10 of the Best Travel Apps I Use on Every Trip
Travelling is so much easier when you’ve got the right tools on your phone. Over the MANY years of travel, I’ve narrowed it down to the best travel apps that I actually use on every trip.
These aren’t just random downloads, because there are so many apps out there, and they’re not all helpful.
These are the travel apps that help me book flights, find a place to stay, get around new cities, and even keep my budget and communications on track.
When I’m on the road, I like to keep things simple. So, no matter where I’m headed, there are a few travel apps I will always use—whether I’m booking flights, finding my way around a new city, or just trying to keep my head clear and stress low.
So, here are my go-to travel apps that make life easier when I’m travelling.
1. Skyscanner – For Cheap Flight Deals
Skyscanner is hands-down one of my favourite travel apps for searching flights. I love that you can see flexible dates and even search “everywhere” to find the cheapest destinations. It’s perfect for when I want to get away but don’t have a set plan.
Skyscanner is truly one of the best travel apps of all time, letting you search for the cheapest flights, hotels and car rentals from thousands of suppliers, with no booking fees – ever.
I especially love the ‘Search prices for whole month’ and ‘Fly to anywhere’ features when searching for flights.
2. Wise – For Easy Money Transfers & Currency Conversion
Managing money while travelling can be a headache. Wise makes it so much easier. I use it to transfer money abroad without crazy fees and to convert currencies at a fair exchange rate. The debit card also comes in handy when I need cash in local currency.
I honestly wish Wise were available when I first started travelling in 2007. I wasted so much money on bank transfers; the Wise app has literally saved me thousands over the years.
3. Google Maps – For Directions & Reviews
This one’s a lifesaver. Whether I’m figuring out public transport, walking to a new café, or checking reviews for a restaurant, Google Maps has me covered.
I also love that you can download offline maps for when Wi-Fi is sketchy.
Being able to find your way is a huge part of your security, and pairing these apps with a quick guide to staying safe when travelling will give you much more confidence on the road.
4. Calm (or Headspace) – For Health & Wellness
Travel can get hectic, so I like having a wellness app on my phone. Calm (and Headspace works too) is great for guided meditations, breathing exercises, or even sleep sounds when I’m on a long flight or in a noisy hotel, trying to get over jetlag.
It’s the small things that make a big difference.
5. XE Currency – For Quick Currency Checks
Sure, Wise is great for transfers, but XE is perfect for those quick “wait, how much is that in my currency?” moments. Super handy when you’re shopping at markets or paying for food.
It does what it says: it converts currency. I think XE Currency is one of the best apps for currency exchange because of its easy user interface and its mobile currency calculator, so you can easily calculate anything you buy and see the price in your own currency.
Load a few of your most used currencies and get live exchange rates, which will update as often as you set them up to.
To save even more, it’s worth reading up on money transfer during travel to ensure you aren’t losing money to hidden bank fees.
6. Duolingo – For Learning the Basics
Even if I only pick up a few phrases, I love using Duolingo before and during trips. Knowing how to say “hello,” “thank you,” or order food in the local language always makes the experience more efficient for the locals and makes me feel I’m engaging in the culture.
7. Citymapper – For Local Public Transport
Win public transport with this smart travel app.
Citymapper makes getting around a new city easy by showing you local public transport routes and real-time info.
(If I need a faster ride, Uber or Grab are my go-to apps, especially in places where public transport isn’t always reliable.)
CityMapper is one of the best travel apps that helps you navigate all the public transit systems in the bigger cities.
Global city coverage includes all of the big cities you can think of: New York, LA, London, Birmingham, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Mexico City, plus many more.
CityMapper gives you all these transit options:
- Real-time departures
- Transit maps
- Line status & disruption alerts
- Uber and Lyft integration
- Live bike share info
You can compare all your transit options, get real-time service alerts, find alternative routes, and this super intelligent travel app will even tell you the best section to sit in, how many stops it is, and the correct station exit to use.
8. Booking.com – For Accommodation
When I’m looking for a place to stay, Booking.com is usually the first accommodation app I check.
I like the flexible cancellation options and the range of choices—from budget hostels to boutique hotels. Plus, the reviews often help me avoid any surprises.
The Booking.com app is another travel app I couldn’t live without. It searches thousands of accommodations around the world and you can filter by price, area, review rating, location from the city centre, or even filter by its swimming pool offerings – these things are important sometimes, am I right?
If you’re looking to stretch your budget even further, there are actually 10 ways to get free accommodation for travellers that can help you travel for much longer.
9. WhatsApp – For Staying Connected
I use WhatsApp everywhere. It’s perfect for keeping in touch with family, messaging travel friends, or even contacting guesthouses and tour operators abroad. Plus, all you need is Wi-Fi.
10. TripAdvisor – For Reviews & Ideas
TripAdvisor is still one of the easiest ways to quickly check reviews for restaurants, attractions, or tours. I don’t plan my whole trip around it, but it’s a handy backup when I need a trustworthy recommendation.
For honest, no BS reviews on hotels, tours and restaurants, the TripAdvisor app is one of the most useful travel apps you’ll use. Many booking sites have a review section for reviews now, but TripAdvisor seems to still hold the crown for the most detailed reviews. And sometimes the most entertaining, too.
Bonus Travel Apps
Check out these other travel apps that will be helpful on yout travels:
TripIt
TripIt is an intuitive travel app that detects when you’ve booked a flight or made an accommodation booking, pulls a copy of the booking through from your email and stores them all in one itinerary – in your TripIt account. You can even access your itinerary offline.
Airbnb
With the Airbnb app, you can literally book accommodation in unique homes, anywhere in the world. With the Airbnb app, go anywhere and book anywhere. It’s on the slightly larger side for a travel app but with the amazing gallery pictures, you can really see what your accommodation looks like before you get there.
Maps.Me
Maps.ME is a travel app that you can use offline. You download the map of the town or city you’re going to next onto your phone, then you can access it offline anytime you need it.
This travel app is a lifesaver when you arrive in a new country and don’t have a local sim card with data or you can’t find any WiFi.
You can also search millions of objects, Campsites, Hotels, Train stations, Car Rentals, Cafes, Restaurants, ATM’s, Doctors or Pharmacists – all whilst offline.
Grab or Uber
The taxi travel apps. Grab and Uber – we all know at least one of these guys.
Grab is used more in Asia than in places like the USA, Australia and the UK. Either way, I love both of these travel apps; they integrate with Google Maps and CityMapper to make life easier and are almost always the cheaper option when needing a taxi from any airport.
FlightRadar24
For tracking all flights, anywhere around the world FlightRadar24 is your guy. Turn your phone into a live flight tracker and track flights in real-time across the globe with this app. This is also a good one to set-up for family members who might want to check your flight got in safe whenever you travel.
Amazon Kindle App
The Amazon Kindle app is one the best phone apps and is especially amazing for people who don’t have a Kindle. For reading on planes, trains or long bus rides, airport delays, the list is endless.
Final Thoughts on the Best Travel Apps
These apps are my travel toolkit—they help me save money, stay organised, and keep my travels stress-free. Using these digital tools alongside a quick guide to staying safe when travelling ensures I’m prepared for anything while on the road. I don’t use dozens of apps, just the essentials that really make a difference. I don’t use dozens of apps, just the essentials that really make a difference.
What about you—do you have a favourite travel app that you can’t live without?
If you found this list of the best travel apps helpful, don’t forget to save it for later or share it with a friend who’s planning their next trip. You can also pin it on Pinterest, so you’ll have it handy when you need it.
Safe travels and happy app downloading!
Alial 🙂
