World News, Travel and Social Action

From planning your trip to meeting other travelers, these travel apps will help you make the most of your journeys.

Two people looking at a phone; travel apps are in the foreground. Raeann Mason

Whether you're backpacking through Europe, volunteering in a developing country, or exploring your backyard, these travel apps will provide you with the tools you need to navigate unfamiliar destinations, find affordable accommodation and activities, and stay in touch with loved ones back home so you can have a safe, fun, and unforgettable experience. Let’s get into it!

Planning and Big Picture Apps

A map, backpack, camera, and notebook to get ready for a trip. Annie Spratt.

Portico.Travel
Portico.Travel offers personalized travel recommendations and itineraries for travelers based on their interests. The app's machine learning and AI technology provide tailored advice for accommodations, activities, and dining options. Its chat-based interface and virtual travel assistant make travel planning accessible and efficient.
Packpoint
Packpoint is a packing list app that helps you pack for your trip based on the length of your stay, the weather at your destination, and the activities you plan. It's a helpful tool that ensures you remember everything necessary and can help you pack efficiently and avoid overcramming.
Triphobo
Triphobo is a travel planning app that helps you create customized itineraries for destinations worldwide. It offers a variety of activities, attractions, and tours, and it also provides information on transportation options and accommodation.
Bonus: Maps.me
Maps.me is a navigation app that offers detailed offline maps for different parts of the world. It's an excellent option for travelers who want to rely on something other than cellular data or Wi-Fi, and it also provides information on nearby points of interest and attractions.

Socializing

Jetzy
Jetzy is a social travel app that connects travelers with other travelers and locals. Through the app you can can contact like-minded people for authentic local recommendations or even plan to meet in person so you're never lost or alone anywhere you go.
Travello
Travello is a social networking app that connects travelers from around the world based on their travel interests and plans. It offers travelers the opportunity to join groups, connect with other travelers, and share experiences and recommendations.
Party with a Local
Party with a Local is a social networking app connecting travelers with locals interested in partying and nightlife. It's a great way to meet people and discover the best bars, clubs, and events in different destinations worldwide.
Bonus: Tourlina
Tourlina is a travel app that connects women travelers with other women travelers worldwide. It offers the chance to find travel companions, meetups, and events, providing women a safer and more comfortable travel experience.

Transportation

Hopper
Hopper is a flight booking app that uses predictive algorithms to help you find the best deals on flights. It allows you to set up alerts for price drops and track the prices of different flights over time. It's an excellent tool for budget-conscious travelers who want to find the cheapest flights available.
Transit
Transit is a public transportation app that provides real-time schedules, routes, and alerts for buses, trains, subways, and other modes of public transportation in different cities around the world. It also offers live navigation, step-by-step directions, and bike-share options, making it easier to get around.
BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar is a ride-sharing app that allows you to share rides with other travelers and locals at your destination. It offers a safe and affordable way to travel by car, providing real-time ride-matching, reviews, ratings, and secure payment options.
Bonus: Detour
Detour is a travel app that offers immersive audio walks that guide you through different neighborhoods and landmarks worldwide. Each audio walk is narrated by a local expert, providing insider knowledge and stories about the destination.

Food

Giant gelato treat in a cone. Toa Heftiba.

Beanhunter
Beanhunter is a coffee-finding app that helps you locate the best specialty coffee shops in different destinations worldwide. It also provides user reviews and ratings to help you find the best brews and cafes.
TasteAtlas
TasteAtlas is a food discovery app that allows you to search for traditional dishes, restaurants, and food producers in different destinations worldwide. It provides detailed information on local cuisine, including its history, preparation, ingredients, and user-generated reviews and ratings. TasteAtlas also offers a curated selection of food-related articles, recipes, and travel guides.
Traveling Spoon
Traveling Spoon is a travel app that connects travelers with local hosts who offer cooking classes and food experiences in their homes or other venues. It offers the opportunity to learn how to cook traditional local dishes and meet new people, providing a more immersive and educational food experience.
Bonus: HappyCow
HappyCow is a vegan and vegetarian travel app that helps you find plant-based restaurants and food options in your destination. It offers a comprehensive directory of vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, cafes, and stores worldwide.

