Travel Apps, Tips & Tricks

In 1986 when I bought a one-way ticket to Europe alone at the age of 17, there were no websites, mobile phones, or travel apps to help me out.

The world has come a long way since then and I try to stay up to date with the latest tools and trends to make travel easier, safer, efficient, accessible, and fun.

A friend recently asked my advice regarding “Apps and methods of making travel arrangements.”  The following is my reply. You won’t need all of them. Think of it as a list of options (of which I have no affiliation).

 

Flights

Finding Deals

Flexibility is everything when seeking cheap flights. Consider slightly off-season dates or alternate airports. If you can bend on dates, departures, and destinations, you can often pay a fraction of the going fare. When flying internationally, I think first about getting from hub to hub in the cheapest way possible.

For example, if I want to get from San Jose, California to Toulouse, France. I’m likely to find a much cheaper flight from San Francisco to Barcelona and arrange local transport at either end.

You could even let the price dictate where and when you travel using Google Flights Explore (Map View).

 

Incognito Browsing

Browsing history is tracked, and rumor has it that prices miraculously increase when searching for flights. I don’t know if this is true, but just in case, I use a hidden window for flight research.

• Safari: Open a Safari window > Click “File” in the top menu bar  > Click “New Private Window.”
• Chrome: Open a Chrome window > Click “File” in the top menu bar > Click “New Incognito Window.”

 

Purchase from the airlines directly

I sometimes use OTA’s (online travel agencies) to find cheap flights, but I never purchase from them. I write down the flight information, then purchase directly with the airline. If you miss a flight or need to change your reservation, airlines won’t touch a ticket bought from a third-party seller.

 

24 Hour Rule

Any flight departing the US and purchased directly from an airline can be canceled with a full refund within 24 hours of purchase (unless the ticket was purchased within 7 days of departure). So if you find a killer deal, book it and then think about it.

 

Check the Baggage Fees

Read the baggage requirements and fees before you click that purchase button. Budget airlines are well-known for a cheap price upfront, then gouging you with massive post-purchase fees, like charging up to 5 times more for checking baggage at the airport (rather than pre-checking online).

Here’s a prime example, a post I read on a travel forum:

“My luggage on a discount airline ended up costing more at the airport than pre-booking online. I paid at the counter what I paid for the ticket! 22kg of luggage each for two people costs $320 USD from Chiang Mai to Hong Kong, and the airline ticket cost $340 USD for two people! No water was offered onboard and paid extra just to sit together. The plane was 1/3 empty when we boarded, but their system purposely separates people.”

 

 

Google Flights

In the late ’90s, a couple of computer scientists from MIT developed ITA Software, a powerful online flight search engine that scans internet data for the cheapest fares. Google purchased the tool in 2011 and re-launched it under the name “Google Flights” (desktop & mobile). 

After selecting your ideal flight, proceed to the airline directly to purchase. Google Flights is a search tool only.

Features

• One-Way, Round Trip, or Multi-City Google Flights automatically detects your closest airport and enters it into the departure box. Right above that box is a filter for the type of flight. Multi-City finds the cheapest fares between up to 7 origin and 7 destination airports.
• Search filters After choosing your departure airport, destination, and dates, click Search. On the next page, just under the date boxes, is a list of search filters. And below the search filters is a list of outbound flights. The Sort By filter at the top right of the list allows you to prioritize the results you’ll see on top.
• Flight Times are always shown in local time. A small +1 signifies ‘one day later.’
• Fair Alerts Located just below the search filters on the results page (after choosing destination and dates) slide the Track Prices toggle to On and you’ll receive a notice via email of price changes for your desired flights.
• Calendar View Click the departure date box and a calendar display for 2 months will pop up with the cheapest dates in green. The forward arrow allows you to skip to the following two months.
• Map View (on desktop, not mobile) pulls up a map displaying prices to various cities in a region or country for the specific dates you entered. If your dates are flexible, click on the dates and switch to flexible dates. Find Map View by clicking the three lines in the upper left corner, then select Explore.
• Language, Currency & Country Adjust these by clicking the three lines in the upper left. You can often find cheaper rates for the exact same flight by purchasing from another country of origin. If you don’t speak the language, use Google Translate and Currency Conversion to know the details of your purchase.

 

Momondo

A search tool that filters through data from thousands of search engines to consistently produce very cheap flights. Momondo will direct you to the website where you can purchase, but these are usually OTA’s. I take note of the flight information and buy directly from the airline’s website. 

Like Google Flights, Momondo has great filters, a Fare Alert button to receive updates on price changes for a selected route, and Flight Insights which displays an impressive breakdown of price factors for your route (located on the right side of the results page, below the outbound/inbound location and date fields). 

*Type Anywhere into the destination field, to see a map of cheap flights leaving your city on selected dates.

 

Going.com (rebranded from “Scott’s Cheap Flights”)

Let ‘Going’ do the work for you! Set your departure airport and the team at Going will find rock-bottom prices (40-90% off normal prices) to send you via email. Limited members receive alerts for free international flight deals. For an annual fee, Premium members receive alerts for the best domestic and international flight deals and mistake fares, including peak season and holidays.

