In the current age of travel, there are countless travel apps to wade through.  Inevitably, some are unnecessary, but there are some essentials for developing safe and exciting plans.  All of the following offer free versions to fit the student budget, although some have options to upgrade.

In terms of booking flights and hotels, Skyscanner is a popular choice.  However, another option is Hopper, which offers a system that predicts hotel and flight prices with 95% accuracy.  It allows you to watch flight prices, and book at the best time to save money.

If you want to check your flight information, it is useful to download the app of the airline you are traveling with.  Most of the major airlines, such as Easyjet, offer apps that allow you to book and track flights, check-in online, and store your boarding pass.  However, there are more general tracking apps available, which can provide updates on how busy various airports are.

If you are feeling anxious about flying, SkyGuru is a useful app.  It provides real-time information about weather forecasts, which indicate how much turbulence you might experience.  The full version is available for purchase and includes alerts during the flight explaining unexpected noises and disruptions.

Entrain is an app developed by university students that can help if you suffer from jet-lag. It initially asks for your sleeping schedule and when you’d like to start adjusting.  It then gives you times to seek and avoid light, so that you don’t have to lose exploring time.

Once you arrive, one of the problems you might face is currency differences.  XE Currency Converter is a great tool, offering real-time conversions, and the option to watch conversion charts. The rates update every 60 seconds and can be especially useful when in countries with very different currency systems.

An exceedingly useful option for navigation is Maps.me. It allows you to input a route, or use it as you wander, revealing WiFi spots, pharmacies, and much more. The binocular icon reveals attractions, eateries, and hotels, with their distance and rating, or you can make bookings through booking.com.

Sometimes whilst traveling, it is useful to have access to basic phrases in foreign languages.  On ITranslate, you can type in what you need to say and it will offer the translation. The full paid version includes camera and voice translation for further ease.

Sometimes it can be hard finding vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free restaurants, so if you want help locating them wherever you travel, HappyCow is the app for you. It shows delivery options, people nearby with the same eating habits, plus information for the most vegan-friendly cities to look into before you decide where you want to go.

Finally, if you want more company on your trip, MeetUp allows you to join other people with the same interests as you at events, whether those be family, LGBT, protests, sports games, arts workshops, or anything else.

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