Top North America Travel Apps You Need to Download Now
In today’s fast-paced world, travel apps have become indispensable tools for adventurers and business travelers alike. From navigating unfamiliar streets to finding last-minute accommodation, these apps can save you time, money, and stress. Whether you’re planning a road trip across the United States or a weekend getaway in Canada, here are the top North America travel apps you need to download now.
Key Takeaways
- Google Maps is essential for navigation and finding local attractions.
- Flighty keeps you updated on flight statuses and delays.
- Hopper helps you find the best deals on flights and accommodations.
- TripIt organizes all your travel plans in one place.
- Airbnb offers unique lodging options for every budget.
Google Maps
Google Maps is essential when visiting a new city (or even for getting around your hometown). You can map locations, get directions (walking, driving, public transportation, ride-hailing services and beyond) and see how crowded your subway will be in select cities.
Navigational Aid
“I use Google Maps all the time in my everyday life, and that certainly doesn’t change when I travel. The navigational app helps me find handy spots like banks or gas stations; understand public transportation options, including buses, trains, and ride-sharing services; map out walking and cycling routes; and keep track of restaurant reservations. It also allows me to easily share my location with travel buddies and create customized maps with flagged locations that I want to visit, which I can download.
Public Transportation
Google Maps has gotten really good at public transportation routes. It shows you the most efficient routes and even how crowded your subway will be in select cities. This is a game-changer for anyone relying on public transit.
Offline Maps
When Google Maps doesn’t work, which is rare, this is a great backup and it is great for showing hiking and biking trails that aren’t shown on Google Maps. It also has offline map capabilities.
Google Maps is essential for any traveler. It’s like having a personal guide in your pocket, ready to help you navigate through unfamiliar territories with ease.
Flighty
Flighty is the ultimate flight-tracking app that helps you track your flights, warns you about delays and cancellations, and provides real-time flight tracking. The pro version of this app tops my list, and it is easy to see why. Flighty gathers all your flight data, alerts you to gate changes (often before the airline’s own app does), and tracks your yearly and lifetime flight data on a fun, interactive map. It even tells you when your inbound plane has departed, so you can be aware of potential delays in advance. When you link the app to your email, it pulls in your flight data automatically.
- Real-time flight tracking
- Alerts for gate changes
- Yearly and lifetime flight data tracking
- Inbound plane departure notifications
It’s also useful when picking up friends and family at the airport, as you can track their flight and see updated landing times or delays. AvGeeks will enjoy digging into flight statistics, flight maps, and community aviation discussions on the app.
Hopper
Hopper is a travel booking app that analyzes the prices of flights, hotels, and rental cars across the internet so that you can get the best bang for your buck. Basically, it compares prices at different booking websites and predicts when you’ll get the best deals on your travels, so you can book accordingly. The Hopper app has helped over 100 million travelers find and secure the best price on flights, hotels, homes, and car rentals. Helping the earth while having a good time? Sign! Me! Up!
Price Prediction Technology
Hopper has changed in recent years from just offering a price prediction tool for flights to being a true online travel agency. The app helps travelers find the cheapest flights, hotels, and rental cars. Of course, Hopper also still offers its signature price prediction technology to help you plan out when to book, as well as travel protection options and a price freeze to help you lock in the lowest possible price on hotels and flights.
Environmental Impact
Bonus: Every time you book with Hopper, the company plants two trees to help offset the carbon footprint of your travels.
Hopper is great because it tells you when the cheapest times to fly are and when you should actually buy your flight. It analyzes a bunch of data to figure this out and allows you to set up alerts for the best time to buy.
TripIt
TripIt declutters your itineraries and documents by keeping them organized in one place. You can set your reservations to automatically send to TripIt, which lets you view travel confirmations, flight itineraries, tickets, hotel and Airbnb booking information, rental car reservations, ferry tickets, and driving directions without ever leaving the app.
Itinerary lovers, this one’s for you. TripIt is perfect for those organizing a major getaway or a bunch of small trips that you just can’t possibly remember all the details for (flights, hotels, car rental, etc.). The free app aggregates all the plans in your email, stores confirmation numbers, and will send alerts to remind you to leave for the airport, check in to your next accommodation, head to your dinner reservation, and more. It’s like a personal assistant in your pocket.
