What Would I Do Differently?
I’ll preface this by saying that I’m very Apple-centric. I have an iPhone, iPad and MacBook, so these are the apps I’ve actually used—or would use—on my own devices.
There may be some fantastic Android equivalents out there, but since I don’t have an Android device to test them on, I don’t want to recommend something I haven’t actually tried.
I’ve divided everything into categories because, quite frankly, there are a lot of apps on my phone when I travel.
Trip Planning & Organization
Flight trackers and status monitors
Flight Tracker
I like having a flight tracking app that’s separate from the airline app. It gives me another way to keep an eye on delays, departure times and arrivals without constantly searching for my flight again.
It’s also handy when I’m meeting someone at an airport—or when someone at home wants to know whether I’ve actually landed yet.
FlightAware
FlightAware is especially useful when I want a little more detail. I can check the current status of a flight and even see where the aircraft is before it arrives at my airport.
That can be a pretty good clue that my flight might be delayed before the airline officially tells me anything.
Booking & Accommodations
Flights and transportation
Google Flights
This is usually one of my first stops when I’m planning a trip.
I love being able to play around with dates, compare different airlines and see whether leaving a day earlier or later might save me money. Google Flights also offers price tracking, which can be handy when I’m not quite ready to book.
Kayak
Kayak is another good comparison tool when I’m looking at flights, hotels or rental cars.
I don’t necessarily book through it every time, but I like having another place to compare prices before handing over my credit card.
The Airline’s App
Once I actually book a flight, I always download the airline’s own app.
This is the one I trust most for check-in, boarding passes, seat assignments, gate changes and notifications about my specific flight. It also saves me from digging through emails while standing in the airport with my luggage hanging off one shoulder.
Government Arrival/Declaration Apps
Depending on where I’m travelling, I check whether the country has an official immigration, customs or arrival app.
If I can complete part of the arrival process before I land, I’m all for it. Just make sure it really is the official government app before entering passport or personal information.
iVisa
I use apps and websites like iVisa mainly as a starting point when figuring out whether I need a visa, eVisa or other entry document.
I still double-check everything with the official government website before applying. Visa rules change, and that is definitely not something I want to discover at the airport.
Visa Airport Companion
If my credit card includes airport lounge benefits, this app is absolutely worth having.
I can use it to see which participating lounges are available through my Visa benefits rather than wandering around the airport hoping I find one. The exact benefits depend on the eligible Visa card I have, so I always check before travelling.
Accommodation
Booking.com
Booking.com is probably the accommodation app I use the most.
I like being able to compare hotels, guesthouses and apartments in one place, read recent reviews and see the location on a map. Once I have several bookings on a longer trip, having them all sitting together in one app makes my life much easier.
Trivago
I tend to use Trivago more for comparison shopping.
If I’ve found a hotel I like, I can check whether the price varies between different booking sites before committing.
Tours, Activities & Tickets
Viator
Viator is great when I know what I want to do but don’t necessarily know which local company to book with.
Food tours, day trips, airport transfers, walking tours...I can usually find several options and compare the reviews before deciding.
GetYourGuide
I use GetYourGuide much the same way as Viator.
I particularly like checking both apps because sometimes the same destination has completely different tours available on each one.
Expedia
Expedia can be useful when I want to keep several parts of a trip together—especially hotels, flights, activities or transportation.
Even when I don’t book through it, I still like using it as another price comparison.
Navigation & Transit
Offline and interactive maps
Google Maps
This is one of my absolute must-haves.
I use Google Maps constantly for finding restaurants, attractions, transit stations, walking routes and places I’ve saved before leaving home.
More importantly, I download offline maps before travelling. If I suddenly lose data—or my eSIM decides it doesn’t want to cooperate—I can still access the downloaded map area.
Apple Maps
Since I’m an iPhone user, Apple Maps is my other go-to.
I like having two mapping apps because one occasionally knows something the other doesn’t. Apple Maps also supports downloadable offline maps, which gives me another backup when I don’t have a reliable connection.
Public transit and rail
Local Transit Apps
Before arriving somewhere new, I always check whether the city has its own transit app.
