one travel app

30 essential travel apps every traveler needs before their next trip

When it comes to planning and taking a vacation, travelers rely on their phones now more than ever.

Travel apps are a source of inspiration and are extremely useful for booking and managing logistics — even making restaurant reservations or finding a great fitness class wherever in the world you're flying next.

From apps that help with everything from day-of hotel bookings and last-minute flight changes to those that serve as guidebooks and foreign-language dictionaries, travel is infinitely easier thanks to technology.

Apps can help you navigate a new city, make currency conversions, pack a perfect suitcase and even provide on-the-ground local expertise. Whatever you need when you hit the road, there's an app for that.

We've rounded up the most-loved apps here at TPG. Some may be obvious, and others more obscure, but either way, get ready to download.

Best apps for researching and booking trips

In addition to the apps for the airlines you fly most frequently and your favorite hotel brands, these apps can help you save money on flights and accommodations.

Hopper has changed in recent years from just offering a price prediction tool for flights to being a true online travel agency. The app helps travelers find the cheapest flights, hotels and rental cars.

Of course, Hopper also still offers its signature price prediction technology to help you plan out when to book, as well as travel protection options and a price freeze to help you lock in the lowest possible price on hotels and flights.

Kiwi is used mainly to book flights, but it also helps you book hotels (using its partnership with Booking.com) and car rentals (using its partnership with RentalCars.com).

Some of the app's most interesting features include the "Deals" section, which pulls in discounted flights, and the "Travel hacks" section, which includes options for hidden city ticketing, throwaway ticketing (making one-way flights more affordable) and free price alerts.

Hotel Tonight

A dream for last-minute travelers, Hotel Tonight ( now owned by Airbnb ) lets you book stays for the same evening up to a few months in advance in thousands of cities worldwide. Available hotel rooms are categorized into sections like basic, luxe, hip, charming and solid, so you can select what works for your vibe. Take advantage of the daily drop feature, where you swipe to find a personalized deal with a special price only valid for 15 minutes after unlocked.

At TPG, we love a good loyalty program, and HT Perks, the app's nine-level reward program, is extensive. Not unlike a video game, you "level up" by reaching specific spending thresholds on the app, and you'll gain access to perks like discounts, VIP customer support and credits. Also, your levels never expire, so you can only continue to move up.

To book home rentals instead of hotels, use the Airbnb app. After entering your destination and dates, you can filter results based on the home type, price, requisite amenities and more. If you find something you like, you can book directly through the app.

The app is ideal for managing your trips while on the road — you can access all your bookings under the "Trips" tab, where you can view your reservation (and the address or directions), contact the host or change your reservation. Once you have a booking, you can also explore and book local experiences in your destination, such as wine tastings, kayak tours, hikes, shows and concerts.

We can't talk about travel apps without mentioning the TPG App. Use it to track your credit card, airline and hotel points balances; earn points and miles efficiently through using the right credit card ; and research how many points or miles you'll need to book your dream getaway. You can even curate your own news feed so you see the news and advice that matters most to you first.

The TPG App is available for download on iOS . Android users can join the waitlist here .

Related: The TPG App has arrived — here's why you should download it now

Best apps for organizing a trip

From keeping all your documents in order to perfectly packing your suitcase without forgetting a thing, these are the best apps for organizing travel plans.

TripIt declutters your itineraries and documents by keeping them organized in one place. You can set your reservations to automatically send to TripIt, which lets you view travel confirmations, flight itineraries, tickets, hotel and Airbnb booking information, rental car reservations, ferry tickets and driving directions without ever leaving the app.

TripIt also makes it simple to share your trip plans with whoever picks you up from the airport or train station or anyone else who may need to coordinate with you. TripIt Pro subscriptions cost $49 per year and include extras like real-time flight alerts, security wait times, baggage claim information and updates on your loyalty reward programs.

Roadtrippers

Perfect for organizing that epic road trip you've always wanted to take, Roadtrippers plans out your driving route and lets you book hotels and activities along the way. The app is especially useful for finding interesting and off-the-beaten-path roadside attractions, cool restaurants and can't-miss landmarks you can bookmark.

A Roadtrippers Premium membership includes offline maps, live traffic information, overnight RV parking and more for $59.99 per year. For those looking to only venture on a few road trips per year, the app also offers a Pro ($49.99 per year) and Basic ($35.99 per year) membership.

PackPoint takes all the stress out of packing . The app shows you what to bring based on the length of your trip, the weather in your destination and any activities you're planning along the way. If you have access to laundry facilities at your destination, PackPoint even allows you to account for washing your clothes and wearing them multiple times.

Just download and install the app, type in the city you're visiting and plug in your travel details. So, stop waiting until the day before your trip — or the hours before you have to leave for the airport — and start packing now.

