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There is a long-standing debate that technology is ruining travel. People say that it has taken much of the spontaneity out of it. Whilst it can be difficult to argue against this point, I am a great believer in letting technology assist you with your travels. That doesn’t mean travelling must be micro-managed to the last detail, but technology can play a part in enhancing your travel experience. I use a few trusty sites and apps to ensure stress-free travel. Here they are;
Maps.me
It is good to get lost when visiting a new place. To forget about the map, take random turns and see what you find. That being said, there are still places I want to see and restaurants I want to eat at. That is where the app, maps.me is a lifesaver. Offline maps that pick up your location without any signal and can give directions to wherever you need to go. All that’s required is you download the map for wherever you may be at a time you have a Wi-Fi signal. You can drop pins on your desired restaurants, sites, etc so you always know what is around you. Another reason I find this so useful is when I first arrive in a new city. My hotel/hostel is already marked on the map and I can find out how close I am. This is especially convenient in Asia when you don’t always know where your bus will stop. I saved a fortune on taxis and tuk-tuks using this app last year.
NomadicMatt.com
Back before I ever began travelling, it was reading the blog, nomadicmatt.com that made me finally take the plunge and book those first flights. He showed me just how affordable travel can be and why I shouldn’t be afraid to make this life-changing decision and chase my dreams. To this day Matt Kepnes still runs one of the original, best and most comprehensive blogs that you will find. His guides are a fantastic way of preparing your budget. He goes into great details about the costs, both minor and major. Coupled with great guides on what there is to see, nomadicmatt.com is a one-stop shop in planning a trip to a huge amount of destinations around the world. Using this site, I often remember to add expenses that I would have otherwise forgotten into my budget, as well as finding out about sites or attractions I would have missed.
Migrationology
For those living under a rock, Mark Wiens over at migrationology.com is, in my opinion, the king of food travel. Primarily a blogger on his highly successful YouTube channel, Mark is without fail, my first stop in searching for the best places to eat in a city. I have had countless, amazing meals throughout my travels that have been courtesy of his recommendations. From Bangkok to Kolkata to Munich, Mark is as reliable as they come. Although most of his travels tend to be throughout Asia, he has visited quite a few European cities and an increasing number across other parts of the globe. I do try and be careful not to just retrace his steps entirely. However, I will admit that my first stop when planning a trip is to his channel to see whether or not he has visited my city of choice.
Skyscanner
There are a few similar sites to Skyscanner but, in my opinion, none better. The flight comparison site is fantastic for scoring the cheapest flights available. They are experts at finding the cheapest way from a to b. Sometimes that may mean a long layover that, for more money, might not be necessary, but if time is no issue, the savings can be extraordinary. What I love is their ‘Everywhere’ feature. Should you not have a specific destination in mind, you can search for the cheapest flights from your departing airport. Just put in your dates, or even departure month, if your dates are not fixed, and they will provide you with the cheapest options. Most city breaks I take are because of this feature.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor often gets a hard time. Some see it as a cop-out when searching for food especially. This is probably because it is all there, ranked. Want to visit the best ten restaurants in a city and their reviews will tell you the exact places to visit. Whilst, in some ways I do agree that not only is this the easy option, I also can find the site to be slightly misleading. A high ranking does not always guarantee good food. Instead, I search for food from numerous different sources. Hours upon hours of trying to decide where and what to eat. Only then do I refer to TripAdvisor. The reviews and, just as importantly, the pictures on offer are what help me decide my final list of restaurants I will eat at.
Man in Seat 61
I have no idea how Mark Smith who runs www.seat61.com gathers all the information, I am just so glad that he does. This site will guide you through pretty much any train journey in the world. Departure times, where the train stops, arrival time, types of train, it has it all. The site really is an outstanding piece of work and so reliable too. So often I have used it for train journeys and everything that is written there turns out to be true. Even down to what desk to buy tickets at in certain railway stations around the world. Although buses are often cheaper, should you decide to travel by rain, the planning should start and ultimately stop at seat61.com.
Flixbus
In many places, especially Asia, booking buses tend to be done by your accommodation. In Europe though, this doesn’t happen and often you rely on booking your bus online. There are many sites and companies that can get you across the continent but my favourite, by a mile, is Flixbus. They are so affordable, it is insane. They travel across Europe to nearly every city on the continent for basement low prices. Bus fares begin from €5, the coaches tend to be new and comfortable and they are almost always on time. There is not a lot to dislike where Flixbus is involved. Before I travel anywhere in Europe by land, this is the first place I check. They have recently begun operating in the United States as well. It won’t be long before travelling by land across America is a lot more affordable than it has been.
Hostel World
I have seen Hostel World get a bit of stick lately for the money they seem to make from each booking but to me, there is still no better site for booking accommodation. Both their website and the app is so easy to use. The review system they have is reliable and every hostel needs only a deposit before paying on arrival. This I prefer hugely instead of paying in advance, especially when travel plans are prone to change at short notice. I cannot think of one fault with Hostel World. I have no issues with paying a small deposit to ensure I have a place to stay. That sure beats arriving with no set aim and having to find accommodation right away.
Hotels.com
When Hostel World just won’t cut it, this is my next stop. I tend to use hotels.com when looking for a private room. To be honest, nothing makes hotels.com better than other, very similar sites. The only reason I use them is for their rewards program. The majority of hotels are included in a system that, if you book ten nights through the site, you get one free. Considering I am already planning on booking a hotel, this is quite an easy and cost-reducing reward to pick up. Hostels can also be booked on this site, but I find there are fewer options available and that is why I tend to prefer using Hostel World.
Last but not least is the most reliable. By far the best thing that comes from having any sort of following on Twitter is that it takes just one tweet to be flooded with recommendations. There are so many helpful people on the site that love to help people out with any advice they may have. Sometimes with links to their blogs, other times with a quick comment about something good to see or a delicious place to eat. Twitter, a lot of the time can be quicker and more reliable than searching on google.
Whilst these are not the only sites and apps I use, they are my go-to for every trip I take. This list covers my accommodation, transportation, food and attractions as well as getting around the city I am visiting. I still maintain that there should be room left for the unexpected to happen. After all, that is when the best travel moments tend to happen. But there is nothing wrong with giving yourself a helping hand. That is why I use the above sites and apps to ensure stress-free travel.
This maps app sounds great, I’m always looking for a good one for when we don’t have reception and still need to navigate. Skyscanner is my literal favourite, it’s so easy to spend hours on there looking for nothing in particular just browsing around (usually at work, daydreaming) 😍
Great post. I use most of them but didn’t know about the bus. Will definitely look into that next time. Have pinned for future reference 😊
Hi Adam, the maps app sounds fabulous. Will look into this. Might also check out a couple of the other apps/sites you mention, like the train travel one. Thank you for the post.
Such beautiful photos! This is completely and utterly spectacular!
I would love to stay here so much. Thanks for sharing
Absolutely, positively already in love with this blog! Suppose to be traveling and use apps in the summer and all about day fun!