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Places, navigation & traffic.

  • #1 in Navigation
  • 4.7 • 5.8M Ratings

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Navigate your world faster and easier with Google Maps. Over 220 countries and territories mapped and hundreds of millions of businesses and places on the map. Get real-time GPS navigation, traffic, and transit info, and find what you need by getting the latest information on businesses, including grocery stores, pharmacies and other important places. Get where you need to go efficiently: • Find the best route with automatic rerouting based on live traffic, incidents, and road closure Find important businesses: • Know what’s open in your area and their latest business hours • Find local restaurants offering delivery and takeout • Create lists of your important places Get there faster with real-time updates • Beat traffic with real-time ETAs and traffic conditions • Catch your bus, train, or ride-share with real-time transit info • Save time with automatic rerouting based on live traffic, incidents, and road closure • With Live View in Google Maps, see the way you need to go with arrows and directions placed right on top of your world. There’s no second guessing or missing another turn. More experiences on Google Maps • Offline maps to search and navigate without an internet connection • Street View and indoor imagery for restaurants, shops, museums and more • Indoor maps to quickly find your way inside big places like airports, malls and stadiums Some features not available in all countries Navigation isn't intended to be used by oversized or emergency vehicles

Version 6.105.2

Thanks for using Google Maps! This release brings bug fixes that improve our product to help you discover new places and navigate to them.

Ratings and Reviews

5.8M Ratings

Options needed

Two things: First, you need to have a pause button on Google Maps so that when somebody wants to go to the restroom, Miss Yip Yap isn’t busy telling them to go north, south, east, and west within 30 seconds trying to get them back on the track. Second, for heaven sake‘s, quit rerouting me without my permission. The selection needs to be “tap to accept,” not “accept unless I tell you no thanks.” At least 10 times in the last 10,000 miles, I have had to backtrack 20 or 30 miles to get to where I wanted to go instead of where you decided I should go. I’m hearing impaired; I don’t always hear Miss Yip Yap asking if I want to reroute, and I shouldn’t have to constantly go back and tell you that I want to go on the route I selected, and not the one you think I should use. If you don’t want to change the way the switches work, put in a selection in the settings that says “tap to accept” or “tap to decline.” I am beyond frustrated with having to hunt down on a map where I really want to be and how to get there, because invariably when I figure out Miss Yip Yap has rerouted me, I am in an area of no phone service, so I can’t reroute on Google Maps, because it says, “Off-line: touch to retry.”
Don’t guys rely on google maps app. I am using it for years without any complaints. But today, google maps made my day as a nightmare. We went to Grand Canyon by car from Las Vegas. It’s was alright and took us about 4 and half hours, but when we were going back it’s showed me two routes 7 and 8 hours. I was confused because we only drove 4… but I was completely sure everything will be alright, that’s my buddy google maps I can rely on. And then… it took us in the middle of nowhere inside of different canyon with all forests and deserts everywhere and then it was a turn on some kind of road wHICH IS NOT ROAD AT ALL. Even horse can’t pass it. We stacked into the mud or grease and all of us didn’t have ANY SIGNAL TO CALL FOR HELP. It was 3 adults and 2 kids. We spent hours there pushing cars back to normal road. We got so much stress, fear, hopeless. I was like: “it can’t be true..” And then we figure out how to get back on free way and I open my app again, I though that it’s ok if that time it’s confused but when google maps see us on highway driving in right direction it will restart and finally works! But no… it tried to take us back to the woods. The road there even called “lost canyon road” so I just want to say that google maps isn’t always right and it’s not an app you can be sure about. You guys better fix this, we saw couple people going there back and force and even stacked like us with no signal. Thanks for attention, but I am still pretty upset.

Cycling Maps feature unnecessarily falls short

Map doesn’t display on screen when I’m using step by step navigation but it does when you’re driving. So you can’t see where you’re going…you get notifications on your screen for each direction instead, something you have to try to read and pedal and steer simultaneously, unless you enjoy stopping to see what your next direction is after every single one you complete. That’s the other thing, it gives you directions literally the moment you need them. When you drive, if it says go left, you turn left and it tells you your next street and turn to look for and the distance before you reach it. In cycling mode, in the same scenario, it would say turn left as you reached the street and continue to say turn left until you reach your next turn. So you have no idea at all what to look for, can’t anticipate anything, and you’re basically riding blind between each step. And if you miss a step, it automatically re routes you, so I rode about three miles uphill needlessly in the rain yesterday because I couldn’t hear my phone over the road and rain noise, nor had any idea what turn to look for, when to look for it, or how to rectify all of those failures in real time, I was pretty much being led astray in the pouring rain by an app that doesn’t have any of these problems in driving mode…

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30 essential travel apps every traveler needs before their next trip

Lori Zaino

When it comes to planning and taking a vacation, travelers rely on their phones now more than ever.

Travel apps are a source of inspiration and are extremely useful for booking and managing logistics — even making restaurant reservations or finding a great fitness class wherever in the world you're flying next.

From apps that help with everything from day-of hotel bookings and last-minute flight changes to those that serve as guidebooks and foreign-language dictionaries, travel is infinitely easier thanks to technology.

Apps can help you navigate a new city, make currency conversions, pack a perfect suitcase and even provide on-the-ground local expertise. Whatever you need when you hit the road, there's an app for that.

We've rounded up the most-loved apps here at TPG. Some may be obvious, and others more obscure, but either way, get ready to download.

