We are crazy lucky to live in the age of technology. I tend to have a pretty terrible sense of direction and learn most of my travel tips through online research and experimentation. So, it’s important to have some trusted apps downloaded on my phone when I travel. Kudos to everyone who can travel without their smartphone. For me…it’s a necessity.

To help you prepare for your next adventure, here are some of the best free travel apps that will simplify your trip planning.  

Rick Steves Audio Europe

When traveling in Europe, we love Rick Steves’ Audio Europe App. 

Featuring free walking guides, museum audio tours, and informational podcasts, we rarely have to purchase an audio tour. I mention using this app frequently in my posts for Paris and Rome.

The list of available guides are extensive and you can pre-download tours so you can listen offline in case you are in a spotty wi-fi area.

Unit Converter FREE

If you are as lousy at math as I am, or just frankly don’t want to put that much effort into conversions (and avoid those pesky conversion fees), then definitely download this app. Not only does it include currency conversions, but it also has converters for weight, volume and distance( Yes…like miles to kilometers).

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is my go-to when it comes to reviews. It’s usually my first site to check when looking for an experience in a new city or to check out a hotel.

The app allows you to take the reviews with you on the go in case you find yourself wandering during a free afternoon looking for things to do.

Google Maps

Granted, Google Maps is probably on your device already, but it’s notable to mention.

We generally try to avoid looking like tourists by not opening large maps, so utilizing Google Maps to help us get around.

Plus, it is worked well for us at giving public transit times and routes.

That being said, there are many places (Like Venice) where it’s spotty depending on your service and you may need to rely on a good old-fashioned map and intuition.

Here We Go Offline Maps & GPS

If you are in one of those remote locations, Here We Go offers offline maps when you are disconnected.

Definitely helpful for those of us who are….um….directionally impaired.

Yelp

We love food…and we love good food! I mean, who doesn’t…

But, when traveling, I really like finding good food that is cheap. We are budget travelers, after all. 

I love to use the filters to find cheap eateries near wherever I am at…and only try places that are four stars or above. It hasn’t steered us wrong yet. 

Without Yelp, we would not have discovered Pizza Zizza, which was one of our yummiest (and cheapest) meals during our trip to Rome. 

Pizza Zizza was a Yelp find in Rome…and was one of our favorite lunches in Italy.

Rome2Rio

Rome2Rio will find you the cheapest and fastest options to get from anywhere to anywhere. 

I just recently downloaded it and really can’t stop playing around on it.

By using Rome2Rio, I discovered that I could get to Sydney in 22 hours, but potentially save hundreds of dollars if I fly just a couple of hours away and take a train.

Triposo

Though not my top-favorite app ( simply because it’s sometimes a little bug-gy), Triposo makes the list because it is another helpful app to have when your internet connection is lackluster or non-existent.

You can save guides to various cities, pin where you’ve bin, book dining and hotel reservations all from the app. And, of course, the download feature is a plus for when you don’t want to use your data plan.

TripIt

TripIt is an amazing travel app that helps you stay organized with your trip planning and helps you keep your travel itinerary in order.

Among some of the app’s most notable features: you can connect your email so that your travel plans are automatically organized and easily search for flights through TripIt’s connection with Hipmunk. 

HipMunk

Speaking of HipMunk, the HipMunk app helps keep you updated with flight deals to popular destinations.

It tracks deals from your home airport, can connect to your calendar and send you a notification when the time is right to purchase your plane ticket.

Flighty

New kid on the block, Flighty, will make frequent fliers oh.so.happy. 

The app will automatically track your flights, provide real time notification and can even predict delays.

SkyScanner

The SkyScanner App allows you to search for cheap flights worldwide, even when you don’t know where you want to go.

Yet another app that I can lose hours on day-dreaming of all the wonderful places I could go…

Flight Board

Flightboard allows you to easily view flight status information in real time from the convenience of your smartphone.

AirBNB

AirBNB allows you to stay in a private room or home, for sometimes less than the cost of a hotel.

Plus, you get the added benefit of feeling like an authentic local wherever you roam.

Use my referral code to get $40 off your first trip of $75 or more!

Hotels.com 

Of all traditional hotel reservation sites, I tend to have the best luck with Hotels.com.

They offer free cancellation and pay at hotel options, plus the app is easy to navigate…even at the last minute.

RoadTrippers

I love using RoadTrippers to force Mr. L to make as many random stops as possible on a car ride. 

On a recent road trip, we stopped at the Smallest Church in America— found courtesy of Roadtrippers.

In all seriousness, though, it’s a great app to help you find scenic routes, hiking trails, things to do and fun sites to help make a long car ride far more bearable.

What is one of the best travel apps you have discovered and would not be caught wanderlusting without?

I am always looking for new ones to try so let me know in the comments ( and also please hit the share button, too. I’d super appreciate it!)

If you like this post, you may also like:

How To Get Cheap Flights For Your Next Vacation 

How To Travel Light In One Carry-On Suitcase

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