Besides sharing the same first letter, travel and technology have grown increasingly intertwined. Unless you’ve purposefully stayed off the grid, you’ve likely noticed how new electronic gadgets and mobile devices enhance nearly every aspect of a trip. While a smartphone can’t physically move you, it can solve many problems travelers face and improve how you plan, navigate and enjoy your journeys.
At the crossroads of travel and technology are travel apps: compact programs built for smartphones and tablets that serve specialized purposes. They’re entertaining, often addictive, and hugely influential—more than 10 billion apps have been downloaded in recent years. Exploring and learning useful travel apps can keep you occupied during delays or downtime, though deciding which of the 17,000-plus travel apps to install can be overwhelming.
Travel apps suit a wide range of users—from frequent business travelers to weekend explorers. The best ones reveal hidden gems, help you connect with locals, and add convenience and enjoyment to your trip. Some apps can genuinely simplify travel logistics, replacing guidebooks and paper maps with instant, location-aware information.
Popular travel apps let you do online tasks faster and without a computer: find your exact location on a map, get turn-by-turn directions, search flights, book hotels, and receive restaurant recommendations. Many apps also translate speech in real time or aggregate trip details so you always have up-to-date itineraries at your fingertips.
When choosing apps, prioritize clarity and speed. While traveling you usually want answers immediately, so an app should have a simple, intuitive interface—if it’s confusing, skip it. Remember that much of the same information is available from other sources; the most valuable apps are those that make getting that information quick and effortless. Below are some of the most useful and successful travel apps available today. Try a few to find your favorites, but don’t overload your device.
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Lonely Planet City Guides
For travelers who want to get the most from a new city, guidebooks remain invaluable—but they can be bulky. Lonely Planet’s City Guide apps bring essential guidebook content to your mobile device and add GPS-enabled maps that show nearby attractions and points of interest. At the time of publication, Lonely Planet offered dozens of city and phrasebook titles, letting you carry rich local information without the weight. Price varies by city.
TripCase
TripCase, once named “Best Travel App” by Business Week, gathers and organizes travel details and sends updates directly to your phone. It provides real-time flight status, gate changes, security wait times, baggage claim details, car rental information, and hotel descriptions with photos. If you risk missing a flight, TripCase suggests alternatives and can monitor travel plans for others you designate, such as family members or clients. Free.
Packing Pro
Packing Pro helps prevent forgotten essentials by offering customizable packing lists and templates tailored to different travelers and trip types. You can choose lists based on gender, the number of children, destination and trip length, then tweak them to match your needs. $2.99.
TripIt
Frequent flyers should consider TripIt. Forward your booking confirmations to TripIt and it will intelligently collate flight, hotel and car reservations—regardless of where they were booked—and sync them to your device for easy reference. Free.
AccuWeather
AccuWeather is a widely used weather app that offers extended forecasts, hourly updates, forecast videos and the ability to store multiple locations. It’s useful for planning daily activities while traveling. Free with ads; a small fee removes ads.
AroundMe
AroundMe uses GPS to locate essential services nearby—banks, hospitals, gas stations, restaurants and more—providing addresses and directions. It also includes panoramic views of attractions, hotels and eateries to help with planning. Free.
Urbanspoon
Urbanspoon helps you discover restaurants by cuisine, neighborhood and price, or filter for top local picks. On tablets with data access you can see photos, menus and critic reviews to choose the best dining options. Free.
OpenTable
OpenTable lets you reserve tables at thousands of restaurants in multiple countries. Registered users can earn rewards points for dining and receive reservation confirmations to share with companions via email. Free.
Hotel Tonight
For last-minute stays, Hotel Tonight offers discounted one-night deals at select hotels in major cities. The app partners with hotels to provide limited-time rates—handy when you need a quick, affordable room. Free.
AllSubway HD
AllSubway HD compiles subway maps from over 100 international cities into one app. It’s a convenient reference for navigating public transit systems worldwide and continues to expand its coverage. Specialized apps for specific cities are also available for more detailed route information. $0.99.
Lingolook
Lingolook works offline, making it practical for travel without a data connection. It offers animated flash cards with more than 300 essential words and phrases, and taps can play audio pronunciations. Available in several languages, it’s useful for basic communication abroad. $4.99.
HIConverter
HIConverter covers the conversion needs most travelers encounter: currency exchange, clothing and shoe sizes, and a tip calculator that factors in tax. Many converter apps exist, but HIConverter packs the common units into a single simple app. $0.99.
JetSet: A Game for Airports
For downtime in airports, JetSet offers a lighthearted game that casts you as a TSA worker managing an increasingly chaotic security line. The game adapts to your location during play and awards virtual souvenirs tied to real airports for notable achievements. $0.99.
Room 77
When booking hotels, Room 77 provides detailed information about specific rooms—their views, size and layout—so you can request a room that best fits your needs. It also offers expert recommendations on standout guestrooms within a property. Free.