By Amanda Clarke
Travelling enthusiast, app experience, with 10 years of writing experience, happy to share their own journey experience.
The ideal travel apps efficiently tackle the quandaries of selecting destinations, researching them, securing reasonably priced flights and accommodations, and navigating new surroundings with ease.
Viator is your go-to platform for tour bookings, offering a wide range of options for guided experiences and itineraries. Whether you're seeking daily excursions or weeklong adventures, Viator has got you covered, even providing convenient transfers. Do keep in mind that the availability and level of deals can greatly differ from one destination to another.
The Grab app enables quick meal selection and pre-ordering at airports, saving time for busy travelers. With operations in over 60 airports globally, it offers a wide range of food choices.
Happy Cow is a valuable tool for vegetarians, vegans, and health-conscious individuals seeking meat-free meal options. This app and website provide a comprehensive directory of restaurants, cafes, and health food stores that offer plant-based choices. While not exclusively catering to herbivores, the recommended establishments ensure a variety of options for non-meat eaters.
Google Maps provides information on reported road problems and traffic, but Waze goes further, offering details on police traps and potholes. This community-driven app is favored by taxi and car service drivers, but is equally handy for regular drivers. Plus, Waze can suggest the optimal departure time to avoid congested roads.
Culture Trip has evolved from a mere travel app and site to become a comprehensive platform that offers package tours as its main service. Whether it's an exhilarating Patagonia trek or an exciting safari in Kenya and Tanzania, simply search for your desired destination and Culture Trip will present you with a range of multi-day trips to choose from. Book these curated tours effortlessly on their app or website. Additionally, Culture Trip also provides abundant recommendations and captivating magazine-like articles for your reading pleasure.
Citymapper is a travel assistance app that guides users to their destinations with the fastest routes. It offers precise directions to nearby bus and train stations, displaying real-time arrival information. The app even enables users to communicate their estimated time of arrival to friends and family through its chat feature.
Booking.com is a comprehensive platform enabling users to book accommodations, flights, car rentals, airport taxis, tours, and attractions. It offers a wide range of hotel options globally, ensuring a perfect fit for your requirements at competitive prices. As a subsidiary of Booking Holdings, Inc., Booking.com shares similarities with Kayak, Priceline.com, Agoda.com, Rentalcars.com, and Opentable.com.
Hopper is a must-have app for trip planning, offering flight price tracking and expert recommendations on optimal purchase time. With detailed insights and timely notifications, it ensures you never miss out on a price drop. Moreover, Hopper goes beyond mere suggestions by providing specific dates when prices are expected to increase. Additionally, the app offers a convenient booking feature, albeit with a small commission fee.
Airbnb helps you search for accommodations, from basic rooms to fancy beachfront villas. They also provide bookings for tours, classes, and workshops. Whether you need a place to sleep or ideas for your next adventure, Airbnb showcases stunning photos for every option.
Google Maps is my top travel app. It shows your location and directions for walking, public transit, driving, or biking. It also helps you find nearby hotels, restaurants, and gas stations, with info like hours and photos. You can save places with icons and save maps for offline use.