5x the best travel apps you want on your phone now
There you are, outside the airport in that strange country. After that long and uncomfortable nightmare of a flight, you are tired. It's busy. Your T-shirt is starting to stick to your body because of all that sweat pooling and dripping slowly, and you don't speak the language. So the last thing you want to do is try to figure out which bus, train, or taxi you should take. And just think about it, you can't find that printed travel planner of yours anymore. My goodness – what was the name of the hotel again? Oh darling, don’t worry, we all know that situation. But luckily, there are all these travel apps that can be your savior in need during your lovely trip. Why make it difficult when it can be easy, right? Here are the best ones lined up for you.
1. Hopper
We’ve known Skyscanner and Cheap Flights for quite some time now, but they are nothing compared to Hopper. This app not only shows the cheapest flights, but it also indicates when the best time is to buy the tickets. So if you’ve found that perfect flight, Hopper will first tell you whether you should book it now or wait a few weeks for the cheaper version. And the best part? It sends you an alert if the ticket suddenly becomes cheaper. You save loads of money this way, for a few extra glasses of dry white wine or sexy summer bikinis, for example.
2. PackPoint
The I’m-going-on-a-trip stress often starts before take-off with the what-should-I-pack fuss. PackPoint helps you with this. Enter your vacation destination, the date, how long you’re staying, and what activities you’re going to do. The app then comes up with a complete packing list for you. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. How chill is that? I love it. And I want it.
3. TripIt
Are you also always fiddling with Excel to create that perfect travel itinerary? It never looks quite right and neat, does it? With TripIt, that’s not the case. It saves all your travel information; from your flights to your hotels and your planned activities, it’s all retrievable. It’s also easy to share. With your friends, family, or with that sweet boy you’re leaving behind. You don’t always have to find Wi-Fi again to let them know where you are, because from now on they can just follow it themselves. Winningggg.
4. XE Currency
Do you remember that your math teacher in elementary school always said you wouldn’t walk around with a calculator in your pocket? Ha! He was a bit off there. You can even find an app that calculates all the exchange rates. This app is literally my lifesaver. Every time you spend something, you can find out exactly how much that is in euros. This way, you keep track of how much you’ve really spent. By the way, it also works offline. Savior.in.need.
5. Citymapper
Getting lost in a strange city is something you don’t want. Citymapper is the app to help you with that. It’s your own 9292 with all public transport services abroad. And the best part about this app? You can also use it offline to reach bus, tram, or train times. It even gives you an alert when you’re at the right stop. Made for those with no sense of direction (like me).
Written by: Danique van Leeuwenstijn
Source image: Oliver Schwendener
