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Someone recently asked me which travel apps I use. My immediate response was that I don’t like to load a lot of apps on my phone, so nothing came to mind right away.

Then I looked at my phone. Holy cow, I use a ton of travel apps! Here are some of the apps I like and how I use them.

Planning

Let’s start with planning and booking apps. Apps like Kayak can help you find the best airline and flight schedule to meet your needs, but air travel might not be your only option. The Rome2Rio app will show you a whole range of air, rail, bus and even ferry options to get from anywhere to anywhere, including estimated costs and travel time. Exploring alternative routes to exotic places can be a lot of fun.

I typically make my airline reservations using a desktop computer, but once my flight is booked, I handle everything else through the airline’s app. In addition to serving as your boarding pass, airline apps can assist with seat selection, upgrade requests, flight status, frequent flyer status, boarding notices and even baggage tracking. Even cruise lines now have similar apps.

The MyTSA app shows current security line wait times, so I can allow plenty of time to get to the airport. The SeatGuru app is a must-have if you care about in-flight amenities and where you sit. FlightAware helps you get the big picture of where your airplane is coming from and where it is currently located.

Third-party hotel booking apps like Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com can help you find hotels. This can be a great option for finding the best prices and availability on traditional hotel chains, but when it comes to boutique or smaller hotels, I like to connect and reserve directly with the hotel on their website. Having a third party in the middle complicates dealing with changes or other issues that may arise during your stay.

Many hotel brands have their own apps. Hotel apps can help with room selection, early check-in, or late check-out. They also can help with recommendations for nearby restaurants and attractions.

Airbnb and VRBO are peer-to-peer lodging services that connect you directly with property owners. Once you book a property, the app handles navigation, check-in and communication with the host. The Turo app extends this peer-to-peer concept to rental cars. This was a lifesaver for me during a recent trip to Florida during the Christmas holidays. The big car rental agencies were completely out of cars, but Turo helped me find what I needed for less than I would have paid for a traditional rental.  

While Traveling

The peer-to-peer ground transportation apps Uber and Lyft have become essential for local transportation in the USA and worldwide. Outside of the U.S., I frequently rely on bus or subway transit, especially while staying in major cities. CityMapper calls itself the ultimate transport app, showing local bus, tram, subway, ferry, rail and walking path alternatives for major cities around the world. SNCB is a similar service for train transportation across Europe.

Once I arrive at my destination, I use TripAdvisor to find restaurants and other attractions. I rely heavily on user ratings, restaurant reviews, menus, location and information about operating hours. Of course, I also try to leave my feedback (good or bad) for the next person who comes along.

Airbnb has developed a product extension called Airbnb Experiences. This can be just about anything, just about anywhere. Typically, a local person will make themselves available for a guided hiking tour or other activity. We used it to go crabbing in Vancouver. Here in the Twin Cities, you can find walking tours, spoon carving, boat rides, history tours, pub crawls and more.

Tours by Locals is a similar service, but it is more upscale. Tours by Locals provides guides who tend to be experienced and well-credentialed (and more expensive). If you like to explore on foot, the AllTrails app provides comprehensive maps for running, hiking and camping.

Google Translate has saved me many times by allowing me to hover the camera over a foreign language menu and make informed choices instead of just guessing and hoping for the best.

Xe is a currency converter app that provides real-time conversion rates. This is especially useful if the conversion rate involves moving around lots of zeros or dividing by awkward numbers.

Many Americans view WhatsApp as just another messaging app. However, WhatsApp is the de facto standard for travel communication outside of the U.S. Virtually every tour operator relies on it, often to the exclusion of all other messaging apps. It encrypts all communication and operates on WiFi, making it easily accessible to everyone.

If you are traveling with a group, after you have set everyone up in a WhatsApp group, have them install SplitWise. This free app allows you to easily track and split expenses. Each group member enters shared expenses as they go, allocating the cost to all or just a few of the cohort. At the end of the trip, simply hit the Settle-up button, and you are done. This has saved me hours of pestering people for receipts and agonizing over a spreadsheet at the end of a trip.

Depending on the purpose of your trip and your interests, there may be other apps that allow you to connect with people who share your interests. I am involved with Rotary International, so I like to use the Rotary Club Locator app to find and attend Rotary Club meetings wherever I travel. This has been a fantastic way to meet and interact with local people.

I put all these apps in a folder on my phone called “Travel.” That way, when I am not traveling, it is just one icon. Because, you know, I don’t like loading lots of apps on my phone.  

(Dan Keyport is a CCLN board member and former Chaska business owner, now retired. His home base for international travel has been Chaska for more than 30 years.)