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The 15 Top Travel Apps I Use for Better Travel

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Have a trip coming up soon? I am a family travel blogger and travel frequently. I share the 15 top travel apps I always have downloaded and updated on my phone that help me discover new places, stay organized, and travel better. Take a look to see which ones you need for your next trip.

Table Of Contents

My Top 15 Travel Apps

1. Google Maps

I use the Google Maps app for driving directions, saved destination lists, and as a quick reference for the best dining spots. When traveling internationally and out of network, I download offline maps to save on data and connectivity costs. 

Learn more about how to best use Google Maps for travel planning in “Why You Will Love Google Maps for Trip Planning.”

2. Airline app(s)

I use airline apps to store boarding passes, check flight info, pay for in-flight purchases, and for convenient rebooking due to last-minute delays or cancellations. We are United Airlines’ frequent fliers. I always have this app updated and ready to go.

3. Booking.com or Hotel/Rental app

I use hotel and booking site apps for messaging properties and having all my accommodation info in one place. And for easy check-ins. I prefer booking my properties with Booking.com for their customer-friendly cancellation policies—however, I download and use other hotel apps, like Marriott Bonvoy, or rental apps, like Airbnb, when needed. 

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4. Rental car apps

Even if I do not plan to rent a car on my trips, I always have my rental car apps on hand. Because I never know when travel disruptions will happen, and I might need to book an unexpected rental. For example, last year, I had a return Memphis flight to Chicago get canceled and rebooked two days later. The two-day delay was not ok, so I opted to rent a car and drive back to Chicago instead. 

 

Having the flexibility to book a rental through my logged-in rental car apps, gets me where I want to go faster with less hassle, especially when I can access my loyalty accounts. If you rent cars frequently get my tips for getting better deals in,”15 Tips for How to Raise the Bar on Rental Cars” and learn whether you can skip rental car insurance in “Rental Car Insurance: When You Need It & When You Don’t.”

5. Local Transit apps

Before I arrive at a new destination, I research what transit apps are best and download them. If I plan to use the app extensively while traveling, I create a login and connect payment before I arrive. For example, we used the insanely efficient and well-designed Swiss train system SBB app while traveling in Switzerland. I loved their swipe-and-ride easy-ride feature, which due to having pre-set up our accounts, allowed us to ride the trains immediately with no hassle. 

On our first Swiss train ride, using the SBB app.
View along one of our Swiss train routes.

6. Rideshare apps

I use all the regulars—Uber, Lyft, and local taxi apps. When traveling internationally, I check which transport apps are most trusted and used frequently in that country, and I download these. For example, in Malta, Bolt and eCabs are the top recommended rideshare apps—so I registered and downloaded these.

7. WhatsApp

When traveling internationally, I use Whatsapp regularly to message tour guides, lodging owners, and service providers. 

8. Google Translate

Google Translate is the ideal app to have on hand when I do not speak the local language. I use it to translate everything. My favorite feature—is the image capture—it translates the text for you. Use it to understand text on placards in museums, menus, signage, and more.

9. AllTrails

I use the AllTrails app for all my hiking needs—planning routes, accessing the trailhead, and sticking to the trail. I pay for the Pro+ membership to be able to download offline contour maps, which will GPS locate me while hiking. I used this app regularly in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland and while hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana. 

I used AllTrails to navigate all our Switzerland walks & hikes.

10. Nature ID apps: PictureThis & Merlin Bird ID

I am an outdoor enthusiast and love using these nature identification apps to know what I am looking at while wandering. I use PictureThis, which requires an annual fee, to identify plants and trees. And use free Merlin Bird ID to know what birds I see and hear, particularly while hiking.

11. Mobile payment apps

We use Venmo, Zelle, and Paypal repeatedly on trips to pay for purchases at artisan markets and street festivals or to use for tips. Paypal especially is handy for payment abroad. 

12. Splitwise

The Splitwise app is a brilliant tool for friend group trips. Download the app, invite your friends to a newly created Splitwise group, enter shared expenses, and let Splitwise determine who owes whom what. 

13. Rick Steves' Audio Europe

If traveling to Europe and I plan to visit major cities, I always redownload the Rick Steves’ Audio Europe app if it migrated to the cloud. On it, Steves’ shares free, detailed, and excellent self-guided audio walking tours. All you have to do is put in some headphones and push play. We recently used it in Austria for his Salzburg Town Walk, Vienna City Walk, and St. Stephens Cathedral tours.

Mozartplatz in Salzburg, Austria.

14. Guide Along

For U.S. road trips and national parks—download these 5-star self-guided audio tours from Guide Along that are GPS-compatible and work offline. Hear stories, fascinating facts, and tips for visiting. We recently bought and listened to the tour of Glacier National Park. It was top-notch—equal parts educational and entertaining. We loved listening to it while cruising along the iconic and breathtaking Going-to-the-Sun Road.  

Heavens Peak seen from the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier.

Bonus App: TripIt

Many travelers swear by TripIt, a free travel itinerary app, to keep all travel details and plans in one place. I sometimes use it. Though, since I find it does not sync seamlessly with all travel bookings, I often stay old-school and plug my trip details into a Google Sheets or Word doc itinerary that I download and save to a quick-access folder on my phone. However, you may love it. Check it out to see what you think. 

Pre-trip App Checklist: 3 Things to Do Before You go

Before leaving for a trip, do this 3-item app checklist:

 

  1. Redownload any apps that migrated to the cloud.
  2. Run software updates and update apps if needed.
  3. Double-check you are still logged into the apps you plan to use, especially the updated ones. Re-login if necessary.

 

Additionally, have a way to access your passwords if you get logged off an app mid-trip, which sometimes happens after an update.

Related Reading

Further streamline your trip prep by pairing my recommended travel app list with these related articles that will help you pack and get out the door more smoothly.

 

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.

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