tourist helper app

The 9 Best Travel Apps

These days, everyone travels with a smartphone. Beyond the ability to take endless selfies and keep in touch with family back home, they provide us with a never-ending stream of tools and apps to help us plan our travels and deal with any hiccups we encounter on the road.

Unfortunately, while there’s no shortage of travel apps, most of them are terrible.

To help you avoid downloading (and maybe even paying for) apps that aren’t worth your time, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite travel apps. These apps will save you time, money, and help you make the most of your travels. They’re the apps I think every traveler should have on their phone before they leave home.

Table of Contents

1. GetYourGuide

2. loungebuddy, 3. hostelworld, 4. skyscanner, 6. xe currency converter, 7. google translate, 8. happycow, 9. gasbuddy.

Whether you’re in the planning stages and looking for things to fill out your upcoming itinerary or you’re already in a new country and want something to do later that day, GetYourGuide can help. I’ve used them a bunch and always have a great time!

LoungeBuddy takes the pain out of the process. After entering your credit card, airline status, and lounge memberships, the app tells you which lounges you can access at any given airport. It makes even the longest layover tolerable so you can relax and enjoy your travels. And if you don’t have status, you can book lounge access directly through the app. It’s easy to use, and free to download.  

You can also use the app to see who else is staying at the hostel. You can join a group chat for the hostel and connect with travelers to make plans before you arrive. In short, it’s a must-download app for backpackers and solo travelers. The app is free to download.  

The best feature of the app, however, is the ability to search for flights to everywhere . You simply input your departure airport and the dates you want to travel, and it will bring up all the potential options — from cheapest to most expensive — so you can browse for ideas without needing to check each one manually.

If you want to save money on flights, this app is a must. The app is free too.  

The basic version is free while the pro version is $49 USD per year.  

If you have to stay on budget (and don’t want to get ripped off), download this app. It’s free.  

The app can read out your text too so you can hear how it is properly pronounced, and you can also use your camera to take photos of text that it can translate too (which is helpful if you need to read ingredients while shopping, for example). The app is free.  

The app is free but for $9.99 USD per month, you can upgrade to premium, which saves you 20 cents a gallon (up to 50 gallons) and provides 24/7 roadside assistance.

While it’s important to not spend your entire trip on your phone or social media, there are times when using your smartphone can easily improve the quality of your trip, keep you safe, and save you money. By downloading the apps above, you’ll be able to have a much smoother trip, giving you more time, energy, and money to invest in your next adventure.  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

Related Posts

GET YOUR  FREE TRAVEL STARTER KIT

Enter your email and get planning cheatsheets including a step by step checklist, packing list, tips cheat sheet, and more so you can plan like a pro!

7 Useful Apps Every Traveler Should Know About

By Harrison Pierce

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Technology continues to make travel easier for millions of people around the globe. New apps offer travelers fresh ways to research a destination, connect with fellow globetrotters, communicate with locals, and track their flights. As a full-time digital nomad , I’ve learned the importance of having the right tools at your disposal when on the road.

Over the past few years, I’ve visited dozens of countries, flown hundreds of thousands of miles, and tested countless apps to find the ones that prove to be the most helpful. And while tools like Meetup, Google Maps, Google Translate, currency converters, and vacation rental , airline, and hotel–specific apps are in fact indispensable on most trips, I find that many of the best travel apps are still undiscovered by my fellow travelers.

Below, seven travel apps that make life on the go markedly easier (and more fun), from real-time flight trackers to photo-sharing gems—all of these apps are free, but some have paid pro versions worth considering. Don’t think these apps are only for full-time travelers—they prove useful for every type of traveler, whether you're in a brand-new destination or back for a return visit.

Discover the best apps for travelers:

Apps for flying, apps for exploring, apps for photo sharing.

My favorite app on this list is Flighty, a must-have for any frequent flier . The free version is fantastic, but I recommend splurging for the premium version, which gives you even more useful information and comes at a reasonable cost of $48 per year. The functionality it provides more than justifies the price.

The free version allows you to input all future flights plus past journeys you've taken within the last year. It provides updated information if any schedule changes occur to upcoming flights and allows you to track all the miles you’ve flown in one place.

The other main benefit is that it allows you to share your flight information with friends and family members who are also on Flighty. They will receive real-time updates about your flight without you having to text them. My parents love to make sure I’m safe so they appreciate getting detailed information about my travels—even while I’m in the air.

Flightradar24 is a favorite app among fellow aviation geeks. It lets you track almost any aircraft you see in the air throughout the day or night. You can track your own flight, a friend's flight, or any plane you see in real-time. It shares plenty of cool data, like the altitude, speed, arrival and departure airports and times, and tail number.

There are tons of eSIM apps on the market, but Airalo is probably my favorite, with digital SIM cards available for dozens of countries. I find it to be the most reliable and offers the best data packages. It can be a little pricey, but it is the best option if you’re only taking short trips. Holafly is another eSIM app that offers unlimited data and works well, but I find the app to be much more glitchy than Airalo and would recommend using the desktop version.

This one is for the planner of the group. Wanderlog merges the best of a bunch of different apps into one. Imagine an app that lets you plan a trip with ease: collaborate with friends as if you’re on Google Docs, manage expense tracking like Splitwise, and have a central place for your reservations, checklists, and more. Tripit is a similar travel planner app, so you can download both and get a feel for which interface you like better.

Been allows you to track the countries you’ve visited and make a wish list of places you can’t wait to cross off your travel bucket list . It gives you information like the percentage of the globe you’ve been to and shows you a world map of your trips. It’s always fun to add in a new country whenever I reach my destination.

This app was introduced to me by fellow nomads I met at a cafe in Montevideo, Uruguay . It automatically tracks your route across the world, allowing you to quickly upload pictures throughout your travels that can be viewed by anyone who has access to your profile. It’s an excellent way to share important moments with loved ones without needing to send photos to each person individually. Users can also create easily accessible guides filled with up-to-date information to help you plan your own trip.

Steller is another app that a friend recently introduced me to, and I’ve quickly fallen in love with it. It uses a combination of AI and user experiences to help you plan trips around the globe. From recommendations of things to see, like the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires or the Royal Palace of Naples, to full guidebooks created by users, you can get inspired, book experiences, and discover hidden gems within this app.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Tripadvisor: Plan & Book Trips 4+

Hotels, restaurants, tours, tripadvisor.

• #68 in Travel
• 4.8 • 352.3K Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

** Be one of the first to try the beta version of our newly-launched AI itinerary builder, offering personalized recs powered by traveler tips and reviews. ** As a travel guidance company, Tripadvisor brings people, passions and places together. We aim to help make you a better traveler, from travel planning, to booking, to taking a trip. The app lets you get the most out of your trip—whether you’re planning or on-the-go. Discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from millions of travelers who have been there before. Find deals on hotels, book experiences, reserve tables at great restaurants and discover great places nearby. No matter what type of trip you’re looking to take, the Tripadvisor app makes planning it easy and also lets you guide others on their way. GET TRAVEL GUIDANCE • Find millions of reviews about hotels, restaurants, tours, attractions and other experiences from travelers like you • Read articles and guides to discover new ways to experience a destination with tips from travel experts • Discover great deals on top-rated hotels, tours, activities, experiences and other things to do • Find great places to eat nearby and make restaurant reservations ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP IN ONE PLACE • Use the updated Trips planning tool to save hotels, restaurants, and things to do • Get personalized recs with AI itineraries powered by reviews (beta) • See your saves on your custom map • Share and collab with your travel buds • Access mobile tickets for booked tours, attractions, experiences and other things to do GUIDE OTHER TRAVELERS • Submit your own reviews and photos of places you’ve visited to guide fellow travelers • Post and answer questions from like-minded travelers in the Tripadvisor forums

Version 57.8.3

Improvements to the Trip planning product which allow travelers to: - Receive a custom AI itinerary backed by traveler reviews - View saves in an organized list within the saves tab - Build an itinerary by adding saves and organizing them by day - View saves plotted on a map

Ratings and Reviews

352.3K Ratings

Editors’ Choice

We wouldn’t dream of planning a vacation without consulting TripAdvisor’s appraisals of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. But this robust app does much more than that, letting you book your entire trip—from flights to museum tickets—in one place. For those who embrace spontaneity, TripAdvisor is great for quickly finding spots nearby to stay, eat, or play, and the honest user reviews frequently save us from travel troubles.

Good place fro family

I have stayed at this particular RIU twice now and have stayed at others in Jamaica; this was more fun in 2018 when they had a club on site and foam party. They have renovated now, and the property is better, but it seems the food has gotten worse and entertainment not as good. I would recommend RIU Negril, the more expensive one, since they have two; this will give you access to both properties since only one has a good pool. RIU Ocho Rios has an adult pool with a swim-up bar, but it’s a bunch of kids in it splashing water in your drink and some teenagers at the bar drinking alcohol. If you want a family place that you can have fun in, this is it; if you are not looking to be around many kids, avoid it. This property is very clean, and they keep it that way; I did not feel as harassed by local salespeople as I did the last time. The staff was friendly for the most part. There is no AC in the elevators, and the bottles of alcohol that were standard in the room have been removed. The gym is relatively small. I would rate this place a 7 out of 10. It’s a decent resort overall.

WHY keep changing things????

I knew it was a mistake to click on “update” without waiting a few days to read the reviews - which I was sure would be terrible - because they just keep on changing things and making it worse for NO REASON!! I can’t understand why they think ANY of the recent changes are improvements - they moved things around AGAIN so it’s unfamiliar! Nothing on the home page is relevant. Can’t even FIND MY OWN reviews now! Why is everything so HUGE? They’re wasting space & making me scroll way too much… This is the FIFTH time I’ve updated this review in 30 minutes - every time I try to do something I keep finding more horrendous changes. Are they honestly going to make me click on “read more” for EVERY single review? OMG!!! Now instead of just having 2 search lines so I can type in the name of what I want to see and the location directly below it, it I have to click on something else to get the location box to show up so I can type it - an UNNECESSARY EXTRA step! Then, there are multiple restaurants with the same name in this city, and you don’t show me the address anymore, they all just say the city, so I have NO IDEA which one is correct!! They have absolutely destroyed what used to be a helpful trip planning app & it’s just awful now. I’ve never used yelp but it’s time to consider it... Did the people who created this ridiculous redesign ever try to actually use the app before they released this crap to the general public?

