20 Best Travel Apps and How They Can Help

Tripadvisor is a vital source for information on hotels, dining, and entertainment. Get reviews from Tripadvisor members, helpful blog posts, and informative blurbs. If you want help figuring out any of the following, then Tripadvisor can do it all:

• Where to go on your next vacation
• How to get there
• Where to stay
• Where to find car rentals and transit
• What to do when you get there

Once you’ve taken your trip, leave a review at Tripadvisor so other app users may benefit from your experience.

Are you stuck without a place to stay due to an unexpected cancellation? Are you on an adventurous road trip and planning to stop for the night wherever you happen to be? Keep track of local hotel vacancies with the HotelTonight travel app.

Many hotels and chains offer rooms at steep discounts to avoid losing money on unsold rooms. Use HotelTonight to find the latest last-minute deals, get extra perks, and save money on your accommodations.

Tripit is a free app that creates itineraries based on your travel bookings. TripIt will remind you of important events throughout your trip to avoid missing anything along the way. 

The paid service TripIt Pro app updates you on changing fares and seat availability. Tripit Pro reminds users of check-in deadlines and travel points balances.

Airbnb has revolutionized travel accommodation since the company’s founding in 2008. Four years later, Airbnb released an Android app. The online lodging giant’s app boasts over 100 million downloads on Google Play.

The app enables you to browse Airbnb accommodations across America and internationally. Book your Airbnb reservations online and use the app to chat with your Airbnb hosts before you travel and throughout your stay.

TravelMate is a sleek, convenient app that introduces travellers to many of the world’s major cities. TravelMate will give you the knowledge to make your trip run smoothly, from practical information about amenities to a deeper understanding of local culture and history.

Does jet lag turn you into a zombie for the first few days when you travel to a different time zone? Timeshifter is a paid app that leverages research on astronauts’ space flights to help travellers and workers adjust to changes in their daily sleep rhythms. Timeshifter works well with other jet lag treatments like melatonin.

Before embarking on a road trip, don’t forget that Google can provide driving directions and a map that tracks your progress.

Google Maps warns you of traffic disruptions and suggests alternative routes. It also tracks your speed and the speed limit of the road you are driving on to help you avoid a ticket. Be sure not to take your eyes off the road when driving and using Google Maps.

If you prefer bus and rail travel, Wanderu should be your go-to app. Wanderu has information about bus and train schedules across the United States. Use Wanderu to book travel reservations and learn about the amenities at different stations.

If you can’t get from where you are to where you’re going with one transportation service, Wanderu makes it easy to combine bus and rail routes and plan an efficient, cost-effective journey.

Greyhound, Amtrak, and other transportation companies have apps as well. Use the “browse by experience” option to find classic cars, all-wheel-drive vehicles, pet-friendly vehicles, and more.

If you’re travelling by car, this car-sharing app lets you browse for the exact vehicle you want at locations throughout Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Alex Gervash, a licensed pilot, developed the SkyGuru app for iPhone users to help them confront a fear of flying. SkyGuru gives you information about your flight, including the weather conditions.

As the flight progresses, the app picks up on the sounds and movements within the plane. It reduces anxiety by explaining what is going on. Of course, SkyGuru will still work even when your phone is in airplane mode.

GasBuddy is a powerful but free tool to combat high gas prices. It shows you the cost of gasoline at nearby gas stations so you can find the best deals.

When gas prices are volatile, you can save twenty or thirty cents per gallon. Over time, the pennies could add up to substantial savings on the cost of a road trip.

GasBuddy works in Canada and the United States. Remember to account for conversion between the metric and imperial systems once you cross the border into the United States.

TravelSpend helps you budget for your trip and track your expenses. TravelSpend is convenient for backpacking and road trips where you don’t necessarily have a fixed itinerary but need to stick to an overall budget. Users travelling in groups can share travel expense data and coordinate to keep the trip financially on track.

Are you travelling to a foreign country or a town where most people don’t speak your language? You can get your message across in dozens of languages with Google Translate on your phone. The translation might not always be exact, but Google Translate is free and effective for general conversation.

WhatsApp is a popular messaging app. Many people prefer WhatsApp to conventional text messaging because text message applications lack some features of WhatsApp, such as the ability to make video calls.

Cluster is an app for people who want to share their travel experiences privately with a circle of friends. The cluster app will let anyone in your circle know when you have posted new photos, videos, or messages. Create clusters for different groups and outings to ensure your content only goes where you want it to go.

The Government of Canada created the Travel Smart app to keep Canadian citizens up to date on the latest travel warnings and information. Don’t get caught in a storm or risk travelling in an area that is currently unsafe due to political instability. Download the Travel Smart app and check it frequently throughout your trip.

The bSafe app contains several vital features to get out of dangerous situations, whether you are at home or on a trip:

• Let family members track your phone
• Have your phone send you a face call to get away from a threatening situation
• Record audio and video and live stream it so your friends and family know where you are
• Control who gets to know your location and for how long

Do you find the sound of popping bubble wrap relaxing and addictive? The Bubble Wrap application allows you to pop virtual bubbles for as long as you want without the real thing taking up space in your luggage.

If you are looking for time to kill while waiting in an airport or train station abroad, Duolingo offers a chance to kill two birds with one stone. Duolingo’s fun exercises help you dive into a new language.

Learn practical language skills or challenge your brain with ancient or fictional languages. Compete with other Duolingo users as you advance through each Duolingo course. Basic Duolingo is free, but Super Duolingo removes ads and gives users additional perks.

Are you stuck in the airport and not going anywhere for a few hours? LoungeBuddy has information about lounges for all air carriers at hundreds of airports worldwide. Book reservations for purchasable lounges at dozens of airports.

• Ask friends on social media which travel apps they use
• Take advantage of free trials for paid apps
• Download apps only from reputable sources, such as the Apple Store, Google Play, and CNET
• Check out the “you might also like” recommendations for similar apps if the apps in this list don’t quite meet your needs
• Visit travel websites that you like and see whether they have apps