The long awaited December holiday is around the corner. That means that we are going to be spending a bit more on shopping, christmas decor,eatouts, family vacations and having a good time. Most people are planning on travelling during the holidays, be it in shags, a mini road trip or a far away vacation in an exotic island. You want to ball on a budget so that when January comes, is does not get you off guard. SAY NO TO NJAANUARY! That said and done, we need to do some financial planning for the holiday. And what better way to do so than to find out about the best free travel apps that are going to save us some coins??
Skyscanner and Hopper
If you are planning to fly to your destination then this two apps should be your best friends for finding cheap flights.
Skyscanner is the most common app when it come to booking cheap flights. It searches the web for the cheapest flights and sends you a notification when the prices are at the lowest. It compares prices from different airlines. It also helps you find hotel and car hire services.
Hopper helps you find the cheapest flights. It tells you when the prices are the best/at the lowest and if you should book the flight now or wait for the price to drop. Once you put in your home city and desired destination, Hooper shows you a calendar of the coming year with dates color-coded to reflect historical price averages.
Booking.com
This is the top site for booking your accommodations. It has over 20 million listings which include homes, hotels, apartments and other unique places to stay. With this site you are able to filter the options until you get the place of your choice. The site offers free cancelation to some properties and most of the times they have amazing last minute booking offers. It is also very safe to use even with your credit card.
AirBnb
Airbnb is the way to go when you want to book home rentals and not hotels. With Airbnb you get to book a room, an apartment or a whole villa in a desired location at the tip of your fingertips. The app lets to filter out what you need and then gives you options with prices. The advantage is that you get to set your budget and also decide on what you need from the type of place you are renting.
When in an unfamiliar destination, the airbnb host comes in as an added advantage as they can be able to show you around the area.
Couchsurfing
This is one of the best apps I have come across for the brave hearted and adventurous travellers. A friend of mine introduced me to couchsurfing ten months ago and I couldn’t be more thankful. As the name suggests, couchsurfing means “sleeping on a couch”. The app allows locals who have room/space in their homes to host travellers for free.The hosts are not allowed to charge you any amount.
Before someone becomes a host, they are thoroughly vetted and they have to be verified. There are plenty of safety precautions to be taken before you are also verified to be a couchsurfer. This platform is also a good way for mingling with locals. During my trip to Nyege Nyege festival in Uganda I used the “hangout” section of the app to meet and interact with fellow couchsurfers.
Hostelworld
Looking for the ultimate travel app for budget travellers and backpackers? Look no further. Hostelworld allows you to access affordable hostels in your travel destination. Available in 178 countries, Hostelworld has 36,000 properties with over 12 million verified guest reviews.
You get to choose the kind of hostel you need whether dormitory style, private apartments,female/male only, mixed, or a single/double room. Some hostels look even better than hotels e.g Curiosity city in South Africa.
Roadtrippers
How can I not have an app for roadtrips? As spontaneous as road trips can be, they require some planning. This app not only shows you the best route to use but also hotels you can book, things to do, places to visit, where to eat and even cool landmarks you ought not to miss. It helps you plan the most epic road trips.
Google translate
Technology has transformed the world into a global village. Google translate helps you break any language/communication barrier in a host country. Worries about not knowing a foreign language are put at bay.With google translate, you are able to translate upto 130 languages! It also offers camera translation in 37 languages, where you point your camera and snap for an instant translation. As if that is not impressive enough, you can use handwriting in 93 languages.
Google Maps
Getting lost in a foreign country is not unheard of! It can be a very daunting experience and it might scar you forever. But with google maps, you are able to know where you are, how to get to wherever you want to go, how long it will take etc etc You can also be able to locate restaurants, read and write reviews about a place and even drive to your location handsfree using the google voice command.
Packpoint
Imagine going on vacation then while unpacking your suitcase, you find out that you didn’t carry your favourite bikini, ATM Card or sandals.This will spoil your mood. But worry not as Packpoint is the app that will save you from this trouble.
PackPoint will help you organize what you need to pack in your suitcase based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip. It takes away the stress that comes with packing.
XE Currency Converter
There is nothing as annoying as always having to use your calculator every time you need to purchase something in a foreign country.The XE Currency converter app provides live, up-to-the-minute currency rates, then allows you to store and view them even when you’re offline. This is an essential app in tracking your money and the exchange rates.
Uber
This is the most common transport/taxi app and is found in most places if not all and at all times. With Uber, you get to know your price upfront and avoid any extra charges that might come with the normal taxis. Uber is also safer as you can share your journey with family and friends. It has so many advantages as compared to just an ordinary taxi. Depending on your location you can also other apps like lyft, Indrive, Bolt, Little cab or Cabify.
With the above apps, be sure your trip will be much easier and hustle free. All the apps are on Google play Store and Apple store.