App Privacy

The developer, Tripadvisor , 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:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Data Linked to You

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

• Financial Info
• Contact Info
• User Content
• Search History
• Browsing History

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

Information

English, Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Vacation Rentals Owner App

Reco from Tripadvisor

You Might Also Like

Visit A City

trivago: Compare hotel prices

Viator: Tours & Attractions

Hostelworld: Hostel Travel App

Rome2Rio: Trip Planner

KAYAK: Flights, Hotels & Cars

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

The 7 Best Trip Planner Apps for Travelers

Sarah Schlichter

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor .

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at [email protected] .

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Crafting a trip itinerary can be both fun and overwhelming. Which places are an absolute must-visit, and which ones can you skip? How much time should you spend at the art museum, and how close is it to that bookstore you want to check out? And how can you keep all your ideas and bookings neatly organized?

The best trip planner apps can help you answer those questions. I’ve found several that will help you discover the right places to go and organize your day-by-day itinerary in one handy place. Download these apps, and you can pitch your endless spreadsheets and Word docs into the recycle bin.

All of the following trip planner apps are free unless otherwise noted.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor ( iOS | Android ) is the granddaddy of trip planner apps. Unlike other apps that feature only major cities, TripAdvisor offers listings of both top attractions and hidden gems in just about every corner of the globe, along with restaurants, hotels, and vacation rentals. You can create customized itineraries by saving the places you’re interested in to the app’s new Trips feature . (Trips can be kept private or shared publicly.)

When you search for a city in the app, you’ll see a feed of other users’ trips, photos, videos, reviews, and articles about that destination, all offering ideas and inspiration. For more trip planning help, you can post your questions in the TripAdvisor forums , where destination experts offer in-depth advice.

Visit a City

Visit a City ( iOS | Android ) helps solve two common trip planning challenges: figuring out how long you need to spend at each place, and maximizing your vacation time by grouping nearby attractions together. When you select a destination, the app offers recommended sightseeing guides based on the number of days you plan to spend. For example, I put in that I was going to Paris, for three days and was given several itinerary options, including Top Attractions, Landmarks for Kids, Parks & Museums, Easy Going, and more. The app automatically puts nearby attractions together and lets you know how far apart they are (for instance, “three minutes by walking”). It also includes the estimated time that you’ll spend at each place.

You can edit the itinerary by changing the day you visit a place, revising the amount of time you spend there, or deleting the attraction altogether. (You’ll almost certainly have to do some editing, as the itineraries don’t include lunch or coffee breaks.) You can also book tours through the app and get general travel information about the destination, such as the best time of year to visit or tips for saving money.

The Best Sites to Book a Last Minute Vacation

CityMaps2Go

CityMaps2Go ( iOS | Android ) offers a handy offline maps that you can customize with personal points of interest. Even better, the app displays your location on the map whether you’re connected to data or Wi-Fi. The app includes thousands of offline maps from just about anywhere on Earth, which means it’s useful for travelers who don’t want to pay international data charges when heading overseas. 

You can create different lists for your trip (for example, separate lists for dining, bars, attractions, etc.), and the locations you add to the list will show up on your map. Info cards for each place include a review score, nearby accommodations, some basic information, and the ability to add notes of your own.

The fun part of trip planning is imagining all the cool places you’ll go. What’s not so fun? Figuring out the logistics of getting there. Fortunately, Rome2rio ( iOS | Android ) can help solve that problem. The app searches just about every mode of transportation—plane, train, subway, bus, ferry, taxi, Uber—to recommend the best way to get from point A to point B.

You can enter either two destinations within a given city or two points farther apart, and the app will display your options, including the time it’ll take to travel and the approximate cost. Note that the listings are for planning purposes only, and you can’t actually book your flights or tickets through the app.

TripIt ( iOS | Android ) is a fixture on “best travel apps” lists, and for good reason. It turns an inbox full of scattered booking confirmations and restaurant reservations into a single master itinerary that you can access offline, sync with your phone’s calendar, and share with loved ones. You simply forward each confirmation email to [email protected] and let the app do the rest.

Upgrade to TripIt Pro ($49/year) for other useful features such as real-time flight alerts, rewards program tracking, and the ability to locate alternate flights if your original plans are disrupted.

Culture Trip

The app arm of Culture Trip ( iOS | Android ) aims to bring travelers a little bit out of the mainstream (tagline: “For curious travelers”) by highlighting unique, off-the-beaten-path options in popular destinations. With recommendations for more than 200 destinations around the world, it’s a great way to bring more local perspective to your trip planning. 

The Culture Trip app uses the publication’s content as a starting point; say, an article on the Top 9 Dessert Spots in Amsterdam. While reading the article, you can save individual places to lists that you create and view their location on maps. You can also explore their curated “Culture Trips”—pre-made itineraries for small group travel bookable within the app.

5 Smartphone Essentials You Should Never Travel Without

TripScout ( iOS ) combines articles and videos from well-known travel publishers and local experts to form what it calls “a personalized, always up-to-date travel guide” for destinations around the world. Every point of interest mentioned in the content is mapped, so you can build a customized itinerary showing your intended destinations on a map.

TripScout can also personalize recommendations based on your travel dates, budget, interests, and even the number of people in your travel group. And like some of the other apps on this list, TripScout works entirely offline, potentially saving you from paying international data fees. The only downside? Android users are left out; TripScout is iOS only.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2019, and has been updated to reflect the most current information. SmarterTravel’s Carl Unger contributed to this story.

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Southwest Ireland: 8-Night Trip, Incl. Guinness...

Specialized Travel Services

Luxe, 7-Night Caribbean & Mexico Cruise...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

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

• Best iPhone apps

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom’s Guide direct to your inbox.

Upgrade your life with a daily dose of the biggest tech news, lifestyle hacks and our curated analysis. Be the first to know about cutting-edge gadgets and the hottest deals.

Google Play Apps with 2 billion installs pose privacy risk — delete these right now

5 apps that should be really worried ahead of WWDC

Nike's Bring the Heat sale is offering up to 50% off! Here are my 7 favorite items to shop

Most Popular

• 2 How to sleep on your back — and the best mattresses for back sleeping
• 3 Google Play Apps with 2 billion installs pose privacy risk — delete these right now
• 4 Epic Skechers sale from $13 at Amazon — 25 deals on sneakers, apparel and accessories I’d buy
• 5 Are 4th of July sales the best time to buy a new mattress? I'm a sleep writer — here's my take
• 4 Epic Skechers deals from $13 at Amazon — 25 sneakers, apparel and accessory sales I'd buy

The 17 Best Travel Apps to Help You Make the Most of Your Travels

After using hundreds—maybe even thousands—of travel apps, I’ve figured out a workflow that’s simple and straightforward. It uses the fewest number of travel apps possible and it will help you to stay on top of where you’re going and what’s happening around you.

Traveling can be a complicated endeavor.

From keeping track of bookings and finding local sights, to currency conversions and translations, staying on top of what’s going on, where you’re going, and what you’re supposed to be doing can be tricky.

Especially with a constant onslaught of new travel apps, it can be hard to cut through the noise and figure out which are not only the best travel apps but the easiest to use.

After five years of travel on six different continents , and hundreds of tools and travel apps later (maybe even thousands), I’ve trimmed the fat, uninstalled the apps that claim to be the best (but aren’t), and learned what the best travel apps truly are—the ones that are tried and true, and have withheld the test of time.

These travel apps will help you to stay organized and on top of where you’re going and what’s happening around you.

The Best Travel Apps for Booking Flights

Booking a flight is the first step to any trip, and though most people will only check the major sites like Expedia, Priceline, and Travelocity, it’s well worth doing your due diligence, especially for the sake of saving money.

What’s often even more important, though, is user experience. Some apps are clunky and confusing and don’t make finding and booking flights very easy.

There are a lot of booking apps, but I steer clear of most of them, usually relying on my core group of three. With these travel apps, I know that 90% of the time, I’m finding the best deal on flights.

Skyscanner lets you search from city to city, and from country to country, to find the best deals on flights. Got some free time, want a getaway, but not too concerned about where you go? Use the flexible search to search for flights from a particular destination to anywhere.

As well as being able to search for specific dates, you can check the prices across a whole month. Skyscanner can find some of the best deals by combining carriers for different legs of a journey. This may mean, however, that you need to book separate flights, use a travel agency, and/or collect your bags and check-in again between flights.

Momondo is similar to Skyscanner, in that it compares numerous airlines and travel agencies on a variety of routes to get you from A to B. There is also the option to search for flights to anywhere, and you can opt to also search for airports near your original choice (if a final destination is specified).

Google Flights

Google Flights is another top comparison site for flight tickets. As well as performing basic searches, it also offers a wide range of features to make planning your travels easy. If you’re not yet ready to commit to making a booking, you can monitor different flights.

You can get notifications when prices are likely to increase on a particular route, letting you get in there and book a flight before the price jumps. You can see prices across a region, be shows which flight combinations offer the best value for money (taking into account layovers and so on) and can automatically see alternatives, such as date or time changes, that will give you a saving.

Google Flights doesn’t have a downloadable mobile app but the website does have a fantastic mobile interface, which is just as good.

The Best Travel Apps for Booking Accommodation

I’m a terrible planner, so when it comes to accommodation, I don’t often book in advance. Depending on the type of accommodation I’m looking for, I use one of the following options:

Booking.com

Booking.com has properties to suit most budgets and travel styles, with accommodations located all around the world. There are numerous filters, allowing you to find exactly what you’re looking for. Some properties do not require a deposit or advance payment, with flexible cancellation terms. Do check, however, as the booking terms are not the same for all. If you become a member there are more potential savings to be made.

Hostelworld

A top choice for budget travelers, Hostelworld is ideal for finding beds in dorm rooms. If you love the social aspect of staying in a hostel, but prefer to have some privacy at bedtime, you can also search for private rooms in hostels.

HotelTonight

If you’re taking an impromptu trip or have left booking a place to stay to quite late in the day, HotelTonight is great for finding last-minute deals. No property wants empty rooms for a night, so unsold rooms are advertised, often with savings, on Hotel Tonight. While there may not be so many options to choose between, you can be assured that any listings are at top-notch places. All participant accommodations are screened by HotelTonight. You can search for somewhere to stay in a variety of global cities, searching as far as a week in advance.

If you’re traveling in a larger group, want a home-away-from-home feeling, or are planning a longer stay, Airbnb could be just what you are looking for. It connects private property owners with travelers.

While some hotels and guesthouses use the service to advertise rooms, many of the listings are for regular houses and apartments. They may not be available all of the time; people can make places available when they aren’t actually using them themselves. It’s also, therefore, a great way for home-owning travelers to make some money by renting their own place out when they are on the road. Properties may be vacant or you may share with the owner.