 

Skyscanner

My favorite app for travel daydreaming is Skyscanner. By using Explore (bottom bar of mobile app), then Explore Everywhere, I get a list of cheap flights from my home airport to anywhere in the world.

 

Hopper

I use Hopper for flight research. It lets me know how good or bad a price is and if I should buy now, or when prices are predicted to go down. The app allows you to search for the cheapest days/times to fly to a specified destination and set alerts for the optimal time to buy.

 

Rome to Rio

This powerful multi-transport search engine does it all. Enter your origin and destination addresses (local or global) and receive a travel itinerary (by plane, train, bus, ferry, car, or walking) to get yourself there with time estimates, prices, and the best routes. Equally useful for finding a bus across town, or planning a round-the-world tour.

 

Seat Guru

I use Seat Guru to choose the ideal seat for long-haul flights. It provides aircraft seat maps with reviews for each seat. 

 

Best Onward Ticket

Many countries require proof of onward travel before allowing entry, but I don’t always know where I’ll be headed or when! In this case, Best Onward Ticket provides a $12 onward ticket within 30 minutes, getting me through immigration and buying time, rather than being forced to plan ahead.

 

FlightAware

Live tracking map of flights (private & commercial) within the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. I’ve used it for alerts of flight delays, cancellations, and gate changes (also available with TripCase, seen below).

 

AirHelp

In the US & EU, you’re entitled to compensation for canceled, delayed, or overbooked flights by law. It can be a real nightmare to collect, however. AirHelp collects for you! Enter your flight information and a description of the issue, they take care of the rest for the cost of 25% of your payout (plus a bonus if you refer anyone else on your flight). I’ve not used this app yet. It sits on the back page of my iPhone waiting for the day I need it.

 

 

Ride Share Apps

Uber & Lyft 

Two well-known ride-share apps I use regularly. 

 

Grab

The rideshare king of SE Asia is Grab. Agreeing to the cost before your driver arrives saves you from language barriers or being taken advantage of, which you may experience in regular taxis.

 

Ola 

The best rideshare app for India (including auto-rickshaw) is now available in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

 

 

Blah Blah Car

Used a lot in Europe, Blah Blah Car is a rideshare app that pairs drivers with passengers willing to share company and gas money to a shared destination. The price is set by the driver. Those with high reviews may charge a tad more… and it may well be worth it. Take some time to set up a nice profile and select your ride preferences because people want to know who they’ll be stuck in a car with. Shop around and pay attention to the route, pickup, and drop-off locations.

 

 

Ground Transport

CityMapper

For traveling around urban centers like a local, CityMapper is a public transit app and mapping service that integrates modes of transport by bus, train, driving, cycling, and walking routes.  Select a nearby bus stop on the map to see where it’s going and when the next bus will arrive. After choosing your route, save it to your home screen for reference offline.

 

Moovit

This app works in over 2000 cities worldwide. Enter your destination and the form of transport. Moovit shows you how to get there and alerts you when it’s time to get off the bus (or train etc…).

 

 

Turo

Turo is a platform matching local private cars with travelers at an affordable rate. Your credit card will likely not cover insurance for Turo cars, yet Turo has an extremely cheap insurance option (at the time of writing around $5 per day). Turo currently operates in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Germany.

 

 

Maps

Google Maps

Downloaded maps are saved for 29 days before they auto-delete. 

To download a map of your current location: Click the three lines in the upper left of your phone screen > tap Offline Maps > Custom Map and then select the area you’d like to download. 

To download a map of a future location: Type the destination into the search area > tap on the dropped pin on the map > tap three dots in the upper right corner > select Download Map. 

 

Maps.me

Although not the prettiest interface, I love maps.me for its extremely detailed coverage of walking trails which Google Maps doesn’t always display. Downloaded maps can be stored on external SD cards, so there’s no need to worry about storage usage. Search by categories such as restaurants, hospitals, wifi, ATM, tourist attractions, and more (Free).

 

AllTrails

Hiking trails based on difficulty and distance with reviews. I use it for research, then Maps.me covers me offline. Unfortunately, AllTrails offline use is reserved for premium users ($).

 

 

Pocket Earth

Travel guides and worldwide maps, ready for use offline. You can set the map to display differently for Hiking, Cycling, Boating, and Standard options, add notes, images, and share. The options in this app are mind-boggling. The pro version is required for offline use ($). 

 

 

Accommodation

Airbnb

My ‘go-to’ for accommodation, Airbnb searches for accommodation in homes, apartments, rooms, hotels, and private spaces (tents, vans, teepees, yurts, treehouses, and other unique experiences). Filter the home type, price, booking method, and amenities to find your cozy home away from home. Prices are sometimes negotiable when staying long-term (it never hurts to ask).

 

Agoda

I’ve consistently found cheap accommodation through Agoda, especially in Asia. Set email alerts for price changes in the hotel you’re considering.

 

Booking

Affordable rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels worldwide.

