Daily Dose of Design: 9 Free Must Have Travel Apps for Every Trip

Thursday, June 22, 2017

9 Free Must Have Travel Apps for Every Trip


We're lucky enough to live in a day and age where technology makes everything, including traveling, SO much easier. Being able to plan and organize your trip from your phone, and then navigating and making your way around during your trip is a breeze and makes any stress that comes with a trip disappear. I rely on a lot of apps to help make my travels easier, here's my favorites:

1. Google Maps


This is probably an app you have on your phone already, but what's great about traveling internationally with this app is that you can download maps ahead of time - or even when you're there, in your hotel room before leaving for the day to explore. Downloading them ahead of time assures that you'll be able to access them if you don't have great service/no WiFi which is SO important since international service plans can be spotty at times! You can even link your app with your Google Account, and when you're en-route, receive traffic information. It helped me find restaurants in parts of Italy I wasn't familiar with last summer too by pulling reviews/ratings from, none other than, Google!

2. Triposo


My favorite part of this app is that it can function without internet; super helpful when you're traveling. It's able to give you tons of recommendations for restaurants, things to do and see, hotels to stay at and more all around the world. It's extremely easy to find the review of a restaurant on the fly, or find something to do if you have some spare time in a city.

3. Trail Wallet


For all of my finance lovers out there, or anyone who is trying to save where ever possible (AKA all of us!) this app is essential! It's *so* easy to use and helps to easily track all of your expenses and purchases while traveling. You can break it down by trip and then have things easily accessible when it comes time to pay the bills. A couple who travel full time built this app for other travel lovers, in hopes of making traveling easier and less hectic. It really does help to not worry so much about what you're spending because you can set a daily budget for yourself beforehand (or by trip) and just add as you spend.

If you're super type-A (*raises hand*), this app is for YOU! I break down each trip I take in this app by color and can easily see what I spent where. Analyzing past trips helps to plan future trips too - I've used it to plan some of my summer travels this season!

4. Google Translate


As much as I wish I spoke 10 different languages fluently, I don't. #womp And I think most of us can relate to that! When I went to Germany a few years ago, I used this app religiously to help navigate around Berlin. Granted, a lot of countries have English speaking citizens and/or multi-cultural compatibility in their signs, restaurants, etc. Since it's another Google app, they give you the option to download specific languages in case you need to use it offline. It's extremely helpful in understanding whatever you don't, where ever you are. My FAVORITE part is that it can translate written text, which helps with signs, restaurant menus - basically everything!

5. TripIt


If you ever wanted to have your travel information ALL organized into one place, this app is for you! It's extremely helpful if you're going to be taking more than one flight (to keep all of your information organized), hotel bookings, car rentals, reservations, etc. The app details how you can input your reservation information and you can say goodbye to carrying around endless pieces of paper while you travel! The app also offers extra little perks, like weather for your location and suggestions on what to do.



6. XE Currency


I am by NO means a numbers person, and the only thing I hate more than converting temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit or vice-versa is trying to convert currencies. I mean it really is impossible to do without a converter since the markets and exchange rates change so often. But anyway, this is a must have app for traveling abroad! The app constantly updates, so it's always on top of in-the-moment rates and it's extremely helpful when you're shopping or buying anything internationally. Super handy and very user friendly!

7. Rome2Rio


I just discovered this app a few months ago and I wish I had it when I was in Europe last summer! It's basically MapQuest on steroids - you can input a location and Rome2Rio will map out how to get there from your location in the most efficient way possible. It gives all sorts of transportation options too; train, plane, car, boat, etc. It even will estimate the total cost of your trip, whether that means putting together your ferry costs or your train ticket price. The reviews on this app are all extremely positive and from playing around with it, the interface is very user friendly.

8. PackPoint


I am, in every meaning of the term, an over-packer. It doesn't matter if I'm going somewhere for 3 days or 3 weeks, I'm indecisive and always worried about forgetting things! No matter how many lists I make or how organized I think I am, I'm really not LOL. With PackPoint, you can start a packing list based on how long you'll be traveling, the weather where you're headed to, what you'll be doing and what type of trip it is. My favorite feature on this app is the packing list it generates based on all of these factors. It's extremely precise too; if you include "water sports" as one of your vacation activities, it includes everything down to goggles! ;) It's so fun to use too and has colorful graphics and a feature that allows you to repeat your basic pieces when they create your list. It's genius!

9. Urbanologie


This is a great app to have and use when planning your trip! It's an app made for worldwide destinations that keeps you up to date with current events in any location including new restaurants, events, grand openings and anything exciting a traveler may want to know about. It also features a LOT of detailed travel guides for various locations written by travelers. You can scroll through (sort of like Instagram) and see the newest happenings all over the worlds entertainment industry - pretty cool!

