Great apps can transform your getaway.
Are you taking advantage of great apps before and during holidays? Created to meet the needs of travellers, apps help save time and money – not to mention reveal fantastic, budget-friendly local experiences.
General app rules
Before downloading an app onto your phone, consider the following:
- Check the rating, and read reviews.
- Confirm any costs. Some apps have free and paid versions. Are the extra functions worth the fee?
- Download from official app stores only.
- Know the app’s required memory space.
- Verify permissions and privacy policy. If uncomfortable, don’t download.
- Make sure it’s the right app for your needs.
- Ensure the app will work on your phone. System update your phone first, if required.
- Establish the app is supported where you’re going.
- Download earlier than needed. If the app causes crashes or battery drainage, you can always delete it before going away.
Flights and accommodation
Deciding on flights and a place to stay can be tricky. While we’re all looking for great deals, we also want decent, reliable accommodation.
The market is flooded with apps that compare and contrast options out there. With the help of a great app, you could save yourself a decent amount of money.
You might like: Kayak comparing prices on flights, hotels, and car rental from hundreds of travel sites online. Kayak can also give you price drop alerts for the best-timed bookings.
Organising your getaway
Holidays are fun. The planning? Not so much. Luckily, there are apps that focus on the organisational aspects of your trip.
You might be great at booking flights, rooms, tours and meals, only to stumble when it comes to collating a schedule. Travel planning apps are huge, designed to keep track of details so you don’t have to.
You might like: TripIt, which creates an itinerary of your confirmed bookings, letting you sit back and enjoy it all—with the help of reminders and alerts, so you don’t miss anything.
Heading on a road trip?
Most of us are familiar with weather apps. But they’re the tip of the iceberg for travellers hitting the road. Innovative app designers are working hard to anticipate your every need.
Looking for campgrounds? Need to find fuel? Want the nearest beach? Like to check air quality? Urgently searching for the closest toilet? Prefer to avoid traffic jams? Up-to-date information is out there in app form.
You might like: Emergency+ in case of mishap. This app helps pinpoint where you are using your smartphone’s GPS functionality, so you can provide Australia’s 000 location details.
Translator apps
Language barriers can be frustrating when on holiday. Luckily, a wide array of languages and dialects are translatable by apps.
Did you know translator apps aren’t just for conversation? From local signage to product packaging, menus and forms, translator apps are your best friend when dealing with the written word in a foreign locale.
You might like: Google Translate, a commonly used app when holidaying. The app can translate hundreds of languages, assisting with both spoken word and print.
Food and wine (and beer)
For many tourists, exploring local cuisine is a big part of relaxing. Whatever the destination, you deserve to dine in style.
If a foodie at heart, apps are brilliant for locating great eateries in and around your holiday location. Food review apps help you avoid mediocre meals, while some apps offer discounts and point systems.
You might like: The Happiest Hour: Pub Finder. This app discovers local Happy Hours, great drink deals, and fabulous meal specials near your location in Australia and New Zealand.
All the extras
Yes, apps can help source amazing tours where you’re going. But did you know there are apps for almost any activity or need while away?
For example, an app that quickly converts currency is invaluable. Want to enjoy your preferred recreational hobby, like fishing? The right app will provide every local detail you need.
You might like: Star Walk 2 if you enjoy star-gazing in your downtime. Discover if that’s a star or a planet, and see constellations mapped above you in the night sky.
What is your favourite travel app? Why not let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: What I hate about flying
