23 Essential Travel Apps for Seamless International Adventures: From Accommodation to Translation, and Everything in Between

Traveling internationally can be both thrilling and challenging. Luckily, technology has come to our rescue with numerous apps designed to make your journey smoother. This guide highlights twenty essential travel apps that enhance various aspects of your trip, from booking accommodation to ordering food, translating languages, and more.

We have 23 apps that we always download before an international trip and we believe they are all essential apps to have when traveling.

This blog contains affiliate links, including credit card referral links. If you apply for a credit card through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I believe are valuable, and any opinions shared are my own. Please review the terms and conditions of any credit card before applying.

Accommodation Booking

Finding a place to stay is crucial to any trip. Apps like Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and IHG have been particularly useful for us.

Airbnb

Airbnb connects you with unique local accommodations, offering travelers an authentic experience. From local apartments equipped with full-size kitchens, bathrooms, and even washing machines, to guest rooms in someone's home, Airbnb offers a large variety for every traveler. You can search using filters and adding details such as budget, number of bedrooms, and amenities important to you.

In our experience, Airbnb is almost always the cheapest option in our destination as prices tend to be much lower than hotel rooms. It also allows us access to a kitchen and washing machine in most cases, which proves helpful for long stays and allows us to save money on food costs.

Airbnb is also particularly useful for large groups of travelers who wouldn't fit in a traditional hotel room. The platform even offers trip protection, insurance, and the option to pay in installments.

Around 90% of accommodation bookings we make are through Airbnb and we have not once had a bad experience in the dozens of stays we've had. The site also allows people to review their stays, giving each accommodation a star rating, so you can see exactly what people liked and disliked about an accommodation.

By far, our favorite aspect of Airbnb is the opportunity to make connections with locals. Although some Airbnb hosts prefer to operate on a lockbox and no contact check-in, we have had dozens of "meet-the-host" situations that have brought us closer to local culture. We have been invited into people's homes, offered coffee and meals, and even given gifts. The opportunity to talk to locals and gain a new perspective on the country or city we're visiting is invaluable and part of what makes our travel experiences so special.

Booking.com

When choosing accommodation for our trip, we always compare listings from two sites, Airbnb and Booking.com. Most of the time, we find that Airbnb is cheaper, however, some cities and countries don't have many options for Airbnb, with some places not offering Airbnb listings at all. In these cases, we always book with Booking.com.

Booking.com offers a wide range of hotels, hostels, and even apartments worldwide. They have an unbelievable selection, including over 28 million listings! The platform filters for budget, location, and amenities, and user reviews provide valuable insights into previous guests' experiences.

Occasionally, we do find options on Booking.com that are cheaper than Airbnb, even furnished apartments with the same amenities offered on Airbnb. When booking travel accommodations, we recommend comparing options on both sites to find the best fit for you and your family.

IHG

The IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is a group of over 6,000 hotels across the globe, including brands like InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Crowne Plaza. When we need or want to stay in a hotel, this is the app we prefer. This is in part because of the affordable prices of these hotel groups, but also because they offer a great credit card that gifts rewards and free nights.

The IHG One Rewards program allows you to earn and redeem points for free stays and upgrades and it's completely free to sign up.

Their IHG Premier credit card comes with a very generous sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn up to 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. This amount can often cover several nights at IHG accommodations, making it a valuable incentive. This offer is valued at the equivalence of 4 free nights!

With the card, you will receive annually a free anniversary night, a $100 statement credit, and 10,000 bonus points to use on stays. Additionally, when you redeem 3 consecutive nights, you receive the 4th night free. As you see, there's a lot of potential for free hotel stays with this card and that alone pays for the $99 annual fee.

Expedia

When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay during your travels, Expedia stands out as one of the best apps available. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly hostel, a luxurious five-star resort, or a cozy boutique hotel, Expedia offers a vast selection of accommodations worldwide. With its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and exclusive member discounts, it’s a must-have for any traveler looking to book hassle-free lodging.

