Top 10 Travel Apps for 2021
In the digital age, many seek vacation as a chance to unplug and escape the pressures of social media and constant connectivity. However, your mobile device can actually serve as the perfect travel companion, providing guidance for everything from accommodation to dining, to navigating your destination of choice.
Read on to discover the top ten travel apps of 2021, available for both iOS and Android devices.
Kayak
Kayak’s user-friendly interface provides a comprehensive list of travel options including airfare, train travel, and more. Users can research price trends for various seasons throughout the year, as well as browse smaller hotels and short-term private rentals that may not always appear on other travel websites.
Mobile users can access exclusive “mobile only” rates on bookings for travel and accommodation, in addition to accessing offline copies of travel plans, flight status alerts, and more.
PackPoint
Never forget essential items with this handy packing list application. Users can create customized packing lists, even sharing their lists with fellow travelers via a custom, private web link. Not sure what to bring? PackPoint uses your destination of choice and personal itinerary to provide packing recommendations based on climate, trip duration and popular activities.
The app has been featured in popular publications such as The LA Times, Lifehacker, Co.DESIGN and The Washington Post, and was awarded Fodor’s “Best Travel App” distinction.
HotelTonight
HotelTonight is the go-to app for last-minute getaways and back-up reservations. The app rewards 11th hour bookings by providing special “happy hour” rates. HotelTonight was described by the New York Times as a great source for “heavily discounted rates, especially for travelers with flexible schedules or those looking to book at the last minute.” Users can also browse hotel photos and user reviews to get a feel for their accommodations prior to booking.
CityMapper
Voted five consecutive years as one of Apple’s “Apps of the Year”, CityMapper is the ultimate guide for transportation and technology in your destination of choice. The app creates personalized routes based on your points of interest and preferred methods of transport, providing clear, concise instructions for navigating the city by foot, rideshare, train, and more. Travelers can receive estimates for their transportation costs, as well as learn the fastest methods of transport for their destination city.
FourSquare City Guide
Need help planning your itinerary? FourSquare City Guide can help you find plenty to do, from dining to nightlife, to live entertainment. Users can take advantage of the app’s flexible filter system to narrow down their search results, based on factors such as distance, pricing, hours of operation and more. The app also provides reviews and advice from a global community of travelers.
Google Maps
While perhaps the most well-known application on today’s list, Google Maps should not be taken for granted. Google Maps offers information and guidance for more than 220 countries and territories, as well as details on hundreds of millions of businesses worldwide.
Automatic rerouting functions help travelers navigate their destination based on real-time live traffic updates and road closures. Users can access information about specific businesses and venues, including current COVID-19 operations.
XE Currency
Currency exchange is always at the forefront of one’s mind when traveling abroad—thankfully, XE Currency has you covered. The app features helpful guidance for transferring money in 65 currencies across more than 170 countries, while offering reliable exchange rates for virtually every world currency—including Bitcoin. Users can monitor up to ten separate currencies at once with the free version of the app.
Guides by Lonely Planet
Created by trusted travel guide company Lonely Planet, Guides promises users the chance to “get to the heart” of their destination, offering tips and advice from local experts. The app provides online and offline maps and guides for more than 8,000 cities worldwide, filtering options to help fill your itinerary with the perfect activities.
Categories are separated into options such as “See”, “Eat”, “Shop”, “Sleep”, “Drink”, and “Play”, and users may save their favorites to a custom list for future references.
Zomato
Zomato is a foodie’s best friend, offering everything from recommendations for brunch, current trending restaurants for your area, nightlife guides, delivery services and more. Those with a particularly discerning palette can find the perfect dish for their vacation cravings, searching for specific ingredients and culinary styles. Menus, user reviews and photos help travelers make dining decisions they won’t regret. Users can also bookmark their favorites, as well as review their experiences to aid future travelers.
iTranslate
Bulky paper dictionaries are officially a thing of the past, thanks to apps such as iTranslate. The app features a handy go-to Phrasebook featuring over 250 predefined phrases for your language of choice, as well as available translations in over 100 languages.Users can type or speak their sentence to receive a swift translation in their language of choice. With the app’s Pro version, users can access features such as offline translation.
Which travel apps do you find most useful? Let us know in the comments!
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