This list of the best travel apps will set you up for cheap flights, travel and trip planning, road trips, weather, and hotel deals at the last minute.
You can make travel an exciting mystery and throw caution to the wind, but you don’t have to. Dozens of ingenious travel apps in the App Store and Google Play let you plan and book trips, find affordable last-minute hotel rooms, guide road trips, and even see the weather along your route.
There are apps to find what you need in airports without the legwork, make your time on the plane more comfy and enjoyable, and convert currency at the best rates when you reach your destination. You can also use the best travel apps to find trails, hostels, RV parks, and even zero in on the nearest public restroom in a pinch.
This list of the best apps for travel can help make you a travel warrior, from booking flights and planning activities to staying safe when you’re away from home. Keep scrolling for the 30 best travelling apps for iPhone and Android.
Planning and booking trips
Start by planning your trip with smart packing lists, itinerary planners, calendars, and handy booking apps. See the best trip planner apps below.
1. TripIt
TripIt is the best travel app on the market, helping you plan itineraries, sync with calendars, find confirmation directors and directions, and upload boarding passes, all in one place. Get safety guidance, plan air and road trips, and manage real-time alerts and refunds right from your phone or tablet.
Never forget anything on your next trip when you use the travel app that “practically packs your bags for you.” PackPoint tells you what to bring based on weather, the length of your stay, and your roster of activities.
Find the best deals on flights, rental cars, and hotel stays while you’re on the go, from any location in the world. All you need is a wireless connection or phone data to set up price alerts that ping you when trips to your favourite destinations go on sale.
4. Couchsurfing
Staying with a friend is the best way to travel. But what if you had friends everywhere? You do, with the Couchsurfing app. Just browse, connect, and stay – or sign up to host other couchsurfing travellers. Works best on iPhone.
With the Hopper vacation planner app, you’ll save up to 40% on flights and hotels with handy price notifications and accurate predictions. Spot deals on all the major airlines, and avoid long layovers and fees.
Hotels rarely fill all their rooms, and this trip planning app gives you deals on unbooked space, even at top luxury hotels. You can use Hotel Tonight to book hotels last minute or 100 days in advance.
Take the guesswork out of road trips and find cheap gas, route weather, and vital info with these top travel apps.
7. Wanderlog
This easy-to-use free travel app excels at planning road trips and group trips, with handy collaboration and itineraries synced to Google Maps. Split expenses, view real travel times, and get some fun side-trip inspiration – no WiFi needed.
When it comes to road trips, Waze is one of the best travel apps for Android and iPhone. It lets you see what’s happening on the road ahead for traffic, accidents, and construction.
Plan your route with friends and find amazing side trips, great places to eat, photo ops, beautiful vistas, and other hidden attractions along the way, plus affordable hotels and national parks.
Will it be icy in the next 50 or 100 miles? The DriveWeather mobile app will tell you. You’ll see rain, snow, sun, wind, and temps along your planned route to help you travel safely.
Finding things in airports isn’t easy, but these apps make it a lot simpler. Find lounges, food, and shops, and view your flight info with these travel apps.
11. LoungeBuddy
View and access airport lounges anywhere in the world, fast. Fly in style with the most in-demand amenities, including free lounges, ratings, and photos before you enter. The one downside? It’s only for iPhone users.
Order food in airport restaurants from your phone with the Grab travel app. It lets you pay first before you can pick up your food at the counter. Warning: it’s best used on iPhone and maybe a little wonky on Android.
Get quick, easy access to more than 1,300 airport lounges as well as exclusive discounts on retail, spas, dining, and gyms. Priority Pass also features maps for 10 major airports so you can find your way around.
Track any plane, anywhere around the world, in real-time, including departures, arrivals, gate changes, delays, and cancellations, with weather radar and other vital info. Pay for the pro version to remove ads.
When you’re on the plane, the travel apps below can help you zap jet lag and fear of flying.
15. Timeshifter
Bid a not-so-fond adieu to jet lag with this indispensable travel app. This one helps to quickly resynchronize your body clock to your new time zone. Millions of users are blown away by its effectiveness.
Crush boredom and in-flight jitters and satiate your curiosity with an app that explains every sound, turn, and sensation in your flight. Plus, SkyGuru provides supply route and weather info.
After you arrive, travel like a pro with the best apps for finding cheap hotel rooms, car rentals, and even the nearest restroom.
17. XE Currency Converter
Check rates up to the minute, and transfer and convert currency with confidence. The XE app is great for grasping the price of an item instantly without confusion.
When you’re on the go – and need to go – you can’t beat the Flush app. This handy travel app finds public restrooms near you, and it includes accessible bathrooms and quick directions.
Just point your phone at text in any language and see an instant translation with Google Translate. You can also grant microphone access for speech translation. This is one of the best travel apps to make communication easy.
Want to take a load off, finish some work in private, stream a show, or have a snack and shower? Dayuse lets you book hotel rooms for a few hours during the day.
“Who had the calamari?” Split restaurant and bar bills and manage group expenses easier with the Tricount travel app, and say goodbye to frustrating vacation arguments.
Explore more than 200,000 curated trail maps with AllTrails. It provides directions to trails near your location, complete with in-depth descriptions and tips. You can filter by difficulty and search for hot springs or hikes with waterfalls.
Find exciting outings in a new city anywhere in the world, from fine dining and skydiving to concerts, tours, and landmarks like the Louvre, Vatican, and Burj Khalifa.
It can be really difficult to locate vegan or vegetarian food without the HappyCow travel app in tow. When you use this app, you’ll find thousands of restaurants, grocery stores, and cafes that support your lifestyle.
Travel can be dangerous. The two apps below can keep you safe so you can relax and enjoy your trip a little more.
28. Smart Traveler
This travel app from the U.S. Department of State provides up-to-date country info, travel alerts and warnings, U.S. embassy locations, and a helping hand during emergencies.
For iPhone only, TripWhistle packs emergency numbers for every country in the world, including fire, police, and ambulance, with location tracking and Apple Watch functionality.
This list of the best travel apps can help you firm up travel plans, avoid flight delays, find the best exchange rates, plan road trips and hikes, and even locate the nearest public toilet. You can find the least expensive gas, learn the weather along your route, and potentially beat jet lag and fear of flying with these handy travel software tools.
About the Author: Tom Gerencer is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Tom is an ASJA journalist, a career expert at Zety.com, and a regular contributor to Boys' Life and Scouting magazines. His work is featured in Costco Connection, FastCompany, and many more.
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