One of the biggest advantages of using Expedia is its bundling feature, which allows users to save even more by booking hotels, flights, and car rentals together. This not only helps cut costs but also simplifies trip planning by keeping all your reservations in one place. Plus, Expedia's flexible cancellation policies and price match guarantee make it easier to book with confidence, ensuring you get the best deal without the stress of last-minute changes.

Another reason we love Expedia is its rewards program. Every booking earns you Expedia Rewards points, which can be redeemed for discounts on future stays, flights, and even activities. Frequent travelers can unlock VIP perks, such as free room upgrades, late checkouts, and additional savings at VIP Access hotels. This makes Expedia an excellent choice for those who love to explore new destinations without breaking the bank.

Transportation

Navigating foreign cities can be intimidating, but apps like Discover Cars, Google Maps, Moovit, Uber, Bolt, and Trainline simplify this process. We always download these apps in addition to local transport apps because they allow us to easily navigate new cities and give us a variety of options to do so.

Discover Cars

When traveling, having the freedom to explore at your own pace can make all the difference. That’s where Discover Cars comes in—an excellent platform for travelers looking to find the best car rental deals worldwide. Whether you're planning a scenic road trip, need a convenient way to get around a new city, or simply want the flexibility of your own vehicle, Discover Cars makes renting easy, affordable, and stress-free.

One of the biggest advantages of using Discover Cars is its price comparison feature. The platform searches through hundreds of trusted car rental providers—both global brands like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise, as well as reliable local companies—to ensure you get the best rates available. Plus, their transparent pricing means no hidden fees, so you know exactly what you're paying upfront.

Another standout feature is the flexible cancellation policy and full coverage insurance options. Travel plans can change unexpectedly, and having the ability to modify or cancel a reservation without hefty penalties provides much-needed peace of mind. Discover Cars also offers an easy-to-understand insurance package that protects against unexpected expenses, making it a smart choice for worry-free rentals.

What makes Discover Cars even more traveler-friendly is its intuitive booking process and customer support. With a straightforward interface, filtering options to find the perfect vehicle, and clear rental terms, you can book a car in just a few clicks. Plus, their multilingual customer service team is available to assist with any questions or concerns, ensuring a smooth rental experience from start to finish.

For travelers looking for an affordable, reliable, and convenient way to rent a car, Discover Cars is a go-to platform. Whether you're embarking on a cross-country adventure, visiting a remote destination, or just need a set of wheels for a few days, Discover Cars helps you find the best deal with minimal effort.

Google Maps

Google Maps is an essential travel app when traveling abroad because it provides real-time navigation, helping users find their way around in unfamiliar destinations. It offers detailed maps, driving, walking, biking, and public transportation directions, ensuring you can navigate to wherever you need to get to.

Additionally, Google Maps features options to avoid stairs or ferries, offers live traffic updates and alternate routes, and provides reviews for attractions and restaurants right from the map.

They also provide offline maps to ensure you get where you need to go, even without an internet connection.

One of our favorite features is also the ability to pin favorite locations on the map. We love exploring the Google Map of a city before heading there and pinning all the attractions, monuments, restaurants, cafes, and sunset spots we want to visit. We also pin our accommodation, so we never have trouble finding our way back.

Moovit

One of our favorite travel apps that we feel like no one talks about. This app has been a lifesaver for navigating public transportation no matter where we are. It simplifies the use of public transportation in unfamiliar cities by providing real-time routes, schedules, and step-by-step directions for buses, trains, subways, and trams. This makes navigating a new city a breeze.

The app offers features like service alerts, route planning, and offline maps, that can help you avoid delays and plan your route more efficiently.

You simply set your city and type in where you want to go. The app gives you a list of options that use various modes of public transport. These options include total traveling time, cost of the public transport, and the bus, train, or train line numbers used. The app also navigates you in real time to the stop or station to begin your journey and gives you updates on when your bus or train will arrive. Another cool feature is that the app will also notify you when you are coming up on your stop so that you never miss it.