A wide range of facilities may be available; each listing is unique. Airbnb offers an alternative to staying in a traditional accommodation when traveling. There are often discounts for longer stays too.

• 15 Airbnb Alternatives You Should Know About
• Airbnb vs. Hotels: Which is Cheaper?
• Airbnb vs. Vrbo: Which is Better?

The Best Travel App for Tracking Bookings

Using confirmation emails to keep track of booking times, dates, and directions is nearly impossible. Having information in one centralized place in a travel app can make an itinerary much easier to understand. I always use  TripIt  for an at-a-glance view of all upcoming bookings, including flights, accommodation, and transportation.

Depending on who you’re flying with, use the airline’s native app during the check-in process (or Wallet on iOS) to keep track of boarding times and gate changes. Using third-party travel apps for flight and gate tracking can sometimes be cumbersome and they’re not always up to date. That being said, TripIt is usually on the ball!

The Best Travel App for Tracking Rewards Points

Awardwallet.

Staying on top of points, rewards, and miles can be daunting, too, especially with the plethora of rewards programs out there nowadays. Though not a perfect system, AwardWallet is the most comprehensive way to view all your rewards balances in one spot. Their web interface is a little clunky, but their mobile app is pretty great.

The Best Apps to Use While You're Actually Traveling

The first set of apps I recommend for daily use come from Google. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as Google Travel (yet?), but they do have a suite of tools which are perfect when you’re traveling. And they all work seamlessly with one another.

The original Google app is the first one I check when I arrive in a new city, and usually every morning. They have smart “cards” that dynamically update with various types of location-based information, including local weather, local attractions and photo spots, currency conversions, time back home, updates from your favorite sports teams, and more.

Google Maps

When I find a new place that I want to remember, I switch over to Google Maps and save the location. I also make sure to save the location of my accommodation, local bus or train stations, and other points of interest. Google places a star on each place that you save, so one look at your map shows you where everything you need is located.

Google Maps has also proven to be very accurate when it comes to public transportation schedules. From New York to Melbourne to Athens, Google Maps has proven to be a reliable and up-to-date tool for finding subway and bus stops and knowing what lines are running, and to where.

Google Translate

If I’m having a particularly hard time communicating with locals, Google Translate has become a staple in my app toolkit. With their recent acquisition of WordLens, not only can you translate words and phrases, but you can automatically translate a sign, box label, or menu by taking a photo of it.

Finding local places to eat and go out is never a problem using the crowdsourced Foursquare app. It finds where you are and recommends restaurants, cafes, and nightlife based on your preferences. So, if I like sandwiches and whiskey (which I do), it automatically shows me the best sandwich shops and whiskey bars in my new city, and provides me with tips for what to order when I get there.

Trail Wallet

The only way I’ve been able to keep track of my expenses in places like Thailand is by using the Trail Wallet app. I set a daily and monthly budget and categorically keep track of my expenses throughout the day. It allows me to manage multiple currencies and switch between them seamlessly, automatically updating to my home currency based on the current conversion rate. I can also see what my major expenses are in list form or in a pie chart, and make adjustments to my spending habits based on my track record.

XE Currency

XE Currency provides the most up-to-date and accurate conversion rates. I always check XE before exchanging cash (which I try not to do because exchange booths generally provide the worst rates). It also shows conversion charts so you can keep on top of exchange rates and cash in by withdrawing a larger amount when a currency from an upcoming location drops.

Travel Apps for Keeping Records of Travel Documents

Before going anywhere, take a picture of your important documents and keep scanned copies of your passport and health insurance policies in a folder in Dropbox .

Whenever you find an interesting piece of information about an upcoming destination, paste it into Evernote , alongside the rest of your notes and information that you keep on hand. Evernote allows you to clip emails and web pages so you can hold onto copies of flight tickets, itineraries, visas, directions, or anything else that matters.

• The Best Travel Insurance Companies
• Best Carry On Backpacks For One Bag Travel
• The Best Travel Tips I’ve Learned After 10 Years of Traveling
• 11 Tips to Make Planning Your Travels a Million Times Easier

Travel App FAQs

What is the best travel app to use.

Booking.com is our recommended travel app. It’s easy to use and lets you reserve flights, hotels, rental cars, and more around the globe.

Which app is best for travel bookings?

If you want an app for travel bookings, Booking.com is our top choice.

What is the most downloaded travel app?

Google Maps is the most downloaded travel app, followed by Uber and then Booking.com.

What is the best app to make an itinerary for travel?

The best apps for travel itineraries include Booking.com, Expedia, and Priceline.

What travel app has the best deals?

Priceline has one of the best apps out there for finding deals on flights, accommodations, and rental cars.

Jeremy Scott Foster

This is a great list and we use most of these apps too. Thanks for including Trail Wallet and I’m glad you’ve found it useful!

Of course! Trail Wallet is one of my favorite apps! 🙂

Great list of travel apps. Some of them I was using already, but at least I discovered a few new apps that will be very useful while travelling. Evernote will come in handy among others 🙂

Great! I’m glad you found some new ones. I don’t know what I’d do without Evernote. It helps me keep both my travels and my life organized!

I tried TripIt once and it was a good thing to have – but only because I had a lot of connections (from trains, through coaches, taxis and planes) during my trip so it helped me to keep the record of my journey. Otherwise I don´t use any apps (sometimes google maps but rarely when I am actually on road). But I think I am an exception because I´m not a friend with my smartphone! 😀 I will definitely use Dropbox on my travels out of Europe but so far I haven´t felt the need…thanks for the useful tips anyway 🙂

Google Maps is great when you’re on the road, because it shows you exactly where you are! I never get lost, all thanks to Google 🙂

Simply Decalre is an app to help you organize your receipts for customs declarations, it has real time currency, many other features like snapping a picture for your records. We have used it on the last couple of foreign trips, and it just makes life a whole lot easier. Simple to use. Another great app for your readers.

Fantastic resource man! Ive spent a good chunk of time traveling and I’m always looking for ways to make life on the road easier. Cheers!

That said, I have some thoughts with regards to the prolific use of tech on the road that I thought I’d share. Tech, as wonderful and as convenient as it is, has the ability to withdraw you from the present moment of travel, and all the exciting lessons on offer.

The world is becoming smaller, tech is largely to thank for this, and I appreciate that people nowadays feel the compulsive desire to ‘stay connected’ to current events, homeland, relationships etc. (or sometimes to gloat to those who decided not to join in on the adventure – not recommended). I think for many travelers, especially the younger generation, clinging to tech and searching for the nearest free WiFi is an attempt to bring familiarity with them on their journey. Connection with their familiar life back home provides a level of comfort and security – knowing that people back home care, are informed, and are supporting your ‘crazy’ decisions along the way (even if in reality, they aren’t).

Speaking from experience, this connection to familiarity is useful when you reach a low spot on your travel journey (which all of us will at some point), and it is also a hinderance when it comes to building authentic, genuine connections with the place, the people, and the culture you find yourself amongst.

It is truly a pet annoyance of mine to see people clinging to their smartphones, huddling around the nearest free WiFi zone, and checking facebook / instagram / twitter updates, when there is a wondrous world of activity happening right in front of them.

Tech makes life on the road easier, yes. But it takes away the intimacy of connection with people, places, and cultures that encompass travel. I’m not saying tech is taboo, however I feel that it’s use in the travel society is becoming so prevalent that good old face-to-face relationships are becoming endangered, and a forgotten shade of the travel canvas.

Maybe if people had a better appreciation of self, were more certain of their destiny, and were courageous enough to embrace a new world without the constant desire to cling to their beliefs back home, we would see more genuine connections on the road?

Just some thoughts. Indeed, your apps may in fact reduce the need to be constantly on our smartphones attempting to track the necessities of life. I’ll let you know on that one!

Jason Townsend – www.kickstartacause.com

Thanks so much for your insightful comment. I believe that, in today’s world, with the advent of technology, the most important thing we can do is limit it. I do rely on technology on a daily basis, especially since I work and travel at the same time, but yes, finding the right balance can be hard.

To frame things differently, perhaps staying connected to home allows people who wouldn’t otherwise go travel to feel more comfortable going out into the world. And sometimes, especially when we are constantly surrounded by new people and places, it can be nice to have something comfortable to lean back on.

I think we’re on the same page here. Technology is extremely accessible, and too much of a good thing can definitely be bad. As for me, I make efforts, whenever I can, to put the phone down and just enjoy 🙂

Great reframe Jeremy. That’s an excellent point.I can relate to this in my early traveller days…

Enjoyment comes from the simplest things. Life happens outside the ‘idiot box’ (a.k.a television) 😉

Jason Townsend

I would add diveadvisor to that list for Scuba Diver centric travellers.

It shows you articles on best places to dive, list of dive centres by country etc.

Also, airbnb imo should definitely be on there.

Otherwise cool list 🙂

Oh cool! I hadn’t heard of DiveAdvisor. Going to check it out 🙂

Although Jason rightly pointed out the hindrance that staying connected brings, I do enjoy its conveniences and the help that comes from the apps you listed. In fact, I just re-downloaded the Google App to take advantage of the cards. I forgot how awesome they were and appreciate you mentioning them.

One thing I’d like to add is instagram, and its usefulness when traveling. One time, my wife and I were in Gyeongju in Korea and drunkenly doing a photo search of instagram to see if there was anything we could see one night. This really beautiful pagoda came up and after piecing together enough pigeon Korean to ask a person about it, off we were to a previously unknown place.

Other than that, I like using instagram to see the perspectives that others are employing when taking shots of famous places. Just thought I’d that but besides that, this is a wonderful list. I actually played on the Google app for about ten minutes after reading this, haha. Thanks for sharing, Eric!

I do love Instagram, and these days, especially with the more enhanced location features, it’s increasingly more easy to find people and places nearby. I read an article recently about whether the recent advance in technology has stripped travel of its magic, and though I do think it has to an extent, I also really appreciate the conveniences that it provides.

But ultimately, it’s up to the user to decide how much they use it, and how much they want to get out of the real world vs. the online world.

I agree that keeping track of awards programs/points can be a pain. I am definitely going to look into the AwardWallet. The Foursquare also looks interesting.Thanks for the great tips/suggestions.

I was so optimistic when I saw this list just when I was trying to find how to get to my closest train station in Yongin, but alas, google maps tells me I can’t walk to either one when I walked to the furthest one, has none of the major landmarks I recognize to help orient me, and has no transit directions for the new train line here.

2gis was a GREAT app for this kind of thing, but other than randomly Santiago, Chile, 2 cities in Italy and 1 in Czech Republic, they’re ALL Russian cities. So disheartening!