Best apps for navigating the airport and flights

Track flights, navigate airports and find airport lounges with these apps.

LoungeBuddy

LoungeBuddy offers access to premium airport lounges around the world, regardless of the airline or class you're flying. When you create a trip in the app and type in the credit cards you currently hold, it will tell you which lounges you have access to based on the airports you'll be transiting through and how to purchase access if you don't already have it.

You can purchase access on the day you're traveling or up to two months in advance if you're the plan-ahead type. If you prefer to search by lounge or lounge program, the app will tell you exactly what is needed to use them.

Priority Pass

Priority Pass offers access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide and provides meal vouchers at select airport restaurants across the world for an annual fee starting at $99.

Several cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express , the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve , offer Priority Pass memberships for all cardholders (enrollment required). Otherwise, you'll have to pay an annual fee to be a member and, depending on your membership tier, a fee to enter each lounge on top of the annual fee.

To use the Priority Pass app, enter the name or code of the airport you're in, and Priority Pass will pull up the lounges or restaurants that you have access to, including photos, hours, amenities and specific location information. For more information on the Priority Pass Program and how to gain lounge access, click here . Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: The best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access

FlightAware

The FlightAware app allows you to track flights online, see a live map of a flight and check on delays, cancellations and gate changes. This app is especially helpful if you have a tight connection or want to track your flight.

It's also useful when picking up friends and family at the airport, as you can track their flight and see updated landing times or delays. AvGeeks will enjoy digging into flight statistics, flight maps and community aviation discussions on the app.

Best apps to use during your flight

Timeshifter.

What better way to cure jet lag than with an app? Timeshifter actually helps you avoid jet lag long before your flight takes off and also offers inflight and post-flight suggestions. The app relies on neuroscience research about sleep and circadian rhythms to provide personalized recommendations, taking into consideration your age, gender and normal sleep patterns — as well as specifics about your trip and travel plans. Timeshifter maps out when you should avoid or seek light, take a nap or try to stay awake. It even tells you if you should consider supplementing with melatonin or caffeine.

Your first jet lag plan is free, then $9.99 per plan, or you can enjoy unlimited plans for a year for $24.99.

Flying can cause anxiety — or provide a welcome relief from constant contact with our digital devices. Either way, use travel as an opportunity to relax, meditate or listen to soothing sounds that will lull you to sleep or a deep, relaxed state. Or, perhaps, you'll simply find it helps pass the time during a long flight.

Calm offers meditations on topics such as self-awareness, calming anxiety, breathing, lowering stress levels and happiness, among others. The app also has music options for focusing, relaxing and sleeping, as well as stories for adults and content for kids.

A limited selection of meditations and music is available for free (which you can download to use when you're offline or in flight). The premium version of the app costs $14.99 per month or $69.99 annually.

OK, so Netflix isn't really a travel app, but it can be a lifesaver during a long flight on an aircraft without seatback inflight entertainment or at the airport during an unexpected flight delay or boring layover. If you have a Netflix account, the app allows you to download your favorite shows onto your device to watch offline.

Just make sure to download your shows while connected to Wi-Fi before flying and check them again preflight to make sure they haven't expired (you can usually renew any expired downloads, but you must be connected to Wi-Fi or data to do so). Monthly prices vary depending on the plan.

Another app that's not really a travel app, Spotify can still be incredibly useful during tedious travel moments — just pop in those noise-canceling headphones and listen to your favorite music, meditations, podcasts and more.

The app's Premium plans (prices vary) allow you to download all your content offline on your phone, so you'll have it during long flights or when you don't have data or Wi-Fi access. Whether you want to take a morning jog in Bali to your favorite tunes or pass the time with a podcast on the metro in Barcelona, Spotify has it all.

Best apps to use in your destination

From exchanging money and sightseeing to communicating and knowing all the local tips and tricks, you don't want to land in a foreign city for the first time without these key apps.

XE Currency Converter

The XE Currency Converter app quickly provides live, up-to-the-minute currency rates, then allows you to store and view them even when you're offline. You'll never need to wonder if you're really getting a good deal in another country if you have this app.

Google Translate

Google Translate is a translation app that allows you to do it all — translate into more than 100 languages by typing, access 59 languages offline, translate via photo, translate bilingual conversations and even use the handwriting tool to translate.

The app is simple to use, too, with icons at the top you can click on to draw, take a photo, speak or type.

Not quite sure how much to tip when traveling internationally? GlobeTips will advise you on how to tip appropriately in more than 200 countries. It also offers a tip calculator for easy math. Globe also has apps for currency conversion, unit conversion and more that may be useful for travelers.

