The 5 Absolute Best Travel Apps to Use in 2024!

One of the biggest things to feel reassured when you travel is the fact that the internet has a wealth of support available to you. Maps, travel guides, email etc. It’s all in arms reach.

I am usually an old school traveller with my paper map and guidebook, but the best things in my opinion, are the collection of apps you keep on your mobile phone.

There are so many on the market that it can be a tough decision in choosing which ones you keep in that precious storage limit.

Here are the very best travel apps to use when you next go away.

5 of the best travel apps

1. Skyscanner

Price: FREE

I don’t know what I did before Skyscanner appeared on the market. It is an absolute lifesaver when it comes to cheap travel and one of the best travel apps.

Just put in what airport you want to fly from and to and it will give you a list of airlines, flight times and prices to suit your budget.

You will also buy the ticket directly from the airline so if there are any issues you can deal with them and not through a third party travel agent.

What I love most is the fact that if you don’t put in an arrival destination, it will give you the cheapest locations to fly to from your departure location.

That means, if you’re not too fussy, there is a range of super cheap flights at your fingertips.

Just hit the buy button and go! Click here to start using Skyscanner!

2. Booking.com

Price: FREE including Genius membership

Another godsend in my opinion and one of the best travel apps for booking hotels.

There are so many rooms in hotels available to book on here it’s silly but you can easily filter your results by price, location, star ratings etc.

If you look around you can get some amazing deals even on the most luxurious hotels on the strip.

There are also a lot of honest reviews by other travellers who have stayed there before you so you can easily tell which accommodation would suit you.

Their Genius feature also has some other goodies you can unlock in-store. I am an avid user of Booking.com and so get some great exclusive deals due to being a Genius member.

I remember when I missed my flight from Paris and by this point it was 10 pm.

I needed a cheap place to stay, so I just checked what was available on the app and booked myself in – perfect when having a bit of a panic about where to go! If you’re struggling with which hotel to choose – just book them!

You can easily cancel the ones you don’t want a few days before your arrival.

Another money-saving tip is to check your room rate a few days before your checking in date. In my experience, I’ve found that the room rates dramatically go down in price as time goes on.

So book another room first, then cancel your old one to make sure you’ve secured it. When I did this in Dublin, I saved almost half on my original room rate!!

Click here to book your next hotel with Booking.com

3. Currency Converter

Price: FREE

Another one of the best travel apps for converting money is Currency Converter, especially if you are travelling from country to country.

You simply select which currency you want to convert and hey presto, you know how much you’re paying!

This was my number one app when I was backpacking through South East Asia, especially when in Vietnam as you’re dealing in millions of Duong!

You will need wifi for the app to update with the latest conversions for that day but if you don’t have it, it won’t deviate much.

A handy tip: when you’re converting your leftover notes, check the rate at the bureau de change against the legitimate rate on the app – that way you know you’re not getting ripped off too much!

Click here to download on iOS via the app store!

4. Whatsapp/FaceTime/Facebook calling/ Skype

Price: FREE

With mobile roaming charges, you could send your phone bill through the roof if you’re not careful when keeping in contact back home.

I’m a little bit of a cheapskate when I travel and so I don’t use my data at all, just stick to wifi.

I actually prefer not being contactable as I feel I can enjoy where I’m travelling more without my face stuck to my phone. Calling and texting can also be pricey if you add them all up day by day!

So, I prefer to send pictures, call and message through Whatsapp.

You will need a good wifi connection for the calling but you can easily do this on a plethora of apps nowadays.

My favourites are Whatsapp and Facebook calls but Skype works just as well.

Another one of the best travel apps for video calling back home is FaceTime, I love being able to see my friends and family back home and so this Is a great option.

You can also show them where you are and what you’ve bought etc. No need to spend your cash on calls, save it for your travels!

5. Google Maps

Price: FREE including custom maps

So Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet are great at giving addresses of the places they rave about but they can’t give you directions from every location.

Also, some of the paper maps you receive may not have that small road your favourite cafe is located in – that’s where google maps come in.

This tool was a lifesaver to find my way to attractions, restaurants and hotels.

What’s great is that you can set it to give you walking, public transport and driving directions so you can easily navigate your way and save time.

The public transport feature is particularly helpful if you need metro stations or bus stops!

It will also tell you the number of buses, trams or trains you need.

A handy tip If you’re on a budget is to access directions when you have wifi and screenshot it to your smartphone. That way you have a backup.

You can also access offline maps and it will tell you your location against where you’re going but it’s a little hit and miss.

Click here to start using Google Maps. 

Make sure you download these best travel apps!

These are my favourite travel apps to use when I’m roaming around the globe.

I’m usually a bit of a technophobe, but these apps were my best friends. They saved me money, time and lots and lots of stress.