Great list. Hopefully this can be great for us! Cheers and Thanks for this.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search our latest articles, reviews and gear guides

• TravelFreak on Instagram
• TravelFreak on Facebook
• TravelFreak on Twitter
• TravelFreak on Pinterest

Sign up now and get the best gear, travel tips, deals and destinations, straight to your inbox.

Thank you for signing up!

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

22 Best Travel Apps Every Traveler Should Know About

From tracking flight delays, finding last-minute accommodations, and even locating the nearest public restroom, these are the most helpful travel apps to download before you travel.

Using the right travel apps can help you save both time and money , while making the journey much less stressful . Many of these apps also provide local recommendations and hidden gems tourists don't often get to see — and some are completely free.

Whether you're looking for an app that will give you discounts for popular local events, offer a last-minute booking at a fraction of the price, or help you breeze through the airport , these are the 22 best travel apps to download before your next trip.

Citymapper helps travelers find the speediest route to their destination, providing step-by-step instructions on where to find the nearest bus and train stations. You'll be able to see when the next arrivals are, and real-time routing means you'll get updates every minute. The app also has a chat feature that allows you to update friends and family on your E.T.A. wherever you are.

Available on iOS and Android .

PackPoint takes the hassle out of packing by creating a customized list of what you'll need for your getaway. Enter your destination, travel dates, length of stay, and activities that might require special gear, like hiking or swimming, and the app will create a custom packing list you can save for future use. Besides checking weather conditions for you, the app also allows users to share their packing lists with fellow travelers.

The beauty of Rebtel is you don't need an internet connection to call friends and family back home. The app connects to local phone lines to provide you with cheap calls in 51 countries around the world without having to deal with the hassle of getting a local SIM card or racking up your phone bill.

If you're looking to get outdoors, this app will provide you with the area's best hiking, biking, and running trails. In addition to details on length, starting location, and trail quality, AllTrails includes reviews and photos from a community of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. You'll find useful information like what to pack, obstacles you'll find along the route, and the best scenic spots to check out.

If you find yourself in the middle of a long layover, Dayuse can get you into a hotel room for a few hours for up to 75 percent less than what the typical overnight rate would be. The app features 5,000 hotels in 23 countries, and allows you to make free cancellations at the last minute, in case you manage to catch an earlier flight.

Selections include everything from business hotels to wellness accommodations, with payments made directly when you arrive. You also get full use of the hotel's amenities for the duration of your stay.

The prices of flights can fluctuate, making it tricky to decide if you should book right away or hold off. That's where Hopper comes in, predicting the best time to find the cheapest fares, saving up to 40 percent. The app also has a price-monitoring feature so that you can select a particular flight and receive alerts if the price drops. Through Hopper, users can also compare the prices and amenities of more than 250 airlines and get alerts about airfare flash sales.

RV Parks & Campgrounds

This camping app helps you locate prime RV parks, campgrounds, rest areas, and gas stations across North America. With more than 40,000 facilities, the app sorts locations based on ratings and includes both privately-owned RV parks and public parks to choose from.

Nike Training Club

Hitting the gym while you're traveling can be tough, but with Nike Training Club , you'll feel like you have a personal trainer right in your pocket. That's because you can access hundreds of free workouts from Nike Master Trainers and celebrities like Kevin Hart, Serena Williams, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Audio and video clips help you make sure you're on top of your technique, while personalized training plans will keep you on track.

If you don't have much time to spare at the airport, Grab allows you to check out what food selections are near your gate, and gives you the option to pre-order your meal so you can pick it up on the way. The app currently operates at over 60 airports worldwide, giving you plenty of bites to choose from on your next trip.

GasBuddy is the app you'll want if you're taking a road trip. GasBuddy tracks down where to find the cheapest gas prices, allowing you to filter by price, location, brand, and amenities. It also provides you with deals at nearby convenience stores and price hike alerts so you can nail down the best prices every time.

Want to know what local events are taking place at your destination? Headout will show you the top attractions, shows, tours, and experiences in popular cities like New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orlando, Hawaii, Dubai, and more.

Activities range from catching a Broadway show, yoga in the hills, or taking a helicopter tour, with exclusive last-minute offers that can be up to 80 percent off.

If you need to access the internet during your travels, chances are you'll have to connect to public Wi-Fi, which can be sketchy. TunnelBear allows you to connect privately and securely by providing you a VPN (virtual private network) that will encrypt your browsing data to keep your information hidden from hackers and advertisers. The app comes with 500MB of free browsing data each month, or you can opt for unlimited data at a low monthly rate.

Hostelworld

Hostelworld is where you'll find more than 17,000 hostels, hotels, B&B's, and communal spaces in 178 countries. The app is great for solo travelers looking to meet fellow vacationers during their trip, including a Noticeboard that highlights events and meetups, and a translator that will help you communicate in up to 43 languages.

WeatherBug provides forecasts for millions of locations around the world, with current, hourly, and even 10-day options. The app also has specific weather maps to track everything from lightning and wind to pressure and humidity, and makes staying on top of changes to the weather easy with instant alerts.

Eatwith allows you to dine with locals, in their homes, all over the world. Menus are posted for you to see, while hosts will typically list what they cook, the languages they speak, and any alcohol pairings they'll be serving. Not only does the app give you a chance to meet locals and get superb dining recommendations, but it also allows you to enjoy a high-quality meal for less than what you'd typically pay at a restaurant.

Available on iOS and Android.

Trying to locate a public restroom can be tricky, especially in a new destination. That's where Flush comes in. The app has a database of more than 200,000 toilets, and quickly provides travelers with nearby bathrooms. You can search without an internet connection, and the app will also notify you if a restroom requires a fee.

While banks may charge you a fee for transferring money abroad, Wise allows you to make a transfer based on real-time currency exchanges, so you can send money at rates the company says are up to eight times cheaper than what you'd find at traditional banks.

TripIt makes it easy to put together a cohesive travel itinerary. Simply forward your confirmation emails, like your hotel and flight reservations, or your rental car reservation, and TripIt will build a full itinerary to help you stay organized with all of your plans.

With real-time alerts, you'll know if your flight is delayed or canceled, while the flight finder can help you book a new option should a cancellation occur.

Another good app for the road, Waze gives you community-based data about traffic jams, and information to locate points of interest like the cheapest gas stations and the fastest routes to your destination. Live maps include voice-guided navigation to easily guide you.

Xe provides live exchange rates and charts to keep you on top of money matters during your travels, easily allowing you to choose between different currencies you'd like to convert. It also has a rate alert so that you can monitor your favorite currencies — and it can be used offline.

Timeshifter

If you're sick of the jet lag battle that inevitably comes with travel, check out Timeshifter , an app that helps you to avoid jet lag long before your flight departs. Thanks to neuroscience research on circadian rhythms and sleep, the app provides personalized recommendations that take into account your age, gender, typical sleep patterns, and specifics about your trip. The app will tell you when you should avoid or seek daylight, and when you should stay awake or take a nap. The result? A gentle jet lag experience, which translates to more time exploring your destination.

FlightAware

If you have a tight connection or are picking up friends or family from the airport, look to FlightAware for help. The app tracks flights in real time, so you can see exactly where the aircraft is at any given moment. In addition to providing arrivals and delays, you can also see if weather will have any affect on certain locations.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

Related Articles

• Mexico Travel News
• Seaweed Updates
• Hidden Travel Gems

10 Best Travel TRIP PLANNER APPs To Have in 2024

In a fast-paced world where the stress of work and school is overwhelming, we all need a break to de-stress our minds. Traveling is one good way to take your mind off of stressful things – a breather. And a scheduled vacation gives you something to look forward to.

Whether it’s a local trip alone, a family holiday, or a getaway with your best friends, it just excites you to wish the day would come faster. 

10 Best Trip Planner Apps in 2024

The freeform app.

• TripIt: Travel Planner

Hopper – Flight & Hotel Deals

• Sygic Travel Maps Trip Planner

Roadtrippers: Trip Planner

Tripadvisor, travelspend: track travel expense & trip budget, tripcase – travel organizer app, travel planning apps for your next trip.

The Freeform app is an endless whiteboard that lets users add information from a variety of websites, photos, videos and files.

Because the boards are kept in iCloud, they can be accessed from any device anytime inspiration hits. While you and your travel companions plan your dream trip, the specifics can be shared with several individuals working together on the same whiteboard, making them an ongoing work in progress.

The Freeform app is free to iPhone users on iOS 16.2, iPad users on 16.2, and Mac users on Ventura MacOS Venture 13.1. 

Download the brand-new app here .

Read our full post: Apple Launches New Travel App Freeform – What to Know

Wanderlog Trip Planner App

Wanderlog is your all-in-one destination for planning future trips, sharing travel guides, and blogging past trips.

Its trip planning features are incredibly flexible: you can research destinations and activities, organize reservations by connecting your email, and map out a day itinerary with start/end times. You can also add notes and links all throughout.

Everything is stored offline so you can access your itinerary when traveling abroad. For road trips, it calculates the time and distance between places and exports them to Google Maps (and there are no limits to the number of stops you have on a trip!).

Plus, there’s a fun social component: collaborate with friends on itineraries, write your own travel guide, and blog about past trips. Wanderlog is available on the web and on your smartphone, so you can seamlessly plan while at home and on-the-go.

iOS  /  Android

TripIt: Trip Planner App

If you need any help organizing the dozens of itineraries, TripIt is the app for you. Users simply need to forward your flight, hotel, restaurant, and car rental confirmation emails to [email protected] and the app will create a free master doc for each of your trips. The best thing about this app is that you can get access to your itinerary anywhere, even without an internet connection. 

In addition, the Pro version will find you alternative routes for canceled flights and send out notifications for delayed flights, cancellations, and more from the airlines. 

iOS / Android

Rome2rio is a versatile travel planning app that simplifies the process of finding and booking travel options. It’s a handy tool for travelers seeking to explore various transportation choices between destinations. Rome2rio offers users a comprehensive view of travel options, including flights, trains, buses, ferries, and even driving directions.

Key features of Rome2rio include:

• Route Information: The app provides detailed information on different routes, including estimated travel times, costs, and the number of transfers required.
• Booking Integration: Users can book flights, train tickets, and other transportation options directly through the app, streamlining the booking process.
• Map Integration: Rome2rio integrates with maps, allowing users to visualize their travel routes and explore nearby attractions.
• Multi-Modal Travel: It offers options for combining various modes of transportation, making it easy to plan complex journeys.
• Accurate Pricing: The app provides real-time pricing information, helping users make informed decisions based on their budget.
• Offline Access: Rome2rio offers offline access to previously searched routes, which can be handy when traveling without a data connection.

