9 of Our Favorite Travel Apps to Enhance your Journey

When you picture yourself on the perfect Christian travel experience, you’re most likely looking forward to fresh teaching in glorious settings, unique fellowship with other Believers and worshipping God in the outer reaches of His Creation. The last thing you’re likely to be thinking about is your smartphone. However, even the most beautiful and remote places in the world can be enhanced by the convenience of technology at your fingertips. The broad variety of domestic and international travel apps now available (new ones are added almost daily) have made the challenge of navigating a new location more manageable for travelers. Here are a few of our team members’ recommendations (available on both iPhone and Android) on the most practical and innovative apps to download and start using today. 

WhatsApp

A simple, cross-platform messaging app ideal for international travel

Communicating with friends and family back home while traveling abroad sometimes requires expensive calling or text messaging plans. A better choice is to purchase blocks of data, then to communicate using Whatsapp. This popular messaging solution uses very little data in its messaging, allowing you to send thousands of messages on a basic data plan—far more than what’s allowed by standard text-messaging plans. If WiFi is available, texts and audio messages send for free. This reliable app has hundreds of millions of users worldwide and also allows users to create group texts, which are a great way to stay in touch with members of your group or tour.

Google Translate

Easily communicate in another language---no vocabulary drills required.

Can you say “Thank you for this exquisite meal and for being such gracious hosts” in Mandarin? Now you can! This “instant classic” has become a go-to app that’s already part of day to day communication for many. Simply type in any phrase, choose which language you wish to convert it to, press a button, and you have your translation right in front of you. It even has a speaking option that automatically verbalizes whatever phrase you speak into it. Talk about making a small world even smaller! This convenient and very practical tool should eliminate frustrating exchanges between those who find themselves on opposite sides of a language barrier.

PackPoint

Never forget to pack exactly what you need.

Everyone’s been there: that moment, a few days into a carefully planned trip, when you realize you left something crucial at home. A variety of packing-list apps intend to make that gut-wrenching moment a thing of the past. PackPoint has become one of our favorites. This app asks you to enter your destination, dates and purpose of your trip. It checks the weather forecast and takes into account any activities you expect to engage in. Then it assembles a detailed, customized packing list of clothing, toiletries, electronics and more. You’ll check things off as you add them to your luggage, ensuring you’re prepared for any wind and weather.

Currency Converter 

Access up-to-date international exchange rates instead of doing mental math.

It can be confusing enough to use unfamiliar currency. Add ATM fees and credit card surcharges to the mix, and you’ll find yourself dealing with an economic headache every time you pull out your purse or wallet. Navigate these challenges by staying current with currency. This currency converter uses market data to provide the most accurate rates on more than 190 different currencies. While you’re at it, we also suggest downloading an all-purpose conversion app like GlobeConvert, which helps travelers wrap their minds around things like temperatures (Fahrenheit vs. Celsius), distances and speed (miles vs. kilometers per hour) and other important units.

Google Maps

Navigate a city’s maze of unfamiliar streets like an expert.

This is one of those apps that experienced travelers use constantly...and wonder ‘What did people do before Google Maps?’ Whether helping you estimate your walking path to the nearest train station on foot or figuring out the most direct driving route from one city to the next, this indispensable tool keeps you from getting lost—even in the most confusing urban centers. Our team doesn’t just love its navigational tools, but also its real-time traffic reporting, access to restaurant reviews and ability to see street-level photos using Google Street View. Even better, in places where the network is slow or data expensive, the app allows you to download and save locations for offline use.

Tripit

Consolidate every aspect of your travel plans into one central location.

You’ve booked your flights online. You’ve reserved a rental car. You’ve made hotel reservations and booked museum admission in advance. Rather than printing out a sheaf of papers or juggling multiple confirmation numbers, Tripit allows you to organize all your travel plans in a single place, accessible from your smartphone. Download the free app, create an account, and forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com. The app turns these emails into a master itinerary and can sync your plans with your device’s calendar. The pro version ($4+ per month) offers even more options by tracking any changes to your plans, including flight alerts and potential fare refunds. Making travel arrangements has never been easier.

Uber

Flexible, smart, economical alternative to taxis and rental cars.

Is anyone not using Uber these days? Rather than the expense of renting a car or the inconvenience of hailing a taxi, use the Uber app to have a driver come pick you up. Enter your destination and choose the driver and ride, based on reviews from the larger Uber community. You’ll see the driver’s photo, name and type of car, then can watch the vehicle’s progress as it heads your way. Once you get to wherever you’re going, Uber simply charges your credit card. The fee is usually less expensive than a cab (you’ll have an option to tip). Uber has proven ideal for bypassing long taxi lines or endless hotel shuttle routes. The service is available in nearly 500 cities worldwide and growing daily.

App in the Air

Your personal airport concierge.

After adding your trip information (or connecting it to your TripIt account), this airport assistant app informs you of delays, locates your gate number, gives you a map of the airport, helps you find fun ways to spend your free time and directs you to highly rated lounges or coffee shops—all through a simple, clean interface. Looking for a travel pillow or recharge station? It’ll tell you where to find them. Based on the reports of other users, it also estimates the average security and passport waiting times for your airport. Moreover, App in the Air benefits from a useful social component: If you have friends or family back home who want to keep track of your flights, you can automate notifications for them as well. For instance, it can deliver an alert to your airport pick-up person in the event your flight home arrives early.

TripAdvisor

Crowd-sourced guide for what to do and where to eat.

More travelers turn to TripAdvisor for reviews of hotels, restaurants, activities and more than any other travel app. Whether exploring the narrow streets of Jerusalem to enjoying a weekend in New York City, we’ve found its lists to be spot-on in terms of recommendations. Its Top 10 Places to Eat and Top 10 Things to Do have proved particularly helpful. Downloading this app gives users access to millions of traveler reviews—including photos from real people, rather than marketing agencies—to help them curate the best experiences possible in a new place. The app even includes traveler-focused technology on the back end, relying on GPS and data only when necessary to conserve battery power.

Do you have a tried-and-true app that serves as a useful travel companion? Please share any of your personal tips for ensuring a smooth journey in the comments section below.