The Best Travel Apps for Your Next Adventure

With an overwhelming array of apps out there claiming to make your travel experience easier, it can be tough to determine which are truly useful for planning an incredible trip from start to finish. Through extensive trial and error over the years, we’ve narrowed down a list of go-to apps that make organising and enjoying trips easier than ever.

From mapping out destinations to capturing lifelong memories, these apps have become indispensable tools we recommend to any globe-trotting friend. Whether you’re a seasoned travel pro or just starting to plan your first big journey, check out our recommendations for can’t-live-without travel apps that will transform the way you explore the world.

Google Maps

This may seem like an obvious one but we cannot stress how much of an essential planning resource Google Maps is. Not only does it provide you with directions and transport options, it also allows you to uncover local gems from the palm of your hand. You an access reviews, menus, photos and contact details of nearby shops, hotels and restaurants. In addition to this, the ability to download and access offline maps is invaluable when you’re without a wifi or a mobile data connection. The integration with Spotify is also great for road trips, meaning you can control your music from directly within the app, no need to switch between the two.

The lesser known My Maps feature has become our all time favourite travel planning tool. We use it to add custom layers and markers to a map, highlighting must see attractions and top rated restaurants. Being able to accurately visualise where your points of interest are in relation to each other is amazingly helpful for piecing together your trip itinerary. Being able to compile your personal trip map from your computer and have it sync to your phone automatically is a game changer.

Booking.com

Another obvious one but once again, for good reasons, becoming our go-to for finding accommodation over the years. We love how easy it is to filter results to our exact preferences – whether we’re looking for a cosy boutique or 5-star resort with a spa. The map view is invaluable to us when choosing somewhere to stay nearby major attractions or beautiful neighbourhoods.

Over time, we’ve noticed the genius program rewards us with some nice perks, like applying discounts we weren’t even aware of! We highly recommend taking advantage of the genius status if you use Booking.com regularly as those extra savings really add up.

Tripadvisor

Often used in combination with Booking.com, we rely heavily on Tripadvisor when we want the real, unfiltered review of a hotel or restaurant. Their price comparison tool has been invaluable, saving us hundreds on hotels over the years by showing us the cheapest rates from various booking platforms. Before booking a hotel, we always make sure to browse photos of the specific room type and amenities. This gives us a good idea of what to really expect, avoiding any unpleasant surprises!

Tripadvisor is also great for restaurant reviews and something we always check before making a reservation. Top tip – the reviews section has a handy feature that highlights common words and phrases which often helps to outline which dishes are the most discussed from the menu.

AirBnB

AirBnB has opened up a world of unique stays for us, making us feel like locals in destinations worldwide. Instead of a boring hotel room, we’ve stayed in incredible options like tiny huts in the New Forest of England or an RV in the desert in Utah.

The host communication is invaluable – we’ve gotten the best local tips that aren’t found in any guidebook. One host in Madrid created us a personalised folder with the best neighbourhood restaurants, coffee shops and attractions along with tips on how to get reservations. The personalised recommendations make for unforgettable trips.

Kayak

Kayak is amazing price comparison app that covers everything you need for your trip, from hotels to flights. We use it to cross reference prices we’ve found on flights and hotels else and occasionally manage to snag a reduce rate compared to our usual platforms.

However, our main use for this app is to compare prices for rental cars. Kayak searches quotes from all the main rental agencies but will also list local companies too, saving you the hassle of searching around. We have often found better rates through the Kayak app than going direct to the company’s websites, even when we’ve held premium memberships with these agencies via our credit card.

Roadtrippers

Roadtrippers is our road trip planning go-to app. We love how it helps uncover quirky stops and local gems along our route that you’d never find otherwise. Before a big road trip, we map out the top attractions, tasty restaurants, scenic viewpoints, and accommodation options along the route.

Their web-based version makes it easy to visualise and customise our road trip ahead of time. Then, just like with Google My Maps, all our stops automatically sync to the app, giving us our own personal guide accessible offline throughout the trip. The Roadtrippers app is great for taking the guesswork out of road trip planning.

Google Translate

Whilst we always try to the learn the basics of the language at whatever destination we’re travelling to, Google Translate is a lifesaver for those slightly more difficult interactions. We always make sure to download the languages we need so they are accessible offline. You can save key phrases for checking into hotels or ordering food on the home page of the app for easy access.

The ability to translate text from a photo has been incredibly helpful to us on hundreds of occasions, from reading signs in train stations to scouring restaurant menus. The conversation feature is also amazing, allowing you to completely negate the language barrier by speaking in your native language and letting the app translate it for whoever you’re speaking to. This feature also works in reverse, so whoever you’re conversing with can benefit from the same technology in speaking to you.

Uber/Lyft (or other rideshare apps)

In unfamiliar destinations, we swear by using Uber or Lyft over traditional taxi services. The upfront pricing prevents any payment confusion or risk of getting ripped off. We also love how easy it is to use the translation features of the in-app chat to converse with our driver when we’re not fluent in the local language.

Uber/Lyft have become our go-to rideshare apps anytime we are visiting a new city. The convenience and reliability provide so much more confidence than trying to hail a cab on the street or explain where you want to go across language barriers. Make sure to check if the relevant service operates in the area you’re travelling to or if there’s a local alternative that’s more widely used.

Reddit

This one might feel like a bit of unusual suggestion but I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve used Reddit where making travel plans. There’s always a fear when reading articles or watching videos that personal bias or paid promotions can influence the authenticity of the content. Reddit isn’t immune to this either but more often presents a more balanced picture with users being able to confirm or deny the validity of various opinions.

Here are just a few example of what I’ve used Reddit for on previous trips:

• Tips on snagging hard to get restaurant reservations
• Genuine opinions on which neighbourhoods to stay in
• Posting my own questions and asking for recommendations
• Finding out about local customs and etiquette

I’ve gathered a huge amount of helpful information from Reddit threads that I’ve never seen covered in articles or videos. When heading somewhere new, it’s worth checking out the subreddit for that location and seeing if you can glean some insider info.

TouchNote

Touchnote is a service that allows you to create personalised products like greetings cards from your own photos but the main reason we use it whilst travelling is for their postcards, allowing you to instantly transform your photos into real printed postcards. We love surprising friends and family back home with a personalised postcard that they can hold in their hands versus. It’s a quick and easy way for us to share our adventure highlights in a more meaningful way.

Sending photos or updates digitally just isn’t the same and sometimes not possible with older relatives that aren’t au fait with modern technologies. There’s something nostalgic and extra heartfelt about receiving an actual postcard from someone’s travels. TouchNote makes creating and sending custom postcards an absolute breeze. With tons of styles and layouts to choose from, it’s a perfect way to share quick trip highlights.

1 Second Everyday

This fun video app has changed the way we capture trip memories, particularly on longer trips. By taking a quick one second video each day, the app complies an incredible montage at the end. It’s amazing being able to relive so many great moments that may have otherwise been forgotten. The video really captures the emotion and essence of the whole trip and we love watching our travel videos back.

1 Second Everyday is genius in its simplicity. Even when we’re too busy enjoying the moment to take detailed videos or photos, snapping a quick second of footage daily immortalises each experience. The finished video transport us right back into the magic of our travels, recreating all the senses and emotions. It’s one our favourite way to creatively save and share our travel memories.

Wrapping Up

Whether it’s a hidden feature of an app you already know about or an app that’s entirely new to you, we hope our personal recommendations give you some help and inspiration when planning your next adventure.

Let us know if you have any other favourite travel apps we should look into. We’re always excited to discover new tools to make trip planning even easier. Safe travels!