Hopper is an amazing trip planner app to have on your phone. The app predicts airfares up to 1 year in advance, with 95% accuracy. It analyzes over billions of flight prices and hotels within the day – telling you whether to book your trip now or wait for just a little longer.

Here’s how it works: Key in your destination and a color-coded calendar will display the cheapest and most expensive date to fly. The app will then recommend you to either book the flight now or sit it out and wait for airfare to get cheaper. Also, you can filter predictions to custom-fit your trip – remove long layovers, extra fees, restrictions, and more. 

And if you worry about missing out the cheap flight bookings, don’t be! Hopper will send you a notification when fares have dropped to its lowest point.

SYGIC Travel Maps Trip Planner

Sygic Travel Maps , the new version of Sygic Trip Planner, is the first travel app to display all of the attractions and places a traveler needs to see and visit on a single map.

Sync your trips with the Sygic Travel app and find hidden gems in all cities you visit. The app boast a large database that allows you to find the best hotels, tourist attractions, museums, restaurants, bars, and stores wherever you go.

This mobile app also let you download offline maps and guides, which come in helpful when traveling to remote locations with poor or non-existing Wi-Fi.

It also has a dedicated section to worldwide places of interest for travel business. Get location information for individual cities, countries, continents, or the entire planet.

The app is available in 18 languages.

iOS / Android iOS

Planning on a cross-country road trip ? Roadtrippers is the app for you! Not everyone is fond of waiting long hours at the airport while sitting through your red-eye flight. Hit the road with your friends instead.

Roadtrippers provides everything you need to know on your road trip. Just enter your starting point, destination, and let the app do its work for you! From camping sites to rest stops, outdoor activities, exciting adventures along the way that you didn’t know existed. This app is the perfect buddy for your road trip regardless of your mode of transportation – a sedan, a rental car, or a huge family RV.

Most of us dream of going to places! But planning an amazing trip to places we have not been to is pretty hard as you don’t know where to stay, what to do, places to eat, and adventures to try. We mostly rely on recommendations, most of which are not even right, that we find online. 

TripAdvisor has over millions of travel recommendations on hotels, top dining spots, must-do experiences, and treasured gems to over 8 million destinations at your perusal. It is an all-in-one app that lets you book tables at restaurants and compares low prices on hotels and flights.

You can also follow friends and travel experts for advice that match your interests, watch videos, and read articles. In return, you can share your experiences, reviews, and helpful guides for other users too!

Setting up a budget for your trip is easy, however, sticking to it is hard. TravelSpend will help you with that. It starts with entering your budget and expenses over multiple days so you don’t go overboard. The app helps you in sticking to your budget effectively.

Being in another country is not a problem at all: enter your expenses in any currency and the app will automatically convert it to your home currency.

Track your travel expenses whether going on a solo around-the-world trip or backpacking holiday with your best friends. The app allows you to share your trip with your friends and track your expenses together. Pay debts, split bills, and check your balances – all in the app!

TripCase, a comprehensive travel organizer app, has emerged as a popular choice among travelers seeking a streamlined and efficient way to manage their journey details.

Here’s a breakdown of its key features and functionalities:

Centralized Itinerary Management : TripCase allows users to consolidate all their travel details, including flights, hotels, and car rentals, into a single, easily accessible itinerary.

Real-time Flight Alerts : The app keeps travelers informed with up-to-the-minute notifications on flight statuses, including delays, cancellations, and gate changes.

Itinerary Sharing : TripCase offers a sharing option that enables users to send their travel plans to friends, family, or colleagues.

Travel Directions and Maps : To aid navigation in unfamiliar locations, the app provides directions and maps.

Nearby Recommendations : TripCase offers recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and other services close to the traveler’s location.

Document Storage : For added convenience, the app allows users to store essential travel documents digitally, ensuring that important information like passport details, visas, and insurance policies are readily available.

Customizable Notifications : Users can customize their notification preferences, choosing what types of alerts they receive and how they are notified, tailoring the app to suit individual needs and preferences.

iOS / Android 

Hi, great List. I couldn’t travel without my Apps! I have one App you could check out =) Its called ” ATM Fee Saver” and it gives a list with all ATMs and their fees and limit. I found it super helpful and it really helped me to save some money. Best regards, Charlotte

Thank you for your suggestions! Those apps are very useful and various

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You'll never travel without our trip planner again

Travel planning at its best. build, organize, and map your custom itineraries in a free travel app designed for vacations & road trips, powered by our trip planner.

Your itinerary and your map in one view

No more switching between different apps, tabs, and tools to keep track of your travel plans.

What travelers are raving about

Features to replace all your other tools, add places from guides with 1 click, collaborate with friends in real time, import flight and hotel reservations, expense tracking and splitting, checklists for anything, get personalized suggestions, plan like a pro.

Unlock premium features like offline access, unlimited attachments, flight deals, export to Google maps, and much more

Offline access

Unlimited attachments, optimize your route.

4.9 on App Store, 4.7 on Google Play

Discover your next favorite destination

Get inspired from guides around the world — with expert tips and recommendations from the Wanderlog community. See all Wanderlog travel guides.

Have tips of your own? Write a guide to share with other travelers like you!

Ready to plan your trip in half the time?

For every kind of trip and every destination, the best road trip planner, the best vacation planner, the best group itinerary planner.

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Search results for

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

Best android apps for tourists

Published on June 26, 2012

Going on a tour means new amazing experiences, meeting new friends, and seeing breathtaking and fascinating destinations. You would always want your trip to be smooth and memorable but many people often get too excited about it, and they end up entering unfamiliar territories without bringing stuff that they might need. Chances are high that you will forget to bring a lot of things–but not your smartphone. The good thing is, it’s just the thing you need for a wonderful trip. The Google Play Store is flooded with apps that could help you on your tour and we have sorted out some of the best for you. Read on if you want to have a stress-free trip.

TripIt Travel Organizer Free

Before even boarding your plane bound for your travel destination, it’s always more practical to plan everything. This is where TripIt Travel Organizer Free comes in very handy. When you use this app, you don’t have to experience the hassle of booking everything for your tour. All you have to do is to forward all your hotel, airline, car rental, and restaurant reservations and confirmation emails to tripit.com and the app will do the rest.

The app will provide you with a master itinerary where every detail of your tour is all taken care of. It also lets you find business establishments, restaurants and travel destinations which you can easily include on your trip itinerary. All your travel plans can be easily accessed through your phone or at tripit.com, letting you check or edit them anytime and anywhere you are even without an Internet connection. Once your plans are set, you can share them via Facebook or LinkedIn to let your friends know where you are headed and probably even pull someone to go with you.

TripAdvisor Hotels Flights

When it comes to traveling to far-flung places or unfamiliar territories, it’s always better to see all your options in one place. TripAdvisor Hotels Flights is another helpful app where you can easily book the best flight, find a good place to stay in, or find amazing travel destinations that you might want to go to.

With this app, it’s always easy to find the exact location of a certain place. The app provides a map tab which, when tapped, will show you the location of that place on the map. Phone numbers are also provided, which can be very helpful if you request for a pickup from the airport to your hotel. What’s even better about this free app is that it provides user reviews, letting tourists easily sort out the best places to go to.

TouristEye – Travel Guide

If you want experts’ advice for your travel, try TouristEye – Travel Guide . This app is the all-in-one guide that you can take on your trip. This app is very useful if you want to tour famous cities. It gives you information on hundreds of cities all around the world and what’s great is that other users of the app share their experiences daily, giving you an idea on what you can do in your own tour.

The app allows you to browse through thousands of travel destinations.  It includes a planner where you can list all your itineraries, transportation maps to help you find your way around, a travel journal where you can share your trip and photos with other users, and Tours where you can check expert tips.

Here’s an essential app for frequent flyers and for those who travel around the world a lot.  In one breath, WorldMate is a travel planner and organizer.  Through this app, you can create travel itineraries and make traveling less of a headache.  You can book flights, find the best hotels, search for car rental services, and more.

Not only does the app help you assemble your itinerary.  It also alerts you of any gaps or missing items in your travel plan.  Fearing that you will miss your flight?  With partnerships with over 900 airlines, WorldMate helps you find best air routes, plus reminds you of an upcoming flight.

The truth is that the WorldMate app can be an indispensable all-in-one app for world travelers.  It includes all the basic functions (including car rentals and reservations, currency converter, weather updates, flight tracking, getting directions, etc.) that any world traveler would perform when going around the global village.

Travel the world with a reliable mate: download WorldMate free from the Google Play Store.

TransZilla Translator

One of the most common problems when traveling is the language barrier. That isn’t a problem if you’re visiting a country where people can speak English–but if not, you are doomed. Your supposedly smooth and enjoyable vacation will turn into a translation trip. In this case, you should get a translator but you can’t always bring him or her anywhere. Instead, try TransZilla Translator .

It can easily translate over 50 languages for you. You have the option to use the translator for words or the translator for sentences, depending on your situation. All you have to do is type in the text that you want to translate and you are good to go. For instance, if you want to ask a Japanese-speaking individual about something, you can type in your question and let him or her read the translation.

It also has a text to speech feature, however, it’s only limited to a few languages such as English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. But still, it will be very handy if you end up touring a place with a language that you cannot speak.

XE Currency

Going on a tour means that you have to spend some money for enjoyment and an unforgettable experience, but before going on one, always check the exchange rates so that you will not end up with an unforgettable super spending trip. You can use XE Currency to monitor the exchange rates so that you will have an idea how much money you really are spending.

The app features live rates which are are updated in real-time, keeping you abreast of any fluctuations in the foreign exchange rates. It includes all the currencies in the world and even includes the prices of precious metals, which would be helpful if you dig up some gold on your trip. The app also lets you calculate prices using the currency converter, which is very useful if you are about to pay your bill. If you are a frequent traveler, this app should be on your phone.

Waze Social GPS & Live Traffic

Some countries have very congested roads and if you are going to rent a car, you need to have an app that will guide you out of the heavy traffic. Waze Social GPS & Live Traffic gives you real-time traffic information and road reports, notifying you if you are driving towards heavy traffic and road hazards such as road constructions and recent accidents. When such situations happen, the app gives you directions for an alternative route that you should take for faster travel.

You don’t only get to save on gas and time–you can also interact with other people through local driving groups, giving you some company when driving on an unfamiliar road. It’s also integrated with Foursquare so that you can easily check in to road stop overs, in case you need to go to the bathroom or fill an empty stomach. You can also share where you are via Facebook and Twitter to let your friends know about your trip.