The Moovit app is completely free to use, offers coverage in over 3,000 cities around the world, and has proven to be a reliable tool for us in navigating a new city.

Uber

Occasionally, there are no options other than a taxi. When we are carrying a lot of luggage or we aren't able to use public transport, the Uber app saves the day. Rather than dealing with haggling with taxi drivers in foreign countries, getting overcharged, or having to deal with the hassle of calling or flagging down a taxi, we just open the Uber app. We can see the price ahead of time and that doesn't change, even when stuck in traffic or when your driver makes a wrong turn.

The Uber app is essential for traveling abroad because it offers a convenient, reliable, and cashless way to get around in unfamiliar cities. With Uber, travelers can quickly book rides from their location to any destination, avoiding the language barrier and uncertainty of local taxi services. The app provides transparent pricing, real-time tracking, and a range of ride options, from budget-friendly to premium. It’s also available in many countries, making it a go-to solution for airport transfers, sightseeing, and getting around safely, especially in places where public transportation may be less accessible or comfortable for tourists.

Bolt

Although our first choice is Uber, sometimes Uber is not available. Uber is available in around 70 countries worldwide, but we have encountered times when we don't have access to the app, such as when traveling in the country of Türkiye. In this case, Bolt was a great alternative.

Bolt operates in a total of 45 countries and is a great alternative to Uber, offering the same reliable services such as transparent pricing, real-time tracking, and a range of ride options, from budget-friendly to premium.

And in countries where both Uber and Bolt are available, we love to compare prices to make sure we get the best deal!

Trainline

When booking train travel, we exclusively use Trainline. This app always offers the best options, price, and an easy-to-use and navigate platform.

The Trainline app is essential for traveling abroad because it simplifies booking and navigating train travel in multiple countries. It provides users with real-time schedules, ticket prices, and route options for trains across Europe and beyond. The app allows travelers to compare different train operators, buy tickets instantly, and store them digitally for easy access. With features like mobile ticketing, journey planning, and alerts for delays, Trainline ensures a smooth and efficient travel experience, making it a must-have for those relying on trains to explore new destinations.

Food

Exploring local cuisine is one of the highlights of traveling. But sometimes getting out to a restaurant isn't possible. Tired kids, rainy days, and other factors can prevent you from dining out. Luckily, we have some apps that save us in these situations.

Glovo

One of our favorite food apps is the Glovo app. This is because it provides an easy and convenient way to order food, groceries, and other essentials right to our accommodation from local stores and restaurants. We have used it to order food delivery from restaurants that are too far to walk to or even to order groceries when we've been sick and stuck inside.

The Glovo app is available in numerous cities globally and allows travelers to explore local cuisine and services without the need to speak the local language or navigate unfamiliar areas. It offers quick delivery, real-time tracking, and payment through the app, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy a hassle-free experience while traveling, whether it's a meal delivery or picking up a forgotten item. The app additionally offers you the option to pick up from the location, rather than having it delivered, which comes in handy when you just want to grab and go.

Additionally, the app offers multiple ways to pay, from credit and debit card to cash on delivery. And unlike food services like Uber Eats and DoorDash, there are no exorbitant fees or hidden charges.

You can chat directly with your driver, get real-time updates on delivery, and you'll have access to multi-lingual support for any issues.

Glovo is currently available in the following countries:

• Spain

• Italy

• Ukraine

• Romania

• Georgia

• Portugal

• Poland

• Morocco

• Kazakhstan

• Croatia

• Kenya

• Cote D'Ivoire

• Serbia

• Moldova

• Uganda

• Kyrgyzstan

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Bulgaria

• Ghana

• Montenegro

• Slovenia

• Nigeria

• Armenia

• Andorra

• Tunisia

Wolt

When Glovo isn't available, the Wolt app saves the day. Wolt is another food and grocery delivery service that offers a user-friendly interface, fair prices, plenty of local food options, and fast delivery.

