My Top 7 Travel Apps

Over the many months I have now spent travelling, one thing I learnt soon enough was that there are some apps you simply cannot live without. In todays ever-growing virtual world, apps are something you need to be clued up on when entering the big wide world…

Below I have included all the essential apps I think you’ll need, whether it be for city breaks, family holidays or month to year long backpacking adventures.

Maps.me

Absolute game-changer, and definitely to be talked about first! Maps.me allows you to use maps, including the “get directions” type features without any connection. Say goodbye to ever getting lost again! This means you don’t need data, WiFi or anything to be covered. This is SO handy for those short trips where you don’t bother getting a sim card or want to pay for data etc. One thing you must do however is download the map of that country/area when you do have a connection before hand. After that you are good to go.

Grab

Anyone that has travelled South East Asia will know how essential Grab is. It’s how the whole place is ran! I currently live in Vietnam and use Grab multiple times, every single week. Grab is their form of taxi service (very much like to Uber). You simply order your grab through the app, whether it be a bike or a car, (they also do food delivery – which is great) and it tells you exactly how much it is going to be beforehand. You can pay via cash or through the app too which is always handy.

Currency Converter

Essential!! If you are money conscious like me and like to keep close track on exactly how much you’re spending, and how much things cost then you need a currency converter app. Sometimes you can get carried away when using a new country thats very different to your own, thinking everything is SO much cheaper (especially in Asia), but it’s sometimes too easy just to get that little bit too carried away. It helps when you’re torn between purchasing something and need that quick reality check on how much it actually costs. Also very handy for people like me that cannot keep in their head currency differences longer than 5 minutes!

Google Translate

Knowing very basic phrases of the countries language you are in is always essential. Even just to be able to be polite and respectful to those around you. Hello and thank-you are two words I’ll make sure I always know. However Google Translate is perfect for times when you need just that little bit more. Whether you’re trying to get help from somebody and cannot translate what you’re trying to say, or want to convert a dinner menu. I’ve lost count of how many times I reach for this app to help me out!

Booking.com

Booking.com is perfect for all accommodation needs – and I book nearly all of my stays through their app. It is great because the more stays you book, you earn Genius Level points and move up levels, giving you greater benefits and discounts off future stays.

In addition to Booking.com is Hostelworld, especially for backpackers. The app is super easy to use and it’s always handy to have a scroll through looking for the best place to set up camp for the next few nights. I used Hostelworld a lot more during my travels in 2019-2020, however switched to Booking.com as I found it a lot cheaper. I’d sometimes find the best hostels on Hostelworld, (as you can see how booked up they are) – and then book through Booking.com!

Monzo / Universal Banking app

Mainly for those longer trips, although potentially useful for holidays too is a universal bank account/card. Unless you want endless transaction fees! Monzo is the bank I chose, and have had no problems with since. It is super easy to set up, you simply download the app and can order your card, which is sent to your home address free of charge within a matter of days. You can make transactions and withdrawals from ATM’s all around the world, completely free. Not only is this a good travel bank, it is also great for budgeting, and saving money. There are tonnes of features to help with this that you previously didn’t even know you needed.

Duolingo

One thing I have loved doing whilst being on the road is learning (or trying to learn) new languages. I have always wanted to be able to speak fluently in more languages than English, however haven’t yet found the time to commit to it. Travelling is the perfect opportunity! You spend a lot of time on planes, trains etc., and a lot of time in your own company. This is the perfect time to get a little bit of practice in. There is also every language you can think of on the app, even if you just use it to get to know the basics of the place you are visiting, it’s a great way to do it.

If you have any other travel app recommendations that I should add to my list – I’d love to hear! Feel free to contact me using the message box below 🙂

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