Traveling is exciting, but it’s even better when your phone is stocked with the right tools. Whether you’re planning months in advance or just winging it, these apps will help you communicate, navigate, book, budget, and avoid travel headaches. Here’s my go-to list of travel apps that have saved me countless times on the road.
- WhatsApp – An absolute must-have for international travelers. WhatsApp works almost everywhere, letting you text, voice call, video chat, and share photos without racking up roaming fees. It uses less bandwidth than FaceTime, so you can give your family and friends live “virtual tours” while exploring.
- Google Translate – This app has leveled up over the years. You can now download any language for offline use – no need for Wi-Fi or using your data. I especially enjoy the camera translation tool, which instantly converts signs, menus, and other text into your language.
- SpanishDict – For Spanish learners, this app is pure gold. It doesn’t just give you a translation—it shows you example sentences and notes on regional variations. For instance, there are multiple words for “beans” in Spanish, and SpanishDict knows them all.
- TripIt – Think of TripIt as your personal travel secretary. It scans your email for booking confirmations and neatly organizes them in one place. The only catch is if your phone is lost or stolen or decides to throw in the white towel for no particular reason, your travel plans go with it. This is why I always recommend travelers keep printed copies of their confirmations as a backup. https://www.tripit.com/web
- XE Currency & Money Transfers – This clever little app is the quickest way to check live exchange rates. I can input $1 USD and it will immediately convert that amount into any currency I desire. https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
- Uber / Lyft / Bolt (or Local Alternatives) – Rideshare apps often beat traditional taxis for convenience and price. Ask your hotel which service is most common locally, as every country has its favorite.
- Saily – A fantastic option for affordable eSIM plans abroad. As of August 2025, you can snag 1 GB for 7 days in Europe for $5, or 5 GB for 30 days for $18.99. Plans cover almost every region and country, and expired eSIMs can be reactivated for future trips.
The only downside for me is that Saily does not offer voice minutes, meaning you cannot call a landline (although reaching an emergency service in the US or Europe is excluded from this, as long as you have a cellular signal). This may only be an issue if you have to connect with your hotel or call your bank, two situations that have happened to my family more than once. In the case of needing to reach your bank, it’s a good idea to add a trusted family member to one of your accounts, so they can act on your behalf if there is ever a situation where fraud is suspected and your bank is trying to reach you or, even worse situation, your debit/credit card(s) is stolen or lost while traveling. These things happen all the time, my fellow travelers, so be sure to have copies of all of your card numbers saved on something like Apple Pay or Google Pay, or even printed copies of your cards. - The Weather Channel – I’m a weather nut and with climate change making extreme weather events more common, I have learned the value of a good radar. The Weather Channel app’s radar has allowed me to track the trajectory of any incoming storm, so I know if I need to plan for a day visiting a museum or exploring the city.
- Rome2Rio – This lovely app, or you can use their website if you prefer, shows you how to get from Point A to Point B using trains, buses, ferries, or flights. I often use it to research bus or train routes, but when it comes to purchasing tickets, I generally prefer to do so directly from national providers (like Deutsche Bahn in Germany, Renfe in Spain, or Trenitalia in Italy) or at the station. https://www.rome2rio.com/
- Omio – If you want a single platform for booking predominantly European trains and buses, Omio is an excellent option. It’s also where Rome2Rio often redirects you for ticket purchases. https://www.omio.com/
- Skyscanner – This is my preferred flight search tool, but I only book directly with the airline I’m flying. If a flight is overbooked, third-party bookings are the first to get bumped. The same goes for hotel reservations during peak travel seasons or holidays. https://www.skyscanner.com/
- Wikipedia – Yeah, I know it might come off as silly to recommend Wikipedia as a travel app, but hear me out. I’m an academic and Wikipedia has allowed me to easily read about the history or culture of places I’m visiting. Furthermore, and this is a little travel hack of mine, look up the Wikipedia pages for the airport you need to fly to. Then scroll down to the “airlines and destinations” section of the page. And voilà, you’ve got every airline and destination that particular airport connects to directly. This is important because, unless you are an extreme budget traveler and have no problem being in transit for over twenty hours, it’s no fun to take more than one flight to your destination if it can be avoided. Also, if you use a credit card that gives you flight privileges, but you can only take certain airlines, then the airport Wikipedia pages are super useful!