Much has changed since the days when our only travel companions were a fold-out map and a friendly local trying to explain, through gestures, how to reach our destination. Today, smartphones have become an essential tool for many people travel. If we know which apps to use on our trips, we can save time and money and enrich our experience.
Below is a list of the best apps for travel.
1. Maps.me
Forget Google Maps. Having to connect to the internet every time you load maps and routes makes this app an impractical option when we're on a trip. Instead, the maps.me app allows us, without an internet connection, access a map of any country, planning routes for different modes of transport, finding restaurants and businesses, starting GPS navigation... Wonderful! All we have to do is download the maps of the countries we're going to visit beforehand, and that's it.
The only drawback of the app is that, because it works offline, it does not provide real-time traffic updates or suggest alternative routes based on traffic conditions (as Google does), so its estimated journey times can be somewhat misleading.
The app is free on both Android and iOS.
2. Flightstats
Flightstats is another of the essential apps for travel. Just by entering your flight number, the Flightstats app tells you the status of the flight (whether it is on time or delayed...), as well as the departure terminal and boarding gate. Sometimes the app displays boarding gate information even before the airport screens do (we still recommend checking an airport screen to confirm it). The app can also show conditions at a particular airport, including delays, cancellations and weather. If we are on the ground and want to track a flight, the app will show its exact position on the map. And for those who are simply curious, there is also a live flight map showing flights in the air around the world.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
3. Night Sky
A night in the desert under the stars? Night Sky will allow us, without connecting to the internet, to identify the stars, planets and constellations above us simply by pointing our phone at the sky. Although this is not an essential app for our travels, it can enrich our experience and provide some entertainment on nights spent outdoors.
The app is free for Android and iOS, although the adverts in the free version can be rather annoying.
4. Flush
An essential app? That depends on the person. What is certain is that it can come in very useful. This app shows us the public toilets available nearby, and shows us the quickest way to reach them. The app also tells us whether each toilet charges a fee or is free, whether it is locked and whether it is accessible to people with reduced mobility. We can also read reviews from other app users who have used these toilets.
Although the database of public toilets is huge, the app is still in its early stages and needs more contributions from users to make it more comprehensive. Bear in mind that it will not be useful on all our trips, as its extensive databases only cover cities in developed countries.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
5. PackPoint Travel Packing List
If you never know what to pack, this is the app for you! Packpoint It'll tell you what you need for your trip. depending on the destination, the dates of your trip, the duration, the weather forecast and the activities you plan. Just download the app and enter the details of your trip, and Packpoint create a packing list. You can then edit this list manually and tick items off as you pack them.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
6. Priority Pass
Priority Pass is an app that offers access to more than 1,300 lounges around the world. Although the app is free, access to the lounges There is a charge. The app tells you the location, opening hours, available services and admission price, which can be paid through the app, or at the lounge. For those who They travel a lot, you can subscribe to an annual plan that gives you access to most of lounges app. It also has offers in some Duty free and restaurants, at different airports.
The app is free for Android and iOS, although it is necessary to pay to get access to lounges.
7. SkyGuru
Are you afraid of flying? SkyGuru is an app created by pilots, provides the weather and turbulence forecast for our flight. Simply enter your flight details and the app will retrieve the route and show you this information. If turbulence is forecast, there is little we can do, but it may help us prepare mentally. The paid version goes even further, providing real-time alerts and explaining what is happening during the flight, without an internet or GPS connection.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
8. XE Currency Converter
In many of our trips We'll need to exchange currency. As always, some places offer better exchange rates than others. Generally, exchanging currency at the airport is more expensive than elsewhere. In any case, if we want to know exactly what the currency is worth, XE Currency Converter nwill give you this information in real time, so we will know how much extra we are paying.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
9. GlobeTips
How much should you leave as a tip? GlobeTips answers a question we often ask when travelling, telling us the right amount to leave as a tip in each country, depending on the total bill. The app can currently calculate the correct tip in 249 countries. With this app, we can be sure to leave the expected tip, no more and no less.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
10. Metric Conversions
If we're at 49 degrees, is it cold or hot? Metric Conversions will help us easily convert volume, weight, temperature and distances for make life easier when we travel to countries with a metric system different from ours.
The app is free for Android and iOS.
And now that we know what the best apps for travel, why not look for the best trips?