Best apps for researching and booking trips

In addition to the apps for the airlines you fly most frequently and your favorite hotel brands, these apps can help you save money on flights and accommodations.

google travel app download

Hopper has changed in recent years from just offering a price prediction tool for flights to being a true online travel agency. The app helps travelers find the cheapest flights, hotels and rental cars.

Of course, Hopper also still offers its signature price prediction technology to help you plan out when to book, as well as travel protection options and a price freeze to help you lock in the lowest possible price on hotels and flights.

google travel app download

Kiwi is used mainly to book flights, but it also helps you book hotels (using its partnership with Booking.com) and car rentals (using its partnership with RentalCars.com).

Some of the app's most interesting features include the "Deals" section, which pulls in discounted flights, and the "Travel hacks" section, which includes options for hidden city ticketing, throwaway ticketing (making one-way flights more affordable) and free price alerts.

Hotel Tonight

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A dream for last-minute travelers, Hotel Tonight ( now owned by Airbnb ) lets you book stays for the same evening up to a few months in advance in thousands of cities worldwide. Available hotel rooms are categorized into sections like basic, luxe, hip, charming and solid, so you can select what works for your vibe. Take advantage of the daily drop feature, where you swipe to find a personalized deal with a special price only valid for 15 minutes after unlocked.

At TPG, we love a good loyalty program, and HT Perks, the app's nine-level reward program, is extensive. Not unlike a video game, you "level up" by reaching specific spending thresholds on the app, and you'll gain access to perks like discounts, VIP customer support and credits. Also, your levels never expire, so you can only continue to move up.

google travel app download

To book home rentals instead of hotels, use the Airbnb app. After entering your destination and dates, you can filter results based on the home type, price, requisite amenities and more. If you find something you like, you can book directly through the app.

The app is ideal for managing your trips while on the road — you can access all your bookings under the "Trips" tab, where you can view your reservation (and the address or directions), contact the host or change your reservation. Once you have a booking, you can also explore and book local experiences in your destination, such as wine tastings, kayak tours, hikes, shows and concerts.

google travel app download

We can't talk about travel apps without mentioning the TPG App. Use it to track your credit card, airline and hotel points balances; earn points and miles efficiently through using the right credit card ; and research how many points or miles you'll need to book your dream getaway. You can even curate your own news feed so you see the news and advice that matters most to you first.

The TPG App is available for download on iOS . Android users can join the waitlist here .

Related: The TPG App has arrived — here's why you should download it now

Best apps for organizing a trip

From keeping all your documents in order to perfectly packing your suitcase without forgetting a thing, these are the best apps for organizing travel plans.

google travel app download

TripIt declutters your itineraries and documents by keeping them organized in one place. You can set your reservations to automatically send to TripIt, which lets you view travel confirmations, flight itineraries, tickets, hotel and Airbnb booking information, rental car reservations, ferry tickets and driving directions without ever leaving the app.

TripIt also makes it simple to share your trip plans with whoever picks you up from the airport or train station or anyone else who may need to coordinate with you. TripIt Pro subscriptions cost $49 per year and include extras like real-time flight alerts, security wait times, baggage claim information and updates on your loyalty reward programs.

Roadtrippers

google travel app download

Perfect for organizing that epic road trip you've always wanted to take, Roadtrippers plans out your driving route and lets you book hotels and activities along the way. The app is especially useful for finding interesting and off-the-beaten-path roadside attractions, cool restaurants and can't-miss landmarks you can bookmark.

A Roadtrippers Premium membership includes offline maps, live traffic information, overnight RV parking and more for $59.99 per year. For those looking to only venture on a few road trips per year, the app also offers a Pro ($49.99 per year) and Basic ($35.99 per year) membership.

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PackPoint takes all the stress out of packing . The app shows you what to bring based on the length of your trip, the weather in your destination and any activities you're planning along the way. If you have access to laundry facilities at your destination, PackPoint even allows you to account for washing your clothes and wearing them multiple times.

Just download and install the app, type in the city you're visiting and plug in your travel details. So, stop waiting until the day before your trip — or the hours before you have to leave for the airport — and start packing now.

Best apps for navigating the airport and flights

Track flights, navigate airports and find airport lounges with these apps.

LoungeBuddy

google travel app download

LoungeBuddy offers access to premium airport lounges around the world, regardless of the airline or class you're flying. When you create a trip in the app and type in the credit cards you currently hold, it will tell you which lounges you have access to based on the airports you'll be transiting through and how to purchase access if you don't already have it.

You can purchase access on the day you're traveling or up to two months in advance if you're the plan-ahead type. If you prefer to search by lounge or lounge program, the app will tell you exactly what is needed to use them.

Priority Pass

google travel app download

Priority Pass offers access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide and provides meal vouchers at select airport restaurants across the world for an annual fee starting at $99.

Several cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express , the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve , offer Priority Pass memberships for all cardholders (enrollment required). Otherwise, you'll have to pay an annual fee to be a member and, depending on your membership tier, a fee to enter each lounge on top of the annual fee.

To use the Priority Pass app, enter the name or code of the airport you're in, and Priority Pass will pull up the lounges or restaurants that you have access to, including photos, hours, amenities and specific location information. For more information on the Priority Pass Program and how to gain lounge access, click here . Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: The best credit cards for Priority Pass lounge access

FlightAware

google travel app download

The FlightAware app allows you to track flights online, see a live map of a flight and check on delays, cancellations and gate changes. This app is especially helpful if you have a tight connection or want to track your flight.