Wolt enables travelers to explore new cuisines and get items delivered directly to their location without the need to navigate unfamiliar areas or languages. It offers real-time tracking, secure payment options, and quick delivery, making it ideal for tourists who want convenience, especially when exploring new cities or when they’re short on time. Wolt's extensive coverage in many international destinations makes it a reliable app for travelers on the go.

Wolt is currently available in the following countries:

• Finland

• Sweden

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Slovenia

• Slovakia

• Serbia

• Malta

• Norway

• Poland

• Lithuania

• Latvia

• Kazakstan

• Japan

• Israel

• Iceland

• Hungary

• Greece

• Germany

• Georgia

• Czech Republic

• Cyprus

• Croatia

• Azerbaijan

• Austria

  
  

Too Good to Go

If you're on a budget or just looking for a way to support and encourage sustainability, you should check out the Too Good to Go app.

The Too Good to Go app helps travelers reduce food waste while enjoying affordable, high-quality meals. The app connects users with local restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and grocery stores offering surplus food at discounted prices and in most cases food that would otherwise end up in the trash at the end of the day.

Travelers can easily pick up "surprise bags" of leftover food, allowing them to experience local flavors at a fraction of the cost while contributing to sustainability. It offers a more environmentally friendly way to enjoy local foods and is especially helpful for budget travelers.

Too Good to Go is available in the following countries:

• Germany

• France

• UK

• Netherlands

• Poland

• Spain

• Italy

• Belgium

• Switzerland

• Norway

• Canada

• Austria

• United States

• Czech Republic

• Faroe Islands

• Ireland

• Denmark

Activities

When traveling abroad, you're likely to check out local activities, tours, and experiences. Whether you want to book an excursion, find a local attraction, have a unique experience, visit a cultural landmark, or enjoy outdoor activities, these apps will help maximize your time and make things easy.

GetYourGuide

One of our favorite apps to book experiences is GetYourGuide. We have booked tours and excursions on this app dozens of times over the years and they never disappoint.

The app offers a wide range of activities from various providers and companies while allowing you to filter through to find the experiences that matter to you. You can search by location, date, and interest and each activity gives you plenty of information, including actual customer reviews.

GetYourGuide offers a range of tours and excursions for every traveler, from guided city tours to unique, off-the-beaten-path adventures. The app allows travelers to easily browse, compare, and book activities in advance, ensuring availability and often offering skip-the-line access to popular attractions. With reviews from other users, detailed descriptions, and secure payment options, GetYourGuide helps travelers make informed decisions and enjoy seamless planning. Whether you're exploring a city or seeking a local adventure, the app provides a convenient way to enhance your travel experience.

GetYourGuide is available in an astonishing 150 countries!

Viator

As an alternative to GetYourGuide, we have also used Viator, which we consider another essential app. Specializing in tours, activities, and unique experiences, Viator connects travelers with incredible adventures in cities and countries all over the world. Whether you’re looking for a guided walking tour of a historic district, an adrenaline-pumping excursion, or a skip-the-line ticket to a top attraction, Viator makes it easy to find and book unforgettable experiences.

One of Viator’s standout features is its massive selection of activities, with options available in over 2,500 destinations. From small-group food tours in Italy to scenic helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon, the platform offers something for every type of traveler. Plus, with detailed reviews, ratings, and traveler photos, you can book with confidence knowing exactly what to expect.

Flexibility is another reason why Viator is a game-changer for travel planning. Many tours offer free cancellation, allowing you to adjust plans if your itinerary changes. Their low-price guarantee ensures you get the best deal possible, and with mobile ticketing, you can book last-minute experiences on the go without the hassle of printing vouchers.

For those who love exclusive, off-the-beaten-path experiences, Viator is a goldmine. Whether it’s a private sunset yacht cruise, a hidden-gem cultural workshop, or a behind-the-scenes museum tour, Viator gives you access to experiences that go beyond the usual tourist attractions.