Related: The ultimate guide to tipping while traveling

For travelers globe-trotting with friends and family members or simply splitting the cost between groups, Tricount calculates shared costs and splits bills so you don't have to think twice about who owes what. Just enter your trip and currency and invite your travel mates to join your trip.

Each time someone pays for something, you enter the amount in Tricount, and the app splits everything up. You can also snap and store photos of receipts in the app. At the end of your trip, it will show the balances of who owes who what, making it easy to settle up.

Metric Conversions

Never be baffled by Celsius temperatures or suitcase weight in kilograms again with the Metric Conversions app . Whether you're measuring flour to cook at your Airbnb, figuring out distances for your Europe road trip or deciding whether to take a sweatshirt with you during your walking tour of the Great Wall of China, this app has you covered with easy conversions in volume, weight, temperature, area and more.

Google Maps

Google Maps is essential when visiting a new city (or even for getting around your hometown). You can map locations, get directions (walking, driving, public transportation, ride-hailing services and beyond) and see how crowded your subway will be in select cities .

You can make restaurant reservations, save your favorite spots and read and write reviews of attractions, eateries, shops and more. Make sure to download specific city or area maps ahead of time for offline access if you know you'll be without internet at your destination. For obvious reasons, the app works best when your GPS is turned on.

WhatsApp is a handy messaging service for travelers abroad as it uses an internet connection to avoid SMS fees.

It works like most other messaging apps: You start by creating an account, then add your friends and family members to contact and voila! You're able to call, video chat and send messages, images, voice memos, gifs and files just as you would in, say, iMessage (but with Android users too). You can also download WhatsApp on your Windows or Mac computer.

Best apps for planning activities

Traveling is about more than just getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for activities to add to your itinerary, check out these apps.

Meetup is an app designed for interacting with locals and other travelers who have mutual interests or shared hobbies. Whether you're traveling or at home, take what you love and do more of it with Meetup.

The app shows you groups that are formed around particular interests in your city, including yoga, photography, cooking, wine tasting, hiking, cinema and other activities. You can join groups to get updates on particular events you may want to participate in. The app can even help with networking, as there are many groups dedicated to business and technology. You might even be able to join a coworking group. Travelers with kids can participate in family-friendly meetups, and it's a great way for solo travelers to make friends and connect with others.

TheFork is one of the most useful resources for making restaurant reservations in Europe. Similar to OpenTable or Resy, the app lets you browse different restaurants by category and make reservations. TheFork features more than 60,000 restaurants in cities like London, Madrid and Geneva, as well as spots outside of Europe like Sydney, Australia.

The biggest perk is that many restaurant reservations come with discounts — in some cases, you can get up to 50% off your meal just by reserving a table through TheFork. Since we here at TPG are always down for earning rewards, make sure to monitor your YUMS — TheFork's reward system. You'll earn YUMS with each reservation, and when you hit 1,000, you receive a discount on your bill. Foodie travelers should also consider downloading these apps , too.

Happy Cow helps vegan and vegetarian eaters locate more than 180,000 restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, farmers markets and grocery stores in over 180 countries around the world. The app allows you to filter by not only vegan and vegetarian but also gluten-free and cuisine types. You can also read reviews and get recipes on the app as well.

The app does cost $3.99, but it's a one-time expense.

TripAdvisor

Besides reading reviews of restaurants, hotels and attractions, you can book almost anything on TripAdvisor, from vacation rentals and restaurant reservations to tours and tickets.

The app has grown to include almost all things travel, allowing you to search by destination or interest (like the outdoors, food and drink, family or by the water, for example), which can give you inspiration for a trip or help you get your activities, meals and accommodations organized before traveling or on the fly.

With over 400,000 curated trails, AllTrails can help you find the hike or walk perfect for you and your group. It's not just mountain trails — AllTrails offers city walks, too, like easy meanders through the Marais district in Paris or peaceful strolls through Bangkok's Lumpini Park in Thailand.

See photos, updated weather predictions and key information about each route and connect with other travelers through reviews and forums. Access to AllTrails+ is $35.99 per year, which offers perks like offline maps and wrong turn alerts.

Best apps for staying safe

Use these apps to stay safe when traveling.

Smart Traveler

Smart Traveler is a free service that offers tips and information specifically for U.S. travelers. You can see what visas and vaccines you'll need before traveling and where to find help if you need it during your trip.

Register your trip on the app, which gives your information to local embassies and consulates in your destination. If there's any kind of disaster or tragedy, the local embassy can contact you to see if you need help.

TripWhistle

Another app dedicated to keeping you safe, TripWhistle maps your location and allows you to easily text or send your GPS coordinates or location. It also provides emergency numbers for firefighters, medical personnel and police in nearly 200 countries. After all, 911 is only for U.S.-based emergencies: Each country has its own specific emergency number.

