Love to Travel? There’s an App for That!
The “Not-So-Good” Old Days
Remember planning a trip waaaaay back in the early 90’s? We certainly do! Back in the “good old days” when Milli Vanilli, acid-washed jeans and Seinfeld were king, planning a trip meant having to book hotels, transportation, and restaurants by snail mail (what is that!?) and making sure you had all your hard-copy maps and relevant information prepared long before you left home. Sure, you could make long-distance calls, if you were okay with paying 100 dollars a minute!
Traveling Into the Future
Indeed, modern technology, travel data plans, and the advent of travel apps, in particular, have changed the game when it comes to making traveling easier, faster, less confusing and more spontaneous! However, like so much of the internet, it can be a daunting task to figure out which apps are useful and which one’s aren’t worth taking up precious memory on your smartphone. Don’t fret. TravelSafe to the rescue!
“App”ropriate: Some Excellent Travel Apps
You are most likely aware of apps and websites such as Orbitz, Priceline, Booking.com, Expedia, and Travelocity. They are all good places to start; however, the online-travel industry is always innovating. Here is a list of cutting-edge travel apps that will enhance your travel experience, and help you get the most out of your vacation! You can thank us later–we like commemorative mugs!
Skyscanner covers your flights, hotels, and rental car needs. The app searches for the most affordable and best options via its travel partners. You can see the cheapest dates to fly, and get alerts when prices change. If you’re not sure exactly where you want to go, Skyscanner offers a category that lets you explore “Top Deals” from your nearest airport, as well as a curated list of destinations at affordable prices.
Duolingo is a free and very well-designed language learning app. Though not a replacement for proper language acquisition, the app is a fun way to get the basics or to keep yourself fresh on grammar and vocabulary, before a trip abroad. Similar to a computer game, the app guides you through levels before advancing, and you gain experience points along the way.
XE is one of the most popular and widely used currency apps on the web. With over 20 million downloads since launch, it’s most useful because of its ability to convert every world currency. It also functions offline by saving the last updated rates, which is great if you’re in a place with limited connectivity or trying to save on data.
Airbnb is perhaps the best-known travel app in the world! The app offers far cheaper prices, and a more authentic experience by staying with a local, or their home. The app recently added a new feature called Trips, which offers Experiences to choose from during your stay.
Sidekix is a great city exploration app that had downloadable city guides that list recommended coffee shops, museums, shops, bars, and restaurants. A wonderful app to have in your back pocket when traveling in any city!
This is a great app if your flight was delayed, the hotel lost your reservation, or you just want to take a spontaneous, last-minute trip! Hotel Tonight is a reliable service that specializes in last minute deals. It partners with hotels to offer discounts on empty rooms, and you’ll be able to book one in seconds! You also get 24/7 customer service from the Hotel Tonight team, in case something goes wrong.
We “App”reciate your feedback!
TravelSafe hopes that these apps will help you on your next adventure! If you have used other travel apps and liked them, please let us know so we can add them to our list!
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2016/12/22/the-best-travel-apps-for-2017/2/#11fe305d16b4
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-travel-apps/
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/jan/02/10-best-travel-apps-free-paid-for
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/apps-for-travelers