Accommodation

Someone lounging in a hammock. TobiasTullius.

Couchsurfing:
A social network connecting travelers with locals willing to offer free accommodation, tours, and cultural experiences. It's a great way to save money on accommodation and get to know the locals. It can also help you find like-minded travelers interested in social action and international travel.
Stayful:
Stayful is a platform that offers boutique hotel options in various cities around the world. It's an excellent option for travelers who want to stay in unique and stylish accommodations.
Agoda:
Agoda is a booking app specializing in finding hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. It's especially helpful for finding deals on accommodations in Asia. Agoda offers excellent rates and promotions on all types of accommodations.
Roomer:
Roomer is a platform allowing travelers to buy and sell hotel reservations they can no longer use. It's a great option for travelers who need to cancel their reservation but don't want to lose money.
Bonus: MisterB&B:
MisterB&B is a platform that offers LGBTQIA+-friendly accommodations, including apartments, villas, and private rooms. It's a great option for LGBTQIA+ travelers who want to feel safe and comfortable while traveling

Language

A light-up sign which reads “hola”. Jon Tyson

TripLingo:
A language learning app designed specifically for travelers. It includes useful phrases, slang, and cultural tips for various countries and regions.
HelloTalk:
HelloTalk is a language exchange app that allows users to connect with native speakers to practice speaking a new language. It includes text and voice messaging, translation tools, and language correction.
Tandem:
Tandem is a language exchange app that connects users with native speakers of the language they want to learn. It's a great way to practice speaking and listening skills while traveling.
Bonus: FluentU
A language learning app that uses real-world videos, such as movie trailers and music videos, to teach languages. It includes courses for many languages and allows users to practice listening and comprehension skills.

Activities

A group tour on camel-back. Vaida Tamosauskaite

Culture Trip
Culture Trip is a travel app that provides you with insider information on the best local experiences, from food and drinks to art and culture. It's a great tool for travelers exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations and learning about the local culture.
Triposo
Triposo is a travel guide app that offers information on destinations worldwide, including local attractions, restaurants, and nightlife. It also provides personalized recommendations based on your interests and preferences, allowing you to download offline maps and guides for different destinations.
Culture Pass
Culture Pass is a travel app that provides access to various cultural attractions and experiences, such as museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks. It's a great way to discover and learn about different cultures and histories and offers discounts and promotions for certain attractions.
Bonus: Vayable
Vayable is a platform that offers unique travel experiences led by local guides. These experiences can include guided tours, cultural activities, and workshops. With Vayable, travelers can discover authentic and off-the-beaten-path experiences that might not be available through traditional tour companies.

Money

XE Currency
XE Currency is a currency conversion app that helps you calculate currency conversions in real time. It offers accurate exchange rates for over 180 currencies and lets you set up alerts for currency rate changes.
Trail Wallet
Trail Wallet is a budgeting app that helps you track travel expenses and stay within your budget. It allows you to enter your expenses in different categories, such as food, transportation, and accommodation; set daily spending limits; and see how much money you have left. Budget-conscious travelers who want to save money and avoid overspending will appreciate this app most.
GlobeConvert
GlobeConvert is a unit conversion app that helps you convert currencies, units of measurement, and time zones. It's a helpful tool for international travelers who need to quickly convert prices, distances, and temperatures between different units of measurement.