Yes, Uber (or any local ride-hailing service app) is convenient, but it may also keep you safe. Using this app when traveling means you'll never get stuck wandering around in an unfamiliar area late at night or have to deal with unscrupulous taxi drivers trying to scam you. Uber also has in-app safety features such as an emergency assistance button which will allow you to call local emergency services right in the app.

Best travel apps in 2021

Beat the traffic, avoid flight delays and find a place to stay on your next trip

The best travel apps are the ones that take all the stress out of a trip, freeing you up to enjoy the journey. And fortunately, you've got a lot of choices when it comes to finding apps that can help you plan your next getaway. 

You'll find everything from trip planners and itinerary generators to online marketplaces for flights and hotels in both the Play Store and Apple's store for apps. Combine one of the best travel apps with some great travel tech , and your chances for a smooth trip will increase dramatically.

• These are the best Android apps overall
• Get better trip photos with the best Android camera apps

Not sure where to look first? We've found a list of the best travel apps for when you're ready to hit the road again after sticking close to home for more than a year.

1. MyTSA (Free: Android; iOS)

Before you hit the road, make sure you've got MyTSA on your smartphone. The official app of the Transportation Security Administration isn't going to win any beauty contests, but it will let you check wait times at security checkpoints at major airpots. And that can help you plan on how much travel time you need to allow.

The app includes historical wait-time data while also giving you the option of checking crowd-sourced reports of how long security lines are at that moment. The ability to search what you can bring on a plane, get live assistance and find out info on the TSA PreCheck program make this a good app for travelers to keep handy on their smartphone.

Download MyTSA: Android , iOS

2. Expedia (Android, iOS: Free)

If you're a frequent traveller, you need a good all-in-one travel app, and Expedia is a tried-and-true option. You can book every aspect of your trip through Expedia, including hotels, flights and rental cars. The app also lets you bundle deals on travel and lodging, look for cruises, and research things to do when you arrive at your destination. 

If you're looking to stretch your travel budget even farther, Expedia promises exclusive deals for mobile users, with members of Expedia's rewards program enjoying additional perks. 

Download Expedia: Android , iOS

3. Flighty (iOS: Free)

There are flight trackers, and then there's Flighty, an iOS app for people who really want to know the location and arrival time of their plane. The free version of the app gives you basic flight-tracking tools, but pay up for a subscription ($8.99 a month or $49.99 per year), and you get access to more sophisticated features such as push notifications, syncing with TripIt or with calendars, and an assistant to help with your flight connections. 

Flighty also claims to be able to predict flight delays by monitoring inbound planes for 25 hours and monitoring FAA-mandated delays. You can check out the portions of the paid app for free during a 14-day trial.

Download Flighty: iOS

4. Hopper (Android, iOS: Free)

Another app bringing big data and predictive algorithms to the world of air travel is Hopper It uses a massive database of airline prices and historical trends to predict when prices to a destination are likely to be lowest, when they're likely to change, and the best time to buy a ticket for a particular date and destination. 

You can watch flights on specific dates or destinations, and the app will advise you whether it's worth it to buy now or to wait, tell you the dates when it's likely cheapest to fly, estimate changes in price, and notify you of price drops or rises. You can also save your payment details within the app for quick booking.

Download Hopper: Android , iOS

5. iExit (Android, iOS: Free)

If your travel plans involve a lot of driving, iExit works as a handy freeway exit guide, listing nearby highway exits, as well as the kind of businesses and amenities there are nearby. Need to gas up or find some good food or a place to stay for the night? iExit’s search tools come to the rescue, showing you nearby gas stations (with price data powered by GasBuddy), motels, and even deals and discounts from nearby businesses.

Download iExit: Android , iOS

6. Waze (Android; iOS)

Nothing gets a vacation off on the wrong foot like getting stuck in traffic. Waze can't eliminate the traffic, but it can help you get around any jams, especially if you're in an unfamiliar city. 

The navigation app feeds your smartphone real-time traffic information, based on reports from other Waze users. That data includes accidents, speed traps and other hazards that might keep you from getting to your destination in a timely fashion. 

Other features sure to impress travelers include automatic rerouting, cheap gas alerts and the ability to send your ETA to anyone waiting at your final stop.

Download Waze: Android , iOS

7. Skiplagged (Android, iOS: Free)

If you're traveling light and looking to save a few bucks, check out Skiplagged. It's a neat app that can keep your travel costs down by taking advantage of "hidden city flights", where flyers get off at a layover, instead of at the final destination. 