Do you already use any of these travel apps?

XOXO -A

32 comments:

  1. Someone recommended Trail Wallet to me a few weeks ago when I mentioned that our accountant told us we may be able to write off travel expenses if I detail them on the blog. It helps me keep things straight.

    We prefer Waze to Google Maps. I've found the directions to be better and it mentions police presence, pot holes, road construction, and other hazards.

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  2. I really love using Google Maps. Most of the time it does the job well. Though I will say that Waze seems pretty cool too (I saw that someone mentioned it above). I have some friends that use that instead.

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  3. I will definitely need to keep these in mind! We are going to Jamaica and we will definitely need some suggestions on where to go!

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  4. Wow, aside from maps, I didn't know any of these existed!! I already have it pinned for future trips -great finds.

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  5. Google Maps is always my go-to even at home! And YES to PackPoint! Definitely helps - esp for overpackers :)

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  6. I so could have used some of these during my planning sessions for my trips! I'm going to Hawaii later this month and I am totally downloading Trail Wallet - everything in that state is so expensive so having an app that keeps track of my spending would be so useful!

    xo Deborah
    Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes

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  7. I am checking these out especially XE Currency. I was so confused when we went away recently and could not figure out how to convert to dollars. Thanks for these awesome tips!

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  8. This is really great list of travel apps especially for international travel!! I'm loving it! Definitely pinning for later use :)
    xo, G
    theswirlblog.com

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  9. Triposo sounds great! #1: It sucks to always use up data. I do not have a lot. So it is so helpful that you can be offline & still get to use the app. #2: many places I travel often have crappy service and this can help if I am in a jam and need to find some place! Unfortunately, my future trips only have FL in them now. But, these will be great for a nice big trip out the country!!

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  10. I haven't heard of a lot of these! TripIt I've used before in the past, very useful.

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  11. Okay i need to download these apps because I will be traveling next spring and I want to make sure I know where I'm at, what I'm saying etc.. lol

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  12. Great list! You should check out Sygic Travel. I've been loving it lately. Also I use Yelp and Instagram to plan our dining.

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  13. Bookmarking for later!!! Thanks!

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  14. THANK YOU for this amazing list!! I love Google Maps of course and also FlightView for flying, but need to try these!

    xoxo A
    www.southernbelleintraining.com

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  15. These all sound like wonderful apps! I will have to check some of them out.

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  16. Downloading maps from Google Maps to use offline is one of my recent discoveries. It helps you save SO MUCH DATA and also conserves your battery too!

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  17. Wow what a smart idea to have these travel apps! I will be saving this!

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  18. I've never heard of Triposo, I'll have to check it out! My fav app for traveling is one we use for Geocaching because it shows us all of the hidden gems in any area! It's called c:geo.

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  19. Omg thank you so much!! I am about to travel and loved these app suggestions!!! x

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  20. These are great!! I use wave over google maps though since it got rated #1 on the today show when they did a RL test!

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  21. I hadn't heard of a few of these before! I'm always looking for helpful travel apps.

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  22. Great list if apps! I've never heard of Trail Wallet before but now I'm definitely going to check it out! I'm always trying to track my trip expenses but end up failing every time haha

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  23. Google Translate sounds like one that I could use! I am vegan and gluten free, so knowing how to say those words in another language are a must!

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  24. Omg I can't live without Google Maps – it's actually the best! I tried using the generic Apple Maps but it doesn't compare at all.

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  25. Great apps! Several I wasn't even familiar with before. Thank you so much for sharing these. Downloading some of them as I type this. :)

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  26. I discovered trippit last summer and it is a lifesaver! Keeping the confirmation numbers all in one place is amazing. Love all these ideas!

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  27. These are awesome apps! I use google maps if I'm not in my car but I splurged on the navigation system so I have to get good use of it hahah when I moved to Colorado last year we drove across the country and I so wish I knew about Triposo back then!!

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  28. I am going to download these apps right now.
    We travel a lot and definitely need some of these.

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  29. I didn't know most of these until I read this post. Thanks for the tips! Now all I need is a vacation and money for a ticket :P

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  30. I couldn't survive without Google Maps! We aren't huge travelers but when we do, I'll have to get some of these other apps!

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  31. Traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming, especially when trying to navigate unfamiliar territory. Fortunately, there are a variety of free travel apps available that can help make your trip easier, safer, and more enjoyable. These apps can assist with everything from booking flights and accommodations to finding local restaurants and attractions. Some even offer translation services and offline maps, which can be particularly useful when traveling abroad. With so many options to choose from, it's important to find the apps that work best for you and your specific travel needs. Overall, these free travel apps can be valuable tools for any traveler looking to make the most of their trip. Cheap SMM Provider

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