4 Top Travel Planning Apps
By Tracey Dowdy
Planning a trip can take all the fun out of the anticipation. Reservations, itineraries, travel documents – sometimes it can feel like more trouble than it is worth. There are a million travel apps out there, but sorting through the good, the bad, and the hasn’t-been-updated-in-years can also be a pain.
These are some of the best travel apps available right now.
TripCase
TripCase takes all the individual pieces of your trip and consolidates them into one place. Just download the app, create a profile or sign up through your Facebook account, add your trip by forwarding your travel confirmation emails to trips@tripcase.com and you’re good to go. Even better, if you book your trip through a TripCase affiliated partner, your information is automatically added to your account. If you select “Share Itinerary”, friends and family can keep track of your trip and follow your travels.
Cost: Free
Platform: iOS/Android)
Tripnary
If you’re on a budget and have some flexibility in your schedule and your destination, then Tripnary is the app for you. Just decide the general theme of your trip – the beach, hiking trails, skiing – choose your dates, set your budget, and Tripnary will pull up a list of available deals. If there’s something just outside your price range, save it, and Tripnary will notify you when the price drops.
Cost: Free
Platform: iOS/Coming soon to Android
Guides by Lonely Planet
You can’t go wrong using any of the Guides by Lonely Planet. With a host of offline maps for over 100 cities worldwide, Lonely Planet does it again. You can bookmark your favorite sights, restaurants, or museums, convert currency, find the nearest bathroom, or even speak like a local using one of their 18 phrasebooks.
Cost: Free
Platform: iOS/Android
Google Trips
Google Trips utilities your Google account information and makes it available on and offline. It collates all your reservations – flight, car, hotel, and even restaurant – into one convenient location. Choose from one of their day trip options and customize it to fit your schedule and budget, find attractions, restaurants, museums nearby or search Top Spots to see what’s popular in the area.
Cost: Free
Platform: iOS/Android
Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.
