Travelling can be scary. There is a lot of things to consider and organise before making the leap of faith and getting on that plane. However, not many think about the importance of downloading the right apps on your phone for every situation.
The apps you download will help you in many scenarios- and may get you out of some sticky situations!
The apps we recommend will be ones we have used while travelling and we will give our own experiences; and why they are so important for you! There are many apps available and used for travel, so it’s good to have a place where you can download the best ones ready for your trip!
We have compiled our top applications you MUST download to help you travel!
*This post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission. However, all opinions are genuine and our own.
Hostel World
Hostel world is definitely the first app we would download. When you are travelling to new places, one of the most important decisions is where you are going to stay. This decision can be the difference between enjoy your time in one place or not!
We understand that not everyone is looking to stay in hostels, and may want to stay in private accommodation when travelling- but the majority will be looking to cut back on spending and stay in hostels! Plus, some hostels do offer private rooms!
The app is the go-to place to find all the best hostels (with reviews) and is quick and easy to book. You can access all the best hostels anywhere in the world within seconds, and it is very flexible.
If you stay at a hostel/accommodation that you don’t like, you can easily find a quick alternative at a good price. This provides a good comfort to knowing this is possible.
If you forgot to book accommodation, or met someone on the same flight as you and wanted to change your stay, you can do it within minutes with no hassle!
Hostel World now also has more app features that make meeting people easier, and will help you to connect with people in the local area/within your hostel! Find the link here.
Currency
This is a MUST download for travellers! Especially people who are looking to travel for a long time.
When we go travelling, it always gets confusing when changing currencies and figuring out how much stuff costs. I mean in one country some foods are £2-£3 per main meal where others are £20!
Working out how much you are paying is always something travellers struggle with. When you are bouncing around different countries, you just can’t keep up. We are the same!
This currency converter app allows you to check within seconds how much something costs based on your home currency. All you have to do is select your currency and choose between the hundreds of currency’s and then type in the amount you want.
You can also save the currencies so if you are to go back to a location, you can easily access it!
This is perfect for travelling because if you know your route, you can easily set all the currencies of the countries you are to visit. So once you land, you can instantly see the exchange rate.
I mean, the last thing you want to do is be stuck awkwardly trying to Google the exchange rate while trying to pay a bill. This app has it covered for you!! It can also be used OFFLINE so is a real winner.
World Packers
World Packers is a great way to lower costs, experience personal interests, and travel the world! This app is unique by offering accommodation and other amenities in exchange for volunteering or work.
Now.. this could be in any niche you like. For instance, if you are an avid animal lover, you could easily find yourself staying and volunteering with wildlife with free accommodation and food in exchange for your time. A majority of the positions are hospitality based, but there is a range! Especially if you have unique skill sets (such as photography or social media).
This is an amazing way for people to gain experience and learn more about the world without spending extortionate amounts!
World Packers offer an annual subscription for roughly £40 which would be so worth it even if you did only 1 world packers trip a year! There is also an option to get a ‘couple’ membership, in which you can apply to opportunities as a couple, instead of a solo traveler.
Airalo
There’s nothing worse than landing in your next travel location and not having data. You can’t check Google maps, order transport to your accommodation- or for the more unprepared, even book your accommodation!
It really can be a struggle, and something people often forget about when planning for a new destination! Especially if you are from Europe- most phone providers offer free data across Europe so we often don’t have to think about it!
Airola is a great app to get cheap data through an E-sim. This removes any issue of finding a provider in the new country you have just landed in as you have it on your phone! Plus no hassle of changing sims, as its all done from within your phone!
The app is easy to use and you can add top-ups whenever you are running out of data, and they also now offer bespoke packages dependant on the country (and even continent) you are in!
You can sort out your data with a few clicks of a button, it’s that easy! Click here for more information
Rome2Rio
This is the perfect app that is needed for any travel scenario! Even holidays!
Whether you are looking to make your way to a historical monument halfway across the city, or moving to a different city entirely- Rome2Rio is there to tell you all the ways you can do it.
The app breaks it down for you and shows you the cost of each mode of transport, and the expected times it will take you. So if you are in a rush, or happy to take the scenic route, you can make that decision easily!
The variety provided is surprising! If there’s a possible route, it will be given. Car, bus, plane, boat and more.. This works especially well when travelling as you may be able to get a boat/ferry for a lot cheaper than flying or getting a car!
We made the most of this in Philippines which can be super expensive due to the amount of islands they have!
Google Translate
There will be many times where you are attempting to communicate with locals on what to eat, where to go, or just to ask a general question.
In countries like Thailand you may get away with it, as they probably has some sort of knowledge of English. It seems like a lot of people around the world know at least the basics of English.
However, when you get into less travelled areas, like villages or rural towns, this may become much harder.
We all know in life it’s hard to learn a language, and when you are travelling, it’s near impossible to learn multiple for your trip. So, how are you going to communicate?
Google translate is a great app that can be used to pick up the basics like hello, how are you, thank you etc. You can also use it to take photos of menus or signs where it will translate it for you!
The great part of this is that it can be used offline so when you are in the middle of nowhere, you are still able to translate and communicate with locals or read any signs in the area!
Having all these apps will have you covered whether you are going on holiday or have a year trip across a few continents! When you are travelling you will come across many issues, whether it’s transport, language, data, accommodation, currency- they can all be solved through these apps.
This will be sure to stop any sticky situations from occurring and allow you to travel (somewhat) carefree for your travels. Because after all, there will be issues during travel, but the aim is to minimise these issues.
These are the 6 apps we would always download and save in “the travel essentials“ corner of our phones!
One honourable mention would be an app like grab which is a taxi-like app but is only used in select countries!
If you enjoyed this blog and want to see more travel blogs and inspirational places, be sure to subscribe to the blog for daily uploads!
Any travel questions? Do let us know and we would always be happy to help!
If you want to follow our travelling journey, please click on our Social Media’s below.
Like this post? Share it with friends to plan your next trip!
Our Two Step Start 