9 Free Must Have Travel Apps for Every Trip

We're lucky enough to live in a day and age where technology makes everything, including traveling, SO much easier. Being able to plan and organize your trip from your phone, and then navigating and making your way around during your trip is a breeze and makes any stress that comes with a trip disappear. I rely on a lot of apps to help make my travels easier, here's my favorites:

1. Google Maps

This is probably an app you have on your phone already, but what's great about traveling internationally with this app is that you can download maps ahead of time - or even when you're there, in your hotel room before leaving for the day to explore. Downloading them ahead of time assures that you'll be able to access them if you don't have great service/no WiFi which is SO important since international service plans can be spotty at times! You can even link your app with your Google Account, and when you're en-route, receive traffic information. It helped me find restaurants in parts of Italy I wasn't familiar with last summer too by pulling reviews/ratings from, none other than, Google!

2. Triposo

My favorite part of this app is that it can function without internet; super helpful when you're traveling. It's able to give you tons of recommendations for restaurants, things to do and see, hotels to stay at and more all around the world. It's extremely easy to find the review of a restaurant on the fly, or find something to do if you have some spare time in a city.

3. Trail Wallet

For all of my finance lovers out there, or anyone who is trying to save where ever possible (AKA all of us!) this app is essential! It's *so* easy to use and helps to easily track all of your expenses and purchases while traveling. You can break it down by trip and then have things easily accessible when it comes time to pay the bills. A couple who travel full time built this app for other travel lovers, in hopes of making traveling easier and less hectic. It really does help to not worry so much about what you're spending because you can set a daily budget for yourself beforehand (or by trip) and just add as you spend.

If you're super type-A (*raises hand*), this app is for YOU! I break down each trip I take in this app by color and can easily see what I spent where. Analyzing past trips helps to plan future trips too - I've used it to plan some of my summer travels this season!

4. Google Translate

As much as I wish I spoke 10 different languages fluently, I don't. #womp And I think most of us can relate to that! When I went to Germany a few years ago, I used this app religiously to help navigate around Berlin. Granted, a lot of countries have English speaking citizens and/or multi-cultural compatibility in their signs, restaurants, etc. Since it's another Google app, they give you the option to download specific languages in case you need to use it offline. It's extremely helpful in understanding whatever you don't, where ever you are. My FAVORITE part is that it can translate written text, which helps with signs, restaurant menus - basically everything!

5. TripIt

If you ever wanted to have your travel information ALL organized into one place, this app is for you! It's extremely helpful if you're going to be taking more than one flight (to keep all of your information organized), hotel bookings, car rentals, reservations, etc. The app details how you can input your reservation information and you can say goodbye to carrying around endless pieces of paper while you travel! The app also offers extra little perks, like weather for your location and suggestions on what to do.

6. XE Currency

I am by NO means a numbers person, and the only thing I hate more than converting temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit or vice-versa is trying to convert currencies. I mean it really is impossible to do without a converter since the markets and exchange rates change so often. But anyway, this is a must have app for traveling abroad! The app constantly updates, so it's always on top of in-the-moment rates and it's extremely helpful when you're shopping or buying anything internationally. Super handy and very user friendly!

7. Rome2Rio

I just discovered this app a few months ago and I wish I had it when I was in Europe last summer! It's basically MapQuest on steroids - you can input a location and Rome2Rio will map out how to get there from your location in the most efficient way possible. It gives all sorts of transportation options too; train, plane, car, boat, etc. It even will estimate the total cost of your trip, whether that means putting together your ferry costs or your train ticket price. The reviews on this app are all extremely positive and from playing around with it, the interface is very user friendly.

8. PackPoint

I am, in every meaning of the term, an over-packer. It doesn't matter if I'm going somewhere for 3 days or 3 weeks, I'm indecisive and always worried about forgetting things! No matter how many lists I make or how organized I think I am, I'm really not LOL. With PackPoint, you can start a packing list based on how long you'll be traveling, the weather where you're headed to, what you'll be doing and what type of trip it is. My favorite feature on this app is the packing list it generates based on all of these factors. It's extremely precise too; if you include "water sports" as one of your vacation activities, it includes everything down to goggles! ;) It's so fun to use too and has colorful graphics and a feature that allows you to repeat your basic pieces when they create your list. It's genius!

9. Urbanologie

This is a great app to have and use when planning your trip! It's an app made for worldwide destinations that keeps you up to date with current events in any location including new restaurants, events, grand openings and anything exciting a traveler may want to know about. It also features a LOT of detailed travel guides for various locations written by travelers. You can scroll through (sort of like Instagram) and see the newest happenings all over the worlds entertainment industry - pretty cool!

Do you already use any of these travel apps?
XOXO -A