Safety

A man sitting with an umbrella under a red Evacuation Assembly Area sign. Benjamin Sow

Sitata
Sitata provides real-time safety alerts and advice for travelers, but it also includes a variety of fun features like personalized travel recommendations, interactive maps, and a travel journal. It also allows users to connect with other travelers and share tips and recommendations.
GeoSure
GeoSure provides safety ratings for specific areas and neighborhoods based on factors like crime rates, political instability, and natural disasters. It also includes a feature that allows users to track their emotional well-being while traveling and receive tips for managing stress and anxiety.
Rebtel
Rebtel is a calling app that offers affordable international calling rates and text messaging, even without cell service. It's a great option for travelers who want to stay in touch with friends and family back home, and it also offers a variety of features such as call recording and international number identification.
Bonus: SitOrSquat
SitOrSquat is a restroom-finding app that helps you locate nearby public restrooms around the world. It also provides user reviews and ratings to help you find the cleanest and most convenient bathrooms, which can be especially helpful if you need accessible toilets.

Now you have the tools to navigate unfamiliar places, learn new languages, connect with locals, save money, and have a more authentic travel experience. Bon voyage!

Raeann is a traveler, digital storyteller, and guide writer, with a degree in Mass Communication & Media from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. She is passionate about a/effective journalism and cultural exchange, and is an advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation. Her work at CATALYST focuses on reshaping the culture of travel and hospitality to be more ethically sound and sustainable.

After two years of being closed off to visitors due to COVID-19, Bhutan is re-opening to tourism, but with an increased tourism fee.

Children and pigeons in Thimphu. Xiaojun Deng. CC BY 2.0

Bhutan is a beautiful Buddhist country located in Southeast Asia. It is located along the eastern edge of the Himalayas, and there is plenty of mountain and valley scenery, as well as Buddhist monasteries. There are a multitude of reasons to visit Bhutan, but there is one interesting reason that might stop some people from going: the “High Value, Low Impact” tourism fee.

In the past, the government of Bhutan has charged the equivalent of $65 USD per night per traveler. This has been a system implemented for three decades, but after COVID-19 and the decrease in tourism everywhere, the Tourism Council of Bhutan will raise the fee to $200 during the low travel season when the country reopens on September 23, 2022. During high season, the fee will be $250 per day for every person. India, Bangladesh and Maldives have been exempt from the tourism fee thus far, but when the country reopens, the government has decided to charge visitors from these three nations $17, with a few exceptions for certain age groups. Bhutan has been closed to outsiders for the past few years due to strict COVID-19 guidelines. The money gained from the travel fee increase will be used to decrease the carbon footprint created by tourists visiting the country, as well as to help the Bhutanese who work in the tourism industry. Even with the fee, tourism in Bhutan does make up 6% of the country’s GDP.

Keeping Bhutan’s rivers clean. United Nations Photo. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

There is a misconception that the $200 is an extra expense in addition to the usual travel costs, but that is incorrect. These fees are actually all inclusive, meaning it covers the cost of typical travel expenses, such as food, accommodations (though choosing to stay at luxurious hotel will cost extra), tour guides, transportations and tourist site entrance fees. Souvenirs, tour guide tips and drinks are the most common travel expenses that are excluded from the tourism tax. Those people have to pay for themselves.

A large question about the existence of the travel fee is where the money goes. Part of it, of course, goes to the government (around 30%), but the rest does go to the tour guides, hotels, drivers and other staff mem bers in the tourism industry. The government also does work to improve education, infrastructure and healthcare systems for its citizens, so the money tourists pay does go to improving the country. Furthermore, whether flying or driving into Bhutan, carbon emissions are being produced, and the tour buses and other modes of transportation add to it. Offsetting people’s carbon footprint from all that is an area the government is devoted to. The promotion of carbon-neutral traveling and making the tourism industry more sustainable overall are what Bhutan is committed to achieveing in order to improve the country.

Bhutan is not the only country with a tourism fee. There are other countries that have implemented it as a way to combat over tourism and protect the tourist industry in each country, such as Italy, Japan, Germany and Spain. There are many more countries that do this, and the tax ranges from less than $1 to over $50, depending on the country. The money goes back to it, from the workers to the upkeep of tourist attractions. Many countries have implemented it, and the fee is worked in as a tax for things like airline tickets or hotels. Bhutan does the highest tax, but with the money, the country has worked hard to preserve its culture and natural beauty.