Traveling can be very stressful. From booking flights and hotels to finding your way around a new and unfamiliar city to communicating with the locals, it can become extremely overwhelming. Fortunately, smartphone technology and mobile apps have created a number of tools that help make travel more relaxing. With 24/7 access to data on reservations, local hot spots and language translations, it’s a lot easier to deal with unexpected delays and changes. In this slideshow, we’ve highlighted 14 apps that can help you plan and navigate your next adventure.
Hot Travel Apps
Click through for 14 Android apps that can ease the stress and pressure of traveling.
KAYAK Flights, Hotels & Cars
The KAYAK app allows you to search multiple travel sites for the best deals on hotels, flights and cars. You can book fares, track flights, manage your itinerary, and even book rides via Uber. The mobile app also provides price trend forecasts, allowing you to purchase flights at the optimal time.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by device
Voice Translator
Don’t know the local language? Voice Translator lets you translate what you say into more than 50 languages. It provides translations from speech to text and from text to speech.
Cost: In-app purchases
Requires: Android 2.2 and up
MAPS.ME
MAPS.ME provides instant access to highly detailed, offline maps of over 345 countries from anywhere in the world. No Internet connection is required. The app will provide GPS routing information and walking directions.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by device
Airport + Flight Tracker Radar
The Airport + Flight Tracker Radar app provides information on 2500+ airports across the globe, including live arrival and departure boards, flight status double check, terminal maps, online shopping, food and restaurants, parking and ground transportation. You can also search for available flights if your current flight is cancelled or delayed.
Cost: In-app purchases
Requires: Android 4.0 and up
TripAdvisor
With over 225 million reviews and opinions by travelers, TripAdvisor makes it easy to find the lowest airfare, best hotels, great restaurants, and fun things to do, wherever you go. And booking options for hotels, restaurants and flights are just a tap away.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by phone
OpenTable
Use OpenTable to discover, explore, reserve and manage restaurant reservations free and instantly — anytime, anywhere. As a global leader in restaurant reservations, OpenTable’s app helps you discover new restaurants; view menus, reviews, and photos; and earn reward points toward your next delicious meal.
Cost: Free
Requires: Android 4.1 and up
HotelTonight
Need to change hotels or book a room at the last minute? Check out HotelTonight. This app gathers last-minute deals on empty rooms at top-rated hotels and books rooms in just 10 seconds.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by device
Waze
Just by driving with Waze open, you’re already contributing tons of real-time traffic information to your local community. You can also actively report accidents, police traps and other hazards you see on the road. Get road alerts along your route and find the cheapest gas prices around you, shared by the community. Plus, you can add friends, send locations or keep others posted on your arrival time.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by device
City Maps 2Go Offline
City Maps 2Go helps you find directions with detailed offline maps, in-depth travel content, popular attractions and insider tips. You can also book your hotel or guide and enjoy restaurant reviews and shared user content. Thousands of destinations are available worldwide, covering virtually the entire globe, including Paris, London, Rome, New York and all other major and many not so major destinations in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Oceania.
Cost: Free / In-app purchase
Requires: Android 4.1 and up
TourPal Travel Guide
Download TourPal‘s worldwide travel app to enjoy audio tours and free, GPS-enabled, city travel maps (offline and online) that will show you all the must-see tourist attractions, sights, restaurants, bars, hotels and shops in over 70 cities.
Cost: Free / In-app purchase
Requires: Android 4.0 and up
Airbnb
Airbnb opens the door to the world’s most interesting places to stay and is the simplest way to earn money from your extra space. With over 450,000 listings in more than 34,000 cities, Airbnb connects you with the experience that’s right for you.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by device
PocketGuide
PocketGuide, the world’s leading audio city guide application, reveals the best stories, insider hangouts and must-see sights in more than 150 major cities and tourist destinations. The app guides you through the city by voice, using your GPS location. Just listen and enjoy a city’s attractions while your virtual tour guide explains it all and shares personal insights. Tours are developed by local experts who know their cities inside and out.
Cost: In-app purchases
Requires: Varies by device
TripIt Travel Organizer
Organize your travel plans in one place with TripIt from Concur. Simply forward your travel confirmation emails to [email protected] and TripIt automagically creates a detailed daily itinerary for every trip.
For frequent travelers, TripIt Pro ($49/year) gives you all the power of TripIt, plus real-time flight alerts, seat tracker, flight finder, refund notifications, point tracker and more. Learn more at tripit.com/pro.
Cost: Free
Requires: Android 4.0 and up
GasBuddy
Gas prices can vary by up to 20 cents per gallon or more. GasBuddy helps you find the cheapest gas prices with one tap.
Cost: Free
Requires: Varies by device
