19 Apr Power Trip: Up Your Travel Game

Here are 10 apps that will make your trips more efficient, less stressful, and more fun

By Cayla Mihalovich

When Fora Travel advisor Abbie Synan debated between dozens of farm cheeses in Albania, she pulled out her Google Translate app to help her decide which to buy. It’s something she does frequently, especially when she’s in the midst of one of her favorite activities abroad—grocery shopping.

“If you’re traveling slowly, it’s a great way to get to know the place better and expand your palate,” Synan says.

Synan has lived on the road and worked remotely as a travel blogger, advisor, and freelance writer since 2013, a vocation that has routed her to over 100 countries. Since she began traveling full-time, Synan has leaned heavily on technology for her daily needs—whether she’s navigating a city’s metro system or planning an itinerary—and encourages her clients to do the same.

“An app is a great avenue to connect yourself to the everyday person who lives in the destination,” Synan says. “Apps make things more accessible, help to save time, and dampen anxiety. I think that leaves space for enjoying yourself while you’re there.”

Whether you’re away from home for business or vacation, here are nine travel-efficient apps to add to your list for 2023.

Out of Office

Looking for some itinerary inspiration? This app gives you access to travel tips from your community. The format is akin to that of a social media network. Follow your friends to see what they’ve been up to, and create your own wish list based on their recommendations. For Fora travel advisor Taylor Votaw, the app provides a great platform for insider recommendations—restaurants, bars, activities, or hidden gems. Some reviewers love the app so much that they continue to use it in their home base after returning from their travels.

iTranslate

This app translates text, voice, images, and objects in over 100 languages. That’s right—even menus and street signs. The app also acts as a dictionary by regularly delivering phrases and words directly to your device so you can learn on the go. Other features include offline translation, keyboard translation, and flash cards.

Alto

Alto prides itself on being the world’s first ever employee-driver rideshare, replete with background checks, company-owned vehicles, professional training, and benefits for drivers. “I love Alto, a premium rideshare subscription that allows you to schedule airport pickups, get discounted rates, and personalize your experience, along with other benefits,” says Lona Cosmas, a New England-based Fora travel advisor. For $12.95 per month, an Alto membership provides access to priority booking, prescheduled rides, and promotions such as credits with Wander, a network of high-end “smart” short-term rental homes. And Alto Business is aimed at corporations wishing to offer transportation to their customers, employees, and guests—rides that include complimentary WiFi and refreshments.

Atlys

For on-demand visas, look no further than this app, which, in less than five minutes, can generate a visa to one of over 100 countries. All you need to do is select your destination, scan your passport, and submit an application and service fee. Reviewers applaud Atlys’s customer service and easy navigation. It’s a favorite of Fora travel advisors Glenn and Judy Tudor, who specialize in international and accessible travel.

Airbnb

The platform, founded in 2008, boasts a diverse range of extraordinary short-term homestays and experiences. Find yourself in a glass treehouse nestled within a pine forest in Baguio City, Philippines, or in a boot-shaped house on New Zealand’s idyllic Tasman Coast. When you plug in travel dates and destinations, you can filter based on price range, property type, amenities, accessibility, and language. Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group, you can dive deeper into the community by booking an Airbnb Experience—activities that tap into arts, culture, food, entertainment, or sports, all hosted by locals. For business-friendly accommodations and team-building activities, check out Airbnb for Work.

TripIt

Ever find yourself digging through hundreds of emails for that reservation you made last month? This free app organizes all your travel plans in one place—from flight confirmations to hotel reservations and car rentals. No digging necessary. Once you’ve booked a reservation, you forward your email confirmation to the TripIt team, who add it to an easily accessed, and shareable, comprehensive itinerary. For $49 per year, upgrade to TripItPro for perks including country-specific travel information, fare trackers, and interactive maps.

HotelTonight

If you’re in a pinch, this app was made for you. HotelTonight caters to the flexible traveler. The one without a plan. Or the one whose plan fell through. The mission is in the name: the ability to score last-minute hotel deals in cities around the world. You can search by city or by hotel. Either way, the company prides itself on aggregating last-minute inventory from the best hotels out there, sparing you the pain of scrolling for hours on end.

Expensify

An essential app for the business traveler. Track and organize expenses while you’re on the go. This app scans, uploads, categorizes, and tags receipts from your mobile phone. All you do is snap a photo of the receipt. Once it uploads to the app, you can submit it to your supervisor for approval. The app also offers 24/7 flight, car, and hotel booking assistance, and recently introduced the Expensify Card, which eliminates the need for expense reports entirely.

The Points Guy

Track your points and miles all in one place. Better yet, learn how they can take you where you want to go. This app features a customizable dashboard, a repository for your credit cards, a points wallet, an award explorer, and a curated news feed­—all of which will help you optimize your rewards and discover the best travel experiences.

Google Maps

And of course, don’t forget the app that launched a million trips, Google Maps. Google has become a stakeholder name in the travel arena. And now, it’s more than just getting to and from a destination. With Google Maps, you can pin your favorite places, add notes or descriptors, and categorize them into various lists. The best part? All of your pins can be archived, accessed on the go, and easily shared with others. DW

Cayla Mihalovich is a freelance journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work has appeared in SFGate, Oaklandside, Oakland North, Airbnb Magazine, Flaunt magazine, and PSFK.