First time travellers, every-once-in-a-while travellers, avid travellers. Whichever category you fall into I guarantee that those of you with smartphones have all of these (or some) apps downloaded on your phones. When I’m travelling somewhere far or even just to the next town, I always find myself reaching for my phone to use these apps. They are incredibly useful! Here are the 5 must have travels apps:
1. Google Maps
Google Maps is by far the best travel app to download. Speaks for itself, google maps is a life saver. It’s best to download the offline maps of the places you’re going to as it does require you to have internet when searching for new places.
2. XE Currency
Because we all need to keep track of how much we’re spending!
3. Google Translate
Breaking the language barrier one translation at a time. Haha! Great when asking for directions, ordering food, etc. I find it best to learn or keep note of the following phrases in the local language whenever traveling somewhere: Hello. Thank you. Please. Goodbye.
4. Trip Advisor
The app I use for researching about a place! First hand reviews from people all over the globe, it has great tips and tricks and is organized well with categories like Restaurants, Things to do, Landmarks, Flights and Travel Guides (these I find extremely useful).
5. Waze
Because who has time for traffic! If you’re stretched for time and need everything to be on schedule then this app will definitely help you.
*Photo by Samuel Zeller
76 Comments
I totally agree with Google Maps. There are other maps that are very important to me. Because the cities I had visited all had metro/subway trains, a map is incredibly useful so I would know which one to take and where the stations are.
Yes train lines can be so confusing! ๐
I got Google Maps too! It’s quite useful especially when you’re trying to explore an unknown city. I have a converter too but not Xe, does the job as well.
Agree! Hehe. Ahh yes as long as it does the job ๐
This is a great list! I also use GMaps and Translate. I hate Waze, though. Oftentimes, it’s inaccurate haha
Thanks! Ahh yes I have heard also that Waze can be inaccurate ๐
I totally agree with you. These are 5 must have apps of travelers. The apps that we usually use abroad are the following:
1) Google Maps are very helpful whenever we travel especially in a non-speaking country since we don’t need to ask people anymore and it prevents miscommunication too from wrong translations.
2) Waze whenever we ride a cab so taxi drivers can’t prolong our trip or don’t get lost in bringing us to our destination.
3) TripAdvisor for checking out what we can do in a place and where to eat.
Overall, these are essential things for us that makes our travel smoother.
Great points! ๐
I also usually use trip splitter, expense tracker, google maps and well I also search for the local transportation apps.
Good app suggestions! I’ll check them out ๐
Google Maps is a must! It helped us when we travelled to General Santos last February. I also love using Waze when I’m lost. Haha
Haha. Waze has also helped me a lot when I’m lost! ๐
I am using all of these travel apps!!! Really quite useful especially when you’re in a foreign land. They can make or break you at times!!! ๐
So useful right! ๐ ๐
We recently went on a 10-day trip to Manila and then Dakak and the one app that helped us most in navigating the capital was Waze! So useful! And my kids got entertained with the voice prompts. Helped ease their boredom amidst Manila traffic! haha
Yesss the voices are quite entertaining! Anything to beat the boredom hehe ๐
Trip Advisor is a site that I have used rather frequently. I have referred to it often when traveling in search of restaurants, accommodations or local sites and attractions to visit. I have written several reviews on Trip Advisor, as well.
The reviews on there are so useful! ๐
This is definitely a good list. But much of these apps are heavily reliant on the internet. Hope they make offline versions. Not everyone has internet access all the time especially when you’re travelling. Thanks for sharing! ๐
I hope they do too! Esp with google maps, although you can download offline maps you can’t get the directions ๐
Google maps and Trip Advisor is always a must! I use gooogle maps when travelling to places even its just around manila, where there are some places and streets that i am not familiar with. And tripadvisor is a go to resource for destinations especially when im looking for hotels locally and abroad..
Agree! Even just around my neighborhood I still use Google Maps! Hahaha.
Everything is really helpful especially Waze! Though you have to make sure that you have access to the internet before you can use those! haha
Yessss, wifi connection is always the problem for me when going abroad hehe.
Im using 3 out of 5. I don’t have waze and Google translator on my phone. Hahaah . Google map is a must. I’m fan of using it and its indeed helpful. The currency exchange is also important. And of course the bible of travelers – Tripadvisor. Thanks for sharing the google translate. I would give it a try ๐
That’s great! Do give it a try hehe ๐
I just want to add AirBnB on the list. It’s a great app for finding cheap accomodation from hotels to bnb ๐
Ahh yes! I haven’t tried AirBnB but hopefully I’ll get to try it on my next vacation! ๐
Yup, as a constant traveler, I totally agree that all these apps are a must have. I honestly don’t know what I would do without google maps sometimes. Google translate I can do without, but my sense of direction is not as strong as my love for languages. great post!
