These days, going away on holiday is a completely different process to that of 20 years ago or so. Indeed, we still fly or sail away to sample delicious foreign dishes, culture, and weather, but the way we now plan our travels and the activities we undertake whilst on abroad has been completely revolutionised thanks to the introduction of the smartphone and all the technology that goes with it.
In this article, compiled with Audi A8 dealers, Lookers, we explore the best apps available now to assist you in planning the perfect getaway, from sorting your transportation to unwinding at your eventual destination.
Sorting your flight
There are a variety of methods and flight comparison apps available to download — each of which have slightly differing selling points that give them that all important unique selling point. For the sake of keeping things simple however, we have whittled this down to our favourite three.
Make sure you don’t panic book on the thoughts that the flights are going to sell out. You may find that the prices have dropped the following week! At Hopper however, this is not a concern. The app monitors 15 billion flights every day to find you the right deal. When you’re on the app, things are aesthetically pleasing as well, with colour co-ordination used to help users distinguish between the expense of the flight and the time of year.
Perhaps you’re undecided on where to go, but you really want to jet off and have a budget in mind. If this sounds like you, then Kiwi will prove to be a valuable widget. Once you’ve selected your home destination, it provides you with a map and how much it will cost you to get to each destination on it. No more repetitive searching.
Have you ever wondered whether airlines don’t actually show us the cheapest available options? It should come as no surprise that the most economically viable flights are being hidden from us — realistically, why would they not let us pay more? Skiplagged focuses on finding the loopholes in flying — it might be that booking a longer flight, with a stop-over works out cheaper, or by getting off at certain destinations en route can save money.
Whilst you’re away
If you don’t have a transfer waiting to take you to your accommodation, Hotelinfo could be a great app to help you. While your GCSE language skills proved to be of little worth here, you’ve managed to navigate your way out of the airport thanks to your inherent knowledge and understanding of exit signs. This trusty app links straight to the hotel, where you can chat to staff, ultimately getting the best directions to the hotel, or suggestions for a taxi — just remember to check your roaming tariffs.
Just as we don’t have to visit travel agents on the high street anymore, we also don’t have to go and pick up traveler’s cheques. In fact, we don’t require currency at all anymore. Using your debit card abroad was always somewhat of a cruel mistress, especially when you arrived home to discover a host of transaction and exchange fees had debited your account. Now however, with the invention of app-only banks like Starling and Revolut, you don’t need to incur fees for using your money abroad. All you have to do is sign up, get your card, and upload cash via your domestic account.
Then there’s your check-list. No longer do you need to write one out as your phone can be a useful tool in this case. Packpoint assesses the weather forecast for you on a daily basis, while also asking you the activities in which you will be partaking, so its impossible to leave your hiking boots or swimming shorts at home.
Next up, have you ever been walking the streets of a foreign city thinking to yourself, ‘I’d love to know what the story behind that is’? Well, if you have, you aren’t alone! Unlike having to devote your entire day to a guided tour, you can do now find out all those unanswered questions. Simply download Detour, plug in your headphones, and listen to a fully narrated tour of the city — from a local with considerable knowledge of the area.
Where you’ll be staying
In terms of holiday accommodation, arguably the biggest app invention has been Airbnb. Hotels, as much as they offer a wide range of choice and variation, don’t quite match up to the quirkiness offered by property rental app Airbnb. The site, which operates in more than 190 countries in the world, offers users the potential to rent villas, single rooms, yachts, treehouses, and much more — often at a considerably cheaper rate than that of hotels. Similarly, the experience section now provides customers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in more than just the tourist board suggestions, alternatively getting involved in the activities suggested and often carried out by locals.
The above tips of just a handful of apps that can help you on your travels and the market is awash with numerous handy additions, so go have a browse!
