Before and when I travel, I rely so much on technology to research, find the best deals and get the most of every destination. Below are my top 10 travel apps that I never leave home without:

Skyscanner & Iwantthatflight

Both Skyscanner and Iwantthatflight have websites and apps that allow you to compare flight fares with a wide range of airlines. You can compare car hire and hotel costs too. I always set price alerts to keep an eye on the best fares especially  when they have dropped.

Tripadvisor

TripAdvisor provides reviews of accommodation, restaurants and activities. I’m the type of person who will spend hours trawling through reviews to ensure I choose wisely depending on location and ratings. One thing I have noted is that just because a hotel or restaurant isn’t in the top 10 but it still has a high star rating, I will definitely consider it.

Booking.com

Booking.com is my go-to website for hotels. Of course I always go direct to the hotel website because cutting out the middle man in most cases will get you the best deal, however booking.com does not charge booking or credit card fees and they price match so it’s worth doing your research. I’ve been burnt before when booking hotels with a strict no refund cancellation policy so don’t forget to check before you book if you’re the type of person who likes flexibility and want to keep your options open for last minute change of plans. (A wise man once told me that it was all about the options!)

Airbnb

This is my go-to app for finding accommodation via local hosts who share their housing or rooms in their house and is available in 191+ countries. My experience with Airbnb has always been positive and I have met some wonderful people along the way, one which I now call a friend. I also love the idea of the recently launched City Hosts offering which allows you unique and tailored experiences such as “Themed Shopping in Paris with a Fashionista”.

Tripit

Tripit is a great travel itinerary app. Gone are the days of printing airline tickets and hotel confirmations. Even searching emails on your smartphone for this information can be frustrating. That’s why I love Tripit. All you have to do is forward your confirmation emails (for hotel, flight, car rental, and restaurant) to plans@tripit.com or you can set up automatic forwarding of emails. It has an alerts function to remind you of upcoming trips or reservations and you can use it offline too!

Google Translate

I use Google Translate when I’m in a foreign country and don’t speak the native language. It’s available in 103 languages and has saved me quite a few times when asking for directions or ordering at restaurants.

XE

XE is a currency converter with live rates. I don’t want any nasty surprises on my credit card when paying hotel bills or splurging on a little shopping. This definitely keeps me in check so I have a rough idea of how much I’m spending in Australian dollars.

Apple Maps & Google Maps

I never leave home without my maps app!   I much prefer to walk when I’m traveling (to places that are reachable by foot of course). I find walking allows you to discover unexpected surprises along the way that you won’t get to experience in a car, train or bus. I use both Google and Apple maps. I love that they both have offline functionality so you’re not suddenly disconnected when you don’t have a data connection.