10. Useful accommodation and tourist information apps
Here are the most useful accommodation booking and tourist information apps that I have found. I have saved these all on one home screen on my phone for quick and easy access. If you have clicked on previous posts, you will see that I have set up separate home screens dealing with travel and transport information.
Obviously many people will be familiar with the major players such as Airbnb and Booking, but as this is a live practical list, copied from my phone, all apps that I found useful are included.
Agoda
A useful accommodation booking app which allows you book some properties with free cancellation. This is useful if you think your plans might change.
Airbnb
For self-catering accommodation, this app is always useful. It also has a wide range of accommodation in smaller towns, villages and rural areas, where there may not be hotels available.
Blogger
For anyone who wants to write a travel blog, this should be the app of choice.
Booking.com
One of the biggest accommodation booking sites in the world, like the first app above, it allows you book accommodation with free cancellation, very handy if you think your plans might change.
Couchsurfing
If money is tight, or you are travelling on your own and would like some company this allows you book a spare bed in someone's home. You can also use the hangouts feature where you can indicate if you would like to meet other travellers or locals for a coffee or sightseeing.
Eatwith
An interesting concept which allows you to book and pay for lunch or dinner in a local's home, instead of in a restaurant. The costs are quite high in some cities, but remember you are availing of hospitality and chat in a person's home.
Duolingo
If you want to learn the basics of a foreign language before you travel, this app should get you off to a great start. However it is not to be confused with translation apps.
Eventbrite
Useful for checking what's on in a city before arrival and for booking tickets if you spot anything of interest.
GuruWalk
The 'free guided tour' app. None of featured tours has specific prices listed, you just pay what you think the tour was worth when it finishes.
HappyCow
An app that allows you search for vegetarian or vegan restaurants in your destination.
HomeExchange
For members, this app allows you stay for 'GuestPoints' in a person's home, spare room or secondary property. This is how I've booked almost every stay on this trip. It allows you to focus on things like travel, food and experiences without worrying about the cost of accommodation, which for a month-long solo trip could add up to a significant amount of money. Home exchanges are usually completely free, except for a cleaning fee in the case of some secondary homes and the cost of a small gift for the hosts - thouigh this is not compulsary.
Kindle
To save space in your rucksack, either the Kindle app for phones or tables, or a Kindle reader are both invaluable. Take as many guidebooks or novels with you as you want and buy more en route if you wish.
OpenTable
Helps you to book a table at popular restaurants in most cities.Useful if there is a language barrier and the only other way to book is by telephone.
Revolut
The Revolut app facilitates payments in most European currencies easily. Money can be transferred from your current account. Cash withdrawals also possible from ATMs.
SayHi
One of two translation apps I have downloaded. It has a new hands-free conversation possibility, where the app automatically detects another language and translates it, "allowing people to have live natural conversations".
Google Translate
The king of translation. Languages can be downloaded so you can still use the app if you have no roaming facility or WiFi.
TripAdvisor
From checking hotel, restaurant and attraction reviews, to booking tours, this app is invaluable when arriving in a new city or when researching destinations in advance of your trip.
WiFi Map
Helps locate good free WiFi. Remember to use a VPN for protection.
XE
Currency conversion app for countries that don't use the Euro. .
This post completes the extensive research and planning phase of the trip, in the next post my trip finally gets underway in the English city of Liverpool for a brief overnight stop.
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