There really are some amazing apps now that make travelling so incredibly easy! I’ll try to leave out the obvious ones and focus purely on the ones you may not have thought of.
Currency Conversion Apps
Sure, you can use an online calculator, or quickly ask Google each time, but with the apps, you can have the amount converted and if you make the purchase, you can record this.
I just find, if I’m visiting a location and going to be using their currency regularly, it’s good to have this currency saved on the homepage of the app so I can check in no time at all.
You have the likes of XE, Revolut or Wise who can all offer a decent currency conversion app.
VPN Apps
One issue with travelling is that you can sometimes find there are restrictions on websites, or even streaming devices can cause a nightmare. I also like to browse privately, considering you may be using shared WiFi a lot of the time.
You can get a VPN for iPhone or Android device with Proton VPN, I also have it setup on my laptop. This can also help with blocking malware, I don’t fancy taking any risks with the internet in a cafe or a hostel.
Messy Times
This is a great drinking game app that can allow you to play multiplayer drinking games with others, whether you’re in a hostel preparing for a night out or travelling with some mates. The beer pong game can even be played while bored on a long train or plane journey and you can keep scores against your mates.
This really does beat bringing around cars with you, something we always used to do when travelling, as that’s a bit of a headache hoping you haven’t lost one. Just the same with a dice or anything else you might need for your drinking games, this can all be done virtually now.
Hike Route Apps
I regularly use Komoot (the free version) when I’m looking at hiking routes in Sussex, but I’ve also started using this while abroad. They’re amazing if you don’t fancy hiring a guide and want to get ‘off the beaten path’.
You can also filter for difficulty levels and how far you want to go. As much as I like to pretend my fitness levels are through the roof, my interest in hiking drops after 3 hours, so I like a good 2-3 hour walking route personally.
The GPS navigation also allows you to follow along the route and prevents you from getting lost. My dad still uses those maps we buy him for Christmas every year, one day I’ll have to show him these apps, it will be an absolute gamechanger.
You also have Alltrails and Strava, but I haven’t given those two a try yet.
Public Transport Apps
So many people rely on Google Maps for working out which bus or train they need to get to a new location, but what about ordering the ticket, working out if there are delays that might not be recorded on Google Maps, plus discounts if ordering for a few days.
You can get live departure times, so you’re not waiting around frustrated, while for those with accessibility requirements they can find out important info on these apps.
One key example is in Prague, where you can opt for a hop-on-hop-off if you plan on going to the tourist spots, but otherwise you might be better off going for the PID Lítačka app, which will cover you on the buses, trams, metro and trains, allowing you to buy tickets and handle the whole process without ever having to ask someone a question.
Cloud Storage Apps
I still remember speaking to so many people who lost their digital cameras or phones while travelling, which held all of their holiday photos and they looked beyond gutted, we’re talking heart-breaking emotion.
Nowadays, these can automatically be backed up onto the cloud when you’re on WiFi, hence why it’s so important to check-in when you’re in a hotel or hostel.
It’s not just about thieves and pickpockets, it could drop from your pocket while on a cable car, it could face water damage or you might just run out of physical phone storage space.
Google Photos is the one I use, simply as it was the first one I used and it has images dating back to 2018. Just the same, Raquel uses iCloud Photos as she’s always had an iPhone.
You also have Dropbox and OneDrive which can work in a similar way and both have a great app option.
Toilet Finder Apps
I get so angry when looking for public toilets on Google Maps. You’ll get there and it’s a paid toilet, or it’s shut and no closing times were listed, or it simply doesn’t exist anymore.
Nowadays there are dedicated toilet finder apps (thank you so much), like Flush Toilet Finder, Toilet Finder and Toilet Map.
Also, if you’re in a wheelchair, this is even more crucial as you can filter for wheelchair friendly options.
Water Refill Apps
We were in Switzerland during the summer and I was always on the lookout for water refill locations, as the tap water is safe to drink and you had fountains dotted all over. But finding them was the real difficulty, as they’re not always clearly labelled or advertised.
In the UK, you have Refill, but I’m sure you have some great options abroad and it’s worth looking into this for the country you’re going to.
This helps to prevent you wasting money on bottled water, while it also reduces plastic usage. I find airports can be a bit 50/50, so this will help to make you aware if they’ll have these facilities or whether you need to buy something in the airport.
