Useful apps to help with your travel prep

I’m not a “fly by the seat of my pants’ person, especially when it comes to travel. I like to be organised with plans for at least the first few days. If you’re anything like me, then you’ll be looking around at apps for travel prep.

This is not a comprehensive list, and I’m not associated with any companies mentioned. These are ideas to get you started, of course there are alternatives that you might find to suit you better.*

*It’s about how you think, prefer things to look or work.

YouTube Short: Best app for travel planning?

Online Cloud Storage

You probably have files saved in the cloud, through Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive.

In terms of your travel prep, you can use this to:

Store key information about your travel
Backup copies of identity information e.g. passport info/pic
Packing list
Booking references
Trip ideas

Send or store key information before you travel in the cloud so that you can access it during your trip.

Of course, using this option means that you will likely need to have internet access.

As that can’t be guaranteed, depending on where you’re going, make sure that any essential information is available to you offline as well.

Packing Apps

When you’re planning on travelling, everyone seems to say that you need a packing list.

I’m going to agree that you need a list of things to pack. It’s much easier to add items to a list so that you don’t forget them. And when you’re travelling home you can check that you’ve got everything by referring back to the list.

The idea of having a dedicated app on your device has been taken to heart by a wide number of app developers. Search your phone’s app store and there will be a lot of results.

Having a dedicated app where you can build up the list of items you plan to take can be useful.

No more ‘did you remember X’, have you packed ‘Y’!

Additionally, having the list on your phone means, as you think of items you can add them immediately to the list while you’re thinking of it.

What’s on my phone?

I thought that I had a couple of packing apps on my phone. When I looked, I couldn’t find any.

Yes, I have a group that all my travel items are in.

Sadly, a while ago, my favourite app wasn’t updated and had to be deleted.

I liked it because I created my bags, and then packed items into them. Most of the packing apps list out be category your items. E.g., clothes, toiletries, tech etc.

Some things to think about

Do you want a list that has a sample or pre-entered items?
Should you be able to create your own template?
How easy is it to add your own items (not things like socks, t-shirts, but specific items for you)?
Do you need it to auto calculate how many of a specific item you need? (eg. 7 nights = 14 cotton pads for your facial cream @ 2 day)

Have a think about what’s important for you in a packing app.

Off you go, search for ‘pack’ or ‘packing’ in your app store.

You should be able to install a free or trial version so that you can check if you like how it works.

List Apps

I wanted to include this option, as you don’t need a dedicated packing app – especially if you don’t travel all that often.

Instead you can use note or list/to-do app to make your list.

If you like being able to ‘check things off’, then I’d suggest you look at task lists.

For example:

Microsoft To-Do
Google Tasks
Reminders

Again, there’s plenty to choose from when you search your app store.

Otherwise, a simple notes app will do. From the built-in option on your phone (e.g., notes), to word-processors (MS Word or Google Docs) to electronic notes (MS OneNote or Google Keep).

One of the most useful apps for travel prep can be a packing list. It can be as easy as a list on OneNote. — Apps for Travel Prep – OneNote

One thing to consider – can you access these notes, without an internet connection?

It might not happen (🤣) but what if you lose connection while you’re packing to return home?

Trip Apps

If you’re booking or planning to book day trips or excursions during your travel then having an app that you can look at, especially offline useful.

You can research the trips that sound interesting, with or without pre-booking them.

You’ve got things like:

Have you thought that Pinterest can be one of the apps for travel planning? — Apps for Travel Planning with Pinterest

Research locations, trips, places in your destination that you might want to visit.

Many shops, restaurants, events, museums and more are listed on Pinterest. You can create an ideas board to keep everything together.

Remember to also search to see what tips, people who’ve already gone there, are sharing.

TripAdvisor

This is the first app that I think of (Google isn’t an app, but a website) to look for ideas for things to do while on a trip.

It will let you add your ideas to a ‘trip’ (list). If you want, you can book the trip through them as well.

GetYourGuide

I’ve seen adverts on the TV for them, and I did look at the website. They seem very similar to TripAdvisor where you can look up trips, and save or book them.

Expedia

Not just for flights and hotels, but they also have a ‘things to do’ section. Like the others, good to look up ideas on what’s available and if it works book it.

Depending on where you’re going, how you’re getting there, there are plenty of apps for travel prep. Many catering to specific needs – camping, hiking, flights, driving. You can always research (or just search) for apps that are relevant to your specific needs.

Google

For so many things, Google is the first thing we think of.

You can, of course, Google and see what comes up.

Based on those results, there are apps that you can save your ideas into, including some that I’ve mentioned above.

Things to consider

Based on personal and friends/family experiences a few things to remember and/or consider about trips.

Suggestion No1. – don’t book anything for the day you arrive. Depending on how you’re travelling, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get there at the time you think – delays, traffic, the unexpected!

For my first day (or evening), I like to look for food options, near where I’m staying, and I do enjoy wandering around local food stores.

Note: Check the time that places not only open, but close. If it’s not a tourist area, you might find that places close earlier than you think.

If you’re booking a trip – how will you get there? Is it part of the package, or do you need to make your own way to a specific location?

Making your own way there – how will you do that? If you’ve got a hire car, what about directions?

Being picked up – double check where the pick-up point is. Is it your hotel, or somewhere close by? I know people who have been caught out by this!

Do you need anything specific for the trip? Remember to add that to your packing list. Also consider water, food and something to carry things in.

Next Steps

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” (Benjamin Franklin)

You don’t have to plan every single second of your trip (unless you want to), but I do recommend, especially if you’re going to a new place by yourself. To plan out how you’re going to get there.

For example – airport to hotel.

Having some thoughts on what can you do is useful when it comes to wondering “what should I do today”.

Just because you’ve got some plans, doesn’t mean you have to follow through – unless you’ve paid for them 😁.

Useful apps to help with your travel prep

Online Cloud Storage