Enter your origin and destination, and Skiplagged will show you the cost of a direct flight, as well as any cheaper "hidden city" flights that have your intended destination as a layover. The caveat? Stick to carry-on luggage, as any checked-in bags will go all the way to the flight's final destination. 

Skiplagged also allows you to book hotels, including last-minute deals and special offers.

Download Skiplagged: Android , iOS

8. Flio (Android, iOS: Free)

Flio aims to be the all-in-one companion app for harried travelers making their way through airports worldwide. An official partner of 300 airports, Flio also has info on thousands more. That lets the app feature terminal maps, a boarding pass scanner, a flight tracker and directions to shuttle buses and booking options for everything from parking to lounge access. 

The app's sheer variety of services and features make it a great addition to the app toolkit of frequent fliers and vacationers alike.

Download Flio: Android , iOS

9. AtYourGate (Android, iOS: Free)

AtYourGate is another helpful airport companion that focuses more about retail opportunities while you're killing time waiting at the airport. If you need food, supplies (like say a phone charger to replace the one you forgot to pack), or last-minute gifts, you can browse the AtYourGate app for nearby shops and restaurants instead of having to wander around the airport. 

AtYourGate users can order food or other items, pay through the app, and even arrange for the item to be delivered to them right at their gate, lounge, or other location. AtYourGate currently operates in a select number of major airports, including JFK, La Guardia, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Portland, San Diego, and Newark.

Download AtYourGate: Android , iOS

10. Mobile Passport (Android, iOS: Free)

Mobile Passport is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection-approved app that helps speed you through lengthy immigration lines. It allows anyone with U.S. or Canadian passports to submit their passport control and customs declarations through the app, replacing paper forms and providing faster processing in a number of major US airports where the Mobile Passport service is supported. 

The app will save you a good amount of time in line, but it’s no reason to leave your physical passport at home. Mobile Passport is a companion app, not a replacement.

Download Mobile Passport: Android , iOS

11. TripIt (Android, iOS: Free)

TripIt promises to cut back on the travel hassle by consolidating your travel plans into a simple, convenient itinerary. Viewable online and synced to your cell phone, you can also share itineraries with your contacts. 

You just link your email account to TripIt, and the service will automatically dig through your inbox for reservation confirmations and other forms. Using that data, TripIt builds an organized itinerary of your flight boarding times, hotel check-ins and more. While TripIt is a free download, a $48.99 annual subscription gets you features like real-time flight alerts and updates on how long airport lines are.

Download TripIt: Android , iOS

12. App In The Air (Android, iOS: Free)

App In The Air is designed to help you through the entire process of your airplane flight, serving as a booking assistant that reminds you of your gate, ETA, check-in requirements, baggage tips, and more. 

The app condenses all of this important information so that it's easy to refer to at a glance, while also providing handy extras. You can view a summary of your airline's baggage rules (or even have an augmented reality overlay that you can use to measure your baggage to see if it will fit for carry-on or overhead guidelines). 

Travelers can integrate the app with TripIt, track loyalty rewards, view airplane amenities and even forward their details to their Apple Watch or Android Wear device. A premium subscription ($29.99 per year) includes real-time flight status updates, automated check-ins, and more.

Download App In The Air: Android , iOS

13. GasBuddy (Android, iOS: Free)

If road trips are more your thing, consider GasBuddy, a mobile app that helps users track down the cheapest gas in their region. Users can tap into their GPS location through their phone, or search by address or zip code to find the nearby gas prices.

As many of the prices are based on user reports, GasBuddy rewards users with points for reporting and updating a station's prices, with points making you eligible for regular raffles of prizes like free gas.

Download GasBuddy: Android , iOS

14. Roadtrippers (Android, iOS: Free)

Another handy travel companion when you hit the road is the aptly named Roadtrippers, a trip planning and itinerary app that lets you plot your next road trip, and helps you discover destinations, attractions, and useful stops along the way. 

With Roadtrippers, you can share your route and schedule with friends and family. The app helps users find everything from diners and dives to hotels, restaurants, national parks, roadside attractions and other scenic points of interest. 

If doing that research on a small phone screen stresses you out, you can plan trips in the Roadtrippers web portal if you prefer, saving locations and stops into a trip plan which you can sync across multiple devices for easy reference.

Download Roadtrippers: Android , iOS

15. PackPoint (Android, iOS: Free)

PackPoint is a travel packing wizard that provides a checklist of travel essentials that you'll need to pack, depending on the nature of your trip. 

Simply create a trip profile with your destination, length of stay and purpose of travel. PackPoint then creates a customized packing and luggage checklist that takes into account whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, the type and amount of clothing to pack based on the weather forecast and other factors. 

The app also comes with a variety of premium features, such as TripIt integration for automatic packing list creation.

