchestrate an international trip with only a few guide books and a trusty telephone. My parent’s generation way braver than me.

📍Warrensville, North Carolina

AirBnB

Hands down, my favorite type of accommodation when on the road. AirBnB offers many unique stay options as an alternative to hotels and the app is very useful for both booking and communicating with hosts.

As an Airbnb host myself, I find it easy to adjust pricing, availability, and switching between host and traveler on the app.

You can also find tours and excursions through AirBnb’s newer Experience feature.

📍Lake Ray Roberts, Texas

Hopper

Hopper is a great tool for all sorts of travel. Through the app, you can research and book flights, hotels, and rental cars.

I’ve never used the flight feature myself, because I prefer to book directly through airlines, but you can search flights from a variety of carriers, as well as setting a price alert notification. The app also features price prediction, with recommendations on when to book tickets.

I do, however, use the hotel and car rental features frequently. I’m not big on either of these travel methods (much more of an Airbnb/public transportation girly), but when I need to book one or the other, Hopper features the best deals.

📍Shannon Falls, Vancouver

GetYourGuide

I love using Get Your Guide to search for and book tours and activities. They often have the most comprehensive list of activities in any given city, which I definitely want to know before choosing a destination.

They even allow you to book and hold your spot without paying until 24 hours before a tour, for my noncommittal folks.

Google Translate

Ever held your phone up to a shopkeeper with a phrase on Google Translate because there’s no way in heck you can pronounce the words on the screen? Enough said.

📍Lake Thun, Switzerland

Google Maps

This isn’t vacation specific, as this is probably the most used app on my phone, but it comes in handy during travel. We rely on public transport to get around when we can and Google Maps provides up to date transit schedules, with detailed instructions and ticket prices. For this reason alone, I always purchase international service.

I also use Google Maps to find nearby restaurants, grocery stores, and public restrooms.

📍Tuscany, Italy

Duolingo

This isn't a travel app, per say, but it’s both common courtesy and very helpful to learn at least the basics of a language when visiting a foreign country. I like to use Duolingo for a couple lessons to get the gist of greetings, ordering in a restaurant, and asking where the bathroom is. The app is totally free, and lessons are pretty intuitive.

Currency Converter Plus

Because I pay for international service, I usually just google the current conversion rates, but sometimes this app comes in handy. For free, you can pick one currency at a time to convert offline.

📍Temple of Poseidon, Sounion, Greece

Uber/Lyft

When Uber and Lyft are available, they’re my go-to apps should I need a taxi. In many countries, it can be dangerous to take a taxi off the road, so pre-ordering through a ride sharing app gives you an extra layer of protection.

Some cities have their own ride-sharing apps and in destinations where no pre-ordering apps are available, I make sure to ask my accommodations for reputable transportation services.Out of an abundance of caution, I will never get into a taxi ordered from the side of the road.

📍Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Rick Steves’ Audio Europe

Of course this is Europe specific, but Rick Steves offers an excellent resource for visiting many cities in Europe. His app offers radio segments and free walking tours, which can be helpful if you’re on a budget.

In popular tourist destinations like Rome and Paris, he includes city walking tours, cultural commentary, and guided tours for popular attractions like the Colosseum and the Louvre. We loved using this during our summer abroad.

📍Paris, France

Nannybag

Nannybag offers luggage storage in various locations around the world, which can be useful if you’re staying at an Airbnb. I’ve used this a couple times when we had to check out at 10 am, but wouldn’t catch a train out until the afternoon. The easiest way to figure out the best option here is always to ask your host, though! Sometimes, they’ll offer luggage storage for you or even give you a late check out.

Been

I’m on a journey to visit 100 countries and I’ve just started to get to the point where I can’t count them on my fingers, so tracking via an app is helpful. Been is a free app that allows you to log the trips you take and countries you visit along the way. I’m sure there are many apps you can use, but I like this one.

📍Roatan, Honduras

Bonus: Credit Card Travel Portal

While this isn’t technically an app, many credit cards come with the benefit of a provider specific travel portal for booking flights, car rentals, and hotels. We use Capital One’s with our Venture X, and all travel booked through the portal earns us extra reward points.

I mainly use the Capital One portal when checking hotel and car rental prices, as I prefer to book flights directly through a carrier. Usually the portal doesn’t offer best prices for travel, but bookings come with extra protections that can be useful. CapOne, for example, offers free price-drop protection and price matching.

📍Woodland Park, Colorado

While none of these apps are essential to traveling, they certainly make the experience more enjoyable. For more travel tips, subscribe to the blog to receive bi-weekly updates.

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