Our phones have made our lives a lot easier, not only in our daily work life, but also during our travels! There are thousands of apps out there that will help us organise our trips, allow us to book our accommodation or tell us exactly how long it will take to get to our next activity. But with new apps appearing on the market on a daily basis it can be hard to decide which apps you need for your next trip. So after three years of living a full-time life on the road we have create a list of the must have travel apps for your next trip. From entertainment on the road, to booking activities and accommodation, over the last three years we have tried hundreds of apps in search for the best ones on the market, these are the apps we personally love and use during our travel. So without further ado, here are the 25 must have travel apps for the frequent and not so frequent traveler!
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Must Have Travel Apps
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1. PolarSteps
Share your travels with all your family and friends with PolarSteps! Polar Steps allows you to create a personal travel log where you can stories and photos so that no matter where you are in the world your mom, sister, best friend and cousins can tag along. Write about your adventures, your discoveries and document your memories of a lifetime all in one app! This app is especially great for those who are leaving for a gap year or travels around the world as Polar Steps will map your travels out on a world map.
Download it now
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2. ExpressVPN
When traveling international we often rely on wifi networks for our internet data. From cafes, airports to hotel wifi, we sometimes login to multiple different wifi networks every single day with no idea how safe these networks really, and for that reason we use a VPN 365 days a year. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your device and the network, allowing you to surf the internet more safely. An added bonus is that it allows you to access websites (such as Netflix and Facebook) that might possibly be blocked during your travels. Not sure how a VPN works or why you need it? Read all about it on ExpressVPN, the VPN service we are currently using!
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3. Google Keep
Who doesn’t love making list? We sure do! It is how we keep our travels, planning and work organised, and make sure we don’t miss out on anything we were really keen on seeing. We currently love using Google Keep for this reason, and it actually is currently one of our most used apps. Create shopping lists, things to do before you leave, packing lists, day itineraries or any other lists and access them on your laptop or on your phone whenever you need them. We use Google Keep on a daily basis for both our personal and work life, an app we honestly cannot go without anymore.
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4. Google Translate
While a large proportion of this world speaks English, we cannot assume that everyone will, especially when you go a bit more off the beaten path or visit more rural areas. For that reason we highly recommend downloading Google Translate. With Google Translate you can download complete language packages offline, so that no matter where in the world you are you will be able to communicate. While the translations are not always perfect, if you keep it short and simple it should be enough to ask for directions, prices, the nearest supermarket or to simply translate a sign on the street. With its newest feature you can even hover your phone camera over the text you would like to translate and Google translate will do a live translation for you. This feature has allowed us to translate ingredients on items in the supermarket and to read menus when no English menu was available!
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5. Dropbox
Dropbox is one of those apps you didn’t realise you need it, until you have it. We love using Dropbox to transport documents between our phones and our laptops but also to safely store documents we possibly need during our travels. We always store a backup of our most important files on Dropbox so that no matter where we are we will be able to access our documents such as copies of our passports, our travel insurance policies and scans of our vaccinations. This way no matter if our documents get stolen and our printed copies lost we know we still have a back-up stored online!
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6. WeatherPro
There is nothing worse then your beach day being ruined by a tropical rainstorm. While the iPhone comes with a weather app, we have to admit we have found it to be quite inaccurate, especially in more tropical climates. We are currently using and loving the WeatherPro app, which seems to be a slight bit more accurate allowing us to plan our days a bit more efficiently. While we still have gotten caught in rain storms, this is the best weather app that we have been able to find for our travels! We are currently using the free WeatherPro Lite version but if you have any other recommendations of Weather apps that we should try out be sure to share it with us in the comment section down below!
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7. WhatsApp
A well known and easy to use app not only for travelers but also worldwide. Not everyone has an iPhone or Facebook nowadays, so still want to stay in contact? Download WhatsApp! Whatsapp is a free to use application that you can use to create groups or stay in contact with individuals. Create groups of friends of people you met on the road or message your mom to let her know you are okay. Whatsapp is becoming more commonly used these days across the world and we have even used it to contact drivers and to order food in Bali, it is an absolute must have app for travelers!
Download it now
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Apps for Entertainment On The Road
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8. Spotify
Traveler or no traveler, Spotify is one of these things I use on a daily basis. Create playlists for those early mornings, a road trip playlist or for those work-outs, with Spotify you can do it all. You can download complete playlists to be available offline in a matter of minutes, allowing you to listen to hours of music while you are on the road. Spotify is perfect for those long flights, bus rides or train rides to simply enjoy your favourite songs while staring out of the window enjoying the view!