Thank you so much! ๐
I can’t live without google maps! I also use rome 2 rio to help me find connections plus google flights and sky scanner for last minute flights! Thank you for these.
I’ve never heard of Rome 2 Rio or google flights! Might download them and see if they’ll help me when traveling too! ๐
I have used all of these apps except Waze. I would love to know more about it or maybe I can just download and try it out.
Yes try it! Someone people aren’t into it but you might like it ๐
Pretty accurate, most of this apps are definitely some I would have used.
Thank you!
Awesome post! I used all this 5 apps when I am travelling!
Thank you!
I agree with this entire list! Tripadvisor has been very handy for finding restaurant recommendations. Then we often use google maps to find it.
Yesss I use trip advisor all the time when looking at restos!
I’ve never heard of Waze. I will have to check it out.
Yes you should! ๐
Agree on all except Waze. you can also see the traffic condition via Google Maps. ๐
I’ve never tried that! I’ll have to look into it ๐
Google Maps and Waze are the ones that I’ve been using if I am new to a place. It helps me to locate the locations and knows the traffic on going to a certain place.
Same! Great apps right? ๐
I love Google Maps too! I’m lucky that I have international internet usage so I can access Google Maps no matter where I go. And I would like to try that currency app. I usually just try to calculate in my head!
Wow that’s great! I need to get some international internet usage to! Must be so useful instead having to look for Wifi hehe.
I use Google Maps too and Trip Advisor. Havent use the currency app because i havent been overseas yet. Good list! ๐
Thank you!
Ooh I need to download XE currency, we are just about to go away and need to check two lots of currency as were driving over Europe. I use google maps constantly and even the google translate a lot! Brilliant post and handy apps
Yes try it out! Thank you!
I totally agree with the travel apps you have mentioned most especially if you travel abroad!
Thank you!
I don’t know waze but agree with all the others! Google maps is great: I usually cross check that and TripAdvisor to find restaurants and bars nearby ๐
That’s a good tip! Thank you!
I got Google Maps and XE Currency both are very helpful especially Google Maps since I always get lost haha.
Haha! Google Maps is a life saver ๐
Wow! I am not a traveler but I think I will be needing this in the future plan travels. It is so basic yet it is a must. Agree with every app you suggested. Thank you for this!
Thank you!
Very helpful guide! As for me, I can’t live without my offline Philippine maps. It helps me not just with travel but in the everyday. When I upgrade my phone, I’ll be sure to have what you listed!
Thank you!
I have 2/5 in my phone. I should download the others once I travel. Translate is not tangible as of now haha. This is very helpful! Thanks for this!
xx
Haha! Yes do try them out ๐ Thank you!
Google Maps is definitely a must. When travelling alone, I literally enjoy the solitude so I want to keep things to myself. So having a map accessible is a must. As for my budget, I make sure that I have done the necessary bookings and reservations so that I would not have to worry about paying for big amounts while travelling. I try to stick on a budget when travelling alone.
So do I! Thank you for visiting my blog ๐
HERE Maps is a good alternative to Google Maps; HERE drive for Waze; and HERE City Lens for Trip advisor.
Great suggestions for alternatives, thanks!
I’ve just downloaded all the apps I didn’t have! As a savvy traveler I find this stuff very helpful. So thank you for that and your blog looks great! The only thing that’s a bit problematic is that it takes it a really long time to upload. You would probably want to check that.
Thank you so much! Yesss I’ve been having trouble for a while now and I have removed all my plugins to see if it would help. Need to look into this futher though! Thanks for letting me know! ?
I agree with these apps! Especially to google maps but I discovered map apps like Maps.me very useful abroad…
Interesting! Will definitely look into this app ๐
yes, these apps get handy when travelling.. especially google maps… I always and never fail to use in when I am traveling an “uncharted region”… Good thing we have technology like this to make our travels more convenient and hassle free
Yes I agree!!! ๐
All very useful apps when traveling. I’d add a language app because you could find yourself in a place where you won’t understand a single word! I’ve been wanting to travel more often and hopefully I get to this year.
Ahh, yes definitely! Thank you Louisa ๐