Before embarking on your trip, you should have a list of apps to download. I’ve come up with a bunch of useful apps. Even if you don’t use them all, they are still good to have just to be prepared.
I know I’ve listed a ton of apps. Butttt, some of them will come in handy, I promise!
42 Apps to Download Before You Leave
I’ve made it smooth sailing for you. I have used most of these apps here and there. Of course, some more than others.
I also prefer to plan my trips using my laptop. But, having these apps as backup are always great.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. This does not cost the reader anything.
Accommodation
- Agoda
- Airbnb
- Booking
- Hostelworld
I used Agoda a few times in Thailand. I’ve used Airbnb multiple times. I’ve always had a positive experience with it. I used Booking.com multiple times while in Colombia.
Communication
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Duo
- Google Voice
- Skype
- Talk360
Who doesn’t have WhatsApp?? If you don’t, download it. It will be one of the most useful apps to download for your travels.
Skype is great and you can pay a small fee for calling any other country. Talk360 is the same. I used that when I was in Korea and it worked great. You just have to pay for minutes.
Google Duo is good and free. Google Voice has to be set up before you leave the US so you can get your landline phone number. I set it up when I got home from Korea so I am excited to see how it works.
For Facebook Messenger, you do need a Facebook account but that can be set up within seconds.
Entertainment/Games
- Jigsaw Puzzle
- Podcasts
- Streaming Apps
- Netflix
- Hulu/HBO Max/Disney Plus
- Sudoku
- Ted Talks
I became a Ted fanatic when I was in Korea. I. CANNOT. STOP. Sudoku is fun and challenging. I also LOVE the jigsaw puzzle app for long plane or bus rides.
Of course, Netflix worked internationally and you can download movies/shows before you depart.
With the others though, you do need a VPN. I used Nord VPN when I was in Korea and can’t complain. However, there’s a free VPN: Hola. I found that out after I got Nord but whatevs.
I’ve only used it a few times but it hasn’t given me any problems.
Podcasts are always entertaining as well.
Financial
- Chase Sapphire Credit Card
- JetBlue Credit Card
- Oanda
- PayPal
- Transferwise
- Venmo
PayPal is international. I swear I used Venmo when I was in Thailand but maybe not cause I guess they are not international.
I got a Chase Sapphire Preferred card because I heard great things about it so I had to try it. I read on Reddit to get it right before you leave. I wish I had gotten it long before I left to rack up the USD 4000 to earn the points.
I also wish I got the Reserved card but oh well. Either way, they are both great cards for travelers and I cannot recommend the Preferred card enough.
My JetBlue credit card is awesome and I always use it overseas. It doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees. Then, when I come home, I can use it to fly throughout the US cause the points don’t expire.
Oanda and Transferwise are good apps to have. Oanda shows you the exchange rate and Transferwise you can connect to your US bank account and transfer money that way.
Language Learning
- Duolingo
- HelloNative
- HelloTalk
- Google Translate
- italki (Here’s my referral code)
- Memrise
- Preply (Here’s my referral code)
- TripLingo
I love all of these apps. They have all come in so handy while traveling and also just for entertainment.
Memrise, Duolingo, HelloTalk, and HiNative are completely free (unless you choose to upgrade).
I highly recommend it when you are in the intermediate level. I think Duolingo is more for beginners to get familiar with the language.
HiNative, HelloTalk, italki, and Preply you can all speak to native speakers of whichever language you choose.
However, you have to pay for italki and Preply, but they are reasonably priced. I have found some great tutors on both websites.
With TripLingo and Google Translate, you can download the language of your choice so you can always use it. TripLingo also has categories for you to choose from if you’re just looking to have a conversation.
Others
- Air Visual
- Airline Apps
- Google Docs
- Google Photos
- Meditation Podcasts or Calm/Headspace
Air Visual has been with me since Thailand. Since I lived in a huge factory town in Thailand, it helped to know what I was getting myself into. It also helped in South Korea.
Airline apps always come in handy. I have about 5 different ones on my phone LOL.
Google is great, as we all know. You can save your photos on Google’s free app as a backup.
Meditation apps are great apps to download. Calm and Headspace are great but you do have to pay for them if you want more than just the basics. Instead, I just download podcasts, and that way I always have them. My favorite is Chel Hamilton. Her voice is so soothing.
Safety
- Geosure
- Sitata
- Smart Traveler
- TripWhistle
You can use Geosure to stay up to date with your surroundings. It will give you a list of categories and then a percentage that tells you how safe it is.
Even the free version of Sitata is useful. You can find hospitals and look at the alerts in the country where you’re heading to.
Smart Traveler is honestly such an important app. It gives you a list of all of the countries and then where the U.S. Embassies or Consulates are located in that country. You can also apply to STEP (smart traveler enrollment program) through the app, which you should do. It is such a great resource.
TripWhistle has the emergency phone numbers for the country that you choose. It finds your location and you just need to press the button to call that emergency number.
Travel
- CityMaps2Go
- Google Maps
- Hopper
- Maps.me
- Orbitz
- Rome2Rio
- Skyscanner
- Waze
CityMaps2Go and Maps.me are great apps to download and they make me feel better about not having phone service in another country. You can download maps when you have WiFi/service so once you get to a new area, you can just use your phone and follow the downloaded map.
Google maps is always great too. Waze is more for if you have a car but it’s awesome cause there are many ‘wazers’ that log in on the app and can forewarn you about things such as traffic, police officers, when there’s an accident, etc. Love it.
Hopper and Skyscanner always have unbelievable prices. Waaaay cheaper than other sites that I’ve found. Orbitz is okay too.
Although there are a bunch of apps to download listed above, it’s better to download them before you leave to prepare for your journey!
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