
Travel in the electronic age has many advantages, but there are also some disadvantages. While exploring a new city may be exciting, it can also be frustrating to find yourself lost with no idea where you are or how to get back to your hotel. That is why we believe one of the most important digital trends for travelers are travel apps.
These are programs on your phone, tablet, or computer that can help you navigate your way along your journey.
How We Reviewed Travel Apps
We understand you live a busy life that may not include spending long hours sorting through available travel apps. That is why we have compiled this list for you to help you begin your search. In relaying the information, we have tried to be accurate and honest in our review of each product.
We have looked for quality apps that can benefit your travels in a positive way, that are easy to navigate, and that offer regular updates. Additionally, we studied current user reviews to make sure our list included travel apps that commuters and tourists around the world found useful.
Item | Description | Link |
---|---|---|
Citymapper Transit Navigation | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: 35 Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.5 Apple Rating: 4.3 | |
Uber | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: 500 Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.2 Apple Rating: 4.5 | |
Google Translate | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of languages: 103 Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.4 Apple Rating: 4.5 | |
Airbnb | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: A million plus Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.4 Apple Rating: 4.8 | |
XE Currency | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: A million plus Add-on Features Available: Yes, for $1.99 Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.4 Apple Rating: 4.7 | |
Mobile Passport | Worldwide Availability: No Number of Airports : 24 Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.7 Apple Rating: 4.7 | |
Wi-Fi Finder | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: A million plus Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.3 Apple Rating: 4.5 | |
RunGo | Worldwide Availability: Yes | |
Prey Anti Theft | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: A million plus Add-on Features Available: Yes, for between $5 and $10 Cost: Free Google Rating: 4.2 Apple Rating: 4.6 | |
GETMYBOAT | Worldwide Availability: Yes Number of Cities: N/A Add-on Features Available: No Cost: Free Google Rating: 3.6 Apple Rating: 4.6 |
Top 10 Useful Travel Apps
Here is our list of the 10 best apps for 2018. They are listed in no particular rank or order.
Citymapper Transit Navigation
Key Features
Citimapper is basically a mapping system for various cities that includes public transportation. It is listed as an Editor’s Choice on Google Play and has received other recent awards.
Highly rated by consumers, this app checks close departure points, finds the quickest route via all forms of transport, and sends alerts when your normal modes of transportation are disrupted. Citimapper is currently active in over 35 major metropolitan areas around the world. If you are looking to use public transportation, then this app is for you.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
Pricing
Free
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
Warranty information is unknown; however, there are regular updates offered. Also, information is provided that allows contact with sellers.
Coupons/Deals
N/A
UBER
Key Features
The Uber app can be a lifesaver when you are in a foreign town. Dial up where you’d like to go, and a driver will be on his or her way to pick you up in minutes. Uber is especially useful in foreign towns where you don’t speak the regional dialect. No need to communicate your destination to the driver since it should be listed in their GPS already. Uber is one of the most important apps to have in your arsenal, even if it’s only as a backup method of transportation.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
| •Not available for older iOS systems. |
Pricing
Free
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
No warranty information is available, but there is a customer service contact number listed.
Coupons/Deals
At the time of this review, coupons for $20 off your first ride are available.
Google Translate
Key Features
If you are visiting a foreign country and you don’t speak the language fluently, this is the app for you. Able to translate over 100 languages, this multilingual translation app can help you understand what is going on around you. Whether you speak the words, type out sentences, or write letters on the screen, Google Translate can make your vacation flow much more smoothly.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
|
Pricing
Free
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
No warranty information is available, but there is a customer service contact number available.
Coupons/Deals
N/A
Airbnb
Key Features
Airbnb is an online program that allows people all over the world to rent out rooms, buildings, and homes to guests. This allows hosts to earn money on spare bedrooms, rental homes, and empty cabanas. Because the program had a network of over 6 million active participants last year, guests can find exactly what they are looking for in hundreds of countries.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•Easy to book rooms. •Rooms feel more “homey” than a hotel. •Peer-review system allows guests to rate hosts, and vice versa. | |
Pricing
Nightly room rates can range from $24 for a single room to well over $2,500 for a personal island.
Where To Buy
Reservations are taken on www.airbnb.com after guests have set up an account.
Warranty
Lloyd’s of London backs European reservations, and Airbnb has an insurance policy against loss due to vandalism or theft.
Coupons/Deals
Depending on your travel area, coupons and deals can sometimes be found, but they are often offered only by the host, not Airbnb.
XE Currency travel apps
Key Features
XE Currency is a currency converter and monitor. It updates all currencies and precious metals every minute and can be used offline in case the internet goes down. It can also be set to actively monitor 10 currencies at once with rate alerts that clue you in when a price matches your target. For $1.99, you can upgrade to XE Currency Pro, which allows for setting rate alerts for a greater number of currencies. This app might seem a bit obscure, but if you are traveling internationally, it can be quite handy for figuring out costs in a pinch.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•40 currency conversions available. •No minimum amount required. | •Not regulated by the FCA. •Uses secondary companies for currency transfers. |
Pricing
Free, but does offer an expanded app for a fee.
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
The product is not sold with a warranty, but there is a customer service number available.
Coupons/Deals
N/A
Mobile Passport
Key Features
Mobile Passport is a program that is officially authorized by United States Customs and Border Protection. If you don’t have Global Entry, then this app is for you. Upon landing, you fill out the appropriate customs information in the program.
