I’ve learned that using the right travel and local apps can really improve your trip. They can also save you time and money and make you less stressed about travelling. From my own experience, I know that many of these apps give you unique information about places and things to do that most tourists don’t know about. Even better, a lot of these apps are free. So, whether you’re looking for an app that can help you get cheap tickets to exclusive local events or one that can help you book a last-minute hotel room for a lot less than it would cost normally, these apps can make your trips a lot better.
Many apps help you do everything from same-day hotel reservations to last-minute flight changes, plus apps that act as travel guides and foreign language dictionaries that fit in the palm of your hand. Apps can help you navigate a new city, perform currency conversions, pack the perfect suitcase, and even offer local expertise on the spot. Whatever you need when you are traveling, there is an app for you. No one wants to feel like a tourist.
Travel apps provide all the assistance you need for your trip, such as location details, ticket reservation costs, restaurant details, ticket booking function, the ability to book accommodations, cabs, and explore local experiences. Tourists can also decide when to visit this place through weather updates. Below we have mentioned the best travel and local apps.
What are travel apps?
Travel apps are software programmes that help travellers plan, organise, and get the most out of their trips. Most of these apps are made for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, and they can be used in a variety of ways to make travelling easier, faster, and more fun. These are some common types of travel apps:
Booking apps: These apps let users search for and book flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel accommodations. Expedia, Booking.com, and Kayak are all well-known examples.
Navigation apps help people get around unfamiliar places by giving them maps, GPS directions, and real-time traffic reports. Most people use Google Maps and Waze to get around.
Apps for planning trips: These apps help people plan their trips by recommending itineraries, activities, and attractions based on what they like and what they are interested in. Such apps include TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet.
Apps that translate languages: These apps help travellers communicate with locals by translating in real time. Google Translate and Duolingo are well-known apps for translating languages.
Currency Conversion Apps: When travelling to different countries, people often need to change their money. Apps like XE Currency and OANDA can help people find the most up-to-date exchange rates.
Best Travel And Local Apps
This table compares the best travel and local apps by showing their features, user ratings, and which devices they work with. It helps users choose the best app for their needs, whether they want to find their way, stay in a hotel, or check out local attractions. It does this by giving a brief summary of each app’s most important features.
| App | Purpose | Key Features | Platform Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopper | Flight & Hotel Booking | Predicts airfare prices, tracks prices, notifies of deals | iOS, Android |
| Airbnb | Accommodation Booking | Rent unique homes, experiences, and places | Worldwide |
| GasBuddy | Gas Price Tracking | Find cheapest gas prices, earn rewards | iOS, Android |
| TripIt | Travel Organizer | Organizes travel plans, creates itineraries | iOS, Android |
| Waze | Navigation & Traffic | Real-time traffic updates, community-based navigation | iOS, Android |
| Hotel Tonight | Last-Minute Hotel Booking | Book last-minute hotel deals, curated options | iOS, Android |
Hopper
Features
- Predicts flight and hotel prices, helping users find the best deals.
- Offers fare alerts to notify users when prices drop.
- Provides a calendar view for flexible travel planning.
In recent years, Hopper has transformed from a simple flight price forecasting tool to a full-fledged OTA. The app helps travelers find the cheapest flights, hotels, and rental cars. Of course, Hopper still offers its price prediction technology to help you plan when to book, and it has recently added new tools to its repertoire, including travel protection options and price blocking to help you lock in the lowest possible price on hotels and flights.
The app also has a price-monitoring feature that allows you to select a particular flight and receive alerts if the price drops. Through Hopper, users can also compare prices and services of more than 250 airlines and receive alerts on flash sales of airline tickets. For now, this is one of the best Travel And Local Apps you can download now.
Pros
- Predicts flight and hotel prices to help you find the best deals.
- User-friendly interface.
- Offers price freeze options.
Cons
- Limited hotel options compared to other platforms.
- No car rental booking features.
Airbnb
Features
- Allows users to book unique accommodations, including homes and apartments.
- Offers experiences and activities hosted by locals.
- Provides a platform for hosts to list their properties.
Airbnb began by connecting travelers with people who have rooms, apartments, houses, and other accommodations to rent. Now the site offers much more to travelers, including tours, classes, workshops, and restaurant reservations. Whether you use Airbnb to find a place to stay or to find inspiration on what to do on your next trip, you are guaranteed to see great, beautiful photographs of everything. Overall, this is one of the best Travel And Local Apps you can download now.
It’s ideal for managing your travels while you’re on the road: you can access all your reservations under the “Travels” tab, where you can view your reservation (and address or directions), contact the host, or change your reservation. Once you have made your reservation, you can also browse and book local experiences at your destination, such as wine tastings, kayak tours, hikes, shows, concerts, and more.
Pros
- Wide range of unique accommodation options.
- Local and immersive travel experiences.
- User reviews and ratings help in decision-making.
Cons
- Service fees and cleaning fees can add to the cost.
- Not as consistent in quality as traditional hotels.
GasBuddy
Features
- Helps users find the cheapest gas prices in their area.
- Provides real-time price updates based on user contributions.
- Offers rewards and loyalty programs for frequent users.
