Technology has revolutionized the way most people travel nowadays.
Especially because now, instead of needing a travel agent to take care of everything, you can buy tickets, book hotels and much more with just a few clicks.
After the creation of the smartphone, the way to explore a new destination also changed radically. Paper maps were retired, guides stopped being printed and became digital, and even accessories such as GPS and compass were replaced by functions from the cell phone itself.
Most devices, however, don't come with travel apps installed. And with a plethora of them on the market, it's difficult to decide which ones are essential, and which ones will just take up your memory and end up taking up space for photos.
Thinking about that, I decided to share 10 apps incredible travel ideas that everyone should know about. It's not that the others aren't good, but that I consider these to be fundamental. They've already helped me save on airline tickets, find cheap accommodation, figure out which bus to take, where to eat and much more.
How to use these apps during your trip?
First of all, I need to explain that many of these applications are intended to be used during your trip. Most of them require internet (although some have offline use options), so my suggestion is that you have a connection during your adventure – especially if you intend to use an app to guide yourself or do translations.
My recommendation is to buy a travel chip, which works exclusively while you are out of the country. You pay a fixed price, and have access to the internet and can use your cell phone as a GPS, to view social networks and browse at will. Here on this page I explained more about this service, how it works, how it helps you save (I swear!) and which chip is ideal for your trip!
10 apps incredible travel ideas you need to know
1 - Google Maps
I have already said in several posts that I nem I know how travel without Google Maps, so it's no surprise that it takes the top spot on the list.
He's one of those apps with several functions, and can help you both when planning, showing distances and how long it takes from one attraction to another, and when you are walking through the streets of your destination.
In addition to indicating the route to take by car, with real-time information about traffic, it also informs you of the route on foot and using public transport (if such a route exists). Bus, subway or train, it tells you which line to take, in which direction and at which stop to get off.
I wrote a very complete post here on the blog explaining how to use the best features.
2 - foursquare
Foursquare is kind of old school, so much so that it was one of the first apps I downloaded in my life. Even so, when changing smartphone I always install it again as it is one of my favorites.
It separates nearby establishments into several categories, such as lunch, dinner, nightlife and entertainment. If you're in a new city and don't know where to go, just open the app, choose what you want to do and see the ratings people gave for the places.
I also like reading the tips, which often include the password for the Wireless, what is the best dish in the house, how to save money and so oni. I also love seeing photos of restaurant dishes, and often the food itself. app The menu is now available for consultation.
If you use it frequently, remember to write your own reviews to help other travelers!
3 - Converter +
I downloaded Converter+ for another purpose, but it has proven very useful when traveling. This is because, in addition to normal conversions such as distance or area, it also compares the price of several currencies!
You can choose favorites or see the complete list. To make things easier, I chose the most popular ones such as the euro, pound, US dollars and reais. To find out how much 10 dollars is worth, for example, just add this value and the conversion is done for all the chosen currencies automatically.
O app It's also especially useful for traveling to the United States, as there they use a different system for distance, height, weight and speed. With it you can quickly find out how many km/h are equivalent to 72 mph, and how tall a 5'8″ person is.
Furthermore, there is also a tip calculator to help you when you are in countries that adopt this practice.
4 - Translate
I speak English and I know my way around Spanish, but that's the extent of my language skills. That way, I like having a translation app on my smartphone, and my favorite is Google Translate.
My preference for him over others apps that do the same thing is their usability. In addition to being super intuitive, the layout is Minimalist but it shows everything you need to know, from the literal translation of words to example sentences with context.
To read packaging or signs, the ideal is to use the image function. Just take a photo of the words and, with just a few commands, the translation is done instantly. Perfect for those who want to buy a product at the supermarket or pharmacy but don't speak the local language. I've also used it a lot in museums!
It is possible to use it without an internet connection, as long as the desired languages are downloaded in advance.
5 - Universal Doctor Speaker
Maybe one of the best apps travel, the Universal Doctor Speaker is a kind of dictionary of medical phrases.
You choose your language, that of the doctor and then between different categories such as symptoms, accident e até violence e usual illnesses. Although it is always good to know some key words in the language of your destination, such as “help”, it is better to download the app to be able to explain the situation in detail.
There is also a medical form to be filled out, with information such as history and allergies. When choosing the doctor's language, the data is translated into that language, to facilitate the professional's understanding.
This list is the only paid application, but the company runs several promotions offering the download free.
If you liked this tip, take the opportunity to check out the travel resources section here on the blog! In addition to tips apps, there are also several websites to help you plan your next adventure and free PDFs!
6 - D
Detour is the app perfect for those who want to know the history behind the destination's main tourist attractions without hiring a guide. With it you can download tours of the region, and using your cell phone's GPS, the application explains what you are seeing.
It's really cool because each tour of a specific narrator, connected to that location in a way. The one on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, for example, features Ken Burns, who produced a film about the iconic bridge. Each of these tours has a map showing the route, tips and a video of preview showing a little of what you will find on that route.
It is currently only available in English and for 17 cities, such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London.
7 - WiFi Anywhere
I didn't really believe in the promises of WiFi Anywhere, and I thought it would be just another application that tried find open internet networks. Wrong!
this is one of those apps which has a thousand and one uses: it checks if the connection is secure, optimizes network settings to have a better signal, tests the connection speed and best of all, discover the passwords of the networks closest to you.
I confess I don't know as it does this, but I found several closed networks in my travels and the app it just said what the password was. Really magical.
Anyone using a cell phone chip with data plans can also set up an alert to monitor how much of the allowance has already been used.
8 - Hopper
Moving on to trip planning apps, I can't help but mention Hopper. Its biggest difference is that, when searching for tickets for a certain date, it lets you know if it is better buy agora ou wait because prices should go down.
If you are looking for the flight in advance, it is worth following the app's recommendations. By registering, you can create travel alerts, and receive an alert with each change in prices. It also creates a price prediction, showing up to when they should vary, when they will start to increase and as It may cost you if the purchase is left until the last minute.
It also offers discounts on hotels, but I've found better deals on Booking.com!
9 - Hotel Tonight
Those who don't insist on knowing where they're going to sleep in advance can take advantage of apps like Hotel Tonight. Created to offer promotional nights on, it has already evolved to get discounts on daily rates in advance, but its strong point is still the lowest prices on the night the user searches.
There are “levels” for each user, and the more reservations you make through the app, the better your discounts.
10 - Must-see Passes
I couldn't finish this list without including one of the apps trip that saved me thousands of dollars (or spent a lot more on adventures I hadn't even planned, but that's the wrong point of view hehe).
Passagens Imperdíveis, as the name suggests, notifies you about discounts unmissable on airline tickets. The app isn't much of anything, just links to the official website, but the great thing is to leave notifications on. This way, as soon as a promotion goes live you receive an alert and can rush to buy before other travelers.
Many people distrust the company and say that the advertised prices don't exist, but that's because you really need to buy first and think later. Some tickets end in minutes! I've already managed round trip trips to Chile from Florianópolis for R$450 and to New York from São Paulo for R$750 (!!!).
And these are the 10 apps travel guide that everyone should know! Do you agree? Do you think there was anything missing from the list? Tell me in the comments! 🙂
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