You Don't Need 50 Travel Apps
The app store has thousands of travel apps, and most of them are garbage — ad-filled, outdated, or solving problems that don't actually exist. After years of testing apps on behalf of my Bay Area clients and using them myself on trips around the world, I've narrowed it down to 10 that actually deliver value.
These apps are the ones I personally use and recommend to every client. They cover the entire travel journey: planning, booking, navigating, and staying safe abroad.
Best Booking & Deals Apps
These apps consistently save money and surface the best deals.
Top Booking Apps
| Google Flights | Flight search king | Best flight search engine. Price tracking, flexible date calendar, explore map. Free |
| Hopper | Price predictor | Tells you when to buy vs. wait. Price freeze feature locks in fares. Surprisingly accurate |
| Hotel Tonight | Last-minute hotels | Deep discounts on unsold rooms 1-7 days out. Great for spontaneous trips |
| Going (Scott's Cheap Flights) | Deal alerts | Premium ($49/yr) sends personalized deal alerts from your home airport. Hawaii deals appear 2-3x/month from SJC |
Silicon Valley Travel handles the details so you show up rested. Complimentary planning, direct-line support while you travel.
Best Navigation & Translation Apps
These apps are essential once you're on the ground.
- Google Maps — download offline maps before your trip. Works without data for walking/driving directions. Essential in areas with poor connectivity
- Google Translate — the camera translation feature is magic. Point your phone at a foreign menu and it translates in real-time. Download language packs offline
- Citymapper — superior to Google Maps for public transit in major cities. Real-time transit, step-by-step transfer instructions, walking time estimates
- Maps.me — the best offline map app for hiking and remote areas. More detailed trail maps than Google Maps. Free and fully offline
Must-Have Utility Apps
These apps solve real travel problems.
- Flighty — the best flight tracking app. Real-time gate changes, delay predictions (often before the airline announces), and 'is my plane even here yet' tracking. $4/month
- LoungeBuddy — find and access airport lounges worldwide. Shows which lounges your credit card gets you into. Saves the embarrassment of being turned away
- Wise (TransferWise) — the cheapest way to exchange currency and pay abroad. Multi-currency debit card with real exchange rates. Saves 3-5% vs. airport exchange
- TripIt — automatically organizes your travel confirmations into a chronological itinerary. Forward confirmation emails and it builds your trip timeline
- PackPoint — generates a customized packing list based on your destination, dates, and planned activities. Surprisingly useful for preventing the 'I forgot my charger' moment
- Airalo — eSIM app for international data. Buy a local data plan before you land. Way cheaper than roaming. Works in 190+ countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a VPN when traveling?
For most leisure travel, a VPN isn't essential but it's a good idea. It protects your data on hotel and airport WiFi networks (which are often unsecured), and it lets you access streaming services and banking apps that may be geo-restricted abroad. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the most reliable options. If you're traveling to China, a VPN is absolutely essential.
Should I buy an international phone plan or use eSIM?
eSIM (via Airalo or similar apps) is almost always the better choice. It's cheaper than carrier international plans ($5-15 for a week of data vs. $10/day from most carriers), there's no physical SIM to swap, and you can buy it before you land. The only exception is if you need a lot of voice calls — eSIMs are primarily for data. For calls, use WhatsApp or FaceTime over your eSIM data.
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