One of the most exciting moments is the one right before a trip – when almost everything is done: tickets are bought, hotels are booked, sightseeing tours are planned, and the list of places to visit is sketched out. Unless you’ve done all this using travel apps, it is the best time to install some on your smartphone and see if they have anything to suggest.
CouchSurfing
If you want to save money while traveling and get first-hand information, you’ll love the CouchSurfing app. It is created on the principles of social networks, only the participants are divided into travelers and locals. The latter provide free accommodation and will gladly tell you about their homeland and localities over a cup of coffee.
The CouchSurfing network is like a hitchhikers’ community, where you can crash in an apartment, or rather on a couch, for a while. In this way people get acquainted, socialize and help each other. This application helps you find a traveling companion, a place to stay, and a lot of potential friends from various countries of the world.
Splitwise
Splitwise is excellent for those who travel in a company and count expenses together. This useful application helps to distribute any spending money to the necessary number of participants. Everything is easy, affordable and reliable, and most importantly, stress-free.
AroundMe
This one helps you find the nearest cafe, restaurant, diner or other place in seconds. AroundMe can provide menus, location and contacts of the establishment, as well as the ability to reserve a table without leaving the hotel.
Google Maps
Google Maps is arguably one of the best-known services for planning top-end trips. The app offers regularly updated maps for travelers with details, relays useful real-time information, and plots routes.
Maps.me
And this app is handy for those who need maps not only online but also offline. Maps.me is a serious and reliable map service with high detail and labeling of cafes, restaurants, hospitals and more.
PackPoint
If you are one of those for whom packing a suitcase with everything you need is a near impossible task with multiple variables, PackPoint travel planner is made specifically for you. As you pack, mark each item in the app. Then set the weather and the purpose of your outing, and it’ll tell you what you should wear from the variety of options available at the moment.
Skyscanner
This digital assistant instantly finds cheap flights and hotels, and tells you where to rent a car – also cheaply. Skyscanner can make a whole selection of inexpensive flights within a month, and recommend the best destinations to travel to right from your city.
Waze
This is one of the best travel navigators that is pro bono. It provides up-to-date information about roads, gas stations and other important travel news.
TripAdvisor
This app has absolutely everything from a cool guesthouse in Norway to reviews of a grilled chicken in Texas. You can find out about the most expensive restaurants in different countries and book a table for two at some of them, or figure out the cheapest hotels for your limited budget travel. A huge advantage of this service is that it works offline, although reservations can only be made online.
Conclusion
Modern apps can take traveling experience to a whole other level. They help you rent cars, convert currencies, discover landmarks, communicate with locals, customize routes to your destination, and plan your trip in general. The main advantage of this software is saving time and effort, as well as keeping the user’s spirits high!
And as for the short travels – around, say, your city – you can always use a bike. Such journeys don’t need that much planning or downloading of all the available helpful apps to avoid mistakes. New Yorkers have it especially easy: they’ve got a top-quality Central Park bike rental at their disposal. Check it out if you live in the Big Apple or visit the city, but there surely are some rental options in your location as well.
