Planning a holiday and want some help along the way? Whether it's keeping in touch with family, taking epic photos or calculating the cost in a different currency, these handy travel apps have you covered. Here are 12 FREE must-have travel apps to help you make the most of your trip!
The obvious but forgettable:
1. Whatsapp
The easiest way to keep in contact with family and friends while you’re overseas. The app uses wifi to send messages so doesn’t cost you a cent. Just make sure you set it up with your number BEFORE you head off – once you’re out of Australia you won’t be able to receive the activation text to set up the app.
2. Sky scanner
Browse flights to your next destination, or use the ‘flexible’ option to see the cheapest flight options for any country and decide where you’re going next!
3. Hostel world/Air B and B
The two best options for cheap accommodation while travelling. Scroll through thousands of cheap and fantastic hostels and homes and order according to price or rating depending on your desires.
4. Google Maps
Chances are you have this on your phone already, but if not – download it now!
A handy tip: if you think you’re going to be out of wifi range for a while, load directions to your destination while you still have internet access. Google Maps GPS feature still works without wifi as long as you’ve preloaded it, so you can spend less time getting lost and more time seeing the sites.
5. Google Translate
An essential. You can type words you see and hear manually or use the handy inbuilt camera to save time. ‘Scan’ text like a sign or menu and the app will translate it instantly.
For the foodies:
6. Four square
When you're roaming around a foreign city on a night out, it can sometimes be hard to know where to head for the best food, drinks or nightlife. With Foursquare, the aimless wandering is over. The app handily gives suggestions of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues close to your location, and you can even narrow your search to suit the type of cuisine or venue you're looking for. And for happy hour – narrow your search further by selecting the ‘places with specials’ filter.
For the photographers:
7. PicsArt Photo Studio
Holiday snaps of the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum or Angkor Watt can often feature a million other tourists, a strategically parked car or even a stray selfie stick, but with this app, you can finally take photos just like the postcards.
Pics Art lets you remove pesky objects, like rubbish, telephone lines or other tourists from your photo with the handy clone tool. The app also features an impressive selection of crop tools and editing effects.
8. Dark Room
After you’ve tweaked your picture with Pics Art, get it Instagram ready with Dark Room. The effects are subtle, still keeping the picture natural but giving it and extra ‘zing.’ You can also manually adjust the brightness, contrast and saturation of each photo to get it absolutely perfect.
Money smart:
9. Currency
Unless you have an amazing memory or a gift for remembering different currency rates, it can sometimes be difficult to convert prices quickly when your travelling. While you get the hang of it in a new place, this app comes to the rescue. Set your preferred currency at the top, and order as many as you like below it. The app can be used without data or wifi too, making it perfect for anywhere, anytime.
10. Splitwise
If you’re travelling with friends, it can sometimes be tricky to work out who pays for what, especially at places that don’t split the bill. Splitwise keeps track of who paid, simply enter the amount and then choose who to split with. You can also choose how to split the bill and even designate specific amounts to different people. Helpful if not everyone got dessert!
The handy ones:
11. Tiny Scanner
A scanner seems a strange thing to need while travelling, but when you're caught in Turkey trying to email through a copy of your passport for a visa, it can be the most important thing in the world. Tiny Scanner lets you scan documents straight to your phone and forward them on from there. It’s surprisingly handy - and you might end up using it more than you think!
12. Packpoint
Takes the drama and hassle out of packing. Just enter the destination and dates and length of your travel, and Packpoint will generate a bespoke list of what you’ll need to bring. You can also enter details about the activities you are thinking of doing and the app will factor this in.
So there you have it! 12 of the best free travel apps that will make your trip a breeze. To make your journey even easier, check out our blog on 12 ways to survive your next long-haul flight
