App Wise, Map Foolish – 10 Apps For Hassle-free Travel

As a traveller, there are plenty of things to worry about. For example, planning your itinerary, packing the perfect suitcase and making sure you have enough cash in your pocket for that cab ride from the airport. But what if I told you that one of the most important decisions you’ll make before embarking on your journey is selecting the right App? Apps can be really helpful when it comes to travel: they help with translation, booking flights or accommodations and even finding out which country’s cuisine is best suited for your taste buds. And while there are hundreds of apps available for travellers (sometimes too many!), today we’re going to focus on ten essential ones every traveller should download before their next trip.

Rather than wasting a week of your life on worthless apps, explore the list of these ten useful apps that will come in handy to enjoy the holiday you have been planning eagerly since forever:

1. LoungeBuddy

To make travel cheaper, budget airlines and lengthy layovers are the compromises most of us are ready to make. LoungeBuddy makes those sacrifices worth your time and effort. By entering your credit card details, airline status, and lounge memberships, you can exchange dirty seats, terrible connections, and expensive Wi-fi with the luxuries of a lounge.

Not just all of the above, if you haven’t purchased any lounge memberships, LoungBuddy still notifies you about the ones around you that offer a free stay or the lounges you can purchase a day pass for.

LoungeBuddy is available for iOS users all over the world.

2. AirHelp

We’ve all been at the receiving end of the pain from a delayed or cancelled flight or boarding denial due to overbooking. Though there is no way to make up for time lost or opportunities missed, getting reimbursed for your troubles makes it all a little more bearable. AirHelp does the same for you by earning you compensation for your troubles.

Despite both US and EU laws having provisions for compensations in case of delays or cancellations, less than 1% of entitled passengers are compensated due to the complex nature of the compensation process.

AirHelp makes the process simple, something you can do while waiting restlessly at the airport. All you have to do is enter your flight information and other relevant details regarding your problem, and then the company takes care of the rest. AirHelp charges you 25% of the payout if the claim is successful, and you walk away happily with 75% of the hard-earned money you might have bid goodbye to. The goodies don’t just end here; for every friend you send AirHelp’s way, they offer an additional referral bonus for you to enjoy.

Thankfully this wonderful App is available for both iOS and Android.

If you are looking to explore like a pro, Touristspy.com is a website that helps you find exclusive places based on reviews from travelers from a 100 different websites and more.

3. Hostelworld

The Hostelworld app is a boon for backpackers on a budget. The App consists of detailed searches, descriptions, and filters which let you find the perfect hostel according to your preferences. In addition, it has an interactive and visually appealing full-screen user interface which makes it easy for you to locate a hostel as near as possible to places on your list.

Furthermore, sophisticated reviews are just a tap away, which help you make an informed decision.

You can get the Hostelworld app on Android as well as iOS.

4. Airbnb

 

Airbnb is an organization whose reputation precedes its name. The Airbnb app lets the user rent from couches to an entire apartment. The option to choose accommodation with or without a host lets you enjoy the social elements similar to hostels.

The Airbnb app is as effective as their website, and the best part is, it is always at the tip of your fingers.

You can get Airbnb both for Android and iOS.

5. Skyscanner

If not already, make Skyscanner your preferred method of finding the cheapest flights. The Skyscanner App fetches flight data of millions of flights from 1,200 trusted sources and provides you with the cheapest options or the shortest one, depending on your selected preferences.

Suppose you are thinking of planning your holiday in advance. In that case, the handy chart feature lets you mark out the cheapest days or months to fly to a particular destination and sends you frequent notifications of price changes as they happen.

6. HotelTonight

Want to capitalize on amazing last-minute deals on empty hotel rooms? Then HotelTonight is the answer for you. The HotelTonight App is so easy to use that it will have you reserving a room with a great deal in minutes.

The App lets you search by city or major attractions and even by the map so that you can go through the reviews and pictures from other travellers. To make it more valuable, they also offer 24/7 customer support, making it an ideal app to use when you are stuck at someplace and could use a last-minute room.

The HotelTonight team does not differentiate between Android and iOS users as it is available for both.

7. TripIt

TripIt prevents you from tripping on the never-ending list of to-do items on your travel list by helping you organize your travel itinerary. Just forward your hotel, restaurant, car, and flight rental confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com, and it updates all the necessary information in a clean order to your master list, where you can view all your upcoming plans at once.

There are pros to updating to their pro version, such as finding alternative routes for you if your flight gets cancelled, as well as automatic notifications of flight delays, cancellations and more.

If you travel often and travel far, TripIt is the best App to have at your disposal.

TripIt is available for Android and iOS.

8. OpenRice

OpenRice is often touted as the Yelp of Asia as it shows the city’s most popular menus, ratings, booking numbers, most popular restaurants and everything in between. However, its penetration in Southeast Asia is greater than that of Yelp. The power of the website is put at your fingertips with the help of this App which currently has listings of Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

OpenRice is available for iOS and Android.

9. Trail Wallet

Can’t seem to track your expenses on every trip and hate ending up overspending by a large margin on every single trip. This App is the best for taking away the headache of expense tracking. The Trail Wallet offers options to organize expenses by trip or month and can even set a daily budget. To add an expense, pull out your iPhone and scan the receipt or bill using the Quick Add screen function.

Trail Wallet is available only for iOS.

10. Couchsurfing

If you’re actively looking to meet locals as well as cut down on your accommodation costs, this App was made for you. Couchsurfing App connects you with locals who are willing to let travellers stay at their houses for free. Don’t expect too high standards with the accommodations as you will most often get a couch, but since it’s free, it will help you keep your budget in check.

If staying at a local’s place is not on the agenda for you, Couchsurfing still lets you connect and meet with other travellers for something as simple as coffee, drinks or something as engaging as a visit to the museum.

A must-have for every budget traveller, this App helps solo travellers to connect and be social.

Though available for both Android and iOS, one has to register at couchsurfing.com.

Apps do not just make a traveller’s life easy; when used correctly, such apps also provide you with endless opportunities full of infinite possibilities to experience your travel destinations in a surreal and fulfilling way.