Traveling the world couldn't be easier nowadays. There are so many mobile applications to use to make your travels a smoother process. No need for looking up 10+ different confirmation emails or creating a spreadsheet for your itinerary and contacts anymore. All you need are some of these helpful apps and you can enjoy your holiday knowing your vacation is streamlined for you.
There are many local applications tailored to make traveling in each country easier. But the following article will cover the mobile apps you can use for several countries you visit, not just the one. That way, you don't need multiple apps using up the memory on your phone and if you Travel to multiple countries, it is all streamlined in a select few apps.
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The Travel
TripIt
When you sign into TripIt using your email account, the app will pull all of your travel information from your emails and compile them here.
This allows you to streamline all of your travel data into one hub so that you don't have to search multiple different emails in your inbox every time you forget what's next in your itinerary.
Since the travel information is organised into a timeline, the app will provide alerts for the next event in your itinerary.
You can also share your trip with others using the share button.
If there are changes to your flight or even cancellations, TripIt will notify you and help you find a new flight.
Wanderlog
Wanderlog is another travel app that will consolidate your trip itinerary into one place by connecting to your email account.
Once your email account is connected to Wanderlog, the app will pull your travel data into an organised page so you never miss a beat.
What's great about Wanderlog besides the consolidation of your itinerary is that you can post stories about your latest vacation while also viewing other people's travel stories as well.
It's a great way to share your holiday adventures to inspire others while you also look for inspiration from them.
Dare I say, it's a bit like Instagram for traveling.
LoungeBuddy
For domestic flights, it's not a big deal to arrive at the Airport one to two hours before your flight's departure time. But when it comes to international flights, you never want to gamble with time.
It can be hit or miss as to whether you make it through airport security and to your gate in time, so as a rule of thumb for international flights, people leave for the airport 3+ hours prior to their departure time to get to there early.
The problem with this is only when there is no extra time required to get through airport security. Some glorious days, all of the stars align and you get from the airport entrance to your gate within 30 minute, but you buffered out 3+ hours for this. What do you do now for the next 2.5 hours? Where do you wait? How do you make the time pass? Especially when many shops in the airport aren't even open at that early or late of a time?
That's when airport lounge access comes in handy. But say you don't have status or don't want to pay for an annual membership when you only travel a couple of times a year. That's when Loungebuddy comes into play.
The Loungebuddy mobile app provides you with access to several airport lounges at the click of a button on the application just by paying an admission fee.
The prices vary based on which airport lounge you choose. The Loungebuddy application will also tell you where in the airport you can find each specific lounge so you're not wasting time or getting lost looking for it.
Uber
Do you plan on traveling abroad to a country where you don't speak the language? Or maybe you already have and experienced the struggles of trying to use hand motions to get your point across to a stranger.
Uber, the rideshare mobile application, is active in over 60 countries and 900 cities worldwide. With rates that are often cheaper than that of a cab, it's easy to set up for a driver to pick you up right where you stand.
Especially in a country where you don't speak the language or taxis are difficult to come by, the Uber rideshare mobile app can be a lifesaver.
Book a Stay
Hotel Tonight
Covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Hotel Tonight is a mobile application and website you can use to find great last minute deals to hotels.
Simply select the city you want to stay in, which dates, and any customised necessities you are searching for such as certain amenities. You'll be provided competitive rates to local hotels that may be better than if you were to book in advance.
Also, if you're in a bind to find a place last minute, Hotel Tonight is the perfect mobile app to use to help you out of your jam.
Nustay
Nustay is similar to other websites and mobile apps that provide you with the best deals for hotels. But I've found some of the best rates through Nustay, which sets them apart from the other hotel sites.
Also, if you're looking more for the currently trending apartment-suite style hotel room where you can find your own private kitchen, you can see them listed on Nustay. These type of boutique hotels are perfect for extended stays.
I used Nustay to find a boutique hotel for a 4-day stay in Lisbon, Portugal and it was everything I needed and more.
Homeaway
Everyone knows about home rentals such as Airbnb. But where Airbnb doesn't provide, Homeaway has got you covered.
Homeaway is the same property rental model as Airbnb, but they do not cover the same properties. So, when I could not find a rental on Airbnb by the marina that sleeps 7 people, includes 4 bathrooms, and is pet-friendly, I turned to Homeaway and found a place in no time.
Hostelworld
If you're looking for a place to stay while abroad and a hotel or rental property is out of your budget, a great idea is to stay at a hostel.
Hostels are no longer about some cheap motel-like, dingy place to stay in. Now, it's a place that's safe, modern, and perfect for backpackers, people on-the-go, and travellers who are trying to meet new people abroad,
Averaging at costs less than $20 per night and with plenty of social events to attend, it's a great way to make lodging a positive part of your traveling experience.
Activities
Klook
When you're looking for activities or places to sightsee during your time abroad and need ideas or guidance, always plan your trip using Klook.
I never knew Klook existed until I began to plan my trip to South Korea. All of the blogs and websites I was using to research South Korea kept mentioning Klook. So, I decided to try it out and I was so pleasantly happy with it.
Klook really took the guess work out of planning my trip and it can be used over several continents. I found group tours, various activities, sightseeing deals, and so much more on the site. And the prices I found were ridiculously inexpensive.
Klook truly made my first experience in South Korea so much more exciting, more memorable, and less hectic..
Airbnb
I listed Airbnb in the "activities" section as opposed to the "book a stay" section because you can actually use Airbnb to find activities for your travel. It's no longer an app just to find a place to sleep.
If you go to the Airbnb website, click on the "experiences" tab and type in your destination and dates. Your search results will be pages upon pages of food tours, beer tours, photography sessions, sightseeing tours, and even cooking classes of local cuisine that are all very affordable.
TripAdvisor
Planning an exciting trip abroad but don't know where to start? Check out TripAdvisor and you can find everything you're looking for in planning your trip's activities.
TripAdvisor is a one-stop shop for all of your travel needs. You can book hotels, flights, cruises, and rental cars through the website. You can find restaurants with reviews and ratings from other people who have traveled to where you're going. And my favourite part is the "Things to do" tab where you can find plenty of activities for your vacation.
It's a great resource at your fingertips to find food tours and group tours of cultural places to visit especially when you're visiting a different country for the first time.
When you're the foreigner in the foreign land, why not book a local guide to help immerse you in the country's culture, history, and food. It's truly one of the best ways to get to know an unfamiliar place. And who better to guide you than a local.
