For some travelers, the worst part of traveling is packing their suitcase. They despise the moments they have to decide between bringing their new sneakers or sandals, and put their shampoo and conditioner into little containers. They aren't huge fans of fitting their entire closet in a carry-on bag for a long weekend trip, or making sure their crucial documents are in order. (Ugh, same.) For other travelers, though, the worst part of the experience is planning and figuring out the nitty, gritty details. You might be one of these people who doesn't enjoy booking flights, or finding the best excursions for your itinerary. Here's the scoop: You need the best travel planning apps for 2019 on your phone ASAP, because they'll send you and your passport into the clouds.
These apps do what apps do best — they make things easier. They help you organize your travel information in one place, so that you don't have to find your flight number or your hotel's address in the depths of your email inbox. They help you schedule excursions, find new restaurants to try, and track down dreamy places to stay, without making you feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
What more could you ask for? It beats me. Although I love the planning part of traveling, I understand where it may annoy, frustrate, or totally bug you. That's why I'm here to tell you about the best trip planning apps of the year.
The first of these trip planning apps is Google Trips. It's sleek, helpful, and so easy is to use. It'll make designing your itinerary much less dreadful, and something that you actually enjoy doing every time you take a trip.
Simply tell the app what your destination is. From there, you can add in your reservations and look at museums, restaurants, or Instagram-worthy parks that you may have researched and saved. You can explore things to do, figure out how to get from Point A to Point B, and even look into the local cuisine of the area.
For me, it was really helpful in terms of food and getting to know the menus in places like Florence, Italy. I loved being able to go into a restaurant and know the specialities, and have a more traditional experience.
If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say you've already heard about the Airbnb app. You know that staying in someone else's modern apartment, perfectly designed condo, or cozy cottage on the beach can really upgrade your experience. You are also aware that it can be a really affordable option when it comes to your accommodations.
What you might not know, though, is that this app can be great for trip planning. Along with homes and hosts, Airbnb offers a variety of excursions in the best destinations around the world, that you can reserve ahead of time or on-the-go. From learning how to make pasta, to touring the best coffee shops in the area, you'll want to do it all.
In addition, this app organizes important information about your accommodations, like the address of your home, and is great for booking somewhere to stay on a whim. So, where to?
For a traveler who likes to know exactly what they're doing, when they're doing it, and where they have to go on a trip, there's the TripIt: Travel Planner app. TBH, I've never seen an app that let's you be so thorough and plan out every single detail of your itinerary.
Through the app, you can add in the confirmation number on your reservation, the transportation option you're using to get there, and times. From there, the app will generate nearby restaurants you may want to try and give you the 411 on the neighborhood you're in.
You'll want to download it as soon as possible, especially if you're traveling with other people. Your travel buddies can view the itinerary that you create in the app, so that everybody is on the same page.
Last but not least, probably one of the toughest types of travel to plan is a road trip. You might want to fly to the West Coast and take a road trip there. There's just so much you need to know — from the correct highways to take, to the outdoorsy activities you can do, to the places you can stop for a quality snack.
That's where the Roadtrippers — Trip Planner app comes in. After inputing your starting and ending point, it gives you a route to follow and helpful guides for along the way. It tells you what cool attractions you may want to stop for, and tips for exploring the national parks. (Did you know about the secret spots in the Grand Canyon? Now, you can.)
These apps have really thought of everything, and are dedicated to sending you and your passport on a stress-free adventure.
