Apps That Make Travel Easier

My number one rule when traveling is “look up!” In beautiful cities like London and Paris, amazing architecture abounds, even to the rooftops. You might miss some of the most beautiful and interesting sights in a city if you don’t look up.

So it’s easy to judge people who are wandering around a city with their nose to their phone. I didn’t understand it until I started doing most of my trip planning through apps. Now I get it: sometimes you have to look down before you can look up.

Apps can make getting around, finding a restaurant, and navigating public transportation so much easier. Long gone are the days when we carried a paper map in our backpack, stopped to unfold it on the street, and took ten minutes to figure out where we were going next. (Personally, I love a paper map, even though I haven’t looked at one in years.)

Here are some apps that I’ve found make the journey so much easier, and they can all be accessed with your phone. No paper required!

Best Apps for Trip Planning

1. Google Maps. I probably use Google Maps more than any other app. I use it at all stages of a trip because it helps me know how far it is from City A to City B. It allows me to plan travel between multiple cities as well as within a city. The “Saved” maps feature is also really handy, allowing me to save restaurants, museums, hotels, shops, and more, which I can also share with others. I have about 30 saved maps going right now–some for single cities, some for larger trips. I absolutely love Google Maps and couldn’t plan a trip without it.

2. Rome2Rio. Similar to Google Maps, Rome2Rio helps you figure out the best way to get from Point A to Point B. I use Rome2Rio when I’m trying to get between cities because it gives me all of the transportation options and approximate costs. Really helpful at the beginning stages of planning.

3. Airline apps. Once you’ve booked your flights, make sure you download the airline’s app. It’s super easy to access your boarding pass through the app, plus it will give you other helpful information like gate changes, delays, and the ever-important in-flight entertainment. 

4. Trainline. I use this for most of my European train tickets, with occasional exceptions. Trainline makes it easy to both plan travel and access your tickets once booked. You can even save them in your Apple Wallet, making finding the tickets even easier. I find the Trainline platform easy to use as well.

 4a. SNCF is the app/website for train travel throughout France. It can be confusing to use, and I don’t think it works as well as Trainline, but you might occasionally find a better deal on SNCFconnect, so definitely compare prices on both.

 4b. Trenitalia is the Italian train system app/website. I do use it sometimes and find it fairly easy to use. I mention it because you might want to compare prices with Trainline.

5. The Weather App. Always check the weather before you head out so you’ll know what to pack. I start checking the weather at my destination a couple of weeks before my trip, but about a week before I leave I check it every day. You just never know if you’ll need those Wellies!

Once You’re There

You’ll need these apps once you hit the ground.

1. CityMapper. My absolute favorite app for getting around larger cities like London, Paris, or Florence. (Plenty of US cities on the app, too.) The map is easy to read and even more user-friendly than Google Maps. It tells you all the ways to get around within a city using either public transportation, walking, city bike, car, or even scooter. It tells you when the next bus will be at your bus stop or when the next train will be available. It’s just such a helpful resource, you’d be foolish not to use it.

2. Uber. Yes, you can call an Uber in Europe, as well as many other places around the world. I’ve used Uber many times in Europe and the UK, and it’s worked out great. 

2a. That said, in London, I highly recommend using black cabs as the drivers are so well trained and incredibly personable. I’ve never had a bad experience in a black cab in London (and I can’t say that about Uber). 

2b. G7 taxi. In Paris (and elsewhere in France), everyone seems to use the G7 app to call a cab. I have the app on my phone, although I have yet to try it.

3. Google translate. Utilisez cette application pour tous vos besoins de traduction à l'étranger. (Try it!) Trust me. You NEED Google Translate on your phone. The camera feature allows you to simply take a picture of a sign or document (or even hover your camera over the words) and translate. So helpful!

4. WhatsApp. Most Europeans use WhatsApp for texting and calling because there are no international fees and it’s very secure. Once you get used to it, WhatsApp is easy to use.

5. Nord VPN. (Or any other VPN.) I’ve been using Nord VPN for a few years now and like it. What’s a VPN, you ask? According to the Nord website, “VPN stands for virtual private network — a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online. VPNs create an encrypted tunnel for your data, protect your online identity by hiding your IP address, and allow you to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely.” I know security is important, especially when traveling overseas, but all I know is that when I use a VPN, my computer and phone think I’m in the United States–very handy for Netflix viewing. Ha!

***There is a fee to use this service, but you can cancel it when you’re not traveling.

Best Apps for Finding Restaurants

I use all of these apps for my trips.

1. ViaMichelin. I think the travel planning portion of this app is confusing, so I don’t use it much. But the restaurant section is amazing and very helpful. Sure, you can find Michelin-starred restaurants here, but you can also find regular restaurants that are just plain good. 

2. The Nudge. An extensive London restaurant guide. You’ll find reviews of everything from fine dining to pubs to cocktail bars. There is a small fee for using this app/website, but it’s totally worth it.

3. The Fork. Paris restaurant guide where you can also make a reservation.

4. Find Me Gluten Free. I have celiac disease, so finding a place to eat can be tricky sometimes. This app is so helpful, offering gluten-friendly restaurants and reviews from people who have eaten there. There’s even a map view so you can see what’s nearby as you’re out and about. And the best part is, it’s totally FREE!

So there is my roundup of apps I personally use when traveling. Let me know what some of your favorites are. I’d love to hear your suggestions!