London - Travelling can be stressful. Between perfecting your packing list for any weather contingency and tracking your arrival and departure times, it can be difficult to keep your information organised effectively.
Thankfully, plenty of apps have popped up in recent years to help streamline your journey – whether you’re heading abroad for business or leisure.
Here are the top 10 most useful apps for every step of your holiday planning process, from packing to find your way around a strange city and even sending a postcard home…
l VisaPort: This free app is a great way to manage any travel visa application process – provided that the embassy you’re applying with participates, that is.
Generate and manage your visa application, for both you and your family, with daily updated information on embassies and consulates around the world.
Travellers will also be able to monitor advisories in real-time, schedule appointments and figure out exactly which countries will require a visa.
It’s also available in a desktop edition.
l Flight+: Track all available flights around the world in real-time with what has been called the “ultimate travel companion”.
Easily access any flight board in any airport in the world, terminal and gate changes, delays, arrivals and departures, weather forecasts and even seating charts.
Data from over 16 000 different airports have been incorporated with an easy-to-use interface that also allows you to share your itinerary with friends and family using e-mail, text message, Facebook, and Twitter
l TripAdvisor: This tried and true traveller favourite is best known for its website edition, but its app – likewise chock full of information and reviews – is crucial for planning any aspect of your trip while on the go.
l Google Translate: Its offline dictionary function will save your life when you find yourself without wi-fi and looking frantically for directions to your hostel.
Having been recently updated, features now also include a “Word Lens” function, which allows you to snap a photo of text and see an English translation on screen immediately.
Or, if you’re having difficulty deciphering a conversation (and are an Android user), simply select a pair of languages, tap the mic symbol and allow Google to translate whatever it hears to your language of choice.
l Hipmunk: Think of this app as your handy pocket comparison tool to find the best hotel and flight deals anywhere in the world.
“Verified by Hipmunk” features also discloses if a hotel has wi-fi, dining and more.
l Citymapper: Living in or visiting London, New York or Singapore? This free transport app is the ultimate guide to navigating an unfamiliar city.
There are new cities being updated each day and already it includes many popular tourist destinations.
See next departures and line status updates on all modes of transport where available, book a taxi or car through Uber or Hailo (integrated into the app, naturally), see weather alerts, expected disruptions and just about everything else you never even realised you needed to know.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that functions work best when your mobile’s GPS/location is switched on.
l Expensify: This is a must for any business traveller who needs to document all expenses during a work trip abroad.
Simply take a picture of your most recent receipt and select which report that expense should go on. Lose your receipt? You can also import your credit card transactions.
l PackPoint: List-makers, rejoice. This intelligent packing app helps you to figure out exactly what you need to pack based on length of trip, the weather at your destination and any activities you have planned during your getaway.
No access to laundry facilities? Simply tell the app to factor that in when crafting your perfect packing list.
l Postagram: Send a personalised postcard from anywhere in the world – without having to seek out a post box.
An easy way to stay in touch with your family and friends, simply select a photo from your phone, Instagram account, Facebook profile or Dropbox and type in your optional message.
It will then be printed on thick, glossy photo paper, custom created with a profile photo of you (the sender) and delivered anywhere in the US, Europe or Canada in only two to five business days.
l XE Currency Converter: Not only is this app free, but it is useful. Ensure you always get the best deal with live currency rates and charts that will keep you in the know even when you don’t have wi-fi.
You can calculate prices, simultaneously monitor up to 10 currencies, and set the frequency for which you’d like to receive updates.
Daily Mail