It's also useful when picking up friends and family at the airport, as you can track their flight and see updated landing times or delays. AvGeeks will enjoy digging into flight statistics, flight maps and community aviation discussions on the app.

Best apps to use during your flight

Timeshifter.

google travel app download

What better way to cure jet lag than with an app? Timeshifter actually helps you avoid jet lag long before your flight takes off and also offers inflight and post-flight suggestions. The app relies on neuroscience research about sleep and circadian rhythms to provide personalized recommendations, taking into consideration your age, gender and normal sleep patterns — as well as specifics about your trip and travel plans. Timeshifter maps out when you should avoid or seek light, take a nap or try to stay awake. It even tells you if you should consider supplementing with melatonin or caffeine.

Your first jet lag plan is free, then $9.99 per plan, or you can enjoy unlimited plans for a year for $24.99.

google travel app download

Flying can cause anxiety — or provide a welcome relief from constant contact with our digital devices. Either way, use travel as an opportunity to relax, meditate or listen to soothing sounds that will lull you to sleep or a deep, relaxed state. Or, perhaps, you'll simply find it helps pass the time during a long flight.

Calm offers meditations on topics such as self-awareness, calming anxiety, breathing, lowering stress levels and happiness, among others. The app also has music options for focusing, relaxing and sleeping, as well as stories for adults and content for kids.

A limited selection of meditations and music is available for free (which you can download to use when you're offline or in flight). The premium version of the app costs $14.99 per month or $69.99 annually.

google travel app download

OK, so Netflix isn't really a travel app, but it can be a lifesaver during a long flight on an aircraft without seatback inflight entertainment or at the airport during an unexpected flight delay or boring layover. If you have a Netflix account, the app allows you to download your favorite shows onto your device to watch offline.

Just make sure to download your shows while connected to Wi-Fi before flying and check them again preflight to make sure they haven't expired (you can usually renew any expired downloads, but you must be connected to Wi-Fi or data to do so). Monthly prices vary depending on the plan.

Another app that's not really a travel app, Spotify can still be incredibly useful during tedious travel moments — just pop in those noise-canceling headphones and listen to your favorite music, meditations, podcasts and more.

The app's Premium plans (prices vary) allow you to download all your content offline on your phone, so you'll have it during long flights or when you don't have data or Wi-Fi access. Whether you want to take a morning jog in Bali to your favorite tunes or pass the time with a podcast on the metro in Barcelona, Spotify has it all.

Best apps to use in your destination

From exchanging money and sightseeing to communicating and knowing all the local tips and tricks, you don't want to land in a foreign city for the first time without these key apps.

XE Currency Converter

google travel app download

The XE Currency Converter app quickly provides live, up-to-the-minute currency rates, then allows you to store and view them even when you're offline. You'll never need to wonder if you're really getting a good deal in another country if you have this app.

Google Translate

google travel app download

Google Translate is a translation app that allows you to do it all — translate into more than 100 languages by typing, access 59 languages offline, translate via photo, translate bilingual conversations and even use the handwriting tool to translate.

The app is simple to use, too, with icons at the top you can click on to draw, take a photo, speak or type.

google travel app download

Not quite sure how much to tip when traveling internationally? GlobeTips will advise you on how to tip appropriately in more than 200 countries. It also offers a tip calculator for easy math. Globe also has apps for currency conversion, unit conversion and more that may be useful for travelers.

Related: The ultimate guide to tipping while traveling

google travel app download

For travelers globe-trotting with friends and family members or simply splitting the cost between groups, Tricount calculates shared costs and splits bills so you don't have to think twice about who owes what. Just enter your trip and currency and invite your travel mates to join your trip.

Each time someone pays for something, you enter the amount in Tricount, and the app splits everything up. You can also snap and store photos of receipts in the app. At the end of your trip, it will show the balances of who owes who what, making it easy to settle up.

Metric Conversions

google travel app download

Never be baffled by Celsius temperatures or suitcase weight in kilograms again with the Metric Conversions app . Whether you're measuring flour to cook at your Airbnb, figuring out distances for your Europe road trip or deciding whether to take a sweatshirt with you during your walking tour of the Great Wall of China, this app has you covered with easy conversions in volume, weight, temperature, area and more.

Google Maps

google travel app download

Google Maps is essential when visiting a new city (or even for getting around your hometown). You can map locations, get directions (walking, driving, public transportation, ride-hailing services and beyond) and see how crowded your subway will be in select cities .

You can make restaurant reservations, save your favorite spots and read and write reviews of attractions, eateries, shops and more. Make sure to download specific city or area maps ahead of time for offline access if you know you'll be without internet at your destination. For obvious reasons, the app works best when your GPS is turned on.

google travel app download

WhatsApp is a handy messaging service for travelers abroad as it uses an internet connection to avoid SMS fees.

It works like most other messaging apps: You start by creating an account, then add your friends and family members to contact and voila! You're able to call, video chat and send messages, images, voice memos, gifs and files just as you would in, say, iMessage (but with Android users too). You can also download WhatsApp on your Windows or Mac computer.

Best apps for planning activities

Traveling is about more than just getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for activities to add to your itinerary, check out these apps.

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Meetup is an app designed for interacting with locals and other travelers who have mutual interests or shared hobbies. Whether you're traveling or at home, take what you love and do more of it with Meetup.