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9. Podcasts
If you prefer to be a bit more productive on your downtime why not switch out music for podcasts. Download a couple of podcasts when you are in your hotel before hitting the road and you will have hours of podcasts available to you with the click of a button. We personally love listening to Joe Rogan and Lewis Howes, but there are thousands of other podcasts available for you out there! Listen to podcasts about business, comedy, sports, health, history or arts, no matter what you are interested in, there is a podcast out there for everyone. Do you have any favourite podcasts? Be sure to share them with us in the comment section down below! We’re always in need for new recommendations!
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10. Netflix
Or of course, forget about music and podcasts all together and substitute it for some Netflix! Download the app on your phone or tablet and download hours of your favourite tv-series and movies, long bus rides and overnight flights where you can’t sleep will go a whole lot faster this way. Besides killing time when moving from one destination or the other it is also the perfect app for when you get sick, when the rain spoils your plans or just for an evening of relaxing after a day of exploring!
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11. Lightroom
Last on the list of apps for entertainment on the road is Lightroom! Lightroom is the app we use to edit all our photos both for the blog as well as Instagram. We use the desktop version as we carry laptops with us, however, if you just have a phone with you then the free Lightroom app will do! With a few simple adjustments you can make your photos look even better, perfect if you were planning on stepping up your Instagram game during this trip. If you are looking for a more consistent feed then you can also buy presets online, many creators sell them these days. With these presets you can edit your photos with the click of a button creating a stunning Instagram feed and photos for your photo album at home!
Download it now
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Must Have Apps for Planning Activities
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12. Klook
The days of booking tours through agencies and standing in line for tickets is slowly coming to an end, and apps and websites have taken it place. One of our favourite apps for booking activities on the road, especially in Asia, is Klook! Within the app you can buy tickets for sights, book complete day tours and trips and even find transport and shuttle services. And the best thing is that you can read the reviews and see the prices upfront so you can find the perfect activity that fits within your budget. And if you sign up through this link you will get a 5€ voucher that can be used on your fist booking!
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13. Get Your Guide
When it comes to booking sights, tours and entry tickets to activities in Europe and North America though then Get Your Guide is the app to go to, mainly because they have a slightly bigger selection in these locations. Just like Klook you can buy entry tickets to the world most famous museums and sights with just the click of a button. Or perhaps hop on a hop-on-hop-off tour that takes you along the most famous sights of the city, book a shuttle bus to the airport or buy complete city passes, this app truly has it all.
Download it now
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14. Tripadvisor
On Tripadvisor you can read reviews of thousands hotels, restaurants, museums, sights from travellers from all over the world. While it isn’t an app we often use, some people have found it a great resource for their travel planning! You can access Tripadvisor both online on your laptop or computer and on your phone making it easy to read reviews and find recommendations while you are traveling. On top of that there is also an active forum where you can ask questions you might have about sights you are visiting or any of your destinations, or simply browse the forum to see if any questions you might have have already been answered
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The Best Money & Budget Apps
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15. Tricount
If you travel with a friend or a group of friends then Tricount is a must have travel app. No more fighting over split taxi costs, or who owes who 15 cents. Easily split costs between large group of friends, or just a simple transaction between two of the group, with this app you can keep check of it all. Update the app when you are back on wifi and everyone will know exactly how much money still needs to be paid to who, that is one thing less you will have to worry about during your travels!
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16. XE
Converting your money to foreign currencies can become quite complicated, especially if the denomination is like 1 to 13400 or if you change between countries quite often like we do. But also for this there is a simple solution: XE. In the XE app you can add up to 10 currencies, including your own currency and quickly convert any denomination. You can update the exchange rates when you have internet connection and simply use the app offline when you are on the road. The XE app will tell you within seconds how much you will actually be paying so you can be 100% sure that whatever you are buying will fit in your budget!
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17. Transferwise
Transferwise is the perfect app for those who are planning on working abroad as this app allows you to transfer money between international bank accounts with some of the best exchange rates and lowest fees on the market. We have used Transferwise over a dozen times in the past when we were working in New Zealand and wanted to transfer our earnings from our New Zealand to our Dutch/Canadian accounts! And if you don’t have an account yet and sign up through this link you will actually get your first transfer (up to £500) for free! Plus as of recently we have also gotten ourselves a Transferwise debit card (only available for certain nationalities) that allows us to withdraw up to £200 every month without paying withdrawal fees.
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Must Have Apps for Getting Around
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18. Citymapper
If you are going on a city trip than Citymapper is an absolute must have travel app! This public transportation app will show you within seconds what the quickest way to your next destination will be. The app will give you suggestions of different public transportation forms such as tram, buses and metros but will also give you alternative options such as how long it would take to walk, bike or take an Uber! It is currently mainly available for some of the world’s largest cities such as Seoul, Amsterdam and Seattle, however new cities are planned to be added in the future!