Download PackPoint: Android , iOS

16. TripAdvisor (Android, iOS: Free)

TripAdvisor is your crowd-sourced guide to hotels, restaurants and attractions worldwide. The app allows you to browse through plenty of reviews, images and videos featuring various establishments worldwide to get a better idea of what awaits you at your destination. 

You can also access contact details; search for nearby establishments; explore restaurants by food type, price range or rating; check out air fares; and even add to the knowledge base by posting your own reviews, images and entries for the places you visit. There are even some handy "Near Me Now" features to alert you of nearby points of interest once you're on the scene.

Download TripAdvisor: Android , iOS

17. Airbnb (Android, iOS: Free)

Airbnb is a marketplace app that allows users to search for and find unique accommodations across the world, from mom-and-pop B&Bs for a night, to a small apartment for a week, or even a castle for a month. There's no shortage of quirky and unique establishments. Airbnb covers a range of prices in more than 34,000 cities across almost 200 countries, which means the adventurous or flexible traveler has some interesting choices for accommodations on their next trip.

Download Airbnb: Android , iOS

18. Vrbo (Android, iOS: Free)

Vrbo's mobile app is another option for finding places to stay on your next trip. At Vrbo, the emphasis is on vacation rentals, and with 2 million unique places to stay in 190-plus countries, you've got plenty of options. 

Use the Vrbo app to search for vacation homes, plan your trip and book your lodging. The app also gives you access to key booking details — what is the Wi-Fi password at your rental property, anyway? — and lets you share your itinerary with friends and family.

Download Vrbo: Android , iOS

19. Hotel Tonight (Android, iOS: Free)

If you unexpectedly need to look for last minute hotel rooms, check out  HotelTonight. It offers last-minute discounts on vacancies and same-night accommodations from top-rated hotels. Users can search by category and quality such as Basic, Hip or Luxe; view information on nearby hotels; and quickly book accommodations from within the app.

Download HotelTonight: Android , iOS

20. GlobeTips (iOS: Free)

How much should you tip? GlobeTips is a handy app that can tell you how much gratuity is customary wherever you are in the world. In addition to global tipping guides, GlobeTips includes a calculator for automatically calculating the tip, splitting the bill, and handling sales tax.

Download GlobeTips: iOS

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OneTravel Flight & Hotel Deals 4+

Cheap flights, hotels and cars, w k travel, inc., designed for ipad.

• 4.5 • 276 Ratings

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Get cheap flight deals, hotels and rental cars on-the-go. Download the OneTravel app and join the happy travelers who book great deals with us every day. Our app offers cheap travel deals; • Across the globe with domestic and international flight deals on over 500 airlines. • On the road with rental car deals in 30,000 locations. That's how we roll. • To wonderful rooms in a million hotels worldwide. That’s a lot of little shampoo bottles. Our app saves you time; • Super-quick travel booking. We do fast well. • Easily access your trip, even if you booked online. • Call our support team 24/7. We're here to help. Our app has your back, and it’s watching your wallet, too.

Version 4.117.0

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276 Ratings

Easy but not easy

I find very easy to book it but now that I need to get my money back for a fly I missed is definitely not that easy. Harder than I thought.

Not suitable in Australia 🇦🇺

I booked from their website and it was not the best choice as I was convinced when I asked for a refund. I was charged for extra international transfer twice( booking the ticket and for the refund). I booked another ticket with almost the same long flight and same airlines, and it was cheaper by more than $200( AUD).!

Ms Natalie Gitsham.

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The developer, W K travel, Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Financial Info
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Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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29 of the best travel apps to download now

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The quickest, easiest and most convenient way to research, plan, book and navigate a holiday is by using the best travel apps on the market. 

Many travellers often underestimate the power of the humble smartphone. Thanks to the vast multitude of travel apps now available for download, these handheld computers can make life significantly easier while travelling. No matter what’s required, from finding the nearest restroom or the quickest route, to translating different languages or locating nearby vegan restaurants , there’s an app to do it for you. We’ve curated an extensive list of the best travel apps that are useful, intuitive and brimming with benefits. 

The best travel apps for international travel

The best travel apps boast smart and intuitive functionality that makes travelling stress-free, exploring fun and navigating challenges easy. Whether maps, guidance, tours , advice, experiences or information aggregation is the goal, these are the best travel apps of 2023. 

GlobeTips – Travel Tips

Tipping culture varies from country to country, and what applies in the USA may not translate to Europe and beyond. GlobeTips provides precise information on how to tip adequately in more than 240 countries and includes service tipping and sales tax. 

• Apple & Android + Free with in-app purchases

LoungeBuddy 

Make your airport experience more enjoyable by utilising LoungeBuddy , one of the most useful travel apps on the market. The program helps users find, book and access premium airport lounges throughout the world on the fly. 