The app shows you groups that are formed around particular interests in your city, including yoga, photography, cooking, wine tasting, hiking, cinema and other activities. You can join groups to get updates on particular events you may want to participate in. The app can even help with networking, as there are many groups dedicated to business and technology. You might even be able to join a coworking group. Travelers with kids can participate in family-friendly meetups, and it's a great way for solo travelers to make friends and connect with others.

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TheFork is one of the most useful resources for making restaurant reservations in Europe. Similar to OpenTable or Resy, the app lets you browse different restaurants by category and make reservations. TheFork features more than 60,000 restaurants in cities like London, Madrid and Geneva, as well as spots outside of Europe like Sydney, Australia.

The biggest perk is that many restaurant reservations come with discounts — in some cases, you can get up to 50% off your meal just by reserving a table through TheFork. Since we here at TPG are always down for earning rewards, make sure to monitor your YUMS — TheFork's reward system. You'll earn YUMS with each reservation, and when you hit 1,000, you receive a discount on your bill. Foodie travelers should also consider downloading these apps , too.

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Happy Cow helps vegan and vegetarian eaters locate more than 180,000 restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, farmers markets and grocery stores in over 180 countries around the world. The app allows you to filter by not only vegan and vegetarian but also gluten-free and cuisine types. You can also read reviews and get recipes on the app as well.

The app does cost $3.99, but it's a one-time expense.

TripAdvisor

Besides reading reviews of restaurants, hotels and attractions, you can book almost anything on TripAdvisor, from vacation rentals and restaurant reservations to tours and tickets.

The app has grown to include almost all things travel, allowing you to search by destination or interest (like the outdoors, food and drink, family or by the water, for example), which can give you inspiration for a trip or help you get your activities, meals and accommodations organized before traveling or on the fly.

With over 400,000 curated trails, AllTrails can help you find the hike or walk perfect for you and your group. It's not just mountain trails — AllTrails offers city walks, too, like easy meanders through the Marais district in Paris or peaceful strolls through Bangkok's Lumpini Park in Thailand.

See photos, updated weather predictions and key information about each route and connect with other travelers through reviews and forums. Access to AllTrails+ is $35.99 per year, which offers perks like offline maps and wrong turn alerts.

Best apps for staying safe

Use these apps to stay safe when traveling.

Smart Traveler

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Smart Traveler is a free service that offers tips and information specifically for U.S. travelers. You can see what visas and vaccines you'll need before traveling and where to find help if you need it during your trip.

Register your trip on the app, which gives your information to local embassies and consulates in your destination. If there's any kind of disaster or tragedy, the local embassy can contact you to see if you need help.

TripWhistle

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Another app dedicated to keeping you safe, TripWhistle maps your location and allows you to easily text or send your GPS coordinates or location. It also provides emergency numbers for firefighters, medical personnel and police in nearly 200 countries. After all, 911 is only for U.S.-based emergencies: Each country has its own specific emergency number.

Yes, Uber (or any local ride-hailing service app) is convenient, but it may also keep you safe. Using this app when traveling means you'll never get stuck wandering around in an unfamiliar area late at night or have to deal with unscrupulous taxi drivers trying to scam you. Uber also has in-app safety features such as an emergency assistance button which will allow you to call local emergency services right in the app.

What Is Google Travel and How Does It Work?

If you've ever searched for a trip on Google, you've probably come across Google Travel. Here's everything you need to know about it and how it works.

Over the 21st century, the number of online services helping people book trips has grown significantly. And in a bid to help users manage and book their adventures more efficiently, Google created Google Travel. Google Travel is relatively underused but has a lot to offer. The web app lets you book flights, search for inspiration, and much more.

So, what exactly is Google Travel? How does it work, and what can you do with the platform? Let’s take a closer look and answer all of these questions.

What Is Google Travel?

Google Travel is an app that lets users book trips and manage itineraries . The Silicon Valley giant introduced the service in 2016, and you might have previously heard of it when it was known as Google Trips.

Unlike several other Google apps, including Drive and Docs, you can’t download Google Travel as a standalone mobile app for your smartphone. Instead, you’ll need to use it in your web browser; you can do this from either your phone, desktop, or tablet. Google Travel is free to use, but you will need a Google account.

What Can You Do With Google Travel?

Okay, so you’ve now got a better idea of what Google Travel is and how you can sign up for the platform. So, what can you do with it? Below, you’ll discover seven uses for the service—along with a walkthrough to help you find these features.

Search for Flights

Whether you’re casually browsing or know where you want to go, searching for flights is easy with Google Travel. You can tweak the dates you want to travel easily, along with setting how long you want the trips in your search to last for.

When looking for flights, you can customize your search using several parameters. These include:

  • Connecting airports you’d like to use
  • The time of day you want to travel for all legs of the journey
  • The airlines you want to fly with

You can also look for flights based on baggage allowance and more.

To look for flights on Google Travel, you’ll need to go to the Flights tab. This is the third one from the bottom. Once you’re there, you can customize your search to fit your needs.

Keep Track of Prices

Getting the best deal when traveling has become trickier for several reasons. Countless comparison sites exist, while it’s also hard to know whether the prices you see are too high for that time of year or not.

Fortunately, Google Travel helps you get better value for money with a couple of neat tools. The first is a small tab you’ll find under “Best departing flights”, which shows you whether or not your flight ticket fare cost is typical for the time you want to travel.

Related: The Best Airline Hacks to Get Insanely Cheap Flight Tickets

You can also use the Date grid and Price graph closer to the top of your screen. Both will show you how much flight tickets cost for the period you’re traveling compared to days close by.