Sometimes the local app is much better than Google Maps for current bus times, subway information, service changes and fares.
Rail & Bus Apps
If I’m travelling between cities by train or bus, I download the official operator’s app whenever possible.
Tickets, reservations, schedules and platform information are much easier to deal with when everything is already sitting on my phone.
And I take screenshots of important tickets too. Technology has a strange sense of humour about failing exactly when I need it.
Ride-hailing and taxis
Uber
Uber is still one of the first ride-hailing apps I check when I travel.
Besides actually getting a ride, I like knowing roughly what the trip will cost before I get in the car.
Grab
Grab is a must-have for me in Southeast Asia.
I use it for getting around without having to explain an address to a taxi driver, and having the destination pinned on a map removes a lot of the language-barrier stress.
Lyft
Lyft is another app I keep available when I’m travelling somewhere it operates.
If both Lyft and Uber are available, I can quickly compare pickup times and prices before choosing one.
Money & Finances
Calculators
Apple Calculator
Simple, but I use it constantly.
Currency conversions, tips, splitting bills, figuring out whether something is actually a bargain...the Calculator app gets a surprising workout when I travel.
Banking and multi-currency accounts
Credit Card & Banking Apps
I make sure every card I’m taking has its app installed before I leave home.
I can check transactions, make payments and spot charges I don’t recognize. I also make sure I can actually log into everything before leaving Canada rather than discovering halfway around the world that my password isn't what I thought it was.
Wise
Wise can be really handy for international travel because I can hold and convert multiple currencies and use the Wise card for spending while I’m away.
I still carry regular credit cards as backups—I never want all my travel money depending on one card or one app.
Communication & Utilities
Messaging
WhatsApp
WhatsApp is one of those apps I didn't use nearly as much at home as I did once I started travelling internationally.
Hotels, tour operators, drivers and even restaurants in many countries use WhatsApp for communication. It’s much easier than trying to make an international phone call.
Facebook Messenger
Messenger gives me another easy way to keep in touch with family and friends while I’m away.
It can also be useful when a small hotel, restaurant or tour company uses Facebook as its main online presence.
Translation
Google Translate
Definitely one of my essentials.
I use it for signs, menus, short conversations and those moments when pointing and smiling just isn't quite getting the job done.
I also download the languages I’ll need before leaving home whenever that option is available.
Apple Translate
Since it’s already built into my Apple world, I keep Translate handy as a backup.
I’m a big believer in having more than one option when something is important—maps, money, communication and translation included.
eSIM & Mobile Data
Airalo
I love the convenience of installing an eSIM before I travel and having mobile data without hunting for a physical SIM card after landing.
Airalo offers country-specific, regional and global eSIM options in more than 200 destinations, so it’s particularly useful when I’m travelling through several countries on one trip.
I always install and set everything up while I still have reliable Wi-Fi at home. Airport immigration is not where I want to be reading eSIM installation instructions for the first time.
Digital Security
Surfshark
I use a VPN when travelling because I spend a lot more time connected to hotel, airport, café and other public Wi-Fi networks.
A VPN encrypts the connection between my device and the VPN service, which adds another layer of privacy when I’m using networks I don't control.
Surfshark is the service I use, so I make sure the app is installed and logged in before I leave.
A Few Other Apps I Like Having
Earthquake App
If I’m travelling somewhere prone to earthquakes, I like having a reputable earthquake information or alert app on my phone.
Hopefully I never need it. Still...I'd rather have information available than be completely clueless when the room suddenly starts moving.
Reminders
This might actually be one of my most useful travel apps—and it’s already on my iPhone.
I use Reminders for all those little things I know I’m going to forget: check in for tomorrow’s flight, buy train snacks, charge my power bank, take medication, book a Grab, complete an arrival form...
My brain is already busy enough when I travel. I’m quite happy to let my phone remember some of it for me.
If I Could Only Keep a Few...
If I had to strip my phone down to the apps I use the most while travelling, I’d keep Google Maps, the airline app, a ride-hailing app, WhatsApp, Google Translate, my banking apps and an eSIM app.
Everything else makes travel easier.
Those ones can save my butt.