Type 鈥渂est travel apps鈥� into any search engine, and the one we all know and love pops up first. But aside, you鈥檙e bound to have specific needs when you travel that don鈥檛 involve organizing your trip 鈥� like prepaying for a parking spot or deciphering labels at the grocery store.
Here are five travel apps that should accompany TripIt in your phone鈥檚 Travel folder.
1. Mobile Passport Control
When it comes to avoiding long lines at customs and border control, you might immediately think of聽 鈥� and with good reason. That trusted traveler program is so popular that many of those who are trying to renew are unable to book an appointment in the next year, or more.
惭别别迟:听. It鈥檚 another trusted traveler program offered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, but unlike Global Entry, it does not require pre-approval. Simply download the app and submit your passport information to get started.
鈥淕et the Mobile Passport Control app. There鈥檚 something very satisfying about waving to your friends who are waiting in the long lines at customs and border patrol.鈥� 鈥撀�, creator of聽
2. SpotHero
Planning a road trip? Renting a car for your next getaway? Download聽 now. Here鈥檚 how it works: SpotHero allows you to search 鈥� and compare prices 鈥� for thousands of parking facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Once you鈥檝e found the spot you want, you can book and prepay for it via the app. When you arrive at your destination, simply follow the instructions for how to park your vehicle.
Simply, easy, and best of all the app can save you loads of time and money on parking at airports, events, and more.
3. Priority Pass
You鈥檝e heeded the airline鈥檚 advice to arrive three hours early for your flight, and since you have (thanks to the discount that comes with ), you zipped through security in 10 minutes. With two hours and 50 minutes to spare, you鈥檙e hoping to get some work done in the comfort of an airport lounge. Don鈥檛 have lounge access via a loyalty program or your ticket class? That鈥檚 where聽聽comes in. With an annual membership, you can gain access to more than 1,300 airport lounges and experiences around the world. The聽聽can help you locate their lounges, save your favorites for later, and more.
鈥淭ripIt and Priority Pass are my go-to travel apps. They help me stay organized and entertained when I鈥檓 on the go. I love people-watching in lounges; it鈥檚 one of my favorite parts of the travel experience.鈥� 鈥撀�, founder of聽
4. Google Translate
Does that container say milk or yogurt? You鈥檙e in need of cough medicine, but you don鈥檛 speak the local language鈥攏ow what? In these scenarios and countless more, Google Translate has you covered. Simply type in words or phrases in your language and toggle to the desired language: a translation appears, and you can be sure you鈥檙e picking up milk for your morning coffee, not yogurt, or asking the pharmacist for the right remedy for your ailment.
With Google Translate, you can scan an image and it will translate the text right on your phone. This makes finding your way around town, a menu, and more that much easier.
罢颈辫:听罢谤颈辫滨迟鈥檚听聽feature can help you find local grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and more right in the app.
5. Airbnb
Download Airbnb not for accommodations, for Experiences. The little toggle at the top of the Airbnb app, where it says 鈥淲here to?鈥�, allows you to search and book tours, classes, day trips, and much more. It鈥檚 my go-to for finding things to do in a destination, even when I鈥檓 not staying in an Airbnb. You can search by activity type 鈥� art and culture, food and drink, sports, tours, and more 鈥� read reviews, and book an experience right in the app. After you鈥檝e booked, you can message the host via the app, if needed. Best of all, you know you鈥檙e getting a local experience 鈥� and supporting a local business 鈥� on an app you鈥檙e probably already familiar with. It鈥檚 a win-win.
Tip:聽Remember to forward your parking reservations, tours, classes, and your other bookings to TripIt to keep all your plans in one place.
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