Carla Cometto
Minimizing your travel expenses helps ensure you can enjoy multiple getaways throughout the year. To get you started with that, we’ve selected eight essential apps to help you save some bucks while you explore your next travel destination.
Hopper: Find Great Deals on Flights
Planning a trip usually starts with searching for the best airfare and thanks to this app you don’t have to worry about spending hours doing it yourself.
By selecting your preferred dates, Hopper predicts the most convenient time to travel and to purchase the tickets. It scans over 15 billion flight prices from 250 airlines around the world to find you the cheapest option, saving you up to 40 percent on your airfare. It also offers customizable e-mail alerts to give you the latest deals, hacker fares, and price drops to save you even more money.
Hopper is available for both iOS and Android.
AirHelp: Get Compensation When Problems Happen
Sometimes, unpredictable events can happen and ruin your plans for the perfect getaway. Whether your luggage got lost or your flight got canceled, AirHelp can help you get the compensation you deserve.
This global company aims to help travelers around the world that have had to deal with travel disruptions over the past three years and get them the $600 they’re owed for inconveniences such as delays, cancellations, missed connections, or overbookings.
All you need to do is insert your flight details into the app and see how much you’re owed. The company will file the claim in your name, update you on the case, and credit the money directly into your account when it’s successfully over. Because the best things in life don’t come free, there’s a 25 percent commission applied to your reimbursement.
AirHelp is available on iOS and Android.
GasBuddy: Find the Best Local Prices on Gas
If you’re headed out on a road trip, this app has the potential to be your best travel buddy yet. By sharing your location, you allow GasBuddy to scan your area and locate the nearest gas station with the lowest prices of the moment.
It’s an easy way to estimate the cost of your trip and can save you up to $340 a year. You can sign up to join the community and share reviews, tips, participate in challenges, and save money on every fill up you pay for with the app.
GasBuddy is available for iOS and Android, but only in the US, Canada, and Australia.
Groupon: Get Great Deals on Almost Anything
Whether you’re traveling nationally or going abroad, Groupon can help you save up to 70 percent on a variety of things you might need along the way.
From restaurants to hotels, from the most entertaining city tour to an awesome boat trip around the lake, you can find all the best discounts with just a few simple taps. You can easily redeem all vouchers with your mobile without the need to print them and carry them with you.
Furthermore, with the Groupon Getaways option, you can benefit from the latest deals on travel and accommodation in your favorite destination. You can’t go wrong with an app like this.
Groupon is available for iOS and Android.
HotelTonight: Find Good Last-Minute Rates on Empty Rooms
Searching for accommodation shouldn’t involve a line of sighs and onset headaches. HotelTonight has partnered with thousands of hotels around the world to bring you the best rates for their empty rooms.
You can search by location or attraction, pick your type of preferred lodging, and make a last-minute booking or with up to 100 days in advance. The price is guaranteed to be the best on the market. The app also offers 24/7 customer support and an in-app concierge run by real people, available to help you with anything you might need during your booking process or at arrival.
HotelTonight is available for iOS and Android.
Turo: Rent a Car Directly From Its Owner
Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing company that offers you the option of renting a car of your choice directly from the owners, saving you time and money.
With over 200,000 vehicles available in more than 850 unique models, you can easily find the truck, van, luxury car or bus that you’ve been looking for. You can forget about waiting in line and filling in papers as everything is done through the app. The owners can be easily reached through the chat, and they can deliver the car to you at a location you both agree upon.
Fares can be up to 30 percent cheaper than the ones found on traditional car rental websites and agencies. If you decide to join the community when you get back home, you can earn up to one thousand dollars per month by renting out your own vehicle.
Turo is available for iOS and Android, but only in the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany.
WiFi Map: Find an Internet Connection Wherever You Are
Internet connection is a necessity everywhere you go. To avoid having to buy a coffee or food at a cafe or restaurant just to get their wifi password, you can download WiFi Map and move around the city with one less worry in your mind.
The app has over 100 million Wi-Fi hotspots available all over the world, including the passwords and tips for you to always stay connected during your trip. It’s as simple as opening the Wi-Fi map and finding the nearest available hotspot for you to use. It doesn’t get easier than that.
WiFi Map is available for iOS and Android.
Citymapper: Get Detailed Maps for Cities All Over the World
Navigating through a new city can be confusing and sometimes expensive. This is where Citymapper comes in handy. With self-explanatory features and availability in cities across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia, this app can help you calculate the quickest and cheapest route to get to your destination by using public transport.
You get live updates of departures times of your chosen mode of transportation, as well as step-by-step directions including alerts for when you’ve reached your stop. The app also connects with ride-sharing apps like Uber and Car2go, showing you the current availability and the best pick up spots in your vicinity.
Citymapper is available for iOS and Android.
Budgeting on the go has never been easier, and we have apps to thank for that. Don’t forget to download the ones we’ve introduced you to before you leave for your next adventure!