• Apple + Free

Flush – Toilet Finder & Map

All travellers have experienced the demanding call of nature at unfortunate times or locations. Flush is a quick and easy way to locate the nearest public restroom in a hurry. 

Wifi Map 

Connect to free WiFi in more than 200 countries around the world with the WiFi Map travel app, which also facilitates VPNs and eSim subscription plans.

• Apple & Android + Free with in-app purchases of $5.99-$39.99

Google Maps

Tried, tested and true, Google Maps is a stalwart travel app. While using it to identify the quickest and easiest way to get from point A to point B is the most-used function, users can also create their own maps and drop pins at points of interest, hotels, restaurants and attractions, and share maps with friends and family. 

• Apple & Android + Free

Finding delicious vegan and vegetarian restaurants while abroad can be a challenge, but never fear – there’s an app for that! HappyCow helps users locate healthy, vegan and vegetarian dining options at 200,000 venues across more than 180 countries. 

• Apple & Android + $5.99

Currency Converter Plus 

Currency Converter Plus not only provides up-to-date currency exchange rates but also features a calculator function for working out tips, discounts and tax amounts in foreign currencies. 

Timeshifter 

Developed by a team of scientists, Timeshifter uses sleep and circadian neuroscience to create personalised sleep plans that alleviate the symptoms of jet lag for users. 

• Apple & Android + Free with in-app purchases after the first jet lag plan

AllTrails 

One of the best travel apps for hikers, bikers and climbers, AllTrails provides users with access to a database of trail maps, reviews and images across a huge selection of countries, all of which can be saved offline for reference when out of range. AllTrails is also a 1% for the Planet, Leave No Trace and OneTreePlanted company. 

• Apple & Android + Free with in-app purchases of $35.99-$59.99

Google Translate 

Navigating street signs, menus and maps in a different language can be easily done with Google Translate, which translates both speech and text into almost any preferred language – it’s one of the best travel apps to have on hand.

Headout 

Tours, transport and experiences come with 24/7 access to a help centre with He a dout , a travel app that allows users to search for and book products in the app, on the go.

This public transport travel app and mapping service provides users with a selection of transport options between any two locations in a supported city. Citymapper currently includes Europe, the USA, Canada, and cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Taiwan, Sydney, Melbourne, Sao Paulo and Mexico City.  

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor is an everyday travel app with trustworthy reviews on anything and everything all across the world. It’s a fantastic resource for finding and booking flights, hotels and experiences at the best prices. Using this on the go can also save travellers from bunking down in a questionable hostel or eating at a sub-par restaurant. 

Share your location with friends and family securely with the bSafe travel app, which allows users to enable a voice activation option for emergencies, utilise a fake call function, or set up alerts that trigger if users fail to check in on time.

GeoSure is one of the best travel apps when it comes to learning about how safe a particular location is at any given time. The program covers 65,000 cities and neighbourhoods around the world and provides information about threats and safety levels. 

FlightAware

Delayed flights with unknown departure times can be a source of anxiety for some travellers. The FlightAware app is a live flight tracking service that can keep you up to date on arrivals, departures, delays and airports at the touch of a button. 

• Apple & Android + Free

Roadtrippers 

Driving through the US and Canada is easier than ever before with maps and routes curated by the travel app, Roadtrippers . Diners, roadside attractions, viewpoints, national parks and hotels are all plotted along the way.  Upgrading to Roadtrippers Plus allows users to download maps offline and add unlimited stops along a route, whereas only five are available with the free travel app download.

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The best travel apps for planning a holiday

Keeping an eye on a variety of flight and accommodation metasearch websites is the key to securing products and services at the lowest prices. These are some of the best travel apps for researching, planning and booking domestic and international travel.

Kayak is an all-in-one travel app that pulls data from hundreds of websites to delivers the best prices on flights, hotels and car hire to users. It has trip itinerary functionality, a price-tracking option and private deals for members. Be sure to check out the ‘Best Time To Travel’ tool. 

From flights, hotels and hire cars to price predictions, price-freezing and member rewards, Hopper is an aggregate travel app that sources information from around the world to ensure users get the most bang for their buck. Hopper also tracks flight prices and provides advice on the best time to make purchases – including price drops and the dates prices will likely rise again. 

Staying in an Airbnb can be a more authentic way to experience a new location while providing access to basic amenities, such as laundry facilities and a kitchen, which is incredibly helpful for those on a budget, travelling for long periods of time, or families. Airbnb is one of the best travel apps for securing private stays.

A list of the best travel apps wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Hotels.com , a classic hotel aggregator that surfaces discounted accommodation and last-minute deals. 

