Top 10 iPhone Apps for Backpackers

 

Jet setting around the globe with nothing else than a backpack is pretty intriguing… but let’s not deny, having the assistance of technology while exploring new places can be seriously USEFUL. iPhone apps that are geared toward backpackers can help you connect with other backpackers, find budget-friendly local restaurants, discounts on movie tickets, and more – all of these features make backpacking hassle-free.

Whether you’re searching for a roadside café in Singapore or stuck in the middle of nowhere in Amsterdam, the top iPhone apps for backpackers are capable of getting you out of any stressful situation. Don’t take that flight without installing them! Read on for the best iPhone apps that every backpacker should find useful.

1. FlightBoard

Download FlightBoard to convert your iPhone into a departure & arrival board for thousands of international airports. Backpackers can tap on any flight board in any country to check the departure and arrival times, which is great when the city center is far away from the airport and you want to make it in time. Though the app’s UI is a bit old-fashioned, there are more than a thousand airlines and 4000 airports covered. Also, the app is updated after a five-minute interval, and the user can switch quickly between arrival & departure. In addition, FlightBoard allows you to share the flight information with peers and relatives through Facebook, Twitter, and email.

2. Wally

If linking your bank account to an iPhone app isn’t an option for you, either because the bank in your country doesn’t allow a connection to be made or for security concerns, you can manage everything manually with Wally. An iOS app with a vibrant interface, Wally enables you to create a savings target, configure recurring expenses & income, and place all items into categories. The app is also capable of identifying your location, which should make manual entries more convenient. Also, it will create a mini-infographic showcasing where you’ve spent your dollars. If you’re in a rush, you can snap an image of the receipt and upload it to the app. So if you need a broad insight into your expenses and income with not a lot of noise, Wally is for you.

3. PackPoint

Backpackers love PackPoint. It does a great job of organizing your packing list based on the duration of your journey, making sure that your luggage is travel-friendly. It also takes into account what the weather at your destination of choice will be like, as well as the activities you intend to do – you’ll just need to tell it what activities you intend on experience (whether it’s visiting a museum or going on a swim). You’ll then be able to pick from PackPoint’s list of recommended essentials (of course, you can choose how many of those items you wish to take along). All you need to do is share details of the journey, its length, and destination, and leave the rest to PackPoint – super useful for backpackers who always forget to pack something important.

4. Roadtrippers

This app can be a blessing in disguise in instances when you’re not feeling energetic enough to plan a trip but still want to head to a destination and explore it. All you need to do is enter your travel dates and destination name in Roadtrippers, and it will create a custom travel route for you (it doesn’t get any better than this). The app will even find locally-known attractions like boating in the canal and must-visit restaurants that are a must-see in the place. Backpackers can use the created route as a ‘base’ to which they could manually input other attractions and places they’d like to visit. Roadtrippers will update and modify the suggested route every time to you make a change (to reflect how long it will take after an attraction or location was added). In addition, you can see the route on Google Maps, calculate the distance time, and search for local hotels. And if you’re not sure of a suggestion, you can instantly check its reviews on SiteJabber or TripAdvisor – just perfect for an organized backpacking journey.

5. Peek

Peer is an iPhone tour app for backpackers who don’t like unorganized tours (not its official description, but the most relevant one to say the least). The app and the official Peak website provides a list of tours from companies that have been vetted, focused on original and out-of-the-box activities that are perfect for any individual aiming to peer like-minded backpackers. How does a fishing day (sunrise shoreline) on the Kauai’s Hawaiian Island sound? Or a James Bond London tour? That’s the sort of activities Peek will recommend you to immerse in. The iOS and web app is currently available in 22 cities and updates information related to all the recommended activities in real-time.

6. Zomato

Formerly named as Urbanspoon, this app enables backpackers to seek restaurants using ratings, reviews, and images, so if you’re looking for affordable yet elegant places to dine at, you’ll certainly discover a few here. Select a place to eat by price, cuisine, and ambiance. Zomato even lets you book tables in certain eateries, as well as open a map to filter restaurants by a location if you’re simply too tired to make way to a certain restaurant 5 kilometers away. Zomato is available in more than 9,000 cities across Canada, Portugal, Ireland, India, South Africa, and many other countries. With Zomato on your iPhone, you’d be having more exciting dinners than sharing a loaf of bread with fellow hostellers, without burning a hole down your wallet.

7. Duolingo

This is the ideal app to download if you’re traveling somewhere for a couple of months and want to get apt at a local language (or at least know how to say more than a simple ‘hi’). Not only learning a local language helps you get out and about, but it also makes you come off as ‘friendly’ to the locals. Install and start using it a couple of months in advance – and you’ll be thanking yourself when you’re stuck at a train station and have to deal with an Uber driver who is blank about the English language. It is also the right app to use if you want to engage in a haggle – you’ll be in a better position to negotiate if you speak the local language. Plus, any experiences you have during local activities will be entirely enriched. Download it and start learning some basic phrases today.

8. XE

The app, which was created in Canada, has become the go-to tool for backpackers who want to compare exchange rates in real-time while on the go. It is one of the most practical apps for those planning a trip to Europe for the very first time; although the continent is argued to be costly, XE will lighten the experience by ensuring you have a relatable technology to compare your country’s currency with the local currency of the destination you’re visiting. Plus, it will help you save dollars by allowing you to make currency purchases at the right time. Of course, you’d still have to convert through your bank or visit a local currency dealer.

Bottom line

Backpacking isn’t as easy as it sounds. Without proper preparation and planning, a lot can go wrong. But with these iPhone apps by your side, you’re likely to stay and feel more confident as they’ll cut short the work you need to do for enhancing your experience.