We all know how stressful travelling can be at the best of times, whether you are flying solo or travelling with a companion. Vacationing is supposed to be an enjoyable time. However, we all know that it is not always the case. Below are the apps that make travelling more accessible and make the experience less stressful and more enjoyable.

MY FAVOURITE TRAVELLING APPS

IVISA

Although I would predominately use this Ivisa website before I travelled to ensure that I am well prepared with my visa requirements. Sometimes (a lot of times, if I am honest), my route has changed, or I need to extend my vacation. So I use the Ivisa app while in transit or on vacation.

What I love about this app

On some occasions, you may still need to contact the embassy in question; however, for the most part, the flexibility of checking online instantly puts my mind at ease.

TRIPIT

Tripit has been a favourite of mine for some years, so I speak highly of the application. However, I recently upgraded (yes, I paid a small fee, which is definitely worth the money) to enjoy this app’s added benefits. If you are like me, I seldom use a travel agency and spend most of my time booking my transport, hotels and activities. This app is fantastic; once you have set it up, any email confirmation moving forward will automatically upload to the account. – It is a game changer, especially when booking everything yourself; it creates an itinerary for you. 

There are great reminders for check-ins, gate changes, etc., that I find very useful when I am in a rush. Other great features include lounge information, seat and (loyalty) points trackers. 

What I love about this app

 This app makes travelling easier as it is easy to access when planning a trip, checking in or giving inspiration for your next trip (the deals pop up as soon as you open the app). Tripit offers you a day-to-day, hour-by-hour schedule of your events, which includes anything from theatre tickets to tour vouchers or reservations to restaurants. For someone like myself who likes to have things visually at hand, then this is perfect; Tripit’s map is also handy as it will display your bookings on the world map. It also calculates driving time if needed, which is helpful when booking itineraries.

BOOKING.COM

You may use other websites to book your hotels as I do (see Marriott Bonvoy below); however, if I am booking outside my usual hotel options, then booking.com is the app I prefer. Back in the day, using any of these websites, I would have to print off the voucher and present it to the hotel of choice. However, now in one easy step, I can hand over my phone (for the booking voucher) or read them the confirmation number, which is all they need.

I can cancel, email or search as quickly as I can on the website. It also allows me to leave a review, change my profile details or access my wish list (a handy way to bookmark accommodation. You may need to compare prices or book another hotel in the area).

What I love about this app

 I am impressed that it allows me to explore the area with travel guides for the destination. It is like a one-stop shop for accommodation and sightseeing, so this app makes travelling easier.

MARRIOTT BONVOY

If you are like me and, for the most part, are loyal to a particular chain of hotels, then having their app installed on your preferred device is a quick and easy way to have all of your booking information at hand wherever you may be in the world. I can check my points, book accommodation, scan through hotel deals and, just like the website logs on, find the closest hotels in the next destination.

What makes the Marriott Bonvoy app more interesting than most is that it also includes other options that the hotels provide, such as spa information or the restaurants at the hotel, so this app makes travelling easier.

What I love about this app

With the Marriott Bonvoy app, For a quick search, you can also see the categories of hotels; whether you are looking for an all-inclusive vacation or a hotel at the airport, it has it all grouped for you.

TRAVELLING APPS

AIRLINE APPS

I am sure every airline has an app these days, and I, too, use a few airline apps. However, I use QANTAS more often than not (it’s all about the loyalty programs). I like QANTAS because being part of a frequent flyer program makes sense if you frequently travel. Whatever you use, stick with the program as much as possible or the affiliated group. Oneworld has an app (which I am yet to try) but has had great write-ups of late.

I also now belong to the Singapore Airlines loyalty program Krisflyer. This program also collects your points from Scoot, which is handy if you are in the Asia region. You can also transfer points with any star alliance partner. This helps when I am in Australia because I can now use Virgin when flying domestically.

What I love about this app:

I like the easy access to either planning a trip, checking in or giving me inspiration for our next trip (the deals pop up as soon as you open the app). Also, you no longer have to carry your frequent flyer card as it is all installed in the app; I love apps that make travelling easier.

GET YOUR GUIDE

Get your guide is easy to use and has many choices for you wherever you are travelling, whether it is an airport transfer, a group or private tour, tickets to an amusement park or access to a show. Get your guide provides it within a straightforward application.

What I love about this app

When booking tours, transfers and activities, the get your guide app has proved over and over again to be the most reliable. You can purchase your bookings online with other companies before arriving at your destination. However, other websites will have you print out tickets and itineraries or save barcodes to your phone. Get your guide allows you to find any tickets or bookings instantly.

AROUND ME

There are many options to use this app; these include Banks, bars, cinemas, coffee bars, concerts, hospitals, hotels, parking petrol stations, and the list goes on. I often also use the app for the weather (it contains three days but gives you the link for a seven-day one if you wish). As I am a somewhat “over-planner”, checking out the weather is something I always do while travelling, and this app makes travelling easier.

I also like the supermarket option when I am travelling with the kids or staying at an Airbnb; this gives me walkable options rather than the need to drive. I usually only buy a few items anyway for breakfast.

What I love about this app:

 I love the Around Me app for many reasons, but I shall start with what I use it for the most. If we drive by an area that I think looks interesting, I click on the “nearby” section of the app, and it gives me a list of things in the area that might interest me. Whether it is a museum, a park or a building that looks attractive, it is all written down for you.

COMMUNICATION APPS

Whatsapp

Who does not use Whatsapp these days? I have, in the past, used other options. Still, I seem to feel that most people already have a WhatsApp account so you can call anyone anywhere in the world via audio or video. Please note some countries do not allow access to Whatsapp, so check this before you go.

What I love about this app:

I like that you have an option for a group chat, instant messenger or use calling option. I love an app that makes travelling, and this does that because we have a family group chat to ensure that we all stay in touch at all times on vacation. I also love Whatsapp because it helps us communicate in our everyday lives.

FLIGHT STATS

Suppose you are like our family and are not always flying from the same destination simultaneously. In that case, the flight Stats app allows you to monitor the flight situation of any plane in any country in the world. You do not have to know the flight details, as you can search in many other ways, such as airport to airport, country to country or flight by flight. Flight stats app makes travelling easier as it also gives you information about any airport in the world; this is excellent news for travellers as it includes things like the current weather (including wind and visibility) and the possibility of flight delays; this app makes travelling easier.

What I love about this app

 I like how it tracks a visual recording of the plane over a map in actual time; it does not just advise the scheduled times of departures but also the real estimated time of the departure and gate numbers.

CURRENCY APPS

X.E CURRENCY CONVERTER

Not all of us have an excellent memory for numbers (like my husband), so this is my biggest saviour when I travel solo. You can list up to your top ten currencies so that you do not just see two currencies like most apps show but also simultaneously see up to ten in real time. X.E currency converter app has many options (that I do not often use), such as rate alerts, market analysis and money transfers.

What I love about this app

I love the calculator option, so you can calculate a few different currencies in one sitting; this helps if you travel through a few other countries in a day.

BANKING

It does not matter which bank you use; utilising their app is ideal for managing budgets while you are away. It is usually just the basics, such as checking your account, transferring funds between accounts or paying bills while you are away. 

What I love about this app

I love this app that makes travelling more manageable, and this app does just that by keeping my budget on track to ensure that I am on top of my bills at home. Although we do not want to think about accounts and statements on vacation, we can not always leave real-life issues behind.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope this post has given you the information you need. If you have any recommendations, tips or advice, I would love for you to share them in the comment section below!

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