TripIt also makes it simple to share your trip plans with whoever picks you up from the airport or train station or anyone else who may need to coordinate with you. TripIt Pro subscriptions cost $49 per year and include extras like real-time flight alerts, security wait times, baggage claim information, and updates on your loyalty reward programs.
Populates those travel plans into a little itinerary that you can view in one place. The easy-to-use organizational app makes it simple to share the consolidated information with family or friends, so you can send them your itinerary directly and avoid having to answer repeated texts like, “When are you landing again?” to coordinate an airport pickup.
Airbnb
Airbnb is your go-to app for booking home rentals instead of hotels. After entering your destination and dates, you can filter results based on the home type, price, requisite amenities, and more. If you find something you like, you can book directly through the app. It’s that simple!
What to Know Before You Book an Airbnb
Before you hit that book button, there are a few things you should know. How does Airbnb work? In this guide to Airbnb, we’ll fill you in on how to rent, cancel, and save. Here’s what we found in our analysis of Airbnb pricing.
How to Find the Perfect Airbnb
Finding the perfect Airbnb is an art. Use filters to narrow down your choices, read reviews, and always check the amenities. Trust us, a little research goes a long way.
Tips for a Great Stay
- Communicate with your host.
- Respect the house rules.
- Leave a review after your stay.
Remember, Airbnb is all over the world, so you can find unique stays in tons of different places!
HotelTonight
A dream for last-minute travelers, HotelTonight (now owned by Airbnb) lets you book stays for the same evening up to a few months in advance in thousands of cities worldwide. Available hotel rooms are categorized into sections like basic, luxe, hip, charming, and solid, so you can select what works for your vibe. Take advantage of the daily drop feature, where you swipe to find a personalized deal with a special price only valid for 15 minutes after unlocked.
HotelTonight lets you book last-minute hotel rooms at incredibly affordable rates in cities like New York City, Paris, and Barcelona. The app’s inventory is well vetted, with legitimately cool boutique hotels categorized by easy-to-use filters like basic, solid, hip, luxe. I became a HotelTonight devotee recently, during my second pregnancy. I was absolutely exhausted but I couldn’t nap at home because my toddler would come find me and, with her adorable gap-toothed grin, yell, ‘TIME TO GET UP, MOMMY!’
Spontaneous travelers should download HotelTonight for last-minute bookings, often at a discount. The hotel app offers flash deals, as well as the ability to book stays in advance or for multiple nights and it’s perfect for procrastinators who just need a place to crash. It’s also great for flight delays, unexpected stop overs or road trips with no specific route in mind. Planners can also favorite specific properties before they travel to check nightly deals. Regular users will earn perks and steeper discounts.
Sometimes I wanted to stay in a hotel but didn’t want to pay the expensive price. This is where this app came in. You go on the app the day you need a hotel and the hotel prices are majorly discounted. I stayed in a hotel in the Netherlands that was normally $300 a night and I only paid $80!
Uber
Uber is not just a ride-hailing service; it’s your travel companion in North America. Using this app when traveling means you’ll never get stuck wandering around in an unfamiliar area late at night or have to deal with unscrupulous taxi drivers trying to scam you. Uber also has in-app safety features such as an emergency assistance button which will allow you to call local emergency services right in the app.
With Uber, you can explore cities without the stress of navigating public transport or the risk of getting lost.
Convenience
Uber works (surprisingly) in most parts of the world and is a super handy app when you are in a big city and want a ride from the airport. Use my code here to get $5 off of your first 2 rides.
Safety
Uber’s in-app safety features are designed to keep you safe. The emergency assistance button allows you to call local emergency services right from the app. This feature ensures that help is just a tap away, providing peace of mind during your travels.
Reliability
Uber support has collected 791 reviews with an average score of 1.13. While this might seem concerning, it’s important to note that the app’s reliability often depends on the location and the availability of drivers. Always check the local reviews and ratings before booking a ride.
