The 9 Best Travel Apps for 2024

Plan. Book. Pack. Go!

If you love to travel, you know how chaotic planning and taking a trip can be. That's where a great travel app can help you get organized. From booking reservations to managing them, from packing to planning, from eating to paying to communicating to getting around, we researched the best travel apps to help you plan your next adventure.

01
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Best for Travel Planning: Kayak

Kayak travel-planning app
What We Like
  • Researching prices is fast and easy.

  • Finds independent hotels and short term rentals you may not see otherwise.

  • Book almost any travel method.

  • App is user-friendly.

What We Don't Like
  • Can't take advantage of loyalty programs you may belong to.

The award-winning travel app Kayak allows you to search for flights, hotels, and car rentals. The clean interface gives you a full list of possible options, including reduced hacker fares, where you book outgoing and returning flights with two separate airlines. Set filters to find exactly what you want quickly and easily.

Not sure if now's the right time to pull the trigger? The app answers that question by indicating when prices will go up.

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02
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Best for Packing Help: PackPoint

PackPoint packing assistant app for travel
What We Like
  • Configure trip lists according to your specific plans.

  • Simple, easy-to-navigate interface.

  • Hide irrelevant items and add new items to your list.

What We Don't Like
  • Must upgrade to Premium to create custom packing lists.

A delight for anyone who hates packing, PackPoint tells you exactly what to bring. First, enter where you're going, when, and for how long. Choose business or leisure, then select the activities you'll be doing. The app develops a list based on your information and expected weather. Check items off as you pack, or swipe to remove ones you don't need.

The paid-for premium version ($2.99) removes ads, gives you custom activities and packing templates, and integrates TripIt and Evernote.

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03
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Best for Last-Minute Hotel Deals: HotelTonight

HotelTonight travel app
What We Like
  • Book last-minute rooms at great prices.

  • Browse photos and ratings to get a feel for the hotel.

What We Don't Like
  • Can't select your room type.

  • Prices don't include taxes and fees.

Whether you're a seat-of-your-pants type traveler or want a backup plan in case your reservations don't work out, try HotelTonight. Tell the app where you want to stay and watch the deals appear on your screen. Tap one to get additional details. A few more taps to pay, and you have a room for the night.

You can make reservations further in advance, but the longer you wait, the better the deals are.

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04
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Citymapper travel app
What We Like
  • Find out which method is fastest (for example, train vs. Lyft).

  • Know the cost of your chosen route ahead of time.

  • See preferred routes to avoid the rain.

What We Don't Like
  • Not all transportation services offer updates through Citymapper.

  • Not all cities are in the app's coverage area.

Navigating a new city can be maddening if you don't know how to use the local transportation systems. With Citymapper, you'll get around like a local in no time, exploring and enjoying your new surroundings.

Pick your city, then choose a location or your preferred mode of transportation. Citymapper gives you complete, clear instructions on how to reach your destination hassle-free, whether walking, taking an Uber, or traveling by train.

Be sure to switch to the right city before downloading the app.

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05
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Best for Travel Tips: Foursquare City Guide

Foursquare City Guide app
What We Like
  • Find great places to eat and drink.

  • Tips and advice from members of a global community.

  • Keep a history of the places you've been.

What We Don't Like
  • Use of GPS can deplete your battery.

This app makes finding somewhere to eat or a fun activity easy. Enter the area you want to search and what you're looking for, such as breakfast, nightlife, or things to do. Use the flexible filters (distance, price, open now, and places you've been) to narrow your search. Tap your selection to see additional details, including ratings and photos. If you like the location, add it to a custom list.

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06
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Best for Finding Your Way Around: Google Maps

Google Maps travel app
What We Like
  • Maps for over 220 countries and territories.

  • Information on hundreds of millions of businesses.

  • Real-time updates help you beat traffic.

  • Search and navigate with offline maps.

What We Don't Like
  • Some features aren't available in all countries.

Google Maps is great for finding your way around in your city or anywhere in the world. Get the best route with automatic rerouting based on live traffic updates and road closures. Find information about businesses, such as if a restaurant is open. If you're somewhere with spotty internet, download an area map in advance and use it to navigate.

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07
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Best Currency Converter: XE Currency

XE Currency Converter travel app
What We Like
  • Reliable exchange rates and charts.

  • Monitor up to 10 currencies.

  • Access live rates for every world currency and precious metal, including Bitcoin.

  • Perform global money transfers.

What We Don't Like
  • Need the Pro version if you want to monitor more than 10 currencies.

This currency converter and money-transfer tool allows you to determine exchange rates quickly and easily. Type an amount in one denomination and see the results in as many other denominations as you want. To add another currency, tap the editing icon and search for the one that corresponds to the place you'll be visiting.

Use the charts function to see how currency rates fluctuate throughout the day. The app's global transfer function allows you to send and receive money worldwide.

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08
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Best Language Translator: iTranslate

iTranslate language translation travel app
What We Like
  • Translations are available in more than 100 languages.

  • Phrasebook has more than 250 predefined phrases.

  • Switch between dialects and voices.

What We Don't Like
  • Must subscribe to the Pro version to unlock some of the most useful features, such as offline translation mode.

Gone are the days of fumbling with a paper dictionary as you try to assemble sentences in a language you don't know. Use this app to type or speak your sentence and get the translation in your chosen language. A handy expansion feature lets you display the result on your screen to show to locals you're trying to communicate with. The iTranslate Phrasebook is a convenient way of looking up and learning common expressions and questions.

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09
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Best Food Finder: Zomato

Zomato food finder travel app
What We Like
  • Search by restaurant, cuisine, or dish.

  • Browse restaurant menus, photos, user ratings, and reviews.

  • Book a table through the app.

  • Find restaurants around you in Map View.

What We Don't Like
  • The service is not available in most areas.

Perfect for traveling foodies, this app has it all, including recommendations for a nice lunch out, trending restaurants, nightlife picks, delivery services, and where to get food to go—looking for something specific? Search for a dish or ingredient. When you find something yummy, tap it for a map, menu, reviews, and photos. When you're finished, bookmark, share, and review your experience.

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