If you’re looking to take your travels beyond sightseeing and truly immerse yourself in a destination, Viator is the perfect tool to help you plan. With its wide variety of activities, user-friendly booking process, and flexible policies, it’s the ultimate companion for creating memorable travel moments.

All trails

For outdoor enthusiasts, we recommend AllTrails for navigating local hiking trails. The app contains a vast collection of hiking and biking trails, allowing you to enjoy scenic hikes, challenging climbs, or leisurely walks with your kids.

The app features detailed trail maps, user reviews and tips, difficulty ratings, and photos to help you decide on the perfect trail for your outdoor exploration. With the various filters and features, the AllTrails app is suited to users of all fitness levels and preferences.

Additionally, the app features offline maps and real-time tracking, ensuring you never get lost on the trail.

AllTrails has over 10 million members in 100 countries, making it one of the leading hiking apps in the world!

Entertainment

When you need to pass the time, whether it's on a long flight, cross-country train ride, or even just relaxing in your accommodation, consider these two options to keep you and your family entertained.

Spotify

Spotify is our chosen app for listening to music while abroad. It is especially helpful for long car rides when local radio stations just aren't cutting it.

Being available in 184 countries worldwide, Spotify is the perfect choice for enjoying your favorite playlists, artists, and songs while on the go. It is one of the only music streaming services that works in almost every country.

The Spotify app offers access to millions of songs, playlists, and podcasts from around the world. Key features include personalized playlists like "Discover Weekly" and "Daily Mix," which are tailored to user preferences, as well as the ability to create and share custom playlists.

Spotify also offers offline listening for premium users, allowing music to be downloaded and played without an internet connection, which can come in handy on flights without Wi-Fi. With cross-device syncing, users can easily switch between devices, from smartphones to computers, while enjoying a seamless listening experience.

Netflix

Netflix has proven to be the superior movie and T.V. streaming service for traveling abroad. This is because other popular streaming services like Hulu don't work in many other countries, while we have never had an issue accessing Netflix from any of the 30+ countries we have been to. However, it is important to keep in mind that certain titles may not be available in every country.

Netflix is a popular streaming service offering a vast library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original content across various genres. Key features include personalized recommendations based on viewing history, the ability to create multiple user profiles, and options for downloading content for offline viewing.

Netflix supports streaming in multiple languages and provides content in various formats, including 4K and HDR for high-quality viewing. Users can stream on multiple devices simultaneously, such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and laptops, making it a flexible and convenient choice for entertainment on the go.

One of the best features is the ability to download shows and movies for offline viewing, which comes in handy for long flights without Wi-Fi, especially when you have young children with you. We always make sure to download our kids' favorites ahead of time so that our flights and train rides go smoother.

Communication

Communication can be the toughest to navigate when exploring a new country.

Many phone plans charge up to $10 per day to use your cell phone service outside your home country, which can add up quickly on a long trip or for multiple devices. Luckily, we have perfected the art of communicating while abroad and these are the four apps that help us do that.

Holafly

When we first started traveling abroad, we started with a 7-month trip around Europe. Our biggest struggle was trying to figure out what to do for phone service. We looked into eSims and luckily stumbled upon a great company.

Holafly provides a variety of eSIM data plans for international travelers, traveling to hundreds of locations abroad. It allows users to stay connected while overseas without the need for physical SIM cards, offering a convenient and cost-effective solution for mobile data usage in multiple countries.

With the Holafly app, travelers can easily purchase and activate eSIM data plans directly from their phones, ensuring seamless connectivity for browsing, social media, and navigation. Holafly is a great choice for hassle-free communication and internet access during international trips. They even offer regional eSIM's that cover a range of countries if you're like us and frequently country-hop.

Keep in mind that to use an eSim, your cell phone typically needs to be unlocked, which in our case required that we pay off our cell phones with our carrier and then request they be unlocked. After this initial hassle, we've managed to use eSIM's from Holafly in over 20 countries.

Additionally, Holafly offers a rewards program where you earn points towards discounts on every eSIM purchase.

