Planning a trip abroad? A smartphone can be your most valuable travel companion – if you have the right apps. Here, we have compiled the ultimate list of essential travel apps, tested and highly recommended by globetrotters, from organizing your itinerary to instantly translating menus.
1. TripIt: Your Digital Travel Organizer
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the need to keep track of multiple flight confirmations, hotel reservations, and rental car information all at once? TripIt is the perfect solution to this problem.
This app can automatically organize your travel plans into a detailed itinerary. Simply forward your confirmation emails to TripIt and it will create a master itinerary that brings together all your travel information in seconds. You can also manually add booking information if needed.
No matter how many cities you’re traveling between or how many countries you’re traveling through, TripIt will organize all the information in an easy-to-view chronological list, so you can easily see what’s next. TripIt is especially useful for complex itineraries, where keeping track of the details can be a headache.
2. Google Maps: Navigation Superhero
It might seem obvious, but Google Maps deserves its spot near the top of any travel app list. While Apple Maps works fine in the US, Google Maps consistently outperforms it internationally with more detailed and up-to-date information.
The offline functionality is what truly makes Google Maps essential for travelers. Before leaving home, download maps for your destinations, and you’ll have full access even without an internet connection. This feature alone can save you from getting hopelessly lost in Venice’s winding canals or Tokyo’s complex metro system.
Beyond navigation, Google Maps lets you create customized lists of places to visit. Before your trip, save hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other points of interest to custom lists. When you land, everything you’ve planned will be ready and accessible—even offline.
3. Google Translate: Break Down Language Barriers
Nothing enhances a trip like connecting with locals in their native language. While learning a few key phrases is always recommended, Google Translate handles everything else.
This versatile app offers several ways to translate:
- Type or speak what you want to say and get instant translations
- Use conversation mode to facilitate real-time discussions with locals
- Point your camera at menus, signs, or newspapers for visual translations
The camera translation feature is particularly valuable when trying to decipher restaurant menus or navigate street signs in unfamiliar scripts. Some travelers even use it to follow local news broadcasts, getting a better understanding of current events in their destination.
Download the required language to ensure smooth communication in places with unstable internet. Go to the app settings and download the entire language pack before your trip.
4. WhatsApp and Messenger: Universal Communication
Staying in touch during international travel requires the right messaging apps, and WhatsApp and Messenger are essential tools.
With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform in most countries worldwide. Meanwhile, Messenger remains the preferred communication method in certain regions. Having both installed ensures you’re prepared regardless of local preferences.
These apps offer several advantages for travelers:
- Free messaging and calls over WiFi or data
- No need for a local phone plan to communicate
- Group chats to stay in touch with fellow travelers
- Location sharing for safety and meetups
- Simple photo and video sharing to keep friends and family updated
Most importantly, these apps are often the preferred communication method for local businesses, tour guides, and accommodation hosts in many countries. Download both before your trip to ensure seamless communication wherever you go.
5. Viator and Airbnb: Authentic Local Activities
Some of the most memorable travel moments come from experiences led by passionate locals. Viator and Airbnb Experiences connect you with unique activities beyond typical tourist attractions.
Whether you want to learn how to make authentic Polish pierogis, visit a hidden art gallery in Mexico City, or go paragliding in the Austrian Alps, these apps offer you a myriad of options from local experts.
Just enter your destination and travel dates to discover available experiences. Both platforms offer detailed descriptions, reviews from previous participants, and flexible cancellation policies. They also allow you to secure your spot for popular activities with a “book now, pay later” option, perfect for plans that don’t require an immediate financial commitment.
6. Currency Converter Calculator
A reliable currency converter is essential when traveling to countries that use unfamiliar currencies.
For iOS users, simply open the conversion option in the calculator app (long press the calculator icon in the app and then toggle on “Conversion”.)
For Android users, the app “Currency Converter Calculator” stands out for its simplicity and functionality.
This no-frills app allows you to quickly convert between your home currency and local denominations with up-to-date exchange rates. Select your currencies, enter an amount, and get an instant conversion.
While the mental math might be manageable in countries using euros or pounds, it becomes significantly more challenging with currencies like the Cambodian riel (where $1 equals roughly 4,000 riels) or the Vietnamese dong. Having a dedicated converter saves you from overpaying or miscalculating tips and purchases.
The free version includes occasional ads, but they’re unobtrusive enough that most travelers find the premium upgrade unnecessary. For its simplicity and reliability, this app earns its spot in our essential travel toolkit.
7. GlobeTip: Navigate Tipping Customs with Ease
Tipping etiquette varies dramatically around the world. What’s considered generous in one country might be insulting in another.
GlobeTip eliminates this cultural confusion by providing country-specific tipping guides. The app covers restaurants, taxis, cafés, tour guides, and more, ensuring you neither undertip nor overpay.
Its built-in calculator makes splitting bills and calculating appropriate tips hassle-free, even when dealing with unfamiliar currencies. This straightforward app removes the awkwardness from end-of-meal moments and helps you navigate local customs with confidence.
8. SurfShark VPN: Security and Streaming Freedom
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is essential for any international traveler, and SurfShark stands out for its combination of security features and value.
When connected to public WiFi in airports, cafés, or hotels, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, protecting your sensitive information from potential hackers. But the benefits extend beyond security:
- Access geo-restricted content from your home country
- Bypass regional blocks on streaming services
- Connect to banking websites that might otherwise flag foreign login attempts as suspicious
Unlike many competitors, SurfShark allows unlimited device connections under a single subscription. You can install it on all your devices—phones, laptops, and tablets—under one affordable account.
At roughly $2 per month with a long-term plan, it’s an affordable way to ensure your digital safety abroad while maintaining access to your favorite streaming content from home.
9. Local Ride-Share Apps: Seamless Transportation
Researching the dominant ride-sharing service in your destination country before arrival can save significant time and frustration.
While Uber has global reach, it’s not universal. Depending on where you’re headed, you might need to download Bolt (popular in Eastern Europe), Grab (Southeast Asia), Gett (Israel), or Get (in some Middle Eastern countries).
These apps eliminate language barriers when explaining your destination, provide upfront pricing without haggling, offer real-time tracking for safety, and often allow cashless payment.
10. Airline Apps: Smoother Air Travel
Downloading your airline’s dedicated app before departure streamlines your entire flying experience.
These apps offer numerous advantages:
- Mobile check-in and digital boarding passes
- Real-time flight status updates and gate changes
- Baggage tracking from check-in to carousel
- Access to in-flight entertainment options (even on planes without screens)
- Simplified rebooking options during delays or cancellations
Many airlines offer exclusive app-only discounts on future flights or priority access to certain services. The notification function makes these apps worthwhile, as they will remind you of gate changes, delays, or boarding notifications, even if you are engrossed in a good book or enjoying the airport facilities.
Preparing for Takeoff
Before your next international adventure, take time to download these essential apps. For optimal preparation:
- Download and set up these apps before departure
- Create accounts and verify logins while still on your home network
- Download offline maps and language packs you’ll need
- Test features to ensure familiarity when you need them
- Add your travel information to relevant apps (TripIt, airline apps) in advance
With these apps in your pocket, you’ll navigate foreign cities with confidence, connect meaningfully with locals despite language differences, and create smoother, more memorable travel experiences.
Remember that many apps work best with a stable internet connection, so consider getting a local SIM card or eSIM for your stay. This ensures you always have access to these useful tools when you need them the most.
Stay connected during your trip
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Don’t forget to take your portable charger with you. These apps are only useful when your phone is switched on! Have a good trip!