If road trips are your thing, consider GasBuddy, a mobile application that helps users find the cheapest gasoline in their region. Users can access their GPS location through their phone, or search by address or zip code to find nearby gasoline prices. Overall, this is one of the best Travel And Local Apps you can download now.
On road trips, you will be glad to have GasBuddy at your fingertips. It helps you find gasoline by location and price in real time on your phone or through the website if you want to plan ahead. If you can save a couple of dollars by going a little further ahead, GasBuddy will let you know.
Pros
- Service fees and cleaning fees can add to the cost.
- Not as consistent in quality as traditional hotels.
Cons
- Limited to gas price information.
- Some areas may have incomplete or outdated data.
TripIt
Features
- Organizes travel itineraries by consolidating bookings and reservations.
- Syncs with calendars and sends real-time travel alerts.
- Supports sharing itineraries with friends or colleagues.
TripIt is a salvation for all travelers who don’t know how to plan. If you are also among them, don’t worry! All you have to do is download TripIt. As soon as you log in, the app will ask you for the details of your trip (such as duration, budget, and time of visit) and will plan and create an itinerary suitable for the same. It can also synchronize details of flight, hotel, car and other bookings with your cell phone calendar and further add them to your main itinerary.
TripIt also makes it easy to share travel plans with those who pick you up at the airport or station, or anyone else who needs to coordinate with you or learn about your travel plans. Subscriptions to TripIt Pro cost $49 per year and include extras such as real-time flight alerts, security wait times, baggage claim information, and updates on loyalty programs. Still, this is one of the best Travel And Local Apps you can download now.
Pros
- Organizes your travel itinerary in one place.
- Syncs with your email to create itineraries automatically.
- Provides real-time flight alerts.
Cons
- Advanced features require a paid subscription.
- May not support all airlines or booking platforms.
Waze
Features
- Provides real-time traffic and navigation information.
- Offers community-sourced data for accurate road conditions.
- Suggests alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion.
The navigation app provides your smartphone with real-time traffic information based on reports from other Waze users. This data includes accidents, speed cameras, and other hazards that may prevent you from reaching your destination on time. Thus, this is one of the best Travel And Local Apps you can download now.
Another good app for the road, Waze provides community-based data on traffic jams and information to locate points of interest such as the cheapest gas stations and fastest routes to your destination. Live maps include voice-guided navigation to guide you easily.
Pros
- Real-time traffic updates and navigation.
- User-generated data for accurate route suggestions.
- Alerts for road hazards, police, and speed traps.
Cons
- Heavily relies on an internet connection.
- Battery-intensive when used for extended periods.
Hotel Tonight
Features
- Offers last-minute hotel bookings at discounted rates.
- Provides information about nearby hotels with availability.
- Includes user reviews and ratings for hotel selection.
Some people, myself included, panic at the notion of having to book a hotel room at the last minute. For travelers ready to fly by the seat of their pants, there’s Hotel Tonight. This travel app specializes in selling off same-day hotel reservations, often at steep discounts. It also has options to book in advance, but the best deals are same-day bookings.
A dream for last-minute travelers, Hotel Tonight allows you to book stays for the same evening or up to seven days before your stay. Available hotel rooms are categorized into categories like basic, luxe, charming and high-roller, and the app offers solid last-minute rates. There are also useful features such as being able to save favorite hotels and scroll through reviews and user-generated photos. Overall, this is one of the best Travel And Local Apps you can download now.
Pros
- Last-minute hotel booking deals.
- User-friendly interface for quick bookings.
- Discounts on unsold hotel rooms.
Cons
- Limited to same-day bookings.
- Availability may vary in less-populated areas.
How to choose the best travel apps for you?
Choosing the best travel apps for your needs can make your trip much more enjoyable. This step-by-step guide will help you choose the best travel apps:
Figure out why you want to travel: Think about why you’re going. Are you travelling for fun, business, an adventure, or to learn about a different culture? The apps you need will depend on what you want to do on your trip.
Figure out what you need: Make a list of everything you’ll need on your trip, such as flight reservations, a place to stay, directions, a language translator, suggestions from locals, or a way to get around.
Look at the comments and ratings: Start by looking for apps in an app store, like the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Look for travel apps that have good ratings and reviews from people who have used them. These can tell you a lot about how the app works and how reliable it is.
Think About Offline Capabilities: Make sure the app can work without an internet connection or with a limited connection, since you may not always have a stable internet connection when you’re travelling.
Check if it works: Check to see if the app works with your device’s operating system (iOS or Android) and the version of your device.
Safety and confidentiality: Check out the app’s privacy settings and what it can do. Make sure you are okay with the information it gathers and how it is used. Be careful with apps that ask for too much access.
FAQs
Mapstr lets you keep track of all your favourite places around the world, label them, and share them with whoever you want. Download Mapstr and make a map of YOUR world to remember your favourite places (restaurants, bars, museums, etc.) and to plan your next trip.
You can make reservations at restaurants, save your favourite places, and read and write reviews of things to do, places to eat, shops, and more. If you know you won’t have internet at your destination, download maps of the city or area ahead of time so you can use them without the internet.