It is worth noting that we have tried multiple eSIM carriers and Holafly offers the best prices for unlimited data plans and has had the best overall coverage and service, while service with other carriers has been slow and insufficient in certain areas.

Airalo

Another great eSIM app is Airalo. This company does not offer unlimited data plans but does offer fantastic rates on per GB plans. If you don't want to pay for unlimited data and only need a few GB to get through, Airalo offers great rates, top-up options, and a wide variety of country-specific and regional plans.

To save money, we typically use a combination of both apps, using Holafly's unlimited plan on one of our cell phones, and a per GB plan from Airalo on the other cell phone.

It's also worth noting that both of these apps are easy to install, have excellent customer service, and offer high speed and reliable data.

WhatsApp

Hands-down the best app for communicating overseas, WhatsApp works just like your regular texting service, giving you a point of contact to call and text anyone with the app. You do need access to the internet or a data plan for this app to work, but it has been an invaluable way to communicate both with family back home and hosts on Airbnb and other accommodations.

Additionally, if staying in an Airbnb abroad, most likely the host will want to communicate with you via WhatsApp to give check-in instructions and to keep in quick contact in case you need anything during your stay.

Other features include the ability to share media such as photos, videos, and documents, group chats, voice messages, location sharing, and end-to-end encryption, which enables secure communication.

Before traveling, we always make sure to double-check with family and friends that they have the app downloaded and have registered their phone numbers. The app allows messaging and video calling, making it perfect for keeping in contact with family.

The app is free to use and uses your regular phone number from your cell provider.

Skype

Skype is an app we hadn't thought of in years, not since the invention of FaceTime. When we could video call friends and family directly from our phone service, there was no need for Skype. However, we have discovered an extremely helpful feature that the app offers.

Since the eSim plans we are using overseas only provide data, we have no way to make important phone calls. Of course, with WhatsApp we can call friends, family, and anyone with the app. But what about people without WhatsApp, business, or toll-free numbers?

We ran into a situation while abroad for 5 months in which our most used credit card started declining. We tried messaging support on our credit card app, sent a few emails, but what we needed to do was call customer service. Customer service lines are not available to call on WhatsApp and our eSim only had data, with no option for calling and texting. Additionally, the eSim plans that do offer phone calls often only include phone calls within that specific country and not calls internationally. This left us in a dilemma.

After extensive research, we found a solution that would allow us to call our credit card company!

Skype offers credit calling - meaning add some money to your Skype account and you can use that to call any number you'd like. And they have extremely affordable rates - at around 1.4 cents per minute! Additionally, your credits never expire so after putting a $5 credit on my account and after multiple phone calls, including time sitting on hold, I still have money for future calls (hopefully no more credit card issues though!).

Translation

Translation apps are essential when traveling abroad because they help bridge language barriers, making communication easier and more effective. When traveling to a country with an unfamiliar language, it can be important to quickly translate text, speech, or even images of signs and menus to facilitate smoother interactions with locals.

Google Translate

Google Translate is the only translation app that we use, and that's because it does everything we need it to and features an easy-to-use interface.

Whether you need to ask for directions, order food at a restaurant, or navigate your way through the city, Google Translate is an immense help, providing immediate assistance that's only a touch away. This can reduce misunderstanding and give you the confidence to explore somewhere new.

Google Translate is particularly valuable in areas of the world where English may not be widely spoken, or tourism may not be highly developed.

It's as simple as speaking or typing a word, phrase, or even multiple sentences into the app and having it translated quickly into the chosen language.

Another cool feature is Google Lens, which allows you to instantly translate anything you point your cameras at, from road signs to restaurant menus, and even food labels.

Travel with Confidence

download these essential apps when traveling

Traveling internationally can be adventurous and enjoyable. Using the right apps helps you navigate accommodation, transportation, food, and communication with ease. With these essential tools, you can focus on creating memorable experiences rather than getting caught up in logistics.

Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip abroad, these apps will enhance your overall experience. So, pack wisely, download these crucial apps, and get ready to embark on your next international adventure with confidence!