Having a map while traveling is extremely important. You need to make sure that you know where you are and how you will get to your destination. You don’t want to end up in an enchanted forest or a criminal-infested area. A map could save your life or your tour, but bringing an actual map is quite bulky, not to mention figuring out how to use it is tedious. Instead, you can try using Maps by Google.

This app is simple but it’s not one of those average map apps. It is very detailed and what’s cool is that the buildings are in 3D, allowing you to easily identify buildings and places with descriptions provided. Navigation is made even simpler with this app, having voice-guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation, which is very useful when driving around in unfamiliar cities. Live traffic information is also provided by the app, letting you avoid congested areas when traveling.

You can also use it to find hotels, restaurants, and other businesses which includes reviews to help you easily decide which place you’d like to feed yourself at. Once you go in certain buildings, Maps can also provide you an indoor map.

Roaming unfamiliar streets and places could be dangerous, especially if you are alone. If you like to go for a night out or just check out the best coffee shops, you don’t have to go out and check them out one by one because Yelp can do that task for you.

While on your tour, you might feel the urge to go to a bar to grab a drink or just find some other things to do. With Yelp, you will easily find what you are looking for. The great thing about this app is that it includes a picture, a star rating, price range and user reviews for a place or a business, allowing you to easily decide if you want to see it for yourself or not. If you decide to go to a place, you can just check out the details to see the address. It also provides a phone number if you just want to inquire.

If you are on a tour, there’s a slim chance that your favorite artist or performer will be visiting places or events that are in your vicinity. Poynt easily points the way for you. Whether you want to have a gastronomic trip, watch a movie, join events, go shopping, or find friends, this app is one of the best apps that can help you.

By accessing your location, the app can quickly show you the nearby businesses that you might want to go to. You can add everything that you want to check out on your calendar so that you can always find time for it during your tour.

You can also use the app to buy movie tickets, make a restaurant reservation, get directions, and even help you find the best gas prices available.

There’s no such things as being over-prepared and if you’re traveling to a foreign country, you’ll need all the help you can get. Download and install these apps to your Android device and have fun on your trip. If your favorite tourist application was not mentioned on our list, let us know what it is by leaving a comment below.

You might like

6 of the Best Apps to Travel Like (Or With) a Local

These days, it's all about "authentic" travel. Hotels, tour companies, even Airbnb are now concerned about the travel experience you're having — not just what you do or where you stay. But what does that really mean? And how can you travel authentically? Here at TPG we suggest using some apps that will help you to travel like, or even with a local. After all, there's no better way to explore a destination than with those who live there! Download our favorites and try them out on your next trip.

One of the best ways to experience a culture is through food. Instead of dining at restaurants that may have overpriced menus geared for tourists, EatWith offers curated food experiences in 130 countries that will give you a better understanding of the cuisine in a particular destination. You can sign up for dinner parties, food tours, cooking classes and more using the app. EatWith allows you to search by destination, with filters for price, cuisine, languages, food preferences/allergies and event type. Savor a pizza tasting in Valentina's home in Milan, have a barbecue on Ramiro's patio in Argentina or take a cooking class at Pen's farm in Thailand — you'll even pick fresh vegetables from the garden to cook with. Get the app for free on Google Play or Apple .

Located in 50 cities around the world, Withlocals offers unique tours and guides to help you get to know your destination. You start by choosing a theme for your tour and then you select your guide. Guides post videos on their profiles so you can really get to 'know' the guides beforehand and pick the perfect one for you. It's possible to chat with your local guide before your tour to add any personalized options, like a wine tasting or shopping stop to your tour too. The app is especially apt for families, with several tours created with the local destination and children in mind like treasure hunts. Get the app for free on Google Play or Apple .

Some may argue that it's not food, but nightlife, that really shows you the soul of a city. This may be right, at least in spots like Las Vegas, Berlin or Ibiza! PartyWith allows you to party with locals in over 150 countries around the world — places like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon, London, Los Angeles, New York City, São Paulo, San Francisco, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and more. With search features like city, people or event, you have a variety of ways to discover the best party for you. Searching by events will help you search for exactly what you like to do, with choices such as concerts, festivals, happy hours and special parties thrown by nightclubs, bars or lounges. You have your own "party profile" and can search for other people with similar profiles, or simply search in the city where your visiting (or live) to pull in all the options. Get the app for $0.99 on Google Play or Apple .

Jetzy is a little bit different from some of the other apps on this list. The location-based app allows you to connect with locals and travelers in real time. You can share photos, give or ask for recommendations or even make plans to meet up with someone. Jetzy allows you to search by topic — things like fitness, food or weekend plans, ensuring you'll be able to ask a local where the best yoga class, brunch spot or park is — and even see photos and meet them there. Sharing your own experiences and recommendations in your home city or while traveling and interacting with others will earn you points. These points can later be redeemed for rewards like spa or restaurant credits, hotel stays or full trips. Get the app for free on Google Play or Apple .

Meetup is all about interacting with locals and other travelers with mutual interests or hobbies. Whether you're traveling or in your home city, 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, like yoga, photography, cooking, wine tasting, hiking, language exchange, cinema and much more. You can join groups to get updates on particular events that you may want to participate in. The app can even help for networking, as there are many groups dedicated to business and technology, or you can find co-working groups. Those traveling with kids can participate in family-friendly meetups, and it's a great way for solo travelers to make friends and connect with others. Get it for free on Google Play or Apple .

If you're not typically into guided, group tours or don't feel like paying a hefty fee for a fancy private tour, Showaround can help you find locals willing to give you a more authentic tour of their home city for a cheaper price. Some will even offer tours for free because they want to practice their English or simply because they love meeting people from around the world. The app aims to provide more local experiences tailored to your interests, like checking out a new art gallery instead of the Louvre in Paris or drinking wine and eating tapas at local spots in Madrid. Search by your destination using filters like a male, female or couple guide, activities you'd like to do and languages you speak. It's also possible to set a price range when searching; you can read reviews for guides as well as leave your own. Get it for free on Google Play or Apple .

Featured photo by Steven Lewis on Unsplash

The Top 15 Apps for China Travelers

Apps are revolutionizing the way we travel, and nowhere is this more true than China. Downloading these apps before you get to China can make everything a whole lot easier, as it alleviates problems with the language and can help you get your bearings quicker.

That's why we've listed the top 15 most useful China apps for travelers, whether it be language, directions, traveling, taxis, keeping access to your social media, or restaurants.

1. A VPN App — for Internet Access

You won't get very far in China without a VPN these days, as apps such as WhatsApp, anything Google (Google mail accounts, Google docs), Instagram, Facebook and Twitter all require a VPN for use.

We've listed the best free and paid VPNs so that you can start your trip prepared!

Language Apps

2. pleco (free or upgraded version).

In terms of getting to terms with the Chinese language, Pleco is one of the best language-learning apps, and will also save your time if you can't read things such as menus, signs, or can't translate a tourist attraction name into Chinese.

You can either input using pinyin (the alphabetic system of Mandarin), or you can draw out characters in order to translate them. The dictionary from English into Chinese is also very good.

3. Learn Chinese Mandarin (Free or Upgraded Version)

A great beginners' language app with sets of key phrases for the most important parts of traveling. Greetings, general conversation, numbers, directions and places, transportation, eating out, and emergency are all included in the free version.

If you want to take your Chinese learning to the next level, consider paying $4.99 for the upgraded version which also includes vocab lists for time and date, accommodation, shopping, colors, regions and towns, countries, tourist attractions, family, dating, feeling sick, and more.

Navigation Apps

4. google maps (free).

Google Maps is the best comprehensive maps service throughout China, as it is fully available in English and makes it easy to navigate around even if you don't speak the language.

Now google, facebook, twitter, youtube, and instgram have been blocked by China firewall. You'd better get a VPN before departure. See the Best VPNs for Use in China (Free and Paid) .

5. China Travel Guide (Free)

A travel guide with listings for popular tourist attractions throughout the country, including addresses, pictures, locations on the map, and other peoples comments on each of the popular tourist sites.

Great for pre-planning or while you're on the road as this app can be used offline too, which is perfect if you're traveling without much access to Internet.

Transport Apps

6. our train-booking app.

We've designed an app to connect mobile users with our acclaimed English-language China train service, making it easier for foreign travelers in China to book train tickets.

Read more about it here , including information on how to download it.

7. China Metro (Free)

China Metro has a huge collection of subway maps from cities through China, whether you're traveling to Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou , or even smaller cities like Harbin , Wuhan, Hangzhou and Changsha .

Even more conveniently, it also has information for Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei if you're traveling off the mainland.

8. DiDi ChuXing (Free) — for Taxis

Since Uber was taken off the market, a local equivalent called DiDi ChuXing has taken over the car-sharing market. Similarly with Uber, drivers will be eager to please and get you to your location for a good rating.

The vast amount of Wi-Fi around the country in hotels and restaurants means that even without 3G or a Chinese SIM you'll be able to request a car, and the driver will be able to find you based on the pin you have dropped at your location. The chat function in-app also means you can chat with your driver through a translation service in real time.

Payment gets taken off your international card as per usual, it's very simple and the same price as normal taxis.

9. Taxi! China ($1.99)

Taxi! China is the best way to ensure that you have important information to pass onto taxi drivers throughout the country about your hotel, the locations you want to go to, and can flawlessly communicate with them. 

It has lists of important phrases and phone numbers so that you'll never be caught off-guard or lost.

10. MoBike (Free)

The bike-sharing economy is taking the world by storm, and the revolution started in China! MoBike is one of the many apps that you can easily download and catch a shared bike ride on. Bikes are found throughout most Chinese cities, on pretty much every street corner.

First few rides are free, and from there on you'll pay CNY1 per ride. You do have to put down a CNY200 deposit but you can get this back.

11. WeChat (Free) — THE Social App

WeChat is the most popular messaging service in China, and is great if you're meeting people in China and want to stay in touch. Even in cases where you, for example, meet a lovely taxi driver and want to keep his contact in case you need him to drive you around the next day, WeChat is the best way to do this.

You can send text and voice messages, and call people for free if you're both connected to either Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G. It can also be used to pay for things by QR code.

Travel Help Apps

12. day tour booking app.

If you only have 1-2 days to visit a city, our Day Tour Booking app is the best way to plan your day trip.

The app selects the most popular attractions to visit in the main tourist cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi'an, and Guilin. Every stop of your tour can be checked easily on the app before you make your payment.

After you have booked, you will be picked up from your hotel lobby by a local tour guide, and an experienced driver in a comfortable car to start your tour.

