Travel Apps Must Haves -

Traveling can be very stressful -- delays, cancelation, etc.
But luckily, more and more innovative developers have come up with an amazing range of apps designed to make our travels smoother.


I want to Book/Plan ________ (insert related items here) -

Skyscanner: A very clean-looking app that does everything you need it to do when it comes to flight searches. The app aggregates fares from both airlines and other big travel sites so you're guaranteed to bag the best deal. There is also an option to pin the search to your start screen so users can keep an eye on the price fluctuations.

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

TripIt: This is, by far, the closest thing most of us can have to a PA. And of course, a lot cheaper too ;) All you have to do is forward your original confirmation from vendors to plans@tripit.com and the app will automatically generates your itinerary for you. You can edit the itinerary even from your mobile devices and also able to share it with friends/families.

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

I want to Navigate __________ (insert related cities here) -

Grab (formerly GrabTaxi & MyTeksi): With the largest pool of drivers in Southeast Asia, Grab offers the fastest booking service and reliable rides at the touch of a screen. You can choose to pay by cash or credit card and your receipt will be sent directly to your registered email.

Currently only serving Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

Waze: A GPS-meets-social networking app with a rather accurate result. Just tap in your destination and user-submitted traffic reports will make sure you get there as quick as possible. There's also a speech recognition option for those with their hands on the wheel.

So who needs a sat-nav right?

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

Made it to the Destination, it's time to Explore -

TripAdvisor: Whenever I need brutally honest reviews of hotels/restaurants/attractions, this is my go-to app. It strips away the usual glossy reviews one may find on a typical touristy info-mag. But some users of this app are hard to please. You most likely will find complaints next to your favourite spots -- so beware ;)

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

Time Out: Offers an in-depth coverage in an ever growing number of cities. Can be useful in both your home country and while traveling. All you need to do is switch the city, tap the relevant "Near Me" option and, voila, you get the updated recommendations neatly on your mobile screen.

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

Be Sure to Avoid Miscommunication -

Google Translate: Unbeatable - as far as general translation apps go. Boasts enough features to satisfy most users (if you're a pedantic linguist, then too bad). One thing I'm most intrigued about is the "word lens" tool where you point your camera to the foreign word and have it translated in real time on your screen.

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).

Memrise: An incredibly well designed app. It uses images to make learning easy and fun. Not a replacement for a proper language tuition but it helps to get the basics or keep yourself fresh on grammar/vocabulary. Also available in offline mode :)

Available on IOS (free) and Android (free).


So -- browse well, take your pick and start globe-trotting!