There’s SO many apps out there…ain’t nobody got time to keep up with the latest and greatest. At least I don’t. Heck I didn’t even get a smartphone until everyone else already had one for 3 years…. However, once I DID get a smartphone, I leaned in. Now I use it to rule the world! Well, not exactly rule the world…just navigate it – and there are plenty of amazing apps out there that help you do just that. It can be overwhelming, so I’ve narrowed it down to the actual apps that I regularly use to trip plan, keep organized, and are essential while traveling. Note: I do not receive any compensation for endorsing any of these apps, these are just my personal opinions!

Let’s break it down:

Google Flights

It’s kinda nuts that I’m starting my list of apps – with a site that actually DOESN’T have an app. But here me out. It works perfectly on my phone’s internet browser and I just can’t gush enough about how awesome Google Flights is. With so many great features like the explore option (pick a departure city and explore the map to see where you can go, with prices!) and options to track prices via email notifications – it is always my numero uno for starting to plan any trip.  It also has great little features like predicting which flights are usually delayed, and info on baggage fees. Also, they list the flights in your search by the “best” flights, which is based on criteria OTHER than just price, like more convenient times, long layovers, number of stops etc.

Google Flights also provides links to book directly with the airlines (always a good idea) making it a one stop shop for flight research and booking. Although using Google Flights thru my phone’s browser works just fine, I’ll be first in line to download their app when it happens.

Rome2rio

This app is prefect for finding out how to get from point A to point B, anywhere in the world. It’s amazing because it uses all modes of transportation: flights, trains, car rentals, car sharing, buses, ferries – you name it. It is another great place to start when planning a trip, especially when you are not sure the best way to get somewhere you’ve never been before. And it’s fun! Because the best or most convenient way to get to your destination might not be the way you thought. Other stellar features include estimated prices, and links to schedules and timetables.

Hopper or Kayak

These are interchangeable for me. Both are powerful flight searching apps, but the killer feature here is their price prediction. I usually do not book from either of these sites, because most of the time they link to third party sites vs the actual airline (and it’s always better to book with the actual airline). BUT their flight price tracking and prediction are pretty darn good. It’s a great way to find out when is the best time to buy your flight, when the price is going to go up, and if there’s any chance of getting a better price in the future – and when.

Booking.com

This is kinda my go-to for finding any type of accommodation worldwide. Hotels, hostels, B&B’s, vacation rentals – you can find them all thru Booking.com. You can also book rental cars, flights, flight + hotel packages and even book your airport taxi, but I mainly use it to book accommodations. With seemingly endless filter options, you can easily dial in on exactly what it is you are looking for. Since Booking.com is widely used, many people from around the world have submitted reviews -making it easier for you to make your decision. The app also has a feature to save your reservation information offline so you can access it without internet.

Airbnb

I can’t gush enough about how awesome vacation rentals are, and to me Airbnb is the gold standard in finding and booking amazing vacation rentals around the world. HomeAway and VRBO are also good options, but I’ve found that Airbnb seems to be the most internationally used. Great features include “Wish lists” that you can add your favorite finds to, invite others to collaborate on, and a messaging system to seamlessly communicate with hosts. Airbnb’s newest option is the ability to book experiences thru their site – making it easier to have an authentic local experience anywhere in the world. Sweet!

Tripit

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a service that automatically detected all of your booking confirmation emails for flights, hotels, cars and activities and organized them into a chronological trip itinerary with all of your relevant info easily at hand? Well, there’s an app for that – and it’s called Tripit. Just link your email to Tripit (don’t worry, it’s safe) and…magic. With other great features like automatic calendar syncing and the ability to invite others to share your itinerary, Tripit is pretty freaking amazing. All of these features are available on their free version, but if you feel like upgrading to Tripit Pro, you’ll get real-time flight updates pushed thru to your phone so you’ll know right away if your gate changes or if your flight is cancelled. Pretty nifty right?

Google Translate

If you are traveling where you don’t speak the language, this is one of the best apps! There are so many ways to use it. You can type in phrases, write in words (like with your finger or stylus) speak into it, or even take pictures of foreign words to translate. The picture function comes in handy with menus and street signs. My favorite feature is that you can download languages to be available offline. This way, you don’t have to have internet access to use the app while abroad (saving those roaming charges). With over 100 languages available, Google Translate makes it possible to communicate with anyone in the world.

Uber

If you haven’t yet jumped on the ride-sharing band wagon, you probably should. It is oh-so convenient. Open the app, enter your destination, see an estimated price, and order you ride. Poof! Someone arrives at your location to pick you up and take you there. It is not instantaneous obviously, but you are given an estimate when your driver will arrive. It is great for rides to/ from the airport, or for when you are staying in a city, but don’t want to mess with renting a car. Uber’s app has great features like the ability to split the fare with your friends and share your ride info, so people will know when you will arrive. And with Uber available in cities all over the US and the world, it is more convenient than ever to get around on-demand.

WhatsApp

This is a brilliant app. You can text, call and video chat with anyone in the world, for free! Well, it is free as long as you are on Wi-Fi, if you aren’t then it will use your phone’s data, but there are no charges or fees for using Whatsapp. It is super simple, and a great way to communicate with people in foreign countries. Both when you are there, and from home. I’ve used this app to communicate with relatives and friends while abroad, with vacation rental hosts, hotels, and even between my husband and I when we lose each other shopping. I used it to communicate with our mountain guide for our climb up Mount Triglav in Slovenia. He was even able to send me a large number of photos from our trip via WhatsApp. This app is well worth it!

Currency XE

You wouldn’t think you would use a currency exchange app that often, but surprisingly I find myself using this one frequently during the trip planning phase. This app uses up-to date market info to provide accurate currency exchange rates via the app’s currency calculator. When trying to get an accurate budget set for a foreign trip, its super important to know exactly how much things will cost you in your currency – so there’s not any unpleasant surprises.

Waze

A crowd-sourced navigation app, brilliant! I literally use this app all.the.time. Nearly every day I use it for my morning commute, and definitely for every road trip. What makes it so great? It is so much more than just a navigation app. Waze is crowd-sourced. This means that Waze users report on traffic accidents, slow downs, construction zones and other hazards like pot holes and cars on the side of the road. Waze uses this info to give you real-time navigation. Helping you to avoid trouble spots by offering up alternate routes, and giving you fairly accurate estimated arrival times. The best random feature? You can choose from many different voices for verbal directions. My favorite is the “Boy Band” voice….it makes navigating traffic a little less serious. 😉

This is by no means an exhaustive list…there are so many apps out there! These are just the few that I use the most frequently, and that I feel bring the most value. There are others I use often, but are more specific to where I’m actually traveling, or whatever airline I am flying at the time. And of course there are some obvious ones that most everybody uses, like Google Maps.

What are some of your favorite travel apps? I’d love to here from you in the comments below!