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19. MAPS.ME
A personal favourite and number one recommendation when it comes to traveling is MAPS.ME. With MAPS.ME you can download complete maps of cities, regions or even countries that will be available offline to you no matter where in the world you are. This way internet or no internet you will know exactly how to get to your next destination! However the best part may be that you can pin frequent traveled places, such as your hostel, to your map. Or you can even plan out your trip by adding sights and museums to your map so you can easily make your way across a city. We have used MAPS.ME on a daily basis in our last three years of full-time traveling, and consider it a must have travel app for those who won’t have internet on their phone during a trip!
Download it now
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20. Google Maps
But if you will have internet connection during your trip then Google Maps is a slightly better option then MAPS.ME, mainly because the “time to get to your next destination” is a bit more accurate with Google Maps. While also available offline, we personally prefer to use the online version of Google Maps, only possible if you buy a local sim card or can roam data from home cheaply. Google Maps allows us to create custom maps before leaving on our trip where we can add pins, point of interests, restaurants, photo spots and so much more all in one map! As we can load these maps on our phone we will know exactly where to go without wasting anytime looking for our next museum or photo spot, it is the perfect travel planning tool in our opinion. If you want to learn how to create a custom map yourself then be sure to check out our Google Map tutorial on how you can use Google Maps to plan an unforgettable trip!
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21. Uber
While you might use Uber at home, there is actually a big chance that you will be able to use Uber on your trip as well as Uber actually operates in roughly 80 countries worldwide! We have used Uber in Ukraine, India, Canada and so many more destinations. Should you travel to Southeast Asia then we would highly recommend downloading Grab, the Southeast Asian version of Uber. It works roughly the same as Uber, only you will have to pay in cash instead!
Download it now
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22. Skyscanner
While we have public transport and how to get around a city covered, lets talk about getting from country to country! If you are going on a longer trip visiting multiple destinations, which might not be connected by land borders, then we would highly recommend downloading Skyscanner. Skyscanner will allow you to search flights to your next destination and search hundreds of websites to find the best flight deal for you. If you have a more flexible schedule you even have the option of selecting a whole month as a date range so Skyscanner can find the best price of your flight for you, an absolute must have travel app for the long term traveler!
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The Best Apps for Booking Accommodation
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23. Hostelworld
If you are going on a solo trip then Hostelworld is a must have travel app, as this is the best place to book hostels around the world. When I traveled solo I booked around 95% of my accommodation on Hostelworld, mainly because staying in dorms are the best way to meet fellow travelers and save money on accommodation. Hostelworld is quick, easy, and reliable and you will be able to find all the available hostels that can be booked in just a matter of minutes! Select hostels by price or read the reviews to find the perfect hostel for you, from party hostels to boutique hostels across the world, Hostelworld has it all.
Download it now
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24. Booking.com
If you are looking for hotels instead of hostels this Booking.com is the app you need! This is currently one of our most used apps when it comes to booking accommodation as Booking.com offers a wide range of hotels and guesthouses, from luxury to budget, there is something for everyone. Booking.com will also show you the best deals and the just like Hostelworld you can easily find the perfect accommodation for you by simply arranging it by budget or rating. Book through the app and all your bookings will be conveniently stored in the app, ready for you to be used on your trip!
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25. Airbnb
And last, but definitely not least on the list is Airbnb! Airbnb has quickly became one of our favourite accommodation apps to use, especially when we stay in locations for longer times. As we live a full-time life on the road it is sometimes nice to switch from a hotel room to a studio apartment with our own kitchen. This way we get to cook some of our favourite foods, often have a bit more space then a bed to work on, and if we are lucky it even comes equipped with a washing machine to do our laundry! As budget travelers we have found some of the best deals through Airbnb and at this moment it is the first place we check to see if we can find any suitable accommodation.
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And there you have it, the 25 absolute must have travel apps. From booking accommodation, to offline maps and music and saving your documents to your phone; nowadays everything is possible with a phone. Quick and easy, time and money saving, that is what us travelers are looking for. How about you, do you have any travel app recommendation we all should download? Be sure to share it with us in the comment section down below!
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6 Comments
Great list!
I’d add WikiVoyage as well for an offline travel guide!
Thanks Colin! And that is such a smart idea, I never thought about actually downloading the WikiVoyage app!
Great tips! My favorite offline map is Here we go. A life savior!
Thanks Anna! I have never heard of that one, will definitely have to try it out!
I have a list of must-have travel apps too! And it’s so different from this one! Of course there are some overlaps (Maps.Me is a blessing), but you have so many that I can’t wait to try out!
Thanks Anya! Yes, we all have different recommendations, some tips are just life savors, aren’t they!