9 Travel Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier

Traveling to a new place can be both exciting and hectic. Fortunately, we live in an age where things, such as directions and currency conversion, are just a click away on a smartphone. And to make traveling even easier, Sarah of the blog “Midwest Darling” is sharing the 9 best travel apps in this month’s travel guest post! Make your travels stress-free and check out her list below!

Travel Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier

There are two things you need to know about me, I love to travel and I love being organized. I’d love to be one of those people who can whimsically float around by the seat of their pants, but I just don’t have it in me. I’m a planner; I want to get the most out of my trips. Therefore, I rely heavily on apps to help me plan and organize my vacations. I’ve tried a ton of different ones, but here is a list of ones I find the most helpful.

1.) SpotHero

Why I love it: I am in love with this one. Last summer Ivan and I had to go to Chicago. We decided to drive instead of taking the train in because it would be cheaper. However, when I found out how much the hotel wanted to charge for parking ($30 a night!), I knew I had to find an alternative. Enter SpotHero. You can search SpotHero for all the parking options around a certain location. You enter the time frame you will be there and it shows you the cost. It’s generally cheaper than the normal price and your spot is guaranteed. Plus, you can usually find promo codes online to bring your price down even further.

2.) TripIt

Why I love it: TripIt is great because it keeps all of your travel information in one place. It’s like an itinerary that organizes your flight information, dinner reservations, activities, hotel reservations and everything in between in one place.

3.) GasBuddy

Why I love it: If you are going on a road trip, you simply have to use GasBuddy. The app searches for gas stations around you and shows you their current prices. There is also a feature on the website that estimates your total trip cost based on your car make and model. It will also show you the best places to stop for gas along the way.

4.) Airbnb

Why I love it: Guys, I’m obsessed with Airbnb. It’s a site that allows you to connect with people who are renting out their rooms, suites or entire homes. It’s generally cheaper than a hotel and gives you a true local experience. Not only do you get the chance to live like a local, but you also get access to a place with all the comforts of home instead of a cramped hotel room.

5.) Google Translate

Why I love it: I’m really bad with languages. I find that Google translate is incredibly helpful when you need to communicate but don’t know the language. Sure, it’s not always accurate, but it’s close enough that you can get your point across.

6.) Skyscanner

Why I love it: Skyscanner is my favorite. Skyscanner is a flight search tool that allows you to search for flights over an entire month. This is perfect for when you don’t have set dates because you can find the best deal. It’s easy to use and pretty accurate. Plus, you also have the option to leave the destination open. So you can search for flights to “anywhere” from your home airport. This allows you to find some truly amazing deals if you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway.

7.) Hopper

Why I love it: I use both Hopper and Skyscanner, but I use them for different reasons. When I have particular dates picked out I go with Hopper. Hopper alerts you whenever your flight prices go down and it lets you know if prices are likely to rise or drop. Basically, it lets you know the best time to purchase tickets for a particular flight.

8.) Oanda Currency Converter

Why I love it:  I’m notoriously bad with math, especially when I have to calculate things in my head. To make things easier on myself I rely on Oanda.  It allows you to quickly calculate an exchange rate and even add in a foreign transaction fee (if your bank/credit card charges you one).

9.) Uber | Lyft

Why I love it: I try to use public transportation when I’m traveling, but sometimes you just want an easy ride. That’s where Uber and Lyft come in. You don’t have to call/find a local cab company and it’s almost always insanely quick. You’ll be able to get a ride whenever you need it, to wherever you need it. 

 

Thank you so much for sharing these awesome apps with us, Sarah! I’m especially excited to start using Skyscanner!