Add these travel apps to the top of your 2020 download list

Whether you’re travel planning, looking to up your admin game or just wanting to be a little more travel-chic, we have technology to thank for these fine additions to our everyday travel problems. 

What are you waiting for? Fire up those phones and let the downloads for these life-changing travel apps begin. 

Airbnb

An obvious first inclusion and for good reason. There’s no denying that Airbnb is a global household name. Undercutting hotels by offering far cheaper prices, and more of an authentic experience by allowing you to stay with a local, or instead, their home.

Now with the added feature of “Trips” added to their bragging rights, you can now choose from curated experiences during your stay – we have no doubt this app will eventually be a one-stop travel shop. 

Vivino

Who doesn’t love trying new wines when they travel? Now with the help of some secret algorithms, there’s an app that can basically predict whether or not you’ll like a wine before buying it. 

It’s also foolproof. Take a snap of the label and wait seconds for more info about the wine, users’ ratings and tasting notes to pop up. You can also add your own notes and for those foodies and wine aficionados comfortable with their own hometown’s wines and national varietals, fear not – Vivino has one life-saver feature in that it allows you to also scan a restaurant wine list text, pulling up ratings and info on all those wines too.

Duolingo

It’s no wonder that over 70 million people have registered with Duolingo, a free and incredibly well-designed language learning app. If you’re not taking things too seriously and are looking for a fun way to learn another language or just enough to get by whilst traveling, this one for you.

Just like a computer game, the app guides you through levels that you need to complete before advancing, and you gain experience points along the way. 

Roadtrippers

Ah! A firm favouirte of mine and one I’m planning to put to good use for that American road trip I’ve been meaning to tick off the ever-stretching bucket list. We all love a road trip…I mean, what’s not to love?

With all the flexibility you’re after the only thing holding you back could be the planning involved… enter Roadtrippers for the next time you’re inspired to grab a car and go. The app allows you to map your trip with up to seven waypoints for free. After that, there’s an option to upgrade.

Along your route, this app recommends all sorts of things — from local food options, roadside attractions and scenic pitstops. 

Timeshifter

There’s no denying that none of us want to waste precious travel time on jet lag. This one’s a favourite find for helping to fend off jet lag when travelling to different time zones. 

Developed by scientists who used sleep and circadian neuroscience, the app essentially maps out a personalised jet lag plans. The first “jet lag plan” is free, so why not try it out on your next globe-trotting adventures?

App in the Air

Frequent fliers take note…This one keeps track of all itineraries, boarding passes, and frequent-flier programmes, but it also tracks your boarding and landing times, along with current waits for check-in, security and customs.

So whether you’re wondering about the best place to grab an airport coffee, or where something is within a specific terminal, this app also pulls tips from fellow travellers.

Splittr

This is like Splitwise — just better and more suited for your next travels. Splittr is geared up especially for travelling, providing a simple platform to share costs between friends.

Enter your expenses as you go, including who paid what and the app will do the rest. All currencies are supported and better yet, you don’t have to do the conversions yourself.

Citymapper

What would London be without Citymapper? This app is a game changer for anyone wanting to uncover a city like a pro, knowing the best routes and time-saving tricks for public transport and beating the system along the way.

Adding new countries to its growing list, it connects with a few ridesharing services, offers the fastest way to arrive at your destination, and best of all, lets you check out subway and train times offline for a number of cities.

You can subscribe to specific train or bus lines, and the app can even alert you when you need to get off the bus, which is obviously very handy when you’re riding for the first time in a new country or with language barriers. 

Packpoint

Ummm…The planning gods have aligned to bring us this app, merging your to-pack list with the weather forecast of wherever you’re visiting. Making a checklist of everything you need to pack can be useful, but what if one’s already made for you?

Packpoint looks at the weather forecast for the dates and location of your trip. It will also ask you to select activities you may participate in during your trip, such as a meeting for business, a swim at a pool, or a fancy dinner. It will then offer up a list of items you should pack based on these activities, along with general items you’d need on any trip.

You can remove items you don’t think are necessary, as well as share lists with others — essential for those friends who need a little help with their systems.