This data will be submitted to US CBP over Wi-Fi, and if all is clear, you receive a receipt that is good for four hours. As you depart the aircraft, look for the Mobile Passport signs which will lead to another line, which is most likely many times shorter than the regular line. The CBP official will scan the barcode from your phone receipt and will review your passport, then – voila – you are through in record time!
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•Can cut airport waiting time •Authorized by United States Customs and Border Protection. | •Only available for use in 24 airports. |
Pricing
Free
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
Contact and customer support information is provided, but no warranties are offered.
Coupons/Deals
N/A
WiFi Finder
Key Features
Wi-Fi Finder is an app that consolidates Wi-Fi hotspots from around the globe and presents them in an easy-to-understand manner. It will look for Wi-Fi locations in your vicinity, find fast speeds, give you the type of venue (store, restaurant, bar, hotel, cafe and more), test for signal strength, and give you the login information. Much of the data is gleaned from the SpeedSpot community, which has over 10 million users. The Wi-Fi Finder is a great tool for the electronic traveler as it makes finding an elusive signal that much easier.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•Claims to locate more than 2 million hotspots per continent. •Saves money on roaming costs – only requires a Wi-Fi connection. | •Battery life is decreased because GPS runs in the background. •Users report some bugs with the system. . |
Pricing
Free
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
No warranty information is available, but there is a customer service contact number listed.
Coupons/Deals
N/A
RunGO
Key Features
If you are trying to stay fit while traveling, you know it can be difficult. RunGo has over 100,000 pre-set routes worldwide but also lets you establish your own route. In addition, you can listen to your music while still getting directions from the RunGo navigator about the course.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•Create your own route and store it. •Share your route with others. •Turn-by-turn vocal navigation is | •No Spotify or Apple Music connection available. •Available running routes are limited to listed cities. •Limited running data stored. |
Pricing
Free, but offers additional in-app purchases. Premium features are also available with subscription services.
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
No warranty information available and contact is made only through a form on the RunGo web page.
Coupons/Deals
N/A
Prey Anti Theft
Key Features
Unfortunately, electronics are easy grabs for thieves. Should your devices be taken, what can you do? The Prey Anti-Theft app allows you to track your phone, laptop, or tablet. The onboard camera lets you take silent pictures of who is using your device, helping police identify the culprit. Prey can even delete sensitive data on your system or retrieve precious photos from your lost device. You can also lock your electronics even while they are in the hands of the thief to prevent unauthorized access. Prey Anti-Theft allows you to get back some of your dignity, protect your privacy, and maybe even retrieve your items.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•Easy to install and set up. •Sends notifications about the missing or lost phone every 10 minutes. •The alarm is a high-pitched shrieking noise. •Can retrieve personal information from the device and then erase it. | •You must have access to the internet to lock your device down. •Your phone must have a connection to the internet and be “on” to lock it down. |
Pricing
Initial app is free. However, there are personal and home protection plans that cost between $5 and $10.
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
N/A
Coupons/Deals
N/A
GetMyBoat
Key Features
Have you been hankering for a water adventure? Try GetMyBoat, a booking app that covers boats, kayaks, sailing, surfing lessons, dive tours, rafting adventures, snorkeling and paddle boarding.
Whether it be a lesson, tour, or rental, your water adventure starts here. This app covers over 100,000 trips from all over the world.
What if you already own a boat? List it on GetMyBoat to make that extra revenue. GetMyBoat allows communication from the renter to the owner and makes the adventure happen much more smoothly.
Pros | CONS |
---|---|
•Filters allow the search for a boat to be specific and narrow. •Owners and renters can communicate through the app. •Anyone with a boat can earn extra money. | •Renters must register before using the app. |
Pricing
Free
Where To Buy
Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.
Warranty
N/A
Coupons/Deals
Coupons and deals are dependent on the location of the boat and the length of the trip.
Travel Apps: Product FAQs
Whether you own a smartphone, tablet, or computer, you have probably downloaded an app to improve the performance of your device or to experience a new form of entertainment. Games, books, travel directions, and weather are only a few of the different types of applications available for download.
What Is an App?
Each app is a software program you download to your device that allows you access to the information compiled by that one program.
Why Are Travel Apps Free?
Very few things are free in life, and apps are certainly a case in point. Apps are technically not free, even if you do not pay for them. The marketers and developers make money off information they collect when they access your device. Also, they often sell ads to generate interest in other items the company is selling. Sometimes versions of an app are free, but a second updated option must be purchased. Another ploy marketers use is to limit available features on the free version of their app, and then require a cash expenditure of any add-ons that are not only necessary but essential for continuing use of their app.
Can User Reviews Be Trusted?
There is no yes or no answer to this question. Most app developers and marketers include reviews that are honest appraisals of how users feel about the app. However, there have been consumer comments that were found to be false, and those companies are sued by the Federal Trade Commission for false advertising. If an app has been downloaded thousands of times and has mostly positive reviews, it is probably safe to download and enjoy.
Overall Price Range of This Product
The apps on our list are all free. However, there are several that add premium deals for an additional monthly or yearly charge.
The Verdict
Travel apps offer a myriad of uses. In this technological world, apps can bring us knowledge and help alleviate the tension that is often present when we travel to new and challenging locations. They can broaden our perspective by giving us more choices, and they help us identify locations that we want to visit.
When you are looking for a travel app, begin with the top 10 travel apps we have reviewed here. You won’t be disappointed.