Now the Day Tour Booking is available on App Store. Get your free trial by clicking here.

13. Flight Radar (Free or Upgraded Version)

If you're considering doing a lot of traveling by air in China, Flight Radar may actually have more information than the airport when it comes to delays and actual flight times.

Prepare by getting this app, and you won't regret it in case something unexpected happens while you're at the airport. Also great for those with a special interest in airplanes!

14. Airbnb (Free) — for Accommodation

Airbnb is not only changing the way people travel in the West, but also in China. On Airbnb you will find a wide array of accommodation throughout the entire country, including some very unique spots near the Great Wall of China , for example.

Most Airbnb hosts signed up in China do speak English, and you'll also find that many of them are actually foreigners living in China with a unique view of the country to share.

15. AirVisual (Free) — for Air Quality

If you're worried about traveling in China as a result of increased coverage of its air pollution issues, it can be worth downloading AirVisual ahead of your trip. The app shows real-time air pollution levels as measured at different points in the country, with an estimation for the next few days. This can be useful if you're traveling with someone who has a weaker respiratory system.

The app's coverage isn't limited to China though, you might be surprised that your hometown is more polluted than you thought.

Our China Tours

Our tours will guide you as much or as little as you need, so you won't even need to use any of these apps if we guide you through China, as we'll take care of it all.

To get in touch with us about organizing a tour, all you have to do is contact us through this form and tell us more about how many people are traveling, and where you'd like to go.

Further Reading

• Internet access in China is not the same as back home, so make sure you know what you're doing before coming out here. For example, if your only email address is a gmail address, consider creating a hotmail or yahoo to stay in touch with friends.
• For HK, we have  Hong Kong Apps: The Top 10 for Travelers/Expats .
• And if you're going to Shanghai, we've also compiled a list of apps for tourists visiting Shanghai.
• 11-Day China Family Tour
• 9-Day Beyond the Golden Triangle
• 14-Day China Natural Wonders Discovery
• 15 Best Places to Visit in China (2024)
• Best (& Worst) Times to Visit China, Travel Tips (2024/2025)
• How to Plan a 10-Day Itinerary in China (Best 5 Options)
• 8 Days in China: Top 15 Tours and Itineraries (2024/2025)
• China Weather in January 2024: Enjoy Less-Crowded Traveling
• China Weather in February 2024: Places to Go, Costs, and Crowds
• China Weather in March 2024: Destinations, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in April 2024: Where to Go (Smart Pre-Season Pick)
• China Weather in May 2024: Where to Go, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in June 2024: How to Benefit from the Rainy Season
• China Weather in July 2024: How to Avoid Heat and Crowds
• China Weather in August 2024: Weather Tips & Where to Go
• China Weather in September 2024: Weather Tips & Where to Go
• China Weather in October 2024: Where to Go, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in November 2024: Places to Go & Crowds
• China Weather in December 2024: Places to Go and Crowds

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

More travel ideas and inspiration, sign up to our newsletter.

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Why China Highlights

Where can we take you today.

• Southeast Asia
• Japan, South Korea
• India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri lanka
• Central Asia
• Middle East
• African Safari
• Travel Agents
• Loyalty & Referral Program
• Privacy Policy

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

All in One Travel App.

Explore, plan, add, and collaborate with Tourist to have the greatest experience.

Collaborate Trip with Your Friends

Use AI Optimizer to Match Close Places

Access Your Trip Details without Internet

Save Your Moments in One Place

Don't Forget Anything When Preparing

Don't Worry about Joint Expenses

Navigation Menu

Search code, repositories, users, issues, pull requests..., provide feedback.

We read every piece of feedback, and take your input very seriously.

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly.

To see all available qualifiers, see our documentation .

• Notifications You must be signed in to change notification settings

App to provide information about transportation means, places to visit, hotels, etc. of a place to tourists

gdscnitp/tourist-helper-app

Folders and files, repository files navigation, tourist-helper-app, problems addressed:.

• Problems a person faces whenever he/she visits a new city for traveling.
• Problems like public transport, food, language, hotels, etc.

Whenever we go to a new location for pending our holidays or even for some work, we always want to get the best services like hotels, public transport, food, etc, at the lowest price.

In this mobile, we have aimed for providing all the information about the place where a person is or wants to go in the future. It will track your location with the help of google map API and then it will give you the required set of operations.

• As mobile apps are acquiring most of the market nowadays, it provides the easiest method for users to get the best services according to their needs.
• A big database of local information in different cities.

Scalability:

There is no such mobile app in the market which tells us almost all the local information for tourists. So this app can put a great impact in the market if pitched correctly.

Also, it would make the journey of a tourist very easy as it will give many services which can reduce their journey costs.

Tech Stacks Required:

• Java for native android app
• NodeJs and MongoDB for making APIs
• Firebase or SQL for the database.
• GoogleMap APIs

Limitations:

• If we want more accurate data about different cities, we need more data, and that could be an issue
• If we want to scale up, we need to pay for Google Maps and databases also.

Roadmap Overview:

• First interval: BrainStorming on all the main features and how it can be implemented int he app
• Second interval: Finalising the designs of the app ( only for the screens we decide in the first interval)
• Third interval: Collecting data through google forms
• Fourth interval: Making APIs and creating databases

Design of the App

Tourist Helper App

Contributors 10

• Java 100.0%

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website uses JavaScript. Please turn on "JavaScript" and use it.

With regards to visa inquiries, you can contact “Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) MOFA Visa Information” or “the Japan Visa Information Hotline” listed on the website of the Embassy or Consulate General of Japan. Due to the complex nature of visa requirements, we are UNABLE to respond to visa-related inquiries made through this website at the moment. We advise you to contact the Consular Section of the Embassy or Consulate General of Japan nearest you for more information and advice.

If you are a foreign national, please click the links below for specific information related to respective subjects.

1. Visa Application Procedures

2. about visa.

• 3. Visa Application Documents

4. Frequently Asked Questions

5. announcements.

• 6. Inquiries Concerning Visas
• Be aware of fraudulent website, social media, emails in an attempt to extract payments from visa applicants (July 5, 2017)

Short-Term Stay

(A stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities)

Click on the nationality of the visa applicant traveling to Japan.

Visa exemption arrangements have been resumed from 0:00 am (JST) on October 11, 2022.

It is highly recommended to purchase international travel medical insurance for your trip to Japan. Overseas travel medical insurance helps you in case of emergency.

Work or Long-Term Stay

(A stay during which the applicant performs remunerative work in Japan or a stay of over 90 days in Japan, etc.)

• Procedures chart for long-term stays
• The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan
• Japan’s Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening

Visa for Medical Stay

Visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders.

• Points to Note and Application Procedures
• Visa Processing Time
• Validity of a Visa
• Criteria of Visa Issuance
• Visas and Landing Permission

3. Visa Application Documents (download)

• (Note1) Refer to [1. Visa Application Procedures] for details of documents required.
• (Note3) Company/personal seal on Letter of Guarantee and Letter of Invitation is no longer required.
• Visa application form
• Tell me why you rejected my visa application.
• I want to go to Japan. Do I need a visa?
• I want to invite a foreign national to Japan. What procedures are necessary?
• What should I do to get a Certificate of Eligibility?
• The Certificate of Eligibility will not arrive by the time I apply for a visa. Can I still apply for a visa with its copy?
• As a “guarantor”, to what extent do I need to be responsible?

Newly introduced visas

• Special highly skilled professional (J-Skip)
• Designated activities (Future creation individual, Spouse or Child of future creation individual) (J-Find)
• Designated activities (Digital Nomad, Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad)

Review on restrictions on new entry of foreign nationals into Japan

• Application for Visa for foreign nationals eligible for Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel
• Border measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Statistics for the Number of Visas

• Number of Visas Issued in 2021(May 31,2022)

Relaxation of Visa Requirements

• Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Possession of Ordinary Passports(September 30, 2023)
• Signing of the Japan-Israel Working Holiday Agreement (April 28, 2023)
• Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the State of Qatar based on Ordinary Passport Registration System (April 2, 2023)
• Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the United Arab Emirates in Possession of Ordinary Passports (November 1, 2022)
• Japan’s Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (April 3, 2020)
• Japan's Visa Policy in Accordance with Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons (February 2009)

6. Inquiries about Visas Application

Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) MOFA Visa Information

Yotsuya Tower 13F, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0004 Navi-Dial: 0570-011000 (For some IP phones and calls from overseas, please call +81-3-5369-6577) Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00

Related Links

• Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visas and other travel documents for entering the U.S.

The visitor visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

Along with your visa, you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship. When you arrive at your port of entry into the U.S., officials will issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94.

How to renew a visitor visa

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

Understand expiration dates for visas and I-94 forms

• The date you must depart the U.S. will be shown on your Form I-94. This date is determined by the Customs and Border Protection officer when you arrive at the port-of-entry into the U.S. 
• Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas while they are in the U.S.

LAST UPDATED: May 31, 2024

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Top Tourism App Ideas That Startups Can Steal To Shape Their Business

Using a travel app inseparable from modern travel and holiday is experience. While you travel, a great travel app comes as more than a problem solver, it almost becomes a constant companion.

Do you want to dive into the tourism industry with a unique or instantly engaging travel app idea? Well, this is the time to brainstorm some tourism app ideas. When you consider things to include in a travel app, new app ideas will help you.

Top 9 Tourism App Ideas in 2023

Here we are going to showcase some of the best travel app development company to develop your startup.

1) Travel App for Cost Saving Itinerary

Is it not common to many of us that we end up cancelling a trip just because the travel expenses are really not affordable? Well, to address this travel app developers can build a travel app that helps people to stick to the most cost-saving itinerary.

The app can help you save extra days by suggesting time-saving journeys, alternate routes, and various deals and discounts. You can plan every bit of the travel cost for the entire trip.

2) A Socialising App for Travellers

People still interact, ask questions and post helpful information on travel forums and discuss their trips. People also make travel posts on regular social media platforms. By taking this idea further one can build a social media app exclusively for travelers and help them stay connected with each other, talk about and share travel experiences, ask questions, provide information, share images, reviews, and itinerary.

Since there are already similar kinds of travel apps, you need to focus on a travel niche in particular. To make the app even more interesting, you should integrate travel itinerary, GPS-based maps, reviews, rating and itinerary-oriented features.

3) Travel Payment App

As mobile payment apps continue to get popular, a dedicated payment app with all specific features required by travelers on the go can be very helpful. From digital travel card integration as well ride booking features to currency converter, a travel payment app can be loaded with a range of helpful features that travelers need. Are you thinking how to build a travel app that instantly gets traction? Well, consider this tourism app idea.

