Photo by Goats on the Road, all others courtesy of the respective apps
With over three million apps available between the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store, it's hard to decide which ones to download. I personally love an app that's free to download, can help me save money and make my traveling lifestyle easier. Here are seven of my favorite apps based solely on those criteria.
1. Groupon
Free on iOS and Android
We were introduced to the wonderful world of Groupon savings during our recent trip to New York City. It's no secret that eating in the Big Apple can cost a fortune, but it doesn't have to. The Groupon app allows users to easily search for deals on restaurants and even locate them and navigate to them on an easy-to-read map. We found savings of up to 50 percent off on some of New York's best restaurants. I recommend reading the user comments and reviews before heading out for dinner as they can give valuable insight into the quality of the food and service.
This app is pretty easy to use, but it can be a bit hard to understand at first. Business Insider wrote this great article that can help new users get started.
2. We-Fi
Free on iOS and Android This app has over 100 million Wi-Fi hotspots loaded into it so that you can find a solid Internet connection no matter where you're traveling. Open the We-Fi app and click on the map view feature to find exactly how far away the best Internet connections are.
READ MORE: Apps To Make Travel a Breeze
3. Instabridge
Free on iOS and Android
This amazing app has an enormous database of over three million passwords and it's growing every day. The We-Fi app is great because it will tell you where the hotspots are, but Instabridge will tell you what the passwords are for certain locked connections.
The app works best in Western countries where there are a lot of passwords loaded in, but hopefully as the user base grows, so will the database of passwords, making it easy to unlock hotspots all over the world.
4. Uber/Lyft
Free on iOS and Android
My personal favorite taxi apps. Using these apps you can order a ride, know the estimated price, pay for the trip right in the app and even view the profile and track the location of your driver in real-time. Never before has a transportation app been so useful!
When I first started using these apps, I was a little confused about the logistics of them and although their user interfaces are pretty straightforward, it can be a bit overwhelming at first. RideShareApps has put together some useful guides on using these apps that can help beginners understand them better.
5. Google Hangouts
Free on iOS and Android
This is my new favorite calling app. If, like me, you've been using Skype for your long distance calls, you'll know that while calling computer to computer with Skype can be a great money saver, it's sometimes a bit slow and sketchy. Put an end to awkward delays and poor audio quality by calling your loved ones directly on their landline or mobile phone numbers. The connection is far better when only one end of the call is using Internet to connect.
The great thing about the Google Hangouts app is that you can call pretty much any number in the U.S. and Canada for free! Download it and give it a try. You may find that your Skype app is a thing of the past.
6. KAYAK
Free on iOS and Android
Google Flights is my favorite booking engine online, but they don't currently have an app available for their service. KAYAK is the next best booking engine in my opinion and their app can help you save money on flights, hotels and car rentals. The app searches hundreds of travel sites so you can book the cheapest flights, hotels and rental cars and save money with mobile only rates and private deals. The Trips feature can help you to organize your travel plans and stay informed with free real-time flight status alerts.
7. Roamer
Free on iOS and Android
This app might just put an end to your overpriced roaming charges. With the app installed, you can make and receive calls at reduced rates and even if you're using a local SIM card in a foreign country, you can still receive calls on your home number. It's pretty easy to link your home number and the local sim card using the app, and after you've got them connected you simply top up your credit using a credit card or PayPal account. With a local SIM card in your phone, you have the choice of calling over Wi-Fi or cellular networks, but still via your home country telephone number.
READ MORE: Locate Great White Sharks With This Brand New App
Without a local SIM, you can make inexpensive calls from your normal number when connected to Wi-Fi. Charges are well below standard roaming rates and typically even cheaper than Skype. And the app helps you to limit your roaming charges by keeping track of them for easy viewing in the app. Telegraph.co.uk wrote this article about how to use the app and how it can save money on roaming charges. It may help you to understand exactly how the app works.
The Bottom Line
These days, people have two basic necessities that they can't travel without - their passport and their smartphone. Make the most of your devices by downloading the right apps to save money on the road.
What are your favorite travel apps? Do they save you money? Share with us in the comments below.
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