The Best Travel Apps – Tried, Tested, and Trusted

These are the apps I’ve tried, tested, and now rely on when I travel. No ads, no sponsorships, just my own experience from trips that sometimes went smoothly… and sometimes didn’t. I’ll keep this list updated as I find new favourites, so check back now and then — and if you’ve got one that’s saved your travel day, I’d love to hear about it.

 

WHATSAPP

I use this one daily to keep in touch with friends, but it takes on a whole new life when I travel. Over the last few years, WhatsApp has become how many businesses communicate too. I’ve booked taxis and transfers, made restaurant reservations, and even messaged my walking tour guide when I realised I’d gone to the wrong meeting point (oops).

AIRLO

There are loads of eSIM providers out there, but Airalo was recommended to me and it’s been brilliant. I’ve used it in Albania and Montenegro, and I’m planning to use it again in South Africa later this year. A friend gave me the best advice: download the app and choose your data package before you leave home while you’re still on Wi-Fi. The package doesn’t activate until you arrive, so the moment you land you’ve got data to book an Uber, check directions, or find your hotel. Coverage has always been solid, and there’s often a referral discount too, always a nice bonus!

WISE

Wise is my go-to travel card. You can preload different currencies and use it like a debit card to pay or withdraw cash. I’ve tried a few over the years, but I’ve stuck with Wise, which usually offers one of the best exchange rates and low fees. They’ve added a bill-splitting feature recently that I haven’t used yet, but I definitely will on my next trip. A quick tip — avoid converting currency over the weekend. The rates are usually less favourable. I also use Wise to convert prices instead of having a separate currency app.               

GOOGLE MAPS OFFLINE

If you have read any of my previous blogs, you already know how much I love this feature. When I was travelling around Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, I decided to have a phone detox, but at time I still needed the map. Before leaving the hotel each morning, I downloaded the area I was visiting and then switched to airplane mode. It worked perfectly, used no data, and my battery lasted all day. Definitely give this one a go next time you’re travelling.

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

The feature I use most is photo translate - you take a picture and it instantly translates the text. Perfect for menus, signs, and supermarket mysteries. There’s also an offline feature I haven’t tried yet but plan to. I once used the speech translate function to chat with a tow truck driver in France, it turned what would have been an awkward game of charades into an actual conversation.

CAR-SHARING APPS

I’ve tried plenty — Uber, Bolt, and a few local ones. My advice? Do a bit of research before your trip to see which one works best where you’re going. Sometimes Uber shows you the route and price they aren’t actually licensed for; the just return that disappointing “no cars available” message (looking at you, Croatia-to-Montenegro trip). Some apps also need a local phone number to register, so watch out for that. And if all else fails, good old local taxis are usually just a WhatsApp message away.

AIRLINE APPS

Always download the app for the airline you’re flying with. Some are clunky, some are great, but all are useful. Most will send you alerts about check-in, gate changes, delays, or where to collect your luggage. Plus, checking in through the app is usually much quicker than on the website.

 

And here is an app I haven’t yet tried but have downloaded for my next trip

ATM FEE SAVER

I usually use the ATM locator in the Wise app, but this one looks interesting. If it helps dodge some of those sneaky ATM fees, I’m all in.

 

Here are a few niche apps that are useful for certain types of trips.

RICK STEVES AUDIO EUROPE

This one’s great if you’re heading around Europe. It’s full of guided walks, history talks, and interviews, all of which are downloadable so you can listen offline. Don’t wait until you arrive to use it; the interviews are perfect pre-trip listening to get you in the mood and help plan your time.

SPLITWISE

Ideal for keeping track of shared costs when you’re travelling with others. It tallies who paid for what, so no one ends up doing mental maths or feeling short-changed. It is also useful to keep track of any deposits and pre-payments.

RADICAL STORAGE

If you can’t leave your bags where you’re staying, this app finds nearby luggage storage spots. I always check the reviews before heading out and only ever choose a locker option. You can prebook and prepay, which is super handy during busy seasons.

 

So there you have it — my current line-up of travel apps that actually earn their place on my phone. I’ll keep updating this list as I find new ones that genuinely make travel easier.

If you’ve got an app that’s saved your trip, made your travels smoother, or just stopped you from getting lost, I’d love to hear about it — drop me a message or comment.