“There’s an APP for that”!!  Best travel apps that you’ll actually use. 

(courtesy of The Guardian) https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/feb/06/top-10-useful-travel-apps​

These days, there’s an App for everything, but it’s sometimes confusing and difficult to know if you’re using the best app for something.  Traveling abroad can be overwhelming especially if you are dealing with foreign language, currency, traffic, schedules etc.  The Guardian has put together a list of the best Travel Apps that you’ll actually use !   In addition, we do have a comprehensive list of apps for staying in touch when you’re traveling outside of the US and we’ll share those with you in the future.

We’ve picked the apps. we think would be most useful, and the best part ?? these ones are all FREE to download and use.

These first ones would be great to use before you leave for your trip so you can prepare:

Duolingo:  Free, iOS and Android, duolingo.com  

Over 70 million people have registered with Duolingo, a free and incredibly well-designed language learning app. Though not a replacement for proper language tuition, the app is a fun way to get the basics, or to keep yourself fresh on grammar and vocabulary, before a trip abroad. Just like a computer game, the app guides you through levels that you need to complete before advancing, and you gain experience points along the way.

Packpoint for packing:  Free, iOS and Android, packpnt.com 

Packpoint automatically generates a bespoke packing list for your trip: you just enter the destination, date of travel and length of stay along with some details about the activities you are planning. In the event that the app has misjudged your desire to have a different outfit for every evening, it’s easiest to tweak the list once it has been generated.

 

During your trip – these ones will be really helpful:

Citymapper:  Free, iOS and Android, citymapper.com 

Offers more detailed journey planner information than Google, including real-time departures and disruption alerts, as well as Uber integration and cycle routes. It is available in around 30 cities worldwide, with all the obvious city-break destinations covered. It even tells you how long your journey will take by jetpack – useless information really, but hopefully something to cheer you up when your train is cancelled.

XE Currency: (free ios/and android) xe.com

Now this one will be really helpful when you’re dealing with foreign currency, and figuring out how much that is in US $ …..  XE is the go-to site for currency conversions on the web, so it’s no surprise that its app is so popular: with over 20 million downloads since launch. It has lots of business-oriented features, such as rates for precious metals and historic currency charts, but for the traveler it is most useful for the simple fact that it’s able to convert every world currency. It also functions offline by saving the last updated rates, which is great if you’re in a place with limited connectivity or trying to save on data.

Google Translate:  Free, ios/android https://translate.google.com/

I could really use this one,  I can picture myself being stuck somewhere with only locals !!!!  This translator can be a useful tool to support your own, more serious language learning, but realistically, it’s most useful on a practical level quickly translating day-to-day words you come across on your travels. For example, you can hold your camera up to text – such as a sign, or a menu – and Google will translate it for you instantly. It’s an essential app for any traveller.

Time Out:  Free, iOS and Android  www.timeout.com

The Time Out app is a great directory of ideas of things to do in cities around the world. With coverage from Accra to Amsterdam, Edinburgh to Singapore, the app covers everything from bars, restaurants, attractions and events. The event finder is a particularly useful tool, meaning you’ll never struggle to find the most popular concerts, festivals or one-off happenings going on around you. You can also book restaurants and concert tickets through the app and create a customised travel guide for your holiday.

For something to look at after you return and to re-live your awesome trip:

Livetrekker:  Free, iOS and Android, livetrekker.com

This ambitious app creates a digital journal of your travels so you can look back on your trips on an interactive map. The app tracks you as you go, marking a red line along a map on the exact route you take; the app also monitors your speed and altitude, making it great for adventure travelers, though it’s just as fun to look back at your route around a city. You can add pictures, video, audio and text along the way, creating a multimedia travel diary you can share.

 

We hope you have found this information useful, we definitely have, in fact I’m going to download some of these myself before my next trip.

All the best

Dervila & Emer