Planning a vacation can be overwhelming, but with the right apps, it doesn’t have to be! There are tons of amazing vacation planning apps available, and many of them are completely FREE. These apps can help you organize your itinerary, track your budget, and even discover new destinations you hadn’t considered.
Our goal is to make your vacation planning smoother and stress-free. By using these tools, you’ll feel more confident and excited as you plan your next adventure.
Benefits of Using Vacation Planning Apps
Vacation planning apps do more than just organize your itinerary. They can help you find the best flight deals, book accommodations, and even navigate like a local.
Many of these apps include safety features, offering peace of mind while traveling. With vacation planning apps, you can focus on enjoying your trip instead of worrying about the details!
Our Top 13 Vacation Planning Apps
Finance Apps
If you want to travel “bougie on a budget,” it’s important to prepare and plan financially for your upcoming vacation.
1. Mint: Track Your Expenses and Stick to Your Budget
One of the biggest challenges of traveling is sticking to your budget. Mint is a widely-used personal finance management app. It helps you track and manage your finances in one convenient place.
Mint offers a range of features designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of your financial health. By using Mint, you’ll be able to budget and achieve your financial goals!
2. XE Currency – Convert Currency
XE Currency is an app that allows you to easily convert currency. By entering the currency and the amount, the app will provide the current exchange rate. The app also allows you to track many currencies at once, allowing you to compare exchange rates.
Also, XE Currency has a feature that allows you to set up alerts for specific currencies.When the exchange rate has reached a certain level, the app will notify you!
Accommodation Apps
3. Airbnb: Find Unique Accommodations (and Local Experiences)
Airbnb is a vacation planning app that allows you to find unique accommodations. With Airbnb, you can book a stay in someone’s home, apartment, or even a treehouse!
Airbnb is perfect if you want to immerse yourself in the local culture. It’s great for a unique vacation experience. Sometimes you can find more affordable accommodations compared to traditional hotels. Airbnb rentals seem to have become pricier than traditional housing options because of the extra fees.
Transportation Apps
4. Skyscanner – Find the Best Flight Deals
Skyscanner is a popular app that helps you find the best flight deals. You can search for flights by destination, date, and budget to find the cheapest flights available. The app also has a feature that allows you to set up price alerts, so the app can notify you when the price of a flight drops.
Also, you can compare prices from different airlines and booking sites to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Skyscanner also has a feature that allows you to search for flights to “everywhere,” so you can find inspiration for your next vacation.
5. Hopper: Predict the Best Time to Book Flights
With Hopper, you can track flight prices and get alerts when prices drop or when there are deals available. This app also provides recommendations on when to book your flights to get the best prices.
Additionally, Hopper offers a feature called “Secret Fares” which are exclusive deals that can only be found on the app. If you’re looking to save money on your next vacation, Hopper is a must-have app.
6. GasBuddy: Find the Best Price on Gas
GasBuddy is a popular mobile app that helps you find the best prices for gas while on the road. It’s designed to save you both time and money. GasBuddy does this by providing up-to-date information on fuel prices. This allows you to make informed decisions about where to fill up you vehicles while on vacation.
Travel Organization Apps
7. PackPoint: Create a Custom Packing List Based on Your Destination and Activities
PackPoint is a vacation planning app that helps you create a custom packing list based on your destination and planned activities. After you input your travel details, the PackPoint app will generate a packing list for you.
The app takes into account the weather forecast for your destination. It even allows you to customize the list based on your personal preferences. With PackPoint, you’ll never forget to pack an essential item again.
8. TripIt: Organize Your Itinerary in One Place
TripIt allows you to organize all your travel plans in one place. All you have to do is forward your confirmation emails for flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities to TripIt. From your e-mail confirmations, the app will create a master itinerary for you. You can access your itinerary anytime and anywhere (even offline!)
Moreover, TripIt will send you real-time alerts for flight delays, gate changes, and more. It’s the perfect app for busy travelers who want to stay organized on the go.
For some other great organizational travel tips: Compression bags can be useful for extended trips. Using a travel cord organizer can definitely help your luggage stay tidy!
Navigation Apps
9. Google Maps: Navigate Like a Local
Getting lost in an unfamiliar city can quickly dampen your vacation spirit. Google Maps provides detailed maps and directions. It also provides real-time traffic updates, public transportation information, and estimated arrival times.
With Google Maps, you can discover nearby attractions, restaurants, and landmarks. You can even save your favorite places for future reference! The app’s offline feature allows you to download maps in advance, ensuring you never lose your way, even without an internet connection.
Attraction Specific Apps
10. TripAdvisor: Uncover Hidden Gems
The TripAdvisor app provides a wealth of user-generated reviews, ratings, and recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities, and more. With millions of reviews and photos, you can trust TripAdvisor to help you make informed decisions and avoid tourist traps.
The app also features travel guides, recommendations based on your preferences, and the ability to save/organize your favorite places.
Viator and Get Your Guide are great places to find and book tours!!
Safety and Security Apps
11. SOS: Stay Safe!
“SOS: Stay Safe!” is a mobile app designed to provide personal safety and emergency assistance to users in times of distress. The app allows users to send an immediate distress signal to predefined emergency contacts with a single tap.
Whether you are walking alone at night or traveling in an unfamiliar area, the SOS app is there to help you feel protected and connected.
12. Smart Traveler
This app provides travel advisories and information on local laws and customs. You can also register with the app to receive updates and help from the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
13. Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is a critical app in our household, considering how many times I lose my phone! The app allows you to track your iPhone if it’s lost or stolen. You can also use the app to remotely erase your data if necessary.
Planning Your Next Getaway: Some of our favorites!
Book Your Flight
- Use CheapOair to find a cheap flight. We like how it does the price comparison and how a fare alert can be set up so we know we’re getting the best deal!
Book Your Accommodation
- Check out Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Book Tours
- Use Viator or Get Your Guide to book any tours or excursions. We find both sites valuable and use them both when booking excursions for our own vacay.
Grab a Rental Car (At a great price!)
- Discover Cars is a great place to search for the best rental car prices available!
