For most travellers, time is the most important resource and having the right tools with you on your travels can make your trips a lot more convenient and enjoyable. There is an endless selection of travel apps and websites out there in 2021 making it difficult to figure out which one is right for you. To help you decide which travel itinerary planner or tracker app you truly need we’ve listed the best travel apps of 2021 which will make your life easier and save you a lot of time and effort in the process. This complete list of travel apps includes international options, European options, planning apps and the best apps for solo or independent travellers.
Top International Travel Apps
Currency App
The Currency tracker App is an absolute essential when you travel and will help you navigate pricing differences in every country. You can save currencies as a favourite for quick access and the app even works offline. You can directly compare as many currencies as you like and therefore easily convert both small and large amounts. The Currency App automatically updates itself whenever you go online so that you always have the latest exchange rates. It’s definitely one of the top international travel apps you’ll use every day and it makes life a lot easier since you’ll never have to convert amounts in your head or end up overpaying accidentally.
Google Translate
Google Translate might seem like a straightforward choice for the best international travel apps in 2021 but you might not actually be aware of all of its features. This app can access more than 100 languages, almost 60 of them offline. One of the most helpful features is that you can draw characters in the app which the app can recognise and then translate. This is incredibly helpful if you’re trying to translate a language with a different alphabet.
Google Translate’s most underrated feature for travellers is arguably the photo recognition option. The app can use your camera and translate any text you’re taking a photo of in almost 40 languages. This works live and is incredibly convenient when you’re on the go. You can also get a direct translation followed by pronunciation, so you can just show someone the screen of your smartphone or use the voice function to communicate with other people when you’re travelling.
One of the top international travel apps you should have downloaded is definitely Airbnb, especially for solo or independent travellers. Not only is Airbnb fantastic for finding accommodation on the go for all price ranges, but it also enables you to have a more authentic and local experience as you travel. Airbnb listings are available in more than 200 countries and range from homestays, separate apartments to luxurious villas or even sailboats or treehouses.
With the help of the Airbnb app, you’re sure to find the perfect accommodation on every single trip. You can make your bookings directly in the app where you can also get in touch with the owner and discuss details before you arrive. If you’re travelling long term you could even rent out your own place while you’re gone to make some extra money.
Best Travel Planning Apps
The best travel itinerary app in 2021 is probably Triposo. With more than 50,000 destinations worldwide, it is the perfect replacement for any travel guide book. For offline functionality, you can download city guides and various hiking trails along with a fully functional map of the place you are currently in. Additionally, you can find information about the history of the city, things to do and see, information about the current weather conditions and much more. There is also the option to book hotels, tours or restaurant reservations through this travel tracker app to make your itinerary absolutely perfect.
TripIt is another fantastic option when it comes to the best travel planning apps, especially for independent or solo travellers. This travel itinerary planner app lets you organize and view everything related to your trip in one place. Flight itineraries, travel confirmations, hotel and Airbnb booking information, rental car reservations and much more are all gathered together so you’ll never have to go looking for them again.
Even better, if you’re travelling in a group you can share your travel plans with other people so they always have all the information they need. The Pro version of TripIt costs $49 a year which is definitely worth it if you travel a lot. Included in your membership, you’ll get info on security checkpoint wait times, current flight alerts as well as information on loyalty points programs.
PackPoint might just be the best travel planner app on this list and is a favourite for thousands of travellers worldwide. This is the ultimate packing app that will help you pack your suitcase so you’re prepared for everything at your destination. Download the app, enter your destination and the length of your stay, and the app will give you a complete list of what to pack. For longer stays, you can even let the app know if there is a possibility of doing laundry, which will be taken into account for your personalised packing list.
PackPoint is available for free on the App Store as well as Google Play. The premium version for $3 can even be connected to Evernote and TripIt. For solo or independent travellers, this is one of the best apps as it helps you keep track of all your belongings without having to rely on someone else.
Kayak is not only an app but also a very popular website to help you plan your travel itinerary. It is essentially a travel search engine that lets you compare prices of flights, hotels, trains, package vacations or rental cars. With Kayak you will always find the best deals and cheapest prices for your trip as the app filters through hundreds of providers and shows you only the best ones. This travel planner app will save you a lot of time searching the internet for the best prices and gets all the hard work done for you.
Best travel apps for Europe
Omio
If you’re planning your next trip and are looking for the best travel apps for Europe, Omnio is an absolute must-have. This app shows you all the different transportation options that are available for a specific route and recommends which one might be best for you. You can directly compare the different buses, trains and even flights and figure out which one would be quickest, cheapest or easiest for your journey. Tickets can be booked quickly and safely through the app making it a convenient option if you’re looking for the best travel apps in Europe.
If you’re travelling through central Europe on a budget you’ll absolutely need the Flixbus app. This low-cost bus service connects numerous cities in Europe with regular coaches and trains and is one of the best travel apps for budget travellers. Tickets are usually very affordable (e.g. a bus from Berlin to Vienna costs around 35€) and can be booked directly in the app. All coaches are equipped with wifi, so you won’t get bored on the ride. Getting around has never been so easy or affordable with this great travel planner app. This is also one of the best travel apps for solo or independent travellers as you can book your transport spontaneously and on the go.
Flixbus might be great for long-distance journeys but Citymapper is definitely one of the best travel planning apps when it comes to regional transport in Europe. This app provides you with public transport maps for buses and trains with up-to-date timetables, traffic status updates and even car- and bike-sharing information. If you’re new to a city, you can use the app to find out which exit to take at the train station, for example, which can be incredibly helpful. The Citymapper app is a fantastic companion to help you find your way around a new city quickly and safely.
Best Travel Tracker Apps
Evernote
Have you ever found yourself struggling to remember the name of a restaurant you went to on a recent trip? You won’t have that problem any more thanks to Evernote. This app helps you write down your favourite restaurants, the address of your hotel and all the important information that might get lost otherwise. Evernote is the perfect replacement for a diary or notebook, which you might not always take with you when you travel. The app can also be connected to your Gmail account, so you can save travel itineraries and have them with you wherever you go. Evernote is free but there is an extra charge for some of the available extensions.
Tripcast is designed to be the ultimate travel tracker app for all types of travellers. You can share your travel experiences with friends and create shared photo albums so that each member of the group has access to the photos taken by everyone. When a photo is uploaded, the app creates a map based on geotagging, so you can keep track of where you took which picture. The app is available for free for IOS and Android and also works as a website. Always have your photos in one place with this fantastic travel tracker app.
Dollarbird
While travelling it’s easy to lose track of your finances and you might end up spending more than you had originally planned. Dollarbird is the perfect choice to make sure that doesn’t happen and help you track exactly what you’ve spent your money on when you travel. You can enter your past, future or recurring expenses and income into the app under different categories and see a complete overview of your monthly and even annual expenses. You can also share your entries with someone else, e.g. your partner, so you can get an overview of your joint expenses and easily split bills. Never overdraw your budget again with Dollarbird, one of the best travel budgeting apps in 2021.
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