16 Travel Apps That Editors in the Travel Industry Rely On

Experienced travelers often develop their own strategies for ensuring their trips run smoothly. However, even frequent flyers can find aspects of traveling to be tricky. Editors and contributors at Dinogo are well-acquainted with travel tasks such as booking flights and accommodations, renting cars for road trips, or handling public transport and language barriers in new cities. Whether you need to stay composed during a bumpy flight or want help with currency conversions, our editors swear by these vital travel apps.

1. PackPoint

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)
"PackPoint excels at simplifying the process of packing a suitcase. This app is fantastic because it customizes your packing list based on your destination and planned activities. Simply download the app, enter your destination, and provide details about your trip such as length and season. PackPoint then generates tailored packing suggestions based on the forecast at your location and your planned activities. It even considers finer details, like whether you'll have access to laundry facilities to wash and reuse your clothes. Although I'm quite organized, I find myself repeatedly turning to this incredibly useful packing app to help me channel my inner Marie Kondo."—Sarah Buder, Dinogo contributor

2. TripIt

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"I've relied on this app for years, and it’s my absolute favorite. TripIt automatically scans your confirmation emails for flights, hotel or Airbnb reservations, car rentals, dining bookings, and even event tickets, compiling all your travel plans into a single itinerary. The user-friendly app makes sharing this information with family and friends a breeze, so you can send them your plans directly and avoid endless texts like, 'What time are you landing?' for airport pickups. TripIt also has a personalized Travel Stats page for those who love data, letting you track how many trips and countries you've visited—and that’s just in the free version! The pro version, at $49 per year, adds features like real-time flight updates, TSA wait times, and loyalty rewards program notifications."—Sara Button, Dinogo contributor

3. Drops

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"I adore this language learning app; it’s my go-to for preparing for international trips. Drops turns learning into a game, using flashcard-style mnemonic matching exercises to teach vocabulary. It suits my learning style far better than other programs that emphasize grammar. When heading to an unfamiliar country for a short trip, I don't stress about perfect fluency; I just want to quickly remember key words and phrases. Drops offers over 50 languages, including Ainu, the language of an Indigenous Japanese culture from Hokkaido."—Maggie Fuller, Dinogo contributor

4. Rome2Rio

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"Rome2Rio is an invaluable resource for navigating from one location to another. Simply enter your starting point and destination, and it will present all possible travel methods (plane, car, bus, and train), along with estimated travel times and costs. For public transport routes, it details the specific buses and trains to take, offers alternatives if you miss your connections, and directs you to relevant booking sites. Having all these options in one place empowers you to make well-informed travel choices." —Bailey Berg, Dinogo contributor

5. Mobile Passport

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"I discovered Mobile Passport through Dinogo’s marketing director, Katie Galeotti, who mentioned that she sometimes clears U.S. Customs and Border Protection faster than her husband, who has Global Entry. Curious, I decided to give it a shot on my next return from abroad. Before heading through customs at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), I downloaded the free app, completed my declaration forms and passport details, and submitted the mobile documents for review. To my surprise, I was able to pass through dedicated, faster customs lines at SFO in about five minutes just by showing my encrypted receipt. Since I absolutely detest waiting at airports (even for checked luggage), it was incredibly satisfying to exit SFO quickly after a lengthy international flight."—Sara Button

6. Priority Pass

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"Many premium credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum, provide their cardholders with Priority Pass memberships, granting access to over 1,500 airport lounges globally. I have a Priority Pass membership through my credit card, allowing me to enter lounges even when flying economy. The downside? I often misplace my membership card, which is where the app proves useful. It not only allows you to ‘store’ your card for easy access on your phone, but it also helps you find eligible lounges and discounts by airport, informing you of the amenities you can expect upon arrival."—Katherine LaGrave, Dinogo deputy editor

7. Rain Rain

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"If you’ve ever found yourself at 30,000 feet, trapped in front of a seat-kicker, and in need of relaxation, then Rain Rain is your solution. This free app for both iOS and Android features a variety of sounds, including nine types of rain and real-life audio tracks that range from ‘Mississippi at Night’ to ‘Fish Tank.’ You can unwind to soothing wind chimes or the sound of a ticking alarm clock, and even mix your own soundscapes, like ‘Car in the Rain’ layered with ‘Cicadas.’ There are no ads, and you can set a timer for the sounds to gradually fade out. I feel more relaxed just thinking about it."—Katherine LaGrave

8. Google Maps

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"I rely on Google Maps daily, and that doesn’t change while I’m traveling. This navigation app helps me locate essential places like banks and gas stations, understand public transportation options including buses, trains, and ride-sharing, map out walking and biking routes, and keep tabs on restaurant bookings. It also makes it simple to share my location with travel companions and create personalized maps with marked spots I want to visit, which I can download for offline access later."—Sara Button