Cost-Effective
Uber often competes on pricing with other ride-hailing services like Lyft. To get the best deal, compare prices on both apps before booking your ride. This way, you can ensure you’re getting the most cost-effective option for your journey.
Lyft
Lyft is a fantastic ride-hailing app, especially if you’re traveling within the USA. While it may not be as common outside the States, it offers a reliable and often competitively priced alternative to other services. Always check both Lyft and Uber to see which one offers the better deal before calling a car.
- Easy to use interface
- Competitive pricing
- Reliable service
For a smooth and hassle-free travel experience, make sure to download Lyft and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Roadtrippers
Planning an epic road trip? Look no further than Roadtrippers! This app is perfect for organizing your driving route and lets you book hotels and activities along the way. It’s especially useful for finding interesting and off-the-beaten-path roadside attractions, cool restaurants, and can’t-miss landmarks you can bookmark.
Key Features
- Map out road trip routes with fun stops
- Get helpful information like distance between points, estimated driving time, and gas usage
- Easily add points of interest along your route
Premium Membership
A Roadtrippers Premium membership includes offline maps, live traffic information, overnight RV parking, and more for $59.99 per year. For those looking to only venture on a few road trips per year, the app also offers a Pro ($49.99 per year) and Basic ($35.99 per year) membership.
We appreciate your detailed feedback, and appreciate that you think it’s a really good app – even if you only gave us 3 stars. We understand the frustration of traveling in cell phone dead zones, which is why the premium version lets you access your routes offline.
GasBuddy
Save Money on Gas
GasBuddy is a must-have app for any road trip across North America. It helps you find the cheapest gas prices in your area, ensuring you save money on every fill-up. With real-time updates from users, you can always find the best deals.
Plan Your Route
Not only does GasBuddy help you save money, but it also assists in planning your route. You can locate gas stations along your journey, making sure you never run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. The app even allows you to filter results based on amenities like restrooms and food options.
Read Reviews
Join the 34 people who’ve already reviewed GasBuddy. Your experience can help others make better choices. The app features a review section where users can share their experiences at different gas stations. This can be incredibly helpful in avoiding places with poor service or dirty facilities.
Earn Rewards
GasBuddy offers a rewards program where you can earn points for reporting gas prices and making purchases through the app. These points can be redeemed for discounts on gas, making it even more beneficial to use the app regularly.
GasBuddy is not just an app; it’s a community of drivers helping each other save money and find the best services on the road. Download it now and make your next road trip smoother and more affordable.
Discover the ultimate travel planning experience with GasBuddy! Whether you’re planning a local trip or an international adventure, our platform offers seamless itinerary management and tour creation. Don’t miss out on making your travel dreams a reality.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced world, having the right travel apps on your smartphone can make all the difference between a stressful journey and a seamless adventure. From navigating new cities with ease to finding the best local eateries, these top North America travel apps are your ultimate travel companions. So, before you pack your bags and set off on your next adventure, make sure to download these essential apps. Not only will they save you time and money, but they’ll also enhance your travel experience in ways you never thought possible. Happy travels, and may your journeys be filled with unforgettable memories and zero tech glitches!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best app for navigation in North America?
Google Maps is widely considered the best app for navigation in North America due to its comprehensive maps, real-time traffic updates, and various features like offline maps and route planning.
Which app should I use to track my flights?
Flighty is an excellent app for tracking flights. It provides real-time updates, delays, gate changes, and even historical flight data.
How can I find the best deals on flights?
Hopper is a great app for finding the best deals on flights. It analyzes billions of flight prices daily to predict how prices will change and tells you whether to book now or wait.
What app can help me organize my travel itinerary?
TripIt is a top choice for organizing travel itineraries. You can forward your travel confirmation emails to TripIt, and it will create a master itinerary for you.
Where can I find last-minute hotel deals?
HotelTonight is perfect for finding last-minute hotel deals. It offers discounted rates on unsold hotel rooms, making it ideal for spontaneous trips.
Which app is best for booking accommodations?
Airbnb is one of the best apps for booking accommodations. It offers a wide range of options from private homes to unique stays, catering to various budgets and preferences.
