The world of travel has become so much simpler and more practical over the years with advancements in technology. We all have a smartphone in hand at all times, equipped with all the tools we need to get through daily life, as well as your biggest adventures!
Check out our master list of the top 20 apps to download to help you book your flights, organize your trip itineraries, pack efficiently, navigate your way through foreign cities and more!
TripIt
Do you often find yourself desperately scouring your inbox at the last minute to find your confirmation number? Tripit eliminates this frustration by conveniently organizing all of your travel plans in one app! Simply set up your email to automatically forward hotel reservations, car rentals, flights, events and more and TripIt will build a master itinerary of your trip!
Free features:
Paid ($49/year):
Tripadvisor
Browse millions of traveler's reviews to make the best choices in hotels, restaurants and attractions! Tripadvisor makes it easy to find the lowest in airfare, accommodations, local eats and fun things to do wherever your adventures take you.
Free features:
Browse and book Travelers’ Choice award-winning hotels, experiences, restaurants and more
Filter by food type, price range, amenities, ratings and more
Get answers to your specific travel questions in the forums
Hopper
Find the cheapest flights possible! Hopper scans a database of airline prices and historical trends to predict when prices to a destination are likely to be lowest, when they're likely to change, and the best time to buy a ticket for a particular date and destination. Then book quickly right in the app!
Free features:
Find the cheapest dates to travel with a color-coded calendar
Receive alerts when the price drops so you know when to book
Filter to remove long layovers or basic fares that have extra fees and restrictions
HotelTonight
Perfect for the flexible or last-minute traveler! HotelTonight finds deep discounts on hotels for the same evening or week (and even beyond!) Browse hotels (or inns, B&B's, motels, resorts) near your location. Choose from "basic" to "luxe" options and even unique boutique hotels.
Free features:
Airbnb
Airbnb offers all the comforts of home at a fraction of the price. Choose from over 6 million vacation home rentals across 191+ countries. From cottages, studio apartments and entire houses to even houseboats, castles or treehouses, the possibilities are endless!
Free features:
Hostelworld
For the baller on a budget! Hostelworld is a great option for solo travelers to meet new people and backpackers to save a buck. Find accommodation across 178 countries worldwide - on the beach, in the city, even in the jungle. You can book private rooms or shared dorm rooms with all female options available.
Free features:
Couchsurfing
Stay with locals for free in over 200,000 cities around the world. Sound too good to be true? The Couchsurfing community is all about creating those authentic travel experiences while helping save a bunch of cash in the process!
Free features
Waze
It’s no secret: traffic sucks. With Waze, find the fastest route with help from other drivers to avoid traffic, construction, accidents, and police which may increase your driving time. Get where you're going faster to enjoy more time in your destination!
Free features:
Maps.Me
No internet required! Makes it easier to find your way in a foreign country when you're in between wi-fi hotspots. Maps.me offline maps offer turn-by-turn navigation by car, walking or biking so you never find yourself lost again!
Free features
Detailed directions to points of interest, hiking trails and places missing from most maps
Timeshifter
It's all too familiar... arriving in your destination and you are greeted with insomnia and sleepiness. Jetlag is just the worst! But we have the cure :) Timeshifter is created by scientists based on the latest sleep and circadian neuroscience to create your own personalized jet lag plans and arrive at your best.
Free features
Practicality filter ensures advice is easy to follow
Quick turnaround advice for short business trips
You can start adapting even before your departure
Notifications offer advice - without opening the app
Paid
Roadtrippers
Plan a memorable road trip! All you have to do is enter your destination and pick your interests and Roadtrippers will help plan your driving route. Then it will recommend all the best stops along the way - local restaurants, roadside attractions and scenic stops.
Free features:
Paid:
Yelp
Yelp helps you discover the top rated spots for food near you! Find the best pizza place, coffee shop or happy hour close by, based on over 135 million reviews worldwide!
Free features
Withlocals
One way to really immerse yourself in your next travel destination is to meet and talk with locals. Connect with guides to help you get to know your destination "like a local" would! Withlocals is your chance to see the city’s highlights plus some beautiful hidden gems that can’t be found in any guide books!
Free features:
Meetup
Meetup can help you connect with people who are interested in the same things as you, even while on vacation. Whether it's cooking, art, sports, music, or photography—the app will help you find a local community event to make new friends all over the world.
Free features
Packpoint
Take the stress out of packing and never forget the essentials again! PackPoint builds a customized packing list based on your gender, the weather at your destination and how long you are visiting.
Free features
Flush
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go! Flush Toilet Finder & Map helps you track down a public bathroom from a database of 190,000+ around the world!
Free features
Alltrails
For the adventurous travel that loves connecting with nature! Discover over 100,000 hiking, running and biking trails around the world with AllTrails.
Free features
Splitwise
Stress less and take the awkwardness out of splitting costs! Keep track of your shared expenses and balances with the people on your trip with Splitwise!
Free features
Create groups or private friendships for any splitting situation
Organize expenses, IOUs, or informal debts
Split expenses equally or unequally by percentages, shares, or exact amounts
Paid
Trail Wallet
The best budgeting and expense tracker out there! With Trail Wallet, you can focus on enjoying your trip, rather than stressing about how much money you are spending!
Free features:
Customize your spending categories and view Interactive pie charts
Daily breakdown of how you’re doing against a daily and monthly or trip budget
Duolingo
Learn a new language in game form to keep motivated! Earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and level up. Most of the courses on Duolingo are created by native speakers so you know they are legit! They say that 34 hours of Duolingo is equivalent to a semester of a college language course.
Free features:
Be sure to download all of these apps before your next big trip! You are guaranteed to save time, money and stress so you can truly enjoy the experience!
Any other helpful apps for travel that you would add to this list?
