10 Travel Apps You Should Download Now
For some, the modern era has eliminated some of the old-fangled glamour of travel. But there's no denying that the internet age offers some amazing travel aids – especially in the form of apps.
Here are ten apps that will make travel cheaper, less stressful and more fun – we hope.
Packpoint
Have trouble remembering all the stuff you need for your hols? This helpful app will generate a list for you: just tell it where you're going, for how long and include any planned activities. You can edit the inventory with ease (should the app suggest a snorkel for Mont Blanc, for example).
Free, iOS and Android, packpnt.com
Accuweather
Britain's Met Office is fantastically useful – but not when you're sitting on a beach in Greece or standing in the tropics wondering if that spiralling black column is a tornado or not. Accuweather's meteorological predications go way beyond the boundaries of the UK, offering services in more than 100 languages. 1.5 billion people use this, so it must be good.
Free, iOS and Android, accuweather.com
Rebtel: low-rate phone calls
This impressive app links in to local telephone lines in order to get the best available calling rates. Unlike WhatsApp and Skype, this one does not require a Wi-Fi connection. Additionally, because it uses good old fashioned phone lines, the connection should be clearer than net-based apps.
Free, iOS and Android, rebtel.com
Waze: pinpoint traffic black spots
This app gives you up-to-date information on local traffic conditions. It works in a similar way to Google Maps, but delivers additional data provided by users. It's no surprise that taxi drivers love this little program.
Free, iOS and Android, waze.com
Google Trips: keep track of your travel itinerary
Google often surprises us with useful tools – and this is one will be of great interest to regular and intermittent travellers alike. OK, some people might be weirded-out by the fact that Google can "read" your travel and accommodation emails and auto-generate a travel itinerary for you, but that's the modern age, folks. You don't even need to be connected to the net to view your itinerary.
Free, iOS and Android, get.google.com/trips
Tunnel Bear (Wi-Fi security)
Most of us keep up-to-date with our favourite TV shows while abroad, which necessarily means logging on to a variety of Wi-Fi connections. This could jeopardise your security – which is why so many people now use a VPN (virtual private network). These programs let you 'tunnel' into a country safely. Tunnel Bear is one of the simpler ones. The low data version is free – high data will cost you a fee.
Free, iOS and Android, tunnelbear.com
Tinder
Famed for making acquaintances of both the platonic and romantic varieties, Tinder is especially good while overseas. There are many pretenders, but none come close to this. More importantly, more people use Tinder, so you have a greater pool of people to choose from!
Free, iOS and Android, gotinder.com
Hopper: cheap flight booking
This flight booking app trumps rivals like Skyscanner because it tells you when to book in order to get the best possible price. In situations where it might be better to wait before booking, Hopper sends you a notification if/when the price drops.
Free, iOS and Android, hopper.com
Rome2Rio: detailed info on multiple transport options
This app accesses route and timetable information from more than 4,800 transport operators in 158+ countries around the globe. Look up plane, train, coach, bus, ferry and motoring routes, with estimated travel times and applicable fares.
Free, iOS and Android, rome2rio.com
Circa: time zone information
After a marathon trip half way around the world, you may have no idea what the time is. This will help. It will also make it easy to calculate the best time to call your mum.
Free, iOS and Android, circa-app.com
Get covered before you fly
The internet age gives you a lot of power, but it cannot eliminate the possibility of falling ill, getting injured, missing your flight or having your belongings stolen. Annual and single trip travel insurance from startrravel.co.uk offers protection against these events – and many more.