david-seddon.com
Useful travel apps
Travel can be hard work. Figuring out where to go, how to get there and what to do while you’re there, what language is spoken, what the money is - it can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, the advent of mobile technology has meant there are a number of apps that take a lot of the effort out of it. Here I talk a bit about some apps I found really useful on my recent travels.
(All these are iOS only - there may be Android apps but I have an iPhone so that’s what I know. If you’d like to donate an Android phone for me to test with send me one!)
An obvious one, but a real lifesaver for me. I get lost very easily and Google Maps helps keep you pointed the right direction. Something I find particularly useful is downloading an offline map before I go to the place, so I can always reference it if I don’t have WiFi or mobile data.
There are a ton of sites that do the accommodation side of travel, but I find Hostelworld the best. Be sure to check the reviews of a place first - they’re generally more accurate than other booking sites I’ve used. It also includes a handy “directions” link that gives information about how to get there which can be a real help.
This app is quite useful for finding events, oddly enough. Your mileage may vary depending on where you are and what time of year it is - where I am right now all it lists are walking tours that I’ve already done - but I’ve been told it’s useful and I can see how it could be. HangOuts can be used to meet locals or fellow travelers.
I can’t do a list like this without TripAdvisor, but take it with a pinch of salt. A few times I’ve shown up to a place recommended on TripAdvisor and it’s been closed, or the map’s showing the wrong location. Be sure to cross-reference with reviews on Google. The user reviews tend not to be the most reliable, but it’s certainly a way of getting information about what to do in a place you might not have been to before.
This is quite a useful tool for finding out all ways of getting from A to B. It lists options including bus, train, flights and more. It doesn’t quite do all the legwork - it just gives you a suggested route and you have to go to the providers site to check but useful nonetheless.
This is a pretty useful app for finding out the best way of travelling from city to city. It might not always be entirely up to date but for some bus companies you can even book your tickets from the app (though be sure to check if you need to go to a physical desk to get a paper ticket; I’ve nearly been caught out a couple of times).
I think everyone knows Uber by now. Use with caution obviously, I hear some users have had bad experiences but if you’re in a group or are condifent enough to try anyway it’s definitely useful. It might not be available where you are but it can be really useful. Just don’t do as I did and wait until you’re in a foreign country before figuring out how it works!
A friend recommended this to me months ago, and it’s a super useful tool for finding cheap flights. If you don’t have a particular time or even place to go you can search by entire months and if you select “Everywhere” you can search for flights to anywhere! Much easier than any other method I’ve found.
Really useful for when you don’t kmow the language. You can download language packs to use offline, and can take photos and have it translate the text in the photo (theoretically. I haven’t had much luck with that).
This is a useful tool for figuring out how much things cost in your native currency and see if you’re paying over the odds for something.
There are a load of other apps available, but these are the most useful general purpose ones I use. Plently of airlines, bus and train companies have their own apps for their services and these are useful if you’re using that company.
If you come across any others that I’ve missed (it’s very likely I have) please do let me know! Written on February 20th, 2018 by David Seddon