The Best Travel Mobile Apps To Help You Plan

Your Holidays

TripIt

● iOS and Android

● Free (2GB) and Pro ($49 for a year)

TripIt is considered by many to be the go-to app for keeping all travel documents in one place.

The app creates a master itinerary of all your travel documents, ensuring that you have access to all the necessary information, such as reservation numbers and times.

All you need to do is forward all your confirmation emails from tickets, airlines, hotels, car rentals, etc. to the designated TripIt email address and the app will organise them for you automatically. Alternatively you can add them manually.

You can also add extra information manually such as activities or travel directions.

The app also allows you to share your plans with other users attending the trip so that they have access to the documents too, or you can simply share your travel details with people who may need to know where you are.

Travel documentation

Travel documentationTripCase

● iOS and Android

● Free

TripCase is a strong alternative contender for travel mobile documentation apps.

The app works similarly to TripIt: you can add travel information manually or you can email the relevant confirmation emails to a designated email address and the app will add the details automatically.

Other details can also be added manually for more depth, from activities and attractions to restaurants and meetings.

TripCase’s strength lies in the ability to view your trip either as an “itinerary”, with each step of the trip being laid out along with relevant times and places; or in “action” mode, with more detail for each step of the way being shown, such as flight alerts and notifications.

Other additional features of the app include driving directions, alternative flights and other relevant flight information.

Travel documentationWorldMate

● iOS and Android

● Basic and Gold ($9.99/year)

WorldMate is very similar to TripIt and TripCase; it allows you to add trip information manually or to email confirmations to the app.

What sets it apart is that it is particularly aimed at business and frequent travellers. The app allows for appointments and meetings to be added and displayed in a clear and straightforward way. The app also integrates with LinkedIn, making connecting with clients or business partners on the road even easier.

Another feature that make the app stand out from the rest is its alerts; the app notifies you about your scheduled events for the day, connecting flight information and other alerts.

It also includes quirky features such as a currency converter and world clocks.

ReservationsHipmunk

● iOS and Android

● Free

Hipmunk is a simple flight and hotel booking app which allows you to find hotel deals near you, browse hotels by city and search for flights.

Several elements make Hipmunk stand out as an app compared to others.

The first is its inclusion of non-traditional types of lodging such as Airbnb and Homeaway, allowing for more variety and price options.

The second and most remarkable element is its “Agony” filter, which allows you to search for flights according to your prefered factor, whether this is cost, flight duration or number of stopovers. This makes finding hotel and flight deals a much more painless process.

The app also allows you to receive fare alerts on particular searches, allowing you to plan your holidays around dates with cheaper flight fares.

PackPoint

● iOS and Android

● Free

PackPoint is a packing app that ensures that you don’t forget to bring anything important on your trip.

What makes it stand out, however, is its “intelligence”; if you enter the length of your vacation, the apps tells you how many of each packed item you will need.

The list is also automatically customised according to whether the trip is for business or pleasure, or to specific activities such as camping or going to the beach.

It also looks at the weather forecast in your destination to determine the type of clothing you will need.

Overall, PackPoint makes travel packing into an easier and less stressful

process.

Packing for your trip

PackingPro

● iOS only

● Free

PackingPro differs from PackPoint in that instead of suggesting from a basic list of predetermined items to pack, it has a very long and exhaustive list of everything that you could possibly need.

This allows you to create a much more customised packing list particularly suited for perfectionists.

As you add items to your packing list, the app organises them for you by category, making it easier to check and find your items.

PackingPro also allows you to customise your list based on temperature and trip duration.

A nice bonus of the app is that it reminds you of things like updating your passport or buying travel insurance.

Packing for your trip

InspirationTrip Advisor

● iOS and Android

● Free

Trip Advisor has the world’s most substantial collection of travel information, from hotel and destination reviews and ratings to photos and other information.

The app is great for helping you plan trips, from flights and hotels to restaurants and attractions.

Many people also use the app for inspiration, as it provides information on many new and interesting locations and attractions.

However, if you also need information on how to get to your destination and where to stay, Trip Advisor can help you too. All you need to do is tell it when and where you want to go and the app will help you find a flight, hotel, etc.

The app also has great general travel tips from experts and travel enthusiasts.

Foursquare

● iOS and Android

● Free

Foursquare is specifically designed to find things near you via GPS.

It is therefore the perfect app for spontaneous moments when you find yourself unsure of what to do while on holiday.

From monuments and museums to shops and restaurants, the app covers every single location you could possibly be interested in.

The app also works if you want to plan your trip in advance, but its real strength lies in the element of spontaneity it allows.

You can also browse locations by categories, from Arts & Entertainment to Nightlife.

Inspiration

Findery

● iOS and Android

● Free

For those out there prone to wanderlust, Findery is probably the app for you.

The app moves its attention away from mainstream destinations and attractions, opting instead for off-the-beaten-path destinations shared by other users.

Acting as a social discovery platform, users can browse the app to find tips about other users’ favourite spots, as well as personal stories attached to them.

This makes for an interesting and fun way to discover lesser known locations while connecting with other people out there.

Findery is probably not for everyone, but it will help many to make their trip all the more special.

Inspiration

FlightTrack 5

● iOS and Android

● £3.20-£3.99

Flying is normally one of the most stressful parts of travelling – going to the airport, checking in your bags, getting through security, getting to your gate… the whole process normally takes hours.

It is therefore incredibly frustrating when something throws your schedule off, like unexpected weather conditions or delayed flights.

With FlightTrack 5, you can ensure that you remain up-to-date with all information relating to your flight, from departure times and gates to delays and expected weather conditions.

The app includes push notifications to let you know about changes to your flight or to remind you to leave for the airport.

The app has some added quirks, such as being able to see your plan in real time on a map and finding out the plane’s speed and altitude.

Getting you there

Roadtrippers

● iOS and Android

● Free

For those hitting the road, there’s an app for you too!

Roadtrippers is designed to plan and help you ensure that you make the most of your road trip.

All you need to do is enter your starting point and destination and the app will map the route.

Next, click on the “Places” tab to find recommendations for places along the road, from food and accommodation to attractions and entertainment.

Like with other apps, you can plan the trip in advance or you can pull up the app as you go to see what’s near you.

Getting you there

Entrain

● iOS and Android

● Free

Entrain is an app that most of us probably wish we had had at some point in our lives. We all know how detrimental suffering from jet lag can be when on holiday, particularly as it can suck up a lot of precious time that could be spent having fun.

Thankfully, you can now avoid jet lag altogether with this app. Following a scientific method, the app helps you come up with a schedule of light exposure to help you adjust to your new time zone quicker.

By following the instructions, you can ensure that your body clocks readjusts as quickly as possible so that you can avoid random afternoon naps and other inconveniences.

Miscellaneous

Word Lens by Google Translate

● iOS and Android

● Free

Finally, an app to end all restaurant menu struggles. No more guesswork or accidentally ordering that meal that you actually hate.

Word Lens allows you to translate foreign words by simply taking a photograph of the text with your smartphone.

Its uses are obviously many, as it can help anyone decipher important tourist or other information just by tapping the camera button.

This incredible app even works offline, making it possible to use it while away from a WiFi connection.

The days of language barriers are over!

Miscellaneous

Are you using any of these apps?

If so, do you find them useful?