Never under or overpack again with PackPoint , a travel app that creates a packing list based on information such as the length of the trip, the destination, the weather and planned activities. 

• Apple & Android + $2.99

Search and book tours, day trips, experiences and tickets all in one place with Viator . Each listing is accompanied by genuine user reviews and images, there’s also a reserve now, pay later option.

Booking.com

Book hotels, motels and holiday homes with the Booking.com app, which often has last-minute deals, member discounts and rewards for returning users.

Skyscanner is a well-known and reliable metasearch engine that allows users to find and book travel options such as flights, hotels and car hire, with options to find the cheapest flight to ‘anywhere’ from a current location.

This online travel agency has a travel app that can be used to search for and book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages and more. Expedia ‘s in-app ChatGPT facility even provides insights and recommendations for travel-related queries. 

Roomer Travel 

For those who have fallen victim to booking non-refundable stays and then been unable to attend, the Roomer Travel app is for you. This marketplace allows users to list hotel reservations for sale at discounted prices, allowing them to recoup some of the loss.

Campers, rejoice! Hipcamp works with landowners to bring a selection of camping, glamping, and caravan experiences to farms, stations, vineyards, bushlands and other properties across Australia, Canada, the US, New Zealand, the UK and France. 

TripIt: Travel Planner

Keep all your travel plans in one place with TripIt , which claims to be the world’s highest-rated travel planner app with 20 million users. Book a flight, hotel, rental car, ferry, restaurant or any other similar item and forward it to [email protected] and the app will create a customised itinerary then sync the plans to a calendar. 

• Apple & Android + Free with in-app upgrade to TripIt Pro $77.99 per year

What is the best travel app to download?

For holiday-planners and travellers-to-be, Google Maps and Translate, Currency Converter Plus and Tripadvisor are good starting points that will help you get around, and understand signs and currency conversions. 

Which is the most downloaded travel app?

Data gathering business Statista reports that Google Maps mobile was the most downloaded travel app worldwide in 2022, recording around 113 million downloads across iOS and Google Play. Uber and Booking.com took out second and third place, with around 107 million and 80 million downloads respectively.

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Southwest Airlines fares now appear with prices on Google Flights.

This marks a significant shift for the carrier, which has historically not allowed its fares to appear on third-party flight aggregators , such as Google Flights and other online travel agencies. That made it difficult to compare Southwest fares against other airlines, as travelers would have to separately search Southwest’s own website to find flights and see prices.

Now, Southwest fares display just like the other airlines in the search results. Here’s how it looks today:

When you select the Southwest flight, the next screen displays the possible fare classes you can book. While the price in the search results shows the lowest available Southwest fare, Wanna Get Away , the next screen shows the other (typically more expensive) fare classes as well, including Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select.

How travelers can maximize Google Flights to save on Southwest fares

Now, travelers can use Google Flights to better track price drops — and possibly get money back.

Southwest has long had the best change and cancellation policies among any U.S. airline, even in its lowest fare class. There are no change or cancellation fees and flights can be changed or canceled up to 10 minutes before scheduled departure time (though you will typically pay the difference if you change to a more expensive flight).

For the two highest fare classes, Business Select and Anytime , travelers get the money from a canceled flight back to the original payment method. With Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fares, travelers get a flight credit for canceled flights (and a fare credit for changes to a cheaper flight).

This unique, flexible policy has made it easy for travelers to cancel and rebook the exact same flight if Southwest fares drop .

The challenge up until now? Travelers generally had to continuously monitor fare drops on their own — manually checking Southwest’s website to see if fares went lower.

The addition of Southwest to Google Flights makes this much simpler with its track price tool . Upon selecting a flight on Google flight and toggling the ‘Track prices’ button, Google will send users an email when that fare drops.

Here’s how you can use that to your benefit:

If you already booked a Southwest flight: Set up price tracking as discussed above. That way — if fares drop — you can cancel and rebook the same flight. Even if you booked a Wanna Get Away or Wanna Get Away Plus fare, you’ll receive flight credits when you cancel.

If you’re considering a flight : Domestic flights are typically cheapest when booked one to three months in advance, but the best way to get the cheapest price is to book with a price you feel comfortable with and set a price alert in case the price drops further

With Google’s price alert feature, you might feel more at ease booking a flight now just to have something locked in. If fares do in fact go lower, you’ll get pinged when they do. And if they do, you can cancel and rebook.

What Southwest fare news means for travelers

Google Flights is an easy-to-use tool for finding flights across most airlines. Southwest — which is the third largest U.S. airline by market share, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation between March 2023 through February 2024 — now joins the mix, which will make it easier for customers to compare prices and possibly save on flights when prices drop.

(Top photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

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2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.