Many hotels and restaurant chains offer travel cards and the app can integrate them to help use these cards for payments on the go. The dedicated payment app for travelers will also help global travelers in respect of country-specific rules and currencies.

Read More: Best Trending Startup Mobile App Ideas

4) Tour Guide App

A tour guide app can provide detailed information about a city and its multiple locations as well as sights. The same app can also provide details about the local cuisines and the particular experiences you should try.

The app apart from telling you about the must-visit places, history of locations, tickets and other information can also show a list of exquisite restaurants and their delicacies. The app can also showcase traveler reviews.

If you want to start considering travel app development costs, this simple idea can help you build an app with minimum cost burden. There are many mobile app development company india that can offer you a really lucrative budget while maintaining top notch quality.

5) Translation and Language Help App

This is already a well-known travel app idea that you need to develop further. You can incorporate a lot of new language options, features like voice-over and voice translation.

Such an app should also be able to scan an image and convert any text within the image into the native language. Finally, it will be more helpful if you offer offline access to translation features for travelers on the go.

6) Weather Forecast App for Travelers

Consider building an app that provides real-time forecasts on weather of travel destinations. This can be of immense help to travelers making trips in faraway places and places with the different weather condition.

The app should provide detailed information about the specific weather condition, temperature, perspiration, and rainfall. The app should also suggest the kind of wearables you should carry for such places.

7) App for Accessing Local Public Transport

When you travel in a new place you get cheated often by cab drivers and you end up hiring cabs when local transport is available nearby. To help with this lack of knowledge about a new city and its local public transportation, you can come with a traveler-friendly app.

The same app should also help the user with information on car-sharing, bike rental, inter-city or inter-state bus services, train routes and various passes. The app should also inform the user about the specific places and stops they should visit and the ones they already visited.

8) Deal Finder App for Travelers

A travel experience is hardly complete without shopping. This is why travelers always look for offers, deals, and discounts. You can address this need of travelers through a dedicated deal finder app.

When travelers download the app on their devices, they start getting messages and notifications on lucrative deals, new arrivals, discounts, local shopping trends, and special offers.

9) Restroom and Gas Station Finding App

Getting informed about the right facilities on the road such as gas stations, restrooms and garages are really important for travelers. This is why you can build an app to offer this helps to travelers. The same app should also inform the travelers on trains and flights on the next flights or train stations and options to take different routes.

Such an app should also inform about places on the go where you can fill your bellies with traditional delicacies and places of interest where you can stop for a while in case you have time. Such apps are especially helpful when you are travelling with your family and kids.

You may like this: How to Build an App Like Airbnb ?

At a time when everything in our lives became digital, travelers are likely to go for travel apps for their on-the-road needs. All these travel or tourism app ideas clearly explain how today’s travelers try to find almost every kind of help during travel right on their mobile devices. These ideas just offer a brief outline and you can always extend these tourism app ideas with unique features. You can hire mobile app developers in India for your next travel app project and get the best of expertise and competitive rate.

Take a look at

Frequently Asked Questions

• How Mobile App Benefits Travel and Tourism Industry? The use of mobile apps has transformed the travel and tourism industry in recent years, making it more convenient and accessible for travellers. Several ways in which mobile apps benefit the travel and tourism industry include Convenience, Real-time updates, Personalization, Reviews and recommendations, Contactless payments and Sustainability.

Travel apps make money through various means such as commission on bookings, advertising, premium features, and partnerships with travel companies.

Rate This Post

Written by Atman Rathod

Atman Rathod is the Founding Director at CMARIX InfoTech, a leading web and mobile app development company with 17+ years of experience. Having travelled to 38+ countries globally and provided more than $40m USD of software services, he is actively working with Startups, SMEs and Corporations utilizing technology to provide business transformation.

Hire Dedicated Developers

Ready to take your business to new heights? Our team of dedicated developers is here to make your dreams a reality!

Related Blogs

What is OCPP Protocol Integrating for EV Charging for Mobile App

Using a travel app inseparable from modern travel and holiday is experience. […]

How to Create an App That Indicates Detect the Surface and Putting a Virtual Object in Android Apps

Have an interesting project let's talk about that.

Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Tourism & Visit

Study & Exchange

Other Visa Categories

U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country

Visa Information & Resources

Share this page:

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Japanese

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Turkish

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Hebrew

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Albanian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Tagalog

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Russian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Polish

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Ukranian

Visa Wizard

Visa Denials

Fraud Warning

What the Visa Expiration Date Means

Automatic Revalidation

Lost and Stolen Passports, Visas, and Arrival/Departure Records (Form I-94)

Directory of Visa Categories

Straight Facts on U.S. Visas

Customer Service Statement

Photo Requirements

Photo Examples

Digital Image Requirements

Photo Frequently Asked Questions

Photo Composition Template

Online Immigrant Visa Forms

DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions

Administrative Processing Information

Visa Appointment Wait Times

Nonimmigrants in the United States–Applying for Visas in Canada or Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

Visa Applicants - State Sponsors of Terrorism Countries

What is a U.S. Visa?

About Visas - The Basics

Rights and Protections for Foreign-Citizen Fiancé(e)s and Spouses of U.S. Citizens and Spouses of Lawful Permanent Residents

Your Rights and Protections

Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers

Advisory Opinions

Fees for Visa Services

Treaty Countries

Fees and Reciprocity Tables

Temporary Reciprocity Schedule

Country Acronyms

Reciprocity: What's New? 2019 Archive

Reciprocity: What's New? 2022 Archive

Reciprocity: What's New? 2020 Archive

Reciprocity: What's New? 2021 Archive

Reciprocity: What's New?

Reciprocity: What's New? 2023 Archive

Safety & Security of U.S. Borders: Biometrics

National Visa Center Customer Service Pledge

Americans Traveling Abroad

The United States and China Agree to Extending Visas for Short-term Business Travelers, Tourists, and Students

Special Visa Processing Procedures Pursuant to Section 306

Capitalizing on Visa Demand to Spur Economic Growth in the United States

Congressional Testimony

Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CRFP) Program Appointments

List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates - K1-K3 Visas

U.S. Government Fact Sheet on Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C)

Skill List by Country

Presidential Proclamation 9645 and the January 2020 Presidential Proclamation

Public Inquiry Form

List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates

Affidavit of Support Fee Refund

Immigrant Visa Prioritization

USCIS Extends Suspension of Premium Processing Service for Religious Workers (R-1) Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

Record Numbers of U.S. Students Are Studying Abroad

U.S. Student Visas Reach Record Numbers in 2007

U.S. security officials will begin scanning all 10 fingerprints of most non-Americans traveling to the United States

Electronic Submission of Diversity Visa Lottery Applications

USCIS Centralizes Filing for H-2A Petitions

USCIS Field Office Adopts Teletech Call Appointment System For Filing Waiver of Inadmissibility Applications

Application Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase on January 1, 2008

Senior Advisors to Brief Press on the Latest Developments in Iraqi Refugee and Special Immigrant Visa Issues

Briefing on Developments in the Iraqi Refugee and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Admissions Programs

DHS Proposes Changes to Improve H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program

Testimony of Stephen A. “Tony” Edson on U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, House Committee on Science and Technology

Update: Biometric Changes for Re-entry Permits and Refugee Travel Documents

With All the Talk about Illegal Immigration, a Look at the Legal Kind

Latvia, Estonia Sign Deals with US on Visa-Free Travel

Fact Sheet: Changes to the FY2009 H-1B Program

USCIS Announces Interim Rule on H-1B Visas

USCIS Releases Preliminary Number of FY 2009 H-1B Cap Filings

USCIS Extends Comment Period for Proposed Change to H-2A Program

USCIS Runs Random Selection Process for H-1B Petitions

17-Month Extension of Optional Practical Training for Certain Highly Skilled Foreign Students

DHS Begins Collecting 10 Fingerprints from International Visitors at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption Enters into Force

USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions Sent to California or Vermont Service Centers Temporary Accommodation Made for FY 09 Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions

USCIS Revises Filing Instructions for Petition for Alien Relative

USCIS Announces Update for Processing Petitions for Nonimmigrant Victims of Criminal Activity

USCIS to Allow F-1 Students Opportunity to Request Change of Status

Immigration Tops Agenda at North American Summit

USCIS Issues Guidance for Approved Violence against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitioners

USCIS Modifies Application for Employment Authorization Previous Versions of Form I-765 Accepted until July 8, 2008

Overseas Education More Attainable for Chinese Students

New York Business Group Seeks Fewer Restrictions on Foreign Worker Visas

Use only Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Firefox, or Google Chrome 58 when completing your application.  Safari and Microsoft Edge are not supported.

The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé(e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

Visa applicants must submit a completed DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application for all nonimmigrant visa categories, including applicants applying for K visas. ( Note:   For K visa cases in process at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate prior to October 7, 2013, review the limited exceptions explained in the FAQs below.) 

Review the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions about using the DS-160.

Access the online DS-160 by clicking: Consular Electronic Application Center website .

Important Notice to Visa Applicants: After you have completed the DS-160, you must take these next steps below:

• Print and keep the DS-160 barcode page. (You will not need to print the full application.)
• You must schedule a visa interview appointment.  (The U.S. Embassy or Consulate does not schedule an appointment for you.) Visit the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions.;
• Pay the visa application processing fee . Review country-specific instructions on the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  website.

More Information

A-Z Index Latest News What is a U.S. Visa? Diversity Visa Program Visa Waiver Program Fraud Warning Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Straight Facts on U.S. Visas

Immigrant Visa Interview-Ready Backlog Report

Global Visa Wait Times

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - English

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - French

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Spanish

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Portuguese

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Mandarin

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Arabic

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Italian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - German

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Vietnamese

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Romanian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Korean

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Armenian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Bulgarian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Czech

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Hungarian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Indonesian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Lithuanian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Serbian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Thai

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Mongolian

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers - Kurdish

External Link

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

• Fees, decision times and where to apply

Find out how much it costs to apply, where to send your application or passport, and how long a decision will take.

The application process

• Visa process overview
• Applying for your visa online
• Immigration advice for your visa application
• Applying on behalf of someone else
• Application forms, guides and checklists
• Checking your visa application status
• How to get a temporary visa decision reviewed
• About eVisas
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application guide

Visa applications and processing times

Processing times for visas we are considering varies for each visa.

How long it takes to process a visa

Fees and receiving centre

Search for the information you need to:

• apply for visas and expressions of interest
• register for a ballot
• apply for employer schemes, accreditation and approvals
• keep your visa and passport up to date.