 

HotelTonight

Last-minute discounts on empty hotel rooms. Search by city, attraction, map, and reviews, with photos from other travelers. HotelTonight offers 24/7 customer support.

 

HostelWorld 

A booking app with a massive inventory of hostel accommodations with a full-screen interactive map and reviews.

 

Roomer

Roomer states on its website that: “Roomer is a peer-to-peer marketplace for buying and selling hotel reservations. We connect travelers who are stuck with pre-paid hotel rooms they can’t use themselves, with other travelers looking for a great deal. It’s a win-win situation. Roomer offers both buyer and seller protections, validates all reservations, and takes care of all the work behind the scenes. Travelers simply post or purchase rooms via a safe, hassle-free online marketplace.”

 

 

Help Exchange

In pricier countries, paying for accommodation eats through my savings too quickly. I’ve used help exchange to extend my stay by trading hours of work for room and board with local families or businesses. There’s no cost to search, but a yearly membership is required to communicate with hosts. 

 

WorkAway

Same idea as Help Exchange above. I’ve had volunteer gigs ranging from teaching yoga to gardening to cleaning rooms at a BnB.

 

 

Communication 

Foreign Sim Cards

When staying in one country longer than a couple of weeks, I buy a local SIM card for my unlocked iPhone. SIMs are sold at convenience stores, telecommunications outlets, and often at airports (though sometimes more expensive). 

You’ll need to show your passport to purchase. Some countries (ahem… India) go so far as to require: a passport photo, visa, local address documents, and proof of home address before obtaining a local SIM card. 

 

WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal

A must-have for all travelers, these messaging apps allow you to call, video chat, text and send voice recordings and images via the internet. They use very little data for text and voice recordings. For calls and video, it’s better to use WiFi. I use them all but prefer using Telegram with its Secret Chat feature for privacy.

 

Google Translate

Translates more than 100 languages online and several dozen offline (download while still connected).

Features

• Two-way instant speech translation in 32 languages.
• Playback Mode speaks the translation for you (when pronunciation is in question).
• Save frequent or favorite translations.
• Hover your mobile camera over foreign text for automatic translation.
• Share the translation via social media, text, or WhatsApp to communicate with your destination country before arrival.

 

SayHi Translate

User-friendly conversational translation app in 41 languages that functions like a text message. Type a text in your native tongue and the translation appears just below, making it possible to carry a conversation by handing the phone back and forth.

 

 

Drops

An audio-visual language learning app with daily lessons, featuring over 30 languages and dialects. Free within daily time limits, unlimited access for premium ($). 

 

 

Travel Organizers

TripCase

A mobile app that organizes trip plans in one easy-to-use platform. Forward your booking confirmation to its email address and TripCase will populate the details into your app. Share your entire itinerary with friends and family via email and automatically notify them when your flight lands. 

TripCase provides access to airport maps, and plane seat maps, warns you of flight time changes when the gate has been assigned when check-in opens, or flights are delayed, lists alternate flights, and displays the weather at your destination. When no service is available, TripCase automatically pushes into offline mode, showing all your previously saved trip details.

 

Tripit

After signing up for this free app, simply forward your travel reservation confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com which organizes your master itinerary for easy access on all devices. You can add items like photos, QR codes, and PDFs to your travel plans, as well as email your itinerary to your loved ones.

 

 

 

Utility

VPN

A Virtual Private Network is essential for cybersecurity (especially on public WiFi) as it creates a secure connection to another network and shields your browsing activity. I’ve used Tunnel Bear in the past and currently use Nord VPN. I’ve been happy with both.

 

GeoSure

A safety app that maps safe neighborhoods in every major city, with women and LGBTQ safety scores personalized by users.

 

WiFi Map 

A crowdsourced WiFi location map app with real-time updates to keep you connected. Data is stored locally, so you don’t have to be online to use the app.

 

XE Currency Converter

Up-to-the-minute currency rates help you calculate whether you’re getting the very best deal abroad. XE Currency Converter app allows you to store and view rates offline. Click HERE to learn more about finances and banking abroad.

 

Global Convert

I use this app often while traveling to convert, well… everything: Acceleration (mile/kilometer per hour), Area (square foot/meter), Cooking measurements, Currency, Data, Density, Electric Current, Energy, Frequency, Fuel Consumption, Illuminance, Length, Metric  Prefix …and more.

 

Scanning Apps

Apps like Scannable or Tiny Scanner turn paper documents into PDFs for storage or email. I use them a lot while traveling, especially to store my receipts for tax write-offs.

 

AwardWallet or Points

Both apps keep track of your loyalty reward accounts in a single place and send you alerts when they’re close to expiring.

 

 

Social

Bumble 

Yes, Bumble is a female-initiated dating app, but even if you’re not looking for a date, the BFF feature is a great way to meet other same-sex solo travelers for dinner or a shared adventure.

 

Meetup

Available in 180 countries, find people who share your interests abroad.

 

Facebook Groups

I love connecting with ex-pats living in the area I’m visiting and Facebook groups are a great way to get connected. Ex-pats know the area from the perspective of a foreigner and can be a real treasure of information.

 

What are your travel tips? Share in the comments below!