Two things make me happier than they probably should: travel and apps that genuinely provide something useful. When you pair those two things together it's a one way trip to HappyVille. If, like me, you've been Wanderlusting a lot recently and you're wondering how to make your next trip even easier to organise and enjoy, then let me introduce you to some amazing apps that genuinely help to make the process seamless from beginning to end.
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ROME2RIO
Whether you're stranded in Leeds and need to know how to get back to London, or you're looking to plan an adventure to Nice and aren't sure how to get there on a budget, Rome2Rio helps create travel options that are suited to your every need. Just enter your start and end points and let the app suggest everything from the bus at the end of your road, to where to catch a train from on the other side. It gives you an all-encompasing cost too, so there's no surprise fares that will set your holiday budget all out of wack. You can compare and contrast to pick the option that meets your financial constraints, as well as comfort ones, making travel an absolute doddle.
HOPPER
We've all been there, looking at flight prices fluctuate from one extreme to the next and wondering when we should just bite the bullet and book them. Hopper helps you make informed choices when looking at flights for a set time period, helpfully predicting when and by how much prices will change in the run up to your departure date. This ensures you get the best deal by booking at the best time, or equally being aware of the potential increase if you leave it to the last minute. A great one if you're looking at arranging a trip some time in the future.
AIRBNB
Why book a hotel when you could book a bigger, brighter and better apartment for a fraction of the price? I first discovered AirBnB when I left booking my NYC accommodation a little too late a few years ago; for half the price of a hotel room I had my own apartment in the West Village so I could enjoy the city like a local. The app enables you to search by location, date, price range and number of people, so you get a great deal of options back to choose from; whether you fancy living in the hub of the city but paying a fraction of the cost of a posh hotel, or want to try out the more rural local areas, AirBnB has got you covered.
XE CURRENCY CONVERTER
Don't overspend by not being able to work out what €75 is in pounds. This handy converter tool changes one currency into multiple others at one time, giving you visibility on the exchange rate and ensuring you don't make a silly purchase. Unlike many others, this is updated in real time to give you a realistic exchange rate no matter where you are in the world.
YELP
An app that's relatively new to me, but is getting a little bit addictive, Yelp helps you find what's good to eat and drink nearby at the touch of a button. The app uses GPS to find where you are and pulls together a list of restaurants, bars and takeaways so you can fill your stomach to your hearts content. It can even make reservations for you and holds the phone number and website for all the featured locations, meaning you can give them a call or check the menu before you rock up.
TRIP ADVISOR
Need things to do or want to explore what's going on around the city? Trip Advisor is a great way of discovering activities, restaurants, museums and shows with user generated reviews to help you make a decision. You can search by location, look at what's nearby or use the integrated map to find out what's going on further afield; the compass even helps you navigate your way there so you don't get lost.
UBER
Finally, where would we be without Uber? What's great about this taxi app is that it's gradually taking over the world and is available in a huge number of cities. If you ever get stuck and don't know how to get back to your desired destination, just click open the app and have a car pick you up in as little as two minutes. I can't tell you how handy this was the last time we were in New York, when we got on the wrong Subway train and ended up 20 stops out of Manhattan; the Uber man saved the day and got us back to Time Square for less than $10!
All the apps mentioned can be found in the app store and are 100% free to download.
Do you have any other must-have travel apps that I need to know about? Share below!
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ROME2RIO
Whether you're stranded in Leeds and need to know how to get back to London, or you're looking to plan an adventure to Nice and aren't sure how to get there on a budget, Rome2Rio helps create travel options that are suited to your every need. Just enter your start and end points and let the app suggest everything from the bus at the end of your road, to where to catch a train from on the other side. It gives you an all-encompasing cost too, so there's no surprise fares that will set your holiday budget all out of wack. You can compare and contrast to pick the option that meets your financial constraints, as well as comfort ones, making travel an absolute doddle.
HOPPER
We've all been there, looking at flight prices fluctuate from one extreme to the next and wondering when we should just bite the bullet and book them. Hopper helps you make informed choices when looking at flights for a set time period, helpfully predicting when and by how much prices will change in the run up to your departure date. This ensures you get the best deal by booking at the best time, or equally being aware of the potential increase if you leave it to the last minute. A great one if you're looking at arranging a trip some time in the future.
AIRBNB
Why book a hotel when you could book a bigger, brighter and better apartment for a fraction of the price? I first discovered AirBnB when I left booking my NYC accommodation a little too late a few years ago; for half the price of a hotel room I had my own apartment in the West Village so I could enjoy the city like a local. The app enables you to search by location, date, price range and number of people, so you get a great deal of options back to choose from; whether you fancy living in the hub of the city but paying a fraction of the cost of a posh hotel, or want to try out the more rural local areas, AirBnB has got you covered.
XE CURRENCY CONVERTER
Don't overspend by not being able to work out what €75 is in pounds. This handy converter tool changes one currency into multiple others at one time, giving you visibility on the exchange rate and ensuring you don't make a silly purchase. Unlike many others, this is updated in real time to give you a realistic exchange rate no matter where you are in the world.
YELP
An app that's relatively new to me, but is getting a little bit addictive, Yelp helps you find what's good to eat and drink nearby at the touch of a button. The app uses GPS to find where you are and pulls together a list of restaurants, bars and takeaways so you can fill your stomach to your hearts content. It can even make reservations for you and holds the phone number and website for all the featured locations, meaning you can give them a call or check the menu before you rock up.
TRIP ADVISOR
Need things to do or want to explore what's going on around the city? Trip Advisor is a great way of discovering activities, restaurants, museums and shows with user generated reviews to help you make a decision. You can search by location, look at what's nearby or use the integrated map to find out what's going on further afield; the compass even helps you navigate your way there so you don't get lost.
UBER
Finally, where would we be without Uber? What's great about this taxi app is that it's gradually taking over the world and is available in a huge number of cities. If you ever get stuck and don't know how to get back to your desired destination, just click open the app and have a car pick you up in as little as two minutes. I can't tell you how handy this was the last time we were in New York, when we got on the wrong Subway train and ended up 20 stops out of Manhattan; the Uber man saved the day and got us back to Time Square for less than $10!
All the apps mentioned can be found in the app store and are 100% free to download.
Do you have any other must-have travel apps that I need to know about? Share below!
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