From private jet charter to audio city guides and local tips from residents in-the-know, there’s an abundance of resources at the fingertips of every smartphone user. We take a look at the best travel apps to download for a more rewarding experience each time you set out on a journey.
JetSmarter
JetSmarter
As the world’s first mobile marketplace for private jet flights, this app is designed to connect members to idle jets and unused seats around the world. Encompassing routes between major cities such as New York, London, Milan, Zurich and Geneva, the app could prove to be of particular use to business travelers, while the app’s private charter service includes flights to almost anywhere in the world. What’s more, JetSmarter have now introduced Jet Smarter Homes, making it possible to browse and rent luxury homes on the same app.
JetSmarter
Dayuse.com
Another app with the potential to transform the experience had by business travelers is Dayuse.com, an app that enables users to book a hotel room to fill the spare time between flights, whether it’s to catch up on some sleep or simply freshen up. Users can choose from 4,000 hotels located across 20 countries.
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JetSmarter
Cool Cousin
Ideal for anyone who is continually in search of off-the-radar locations in the cities they visit, Cool Cousin connects users with in-the-know locals in a number of destinations. By connecting with a resident with similar interests, from a local designer or food writer to a stylist or music producer, each user is given a series of insider recommendations. The app currently runs across 12 cities.
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Sidekix
This urban route planner acts as the ideal navigation tool for travelers who want to explore a city they’re visiting on foot. Rather than simply mapping the most direct route, Sidekix identifies a series of routes for the user to choose between, which take in some of the city’s best shops, cafes, nightlife and sights based on personal preferences. With listings curated by bloggers in each location, the app affords direct access to lesser known spots in more than 100 cities.
Streetography
By collating user-generated photos taken in cities across the globe, this map-based app enables travelers to see what an area is like before making the journey there. For each neighborhood included, high quality images have been overlaid to give an overall impression of what the area offers and where to go within that vicinity. The map’s Hotspots then signify the places where the most photos are being taken. The image gallery can be filtered to see the most recent photos, or those taken by a particular photographer.
Walc
As another app to transform the experience of anyone setting out on independent exploration of a city, Walc maps out directions based on the landmarks to be seen within that area. The app’s pocket mode then gives step-by-step audio direction making it possible to simply follow the directions through your headphones.
Binaural Beats Therapy
If jet lag is an ongoing battle for you, Binaural could be one of the best travel apps to download for its focus on facilitating sleep and meditation. This app helps to alleviate jet lag and reset your sleep pattern through a series of repetitive binaural soundtracks, which can be selected for their frequency and how they contribute to your feeling of wellbeing.
GeoSure
Personal safety is the focus of GeoSure, which generates travel advice based on your location. The app provides users with a safety score for the area they’re in, based on any risks that might be present there, along with crowd-sourced information on any crimes that might have happened in the vicinity.
DUFL
Dufl makes it possible to travel without luggage through a premium valet service for business travelers. After downloading the app and creating an account, the user is sent a suitcase to fill with the clothes they wear on business trips. This is then stored at the DUFL warehouse, cleaned and shipped to whichever destination you’re traveling to, before being picked up and returned to the warehouse to be prepared for your next trip.
DUFL
Hello Scout
Providing a concierge service from boutique hotel companies such as Viceroy, the Hello Scout app gives travelers direct access to knowledgeable staff within each hotel, to remotely seek their advice, from asking for tips on local places to go, to booking activities for your stay. The app is currently available in San Francisco, New York, Portland, Seattle, Chicago and LA, with new locations on the horizon.
Mezi
Another of the best travel apps for its concierge service, Mezi offers travel assistance at each stage of the journey, as well as a personal shopping service. From booking hotels and restaurants, to shopping for gifts and making cancellations, this app promises to make the process easier.
Google Trips
Google’s own travel app provides assistance by collating all of your reservations into one place, making travel plans and booking confirmations available when you’re offline. The app then goes a step further by recommending activities that are nearby, and by pulling together customizable day plans.
Google Trips
ItsEasy
This passport renewal and photo app could prove to be the most useful one you download. The app enables US passport holders to download and print the relevant forms, pay the government passport renewal fee and send the documents to ItsEasy by trackable USPS priority overnight mail, after which the new passport is delivered in two to three weeks.
Trip Republic
As well as enabling the user to research and book hotels, restaurants and activities, the Trip Republic App makes it easy to build a trip’s itinerary, which can then be shared with traveling companions, as well as making it possible to manage bookings when you’re on the move.
Trip Republic
500px
Unlike other photos apps, 500px combines collating high quality images from around the world with information on how they were taken. Each photo comes with technical information on what settings the photographer used, such as the camera’s shutter speed and ISO. Users can upload and share their own photos too.
