In the world of travel, there are some apps that can make your life so much easier. We love a good local food app, an app that allows offline use, or just something to help with the day to day! Here’s our travel app recommedations!
When we created this list of travel app recommendations, we wanted to include apps that we regularly use which people aren’t necessarily aware of. That means Googlemaps doesn’t make the cut, nor does WhatsApp, or neither do the common accommodation apps like HostelWorld or Booking.com (although one thing you may not be aware of is both of these apps have mobile discounts for extra savings, so make sure you check them out!).
We’re always on the hunt for our favourite apps, so we’ll update this list when we find new ones! Here is our list:
1. Maps.me
Offline maps. Best alternative to Googlemaps, often with recommendations and locations from other travellers (just don’t forget to download the region when you have wifi).
2. Travel Spend
How we track our expenses during our travels. We highly recommended it as you can log expenses by category, cash or card, or view your overall spending per day, per category, or per country.
3. Rome2rio
Our first check for transport planning to see if a route we want to travel is actually achievable. Gives options for all types of transport and quickest and cheapest options.
4. Colourtone
Our go to photo editing app with free (and paid) filters which we think look great. Quick editing when we don’t have time to jump on Lightroom.
5. Libby
Libby is an app that allows you to borrow audiobooks and actual books for free on your phone/ipad/computer (unfortunately unless you’re in the US it won’t work on Kindle). You just have to have a library card and you can use that to sign up and borrow books like an actual library while you’re travelling! Popular books may have a wait but you can put up to 10 on hold and they’ll notify you when they are available.
6. Been
Best app to log your travel. Keep track of how many countries you’ve been to and how much percentage of the particular continent or world you’ve “completed”.
7. Alltrails
A hiking and trail app that has everything you need – hikes near you, review system to find best hikes, weather on the trail, elevation map, difficulty level, and much more. Although you need to pay for the full version to use offline, you can easily use this in conjunction with Maps.me instead!
8. SmartGuide
Free audio walking tours in a lot of cities for when you can’t find a good one in person (or want to do it alone). There is also the option for paid tours.
And one more honourable mention…
Worldpackers
One of the best volunteering apps available. Work/volunteer in exchange for free accommodation, meals etc. Experiences vary from Turtle conservation, to helping in hostel, to permaculture. We did our first experience in February 2024 and have written a post about it here!
Highly recommended apps we haven’t used yet
These are some apps we may have downloaded to check out or received recommendations from others, but haven’t used enough of yet to make it into our top apps! Feel free to check these out yourself!
Green Kayak
Free kayak hire in exchange for picking up rubbish? Sounds like a fun activity!
Too Good To Go
Food at the end of the day that has been heavily discounted, sounds like a great budget dinner option.
Polarsteps
Instagram, but in a map format so your family and friends can follow along and see where you are, and the photos you’ve taken.
That’s all of our travel app recommendations. If you have any other recommendations for us to try out let us know! Hopefully you found an app or two that are new for you to try out!