9. Citymapper

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"I have an almost obsessive interest in public transportation. I feel a need to explore every bus, train, streetcar, ferry, tram, and bike-sharing system in the cities I visit. Citymapper, covering 104 cities worldwide, satisfies this curiosity. The app provides route suggestions and alternatives in places ranging from Copenhagen to Tokyo; it offers maps, fares, and travel times with details on how much time you'll spend on each mode of transport. Importantly, it also highlights routes that are wheelchair accessible. When my husband and I visited London with our teenagers, we utilized Citymapper’s ‘Share Your ETA’ feature. If the kids wanted to leave a museum early, they could enter our flat’s address, get directions from the app, and share their route with us. This feature allowed us to track their journey until they arrived safely. They felt empowered and independent while we enjoyed a worry-free drink at the pub."—Ann Shields, Dinogo contributor

10. National Park Trail Guide

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"This outdoor app provides comprehensive guides for 63 national parks, monuments, and recreation areas, offering essential info on dining, lodging, and activities, along with detailed trail insights and yearly climate data. While it’s incredibly helpful when you're actually in the park, I personally love using it during the planning phase for some travel inspiration. Before a road trip or a camping trip, I enjoy browsing through a park’s most stunning sights and top hiking trails to get excited about my upcoming adventure."—Maggie Fuller

11. AllTrails: Hike, Bike & Run

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"AllTrails is an app designed to help you discover hikes in a specific area, providing details on difficulty level, length, elevation gain, current trail conditions, and whether the route is a loop or out-and-back. It also features reviews and photos from recent hikers. There’s a premium version called AllTrails+, which is far superior, allowing users to download maps for offline navigation—crucial for backcountry adventures. Additionally, it sends alerts if you take a wrong turn and helps locate trails based on your proximity rather than sifting through countless options yourself." —Bailey Berg

12. Google Translate

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"Whenever I find myself traveling in countries where I don’t speak the local language, Google Translate becomes my go-to tool. It's incredibly user-friendly: just type in the word, phrase, or sentence you need translated, select the languages—like Japanese to English or Creole to Spanish—and you’re set. The app supports translations in 243 languages and allows you to save translations in a personal phrasebook for offline access. Additionally, it features camera translation for 37 languages, enabling you to snap a picture of a word to see its translation. While there are other translation apps available, this is definitely the one I rely on the most.” —Sarah Buder

13. HotelTonight

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"HotelTonight makes it easy to snag last-minute hotel rooms at great rates in cities like New York City, Paris, and Barcelona. The app features a well-curated selection of trendy boutique hotels, allowing you to filter by categories like basic, solid, hip, or luxe. I discovered HotelTonight during my second pregnancy when I was utterly exhausted but unable to nap at home because my toddler would come looking for me, shouting, ‘TIME TO GET UP, MOMMY!’ I struck a deal with my husband: if I could find a hotel in Manhattan for under $150, I could book it last minute and escape for a few hours of sleep. Desperate, I turned to HotelTonight daily, searching for deals in neighborhoods I needed to visit, including hip spots like the Ace or Moxy, which were often half-price. This app made staying in top hotels in expensive cities affordable—though I’m pretty sure its founder didn’t anticipate it becoming a lifesaver for tired moms like me. I ended up booking the Ace and relished every moment of it.” —Laura Dannen Redman, Dinogo editor at large

14. Xe Currency

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"Math has never been my forte, so currency conversions in my head are like my travel Achilles' heel. While it may not be the flashiest app out there, Xe Currency Converter is arguably the most essential one I use while traveling abroad. Before heading out, simply add the currency of your destination to your app list. Once you arrive, just enter the price you want to convert to U.S. dollars (or vice versa), and the app will quickly provide the equivalent rate in seconds. It’s incredibly convenient for on-the-go shopping or dining. Plus, you can access rate conversions offline, as long as you've saved the currency using Wi-Fi.” —Lyndsey Matthews, Dinogo contributor

15. Splitwise

(iOS, Free | Android, Free)

"This app helps keep track of shared expenses, making it a lifesaver for group trips. It eliminates those awkward moments over whose card covers dinner or who will call the Lyft, and it prevents any feelings of resentment from paying more or less than your fair share. If you’re as nerdy as my friends and I, you can even turn it into a fun game! The goal is to ensure that by the end of the trip, everyone has spent as close to the same amount as possible.” —Jeremy Saum, Dinogo contributor

16. HappyCow

(iOS, $5 | Android, Free)

"HappyCow is my essential app for discovering vegetarian and vegan eateries while I travel—or even at home! It functions like Google Maps but specifically for those avoiding meat, showing all available options without the guesswork. The app highlights vegetarian and vegan spots (including conventional restaurants with solid meat-free selections), allows filtering by criteria like price and gluten-free options, and provides detailed write-ups about what to expect, such as the ingredients in veggie burgers and whether vegan beer is served. It also includes important details like hours of operation, payment methods, and reviews. While the free version helps locate nearby options, the full-access version is worth the modest fee (currently $5), as it enables international searches, saves favorites, connects with a vibrant community of nearly one million veg travelers, and allows you to leave your own reviews." —Billie Cohen, Dinogo executive editor

More travel app recommendations from Dinogo

→ The Most Helpful Translation Apps for Travelers
→ 6 Awesome Hiking Apps for Adventurous Travelers
→ Navigate the National Parks Better With These Essential Apps
→ Free Apps and Websites That Make Eco-Friendly Travel Easy

This article was first published in 2019 and was last updated on July 10, 2024, incorporating new information.