
It’s settled, you’re going on holiday! Now what to do? You probably made some basic planning where you want to go and how you will get there. All good, but not everything can be planned. Make sure you have these 6 apps installed before you arrive. They sure were a life saver for me.
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Booking.com
I’m a huge fan of booking.com. During my travels this must have been the app I’ve used the most. Make hotel arrangements at home or validate your next place to sleep during your travels. When on a budget you can find the perfect hotel. I am very fond of the filters where you can set your maximum amount or the minimum rating score. The map also helps choosing a hotel near the place you want to be. |
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Google Maps
This one is a lifesaver! It works perfect with a 3G connection on your phone when navigating in an unknown country. But it even helped me without 3G, just make several screenshots while on wifi and you have a perfect free map. With only screenshots on my iPad I navigated through the back roads of Vietnam. With 3G I had total freedom and never was anywhere close to lost. |
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XE
My most beloved currency converter has its own app. Fill in the currencies you’ll need while on WIFI and you can use it offline. With the Euro it’s been a while since we needed to convert our guilders to mark, pesetas or liras. But outside of Europe there are plenty of unknown currencies. Get a grip on your expenses with this perfect app. |
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TripAdvisor
Although I haven’t used TripAdvisor that often it does help if you need some inspiration for the place you’re at. It helps you find a good restaurant or a fun place to visit that you haven’t heard of. TripAdvisor also has an offline city guide for the bigger cities. |
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Notes
Pen and paper are so 1997. When you receive good advice on the road, just open the Notes app and start typing. Trust me, else you will forget. But you can use notes for anything; pre-write a blog post or keeping track of the money you spend. There is always something you want to “write” down. |
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Dropbox
Who needs a compact camera when you got a smartphone? But what if your phone gets lost or stolen with all your valuable pictures on it? This is why I love Dropbox! The app allows you to sync your photos to their cloud storage space, this way your photos are always safe during your travels. This feature is also offered by Google Drive. |