In addition to the above features, you can also toggle the Track prices option on. When you do this, you’ll receive email updates whenever prices go up or down. You can access all of these tools from the Flights tab.

Alongside flights, you can also check the prices of hotels. To do this, go to the Hotels tab and tap on the What you’ll pay button.

Browse for Inspiration and Set Trip Search Parameters

For many people, booking every part of their trip helps to customize it better for their needs. If you’re one of these individuals, you’ll be pleased to know that Google Travel lets you change several options to ensure that your search results are more tailored to your demands.

You can create better trips by using the Interests feature, which allows you to choose destinations based on what type of holiday you want—such as skiing or outdoors. You can access this tab by selecting Explore on the left.

Another way you can customize your trip is by deciding how you want to travel. Google Travel lets you pick either plane or car, and you can make this choice by going to the Travel mode tab—which is also in Explore.

Add Itineraries

Once you’re ready to plan your trip, you can use Google Travel to create the ultimate itinerary. When you start a new adventure on the platform, you can add pretty much everything to it—ranging from your flights to places you wish to eat.

If you book your flights and accommodation through Google Travel, your confirmations will get added to your itinerary.

Besides adding your plans, you can also use this section to inform yourself about your destination. Google shows you frequently asked questions, along with the average temperatures for the time of year that you plan to visit.

Once you’ve created a new trip, you can also find articles that you’ve looked at relating to the destination online. If you think these will be useful, you can hit the bookmark tab to save them. And if you haven’t yet begun your research, Google will pull popular resources to help you gain both insights and inspiration.

To add a new trip, go to the Travel tab and select Create trip .

Book Hotels

Of course, you can’t plan a trip somewhere and not have a place to stay. Like flights, you can book hotels through the Google Travel interface.

When looking for hotels, you can filter your search based on price and how many people will be on the trip. If you’d prefer certain hotel brands over others, you can choose for only your preferred options to show.

Other ways you can filter your hotel search include:

  • Offers included
  • Amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and kid-friendly
  • The hotel’s class/star rating

You can use this feature to book hostels and guesthouses too. To start booking your accommodation, you’ll need to head to the Hotels tab. When you’re there, you can customize as you feel necessary.

Rent Properties

If you’re not interested in staying at a hotel, you can find private vacation rentals through Google Travel. You’ll see several options, such as:

  • Guesthouses

Like hotels, you can also browse depending on the amenities you want, your price range, and more.

To rent properties instead of hotels, click on the Vacation rentals section. After that, you can make the changes you feel are necessary.

Use Google Travel to Plan Your Trip More Efficiently

If you don’t want to use a travel agent, Google Travel offers an excellent option for you to pay for and plan your trip without needing to visit several websites. You can check to see when you’ll get the best prices, along with seeking inspiration and more.

Since Google Travel is free to use, why not sign up and give it a try for yourself?

Google Maps Tops in 2021 as Most-Downloaded Travel App

Dennis Schaal , Skift

January 10th, 2022 at 2:30 AM EST

No big surprises on Google Maps, but Booking.com outpaced rival Airbnb in downloads in the online travel agency category globally by nearly 20 million in 2021. That's not a game-changer, but it's important if Booking is going to eat into Airbnb's daunting direct-booking advantage.

Dennis Schaal

Google Maps was the most-downloaded travel app in the world in 2021 with 106 million downloads, edging Uber, which held that distinction in 2020.

In fact transportation apps, including Google Maps, Uber, Didi, Bolt, Lyft, Where Is My Train, and Grab took seven of the top 10 positions in 2021, according to Apptopia.com.

Of course, you can argue that navigation and ridesharing apps aren’t “travel,” but they certainly bleed into the category. All of these apps are used by locals and travelers.

(See travel and online travel agency apps with the most downloads globally in two charts below.)

Download statistics aren’t purely a function of popularity; they also reflect how much marketing resources companies devote to attracting these installs.

In October, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent, Alphabet, said Google Maps added climate friendly routing in the U.S., enabling drivers to find routes that produce fewer emissions, and also rolled out a feature alerting drivers to wildfires.

Google Maps is way more than a navigation app and last year it introduced “easier ways for businesses to show the local services they offer, from hair extensions to auto repair,” Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler said at that time.

Online travel agency Booking.com (3), based in Europe, and short-term rental giant Airbnb (5), headquartered in the U.S., were the only two pure-play travel apps to make it into the list of top 10 travel apps by downloads globally in 2021.

When it came to the top 10 most-downloaded online travel agency apps globally in 2021, the top three were Booking.com, Airbnb, and Hopper, with the latter becoming much more mainstream over the last year.

Of the top 10 most-downloaded online travel agency apps around the world, Expedia Group accounted for four of them, namely Expedia (4), Vrbo (6), Trivago (7), and Hotels.com (tied for 8).

Expedia Group claims to be reorienting the company towards mobile.

“And then on the traveler side, we haven’t really been an app-first company,” Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern said at an investor conference in early December. “We will now be an app-first company, including all the goodness that comes with a tool that is with you for your whole trip, it keeps you informed, that keeps you informed in the shopping path.”

Booking Holdings secured two of the top 10 most-downloaded online travel agency apps, namely Booking.com (1) and Agoda (5). Booking’s Kayak brand didn’t make the top 10 as Expedia Group’s Trivago was the sole metasearch, or comparison shopping brand, in the mix.

Booking sees mobile as a major priority because it wants more direct bookings.

