My Favorite Apps to Make Traveling Easier

Hello from Vancouver, Canada!

I said it in a previous post, but if I had to lose either my wallet or my phone while traveling? Take my money. Nowadays our phones are our lifelines but it’s especially true when traveling. So much is stored in that small rectangle, from your itineraries and stay details to communications and money management. Dear future potential thieves, please don’t take my phone!

Ok, enough of being lame. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite travel apps for my people who are either new to traveling, don’t do it often, or are simply always looking for any app that makes a trip just a little less stressful. I love all of the below apps and pretty much use all of them on every trip these days.

For when you’re traveling with a buddy (or more): The Splitwise app has made my trips with friends or a road trip with my mom so much easier to track all expenses, from a gas station snack to a bed and breakfast. Then when the trip is over and all spends are in, just cash out - literally or via my next favorite app, Venmo. I mean if you don’t have Venmo on your phone at this point… you are missing out on some serious convenience. That friend who’s always bad about covering their share? Not no more! Lastly, the Tab app. This one is great for travel or simply a friend dinner. As the honorary friend who doesn’t drink, I appreciate the ability to split the “tab” so that my portion is just… my portion.

For when you need a potty: This app also gets the award for the best name: Flush. As someone who has tummy troubles pretty consistently on trips, tries to stay hydrated, and also, let’s be real, is a regular gal (iykyk), this app is my BFF. Something about knowing where a toilet is nearby just really puts me at ease. When I was living in NYC I pulled this bad boy up all the time cause hell if I want to pay for the potty (at least not in America).

For when you need cell service: I was only recently introduced to Airalo by a classmate during my pastry course in Scotland. Now, of course, I see it everywhere but I can’t believe I was missing out for so long! I’ve always been really bad about getting international coverage while traveling - which is not smart - and just relied on my off-and-on wifi connections to get me through. Airalo is truly so easy to use and so much cheaper than having something like a “travel pass” or even an international plan through your wireless provider (thanks for nothing, Verizon). 

For when you want to find local activities or recommendations: When it comes to finding things to do in the area I’m exploring, Get Your Guide, Viator, and now, even Airbnb (though their experiences function could use some work) are my go-to’s. Having these apps on my phone not only makes it easy to book but also pull up tickets as needed. The Trip Advisor app is my trusty source for ideas but especially food recommendations. It’s so hard to trust reviews nowadays but when a restaurant has a top ranking on Trip Advisor (none of this “featured on” crap but an actual top ranking), it has yet to fail me.

For when you need a place to stay: Some of my most used sites for nighty night are Airbnb, Booking.com, Hostelworld, and the occasional Hotels Tonight (though recently it seems the “deals” aren’t often that much better than comparing prices on Google). Don’t skirt Hostelworld. Even if you’re not a “hostel” person you can find non-hostel stays, like homestays, in the app as well as private rooms in a hostel that offer a lovely night’s rest to rival that of a hotel. Hostels also typically offer great deals on local attractions as well as insights (or their own offerings) on excursions.

For when you want to plan, track, understand, get directions, and more: The Google Suite is my most used set of apps for travel. I map out my budget in Sheets. Save attractions, cafes, galleries, and more in Maps (plus, obviously directions). Finesse an itinerary in Docs, Translate key phrases in, you guessed it, Google Translate. Plus, I trust Google in general for comparing flights, stays, and attractions to get the most bang for my buck. Using the suite is also incredibly useful if you’re ever offline and need to access documents. Pro-tip, if you need directions but aren’t sure if your data will hold from point A to point B, hit “start” on your Maps while you’re still in-network or wifi range and you’ll be golden. I’ve done this hack on road trips in Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and more!

For when you need to talk to someone with an international number: Sharing this one as it’s widely used internationally though not as common for those of us in the United States. Whatsapp might be the most used for texts and calls by those internationally. If you need to connect with a tour guide or meet a friend while exploring, most likely your Messages app isn’t going to reach them. Having WhatsApp set up on your phone is a must!

For the iPhone users: My trusty Apple apps are Find My to help ease the stress (and sometimes annoyance) of loved ones while I’m traveling, so they can see my location when I get to where I’m going. It’s also peace of mind for me in the rare event something was to happen, knowing that someone not on my trip could find me. Wallet is my backup app, and as a type-A personality, having that is a necessity. I keep my cards as well as tour and flight tickets easily accessible within this app. 

For when you’re flying: I’ve met people who don’t keep their respective Airline apps on their phones but I highly recommend it. Whether you’re flying Spirit or Emirates, having the airline’s app on your phone will keep you updated on any gate changes and flight delays as well as offer easy access for check-in, adjustments, and your ticket to board.

If I missed any or you have a favorite app that’s not listed here tag me on social @accentgolden and let me know! I’m always game for all the travel knowledge.