“The app is very strategic because not only is it a great booking experience because it’s clean and it’s on a phone, but it’s a very important piece of real estate,” Booking Holdings Chief Financial Officer David Goulden told investors and analysts last month. “Down the road, you think that app mobile users mean some people have hundreds of apps on their phone, but most people only use a couple of handfuls, maybe 20. And being one of those ones that are used a lot is a very powerful position to be and that app real estate is very important.”

Oyo, the India-based hotel-booking site and operator, broke into the top most-downloaded online travel agency apps around the world in 2021, tying Hotels.com in the eighth position with 12 million downloads.

Oyo CEO Ritesh Agarwal tweeted on Saturday that the company notched 503,000 room night bookings on December 30 and 31, and 58 percent of these New Year’s bookings were made on the same day of the stay, according to Zee News.

10 Most-Downloaded Travel Apps Globally 2021

Source: Apptopia.com

Note: These statistics don’t adequately measure Chinese apps because Apptopia only collects iOS data from that country.

10 Most-Downloaded Online Travel Agency Apps Globally 2021

Google Maps Tops in 2021 as Most-Downloaded Travel App

Google Maps Is Ready to Transform the World of Superapps: A Skift Deep Dive

Google rightfully sees a gigantic opportunity in local search and Google Maps, which work in unison, but you won’t hear Alphabet officials articulating a superapp strategy for Google Maps.

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Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

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Tags: airbnb , booking.com , google , google earth , google maps , tripadvisor , uber , vrbo

Photo credit: A page for Le Bernardin restaurant on Google Maps app. Google Maps was the most-downloaded travel app in 2021. Skift

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Download areas & navigate offline

You can save an area from Google Maps to your phone or tablet and use it when you're offline.

Tip: You’re unable to download offline maps in some countries or regions because of contractual limitations, language support, address formats, or other reasons.

Step 1: Download a map to use offline

google travel app download

Tip: You can save maps on your device or a SD card. If you change the way you save maps, you’ll have to download the map again.

Maps

  • Make sure you're connected to the internet and signed in to Google Maps .
  • Search for a place, like San Francisco .

and then

Save offline maps on an SD card

  • On your Android phone or tablet, insert an SD card.

Account Circle

Step 2 (optional): Save battery & mobile data

You can set up offline maps and still use other apps with mobile data.

Settings

Select your own map

  • Tap  Select your own map .
  • Adjust the map according to the area you want to download
  • Tap  Download.

Use offline maps

After you download an area, use the Google Maps app just like you normally would. If your internet connection is slow or absent, your offline maps will guide you to your destination as long as the entire route is within the offline map.

  • Get directions & show routes
  • Use navigation
  • Search for locations

Tip: Transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable offline. In your offline driving directions, you can’t get traffic info, alternate routes, or lane guidance.

Manage offline maps

You can select your own map to download, or view maps you've already downloaded.

  • Tap the Map you want to delete.
  • Tap Delete .
  • Select a Map.

Edit

  • Update the Map name and tap Save .

Offline maps that you downloaded on your phone or tablet must be updated before they expire. When your offline maps expire in 15 days or less, Google Maps tries to update the area automatically when you're connected to Wi-Fi.

If your offline maps aren’t automatically updated, you can update them by following the steps below.

From the notification

  • In the "Update offline maps" notification, tap Update now.
  • Tap the expired or expiring area on the list.
  • Tap Update .

From anywhere else

  • On the list, tap the expired or expiring area.

Turn on automatic updates

  • Turn on  Auto-update offline maps .

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Home » Travel Tips

google travel app download

The 20 Best Travel Apps to Download for Your Next Adventure

As much fun as it is to travel—flying through the skies, going on wild adventures, and seeing incredible sights—some things can prove to be an absolute headache. From planning your trip to navigating your destination, much more is involved than you want to think about. So, don’t. The power of stress-free travel sits right in the palm of your hand with some of the best travel apps for organizing your itinerary, packing your bags, getting through security, and so much more. If you’re ready for the stress-free adventure of a lifetime, then get ready to download your new favorite travel companions.

Table of Contents

  • The Best Travel Apps for Planning and Organizing
  • The Best Travel Apps for Navigating the Airport

The Best Travel Apps for Your Destination

  • The Best Travel Apps for Staying Safe 

The Best Travel Apps for Saving Money

  • The Best Travel App for Cheap Flight Deals Isn’t an App: It’s Next Vacay

The Best Travel Apps for Planning and Organizing 

Find the perfect flight, plan the perfect route, and pack the perfect bag. Here are the best travel apps to add to your trip planning and organizing for a stress-free travel experience.

Google Travel

google travel app download

Google is a one-stop shop for all your search needs, and that extends to travel, too. You can explore flight prices, compare hotel rates, and even check out exciting sights and excursions at your destination. 

If you get app fatigue easily, Google Travel keeps things simple by keeping all your travel needs in one convenient location. Toggle between the different pages with ease and track hotel and flight price changes with their tracking features. For those just dipping their toes into the world of travel, Google Travel puts the world within reach. Even better, because it’s not technically an app, you don’t have to worry about downloading it to use. Just type in Google Travel in the search and get right to work. 

If you’re the disorganized type of traveler, or even better, if you love staying organized, say hello to your new best friend. TripIt was designed for the organized and unorganized traveler, helping to build comprehensive itineraries out of all your messy bookings. 

For those who hate doing anything beyond clicking “Book Now,” TripIt makes organization easy by allowing you to forward all your booking confirmations to the app. Or, if you’re particularly fussy about every little detail, you can manually enter them yourself. The result is the same. A handy-dandy itinerary that lets you know where you need to be and when you need to be there for the most relaxed trip of your life every time.

IOS | Android

Roadtrippers

While Roadtrippers is specific to road travel, we couldn’t leave it off the list of best travel apps simply because of how stellar it is at what it does. With stops available in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, plotting out your autoroutes has never been easier. 

The map lets you explore everything from national parks to hidden gems and plan everything from what to eat to where to stop for fuel and even rest your head at night, all along your route. When you add a site, Roadtrippers automatically adjusts your itinerary, or you can choose to plot your course from one of the pre-made trip guides.  

The free version allows you to plan short trips of three stops or less, while the paid version costs $35.99/year and allows you to add up to 150 stops. 

google travel app download

Packing often isn’t the worst part about your travel—it’s making packing lists. So, skip it. 

Instead of stressing over what to pack for a beach vacation or a winter getaway, you can let PackPoint do it for you. The app works by creating custom packing lists for your trip. All you have to do is fill out the important bits: where you’re going, when you’re going, how long you’ll be gone, and any special activities you have planned. From there, PackPoint goes to work to create a custom-fitted packing list for your travels. 

All that’s left for you to do is pack—and maybe share with a friend, so they don’t have to suffer the joyless task of creating their own packing list.

The Best Travel Apps for Navigating the Airport 

Airport stress stressing you out? You don’t have to dread the airport. Become a pro at getting through security, whether you’re leaving from or returning to the US and find out how to make your time at the airport your favorite part of travel—or at least, your most relaxed.

MyTSA App 

Ever had a last-minute question about what you can bring in your carry-on? Ever argued with your travel buddies about how early is too early to get to the airport? For the answers to your burning questions, there’s MyTSA App. Before even stepping foot in the building, you can check out how busy the airport typically is and the projected wait times for TSA checkpoints. Consult the app for delays and double-check how to properly store your food and liquid items so you can all but breeze through security. Next to TSA PreCheck, the MyTSA App is your ticket to an easy and stress-free security check.

LoungebBuddy

google travel app download

Long layovers, hard steel chairs, outlets that don’t work—there’s a lot to dread about your airport experience. So skip the endless hours in uncomfortable seats and make the most of your time on the ground with LoungeBuddy. 

LoungeBuddy is the perfect companion for frequent flyers who spend a fair share of their time waiting for their next flight. With the app, travelers can access over 2,000 airport lounges worldwide, allowing them to see which lounges are available at their airports and what amenities they offer. Don’t already have access through your travel credit card, lounge memberships, or booked ticket? Fear not; LoungeBuddy lets users book access directly through the app. So, no matter where you go, if you’re flying first class or economy, you can always look forward to a premium airport experience every time.

Airline App

When navigating the airport, from tracking your flight to locating your gate to hunting down your luggage, there’s no better app to have than your airline’s mobile app. While you may not necessarily want to download the app for every airline you use, if you’re a frequent flyer with one airline or flying with a new airline for the first time, it can be especially helpful for managing your account and getting to know the ins and outs of your airport experience with the airline. 

Perhaps best of all, these travel apps are always free.

AA | Delta | United | JetBlue | Southwest

Mobile Passport Control

google travel app download

Operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Mobile Passport Control is a free app that lets you sail through customs upon return to the US. Whereas lengthier programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry require a background check, interview, and preapproval, all you need for MPC is proof of citizenship or permanent residence. 

With ID in hand, simply download the app and fill out your info. When you touchdown in the US, start your entry process. All it takes is a few clicks, and you get access to an expedited entry that helps you skip the long lines you’ve come to dread and makes returning to the US even easier than it was leaving.

Never fear getting lost or turned around again—or finding yourself in need of a public restroom with none in sight. Run, don’t walk, to these apps that will make navigating your destination and staying connected truly effortless.  

Google Maps

Google Maps is hard to beat for getting around your destination. Offering a bird’s eye view of where you are, Google Maps breaks down how best to get to where you want to go, whether traveling by foot, car, public transit, or even bicycle. 

Travelers can easily find what’s around them, from bars and restaurants to shopping and attractions. You don’t even have to leave the app for most places to get more details. Google Maps provides descriptions, pictures, hours of operation, and even reviews from other patrons. The real clincher is the ability to save maps offline so you can access them on the go, whether your cell service is spotty at best or entirely nonexistent. 

google travel app download

Sometimes, you don’t need all the extra frills; you just need an app that gets you where you need to go. For that, there’s Citymapper. 

While its scope is limited to cities—and major cities at that—Citymapper makes navigating big and confusing cities, including those hardest to navigate , a breeze—or as close as the directionally challenged are likely to get. With real-time public transportation information, detailed breakdowns of routes by bus, train, tube, car, bike, or scooter, and detailed directions for things like which subway station entrance is best, Citymapper makes the big city feel just that teensy bit smaller.

XE Currency Converter

Want to know the exchange rate while you’re traveling around Sweden? Japan? New Zealand? With Xe, you can always stay on top of your money and know exactly how far your money will go wherever you are. Save and monitor up to 10 currencies at once to quickly and easily check the exchange rate while shopping, dining, or booking that last-minute excursion on-site. The app also works without Wi-Fi, so you don’t have to worry about losing this information, either. It stays at your fingertips whether online in a cafe or offline and on the go. 

WhatsApp, for the uninitiated, is a lot like iMessage: It lets you text and make calls over Wi-Fi no matter where you are in the world or what device your friends or family use. Not only is the app free, but it also helps you save money on international messaging fees by letting you avoid them altogether. 

In addition, the app offers a few other helpful features. WhatsApp Statuses let you keep your family and friends up-to-date on what you’re doing. The group texting feature lets you share polls to vote on what you want to do next. Sharing features allow you to attach documents like travel itineraries and bookings without having to email them. While there’s no best messaging app in the world, WhatsApp is a great start to connecting with everyone anywhere you travel.

Google Translate

google travel app download

At this point, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see another Google app eking out a top spot among the best travel apps. As if getting around in a new country wasn’t hard enough, not knowing the local language can make something as simple as reading street signs confusing. That’s not a problem with Google Translate. 

Manually enter text into the translator to convert it to your native language, or snap a photo and have it translated that way. You can even have the text read to you so you know how to pronounce it correctly. And, of course, if you’re trying to communicate with someone, you can switch the languages to know what to say and how to say it. 

Like all the best apps, Google Translate is free and lets you download languages offline while you travel, making understanding the world easy, no matter how confusing the street signs get.

In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park: “When you gotta go, you gotta go.” When you need a restroom while you’re on the go, knowing where to find the closest toilet can be a lifesaver. Flush offers a database of over 200,000 public toilets worldwide. The app lets you know how to get to the closest one, whether there’s a fee, and if the restroom is ADA-accessible. When it comes down to the wire, this app may just save your day, if not your whole trip! 

The Best Travel Apps for Staying Safe

Staying safe on the go is just as important as staying safe at home, whether you’re in a group or a female traveler going it solo . Be sure to put these travel apps at the top of your to-do list for the best travel experience and a worry-free trip. 

Smart Traveler

google travel app download

Every smart traveler knows that the best way to stay safe while traveling is to do your due diligence beforehand. For that, there’s the Smart Traveler App. Overseen by the U.S. State Department, the app allows travelers to check travel advisories, entry and exit requirements, health and safety warnings, and more before you even start booking your trip. 

Once you settle on your destination, you can register your trip with local embassies through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and stay one step ahead of emergencies. Become a smart traveler and give yourself some much-needed peace of mind while traveling abroad. 

TripWhistle

In the US, 911 is the standard, and that’s caught on in a few nations worldwide. But not every country uses 911 for their emergency services, and in the event of an emergency, the last thing you want to be is unprepared. That’s why you download TripWhistle. 

With over 70 emergency numbers, TripWhistle gives you quick access to the right number to get you help when you need it. You can call emergency numbers right from the app. It also shows your location, so even if you don’t know where you are, emergency services will. Travel safely and travel stress-free, with help just a call away.

google travel app download

The only thing simpler than getting help with a phone call is getting help with the press of a button. Touted as America’s number one safety app, Noonlight helps you get from point A to point B safely by acting as your personal panic button. If you encounter an unsafe situation or even one that makes you feel uneasy, just open the Noonlight app and hold the button. Once you release it, help will be on the way shortly. But, if there’s no danger, or you reach safety, you can release the button, enter a 4-digit PIN, and be on your way. 

Always looking for ways to cut down on your travel budget? Say hello to your new favorite cost-conscious travel buddies who can help you find the best deals and the cheapest prices no matter where you are in the world.

Obi: Rideshare

Every traveler, at some point, has wondered if they’re overpaying to get from point A to point B in their travels. But outside of downloading every app and comparing prices, there’s not much to do about it—except maybe download just one app. 

With Obi, travelers can compare prices between rideshares like Uber, Lyft, and taxi services to save money. Simply choose a destination, compare prices between available transportation companies, and book. Prepare for the cheapest ride every time with Obi in your pocket.

ATM Fee Saver

google travel app download

Don’t have a handy travel card that reimburses your ATM fees? You don’t have to consider yourself unlucky, just consider downloading the ATM Fee Saver as your budget-conscious travel companion. The ATM Fee Saver helps you find free and low-fee ATMs near you so you can get the cash you need in a hurry without paying a fortune to access your own money. Users can get tips on using ATMs in over 35 countries, calculate fees for withdrawal amounts, and chart a course for the closest and cheapest ATM to get money fast while on the go.

The perfect companion app to Roadtrippers, GasBuddy makes hitting the road easier and cheaper than ever. With the app, travelers can search for the cheapest gas prices along their route, get tips on using less gas, and even score free gas rewards from shopping at favorite retailers. With GasBuddy, you can stop worrying about running out of gas or paying more at the pump and simply enjoy the ride.  

google travel app download

The Best Travel App for Cheap Flight Deals Isn’t an App: It’s Next Vacay 

Want to get the cheapest flight deals to destinations all over the world? Try out Next Vacay. It’s as easy as downloading your favorite app without taking up more precious phone storage. Just enter your email, select your airport, and you can get deals delivered right to your inbox. Never miss an incredible deal or a life-changing trip ever again. So sign up and discover the best way to save time, money, and stress—because the best travel app isn’t an app at all; it’s Next Vacay .

Get Secret Flight Deals

Related Posts

google travel app download

How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline

Mar 20, 2023

Follow these steps to navigate safely even when you don’t have an internet connection.

Darling-9348_Retouched_1x1

You can’t always count on a strong internet connection when you most need Google Maps.

Thankfully, Maps has an offline feature to help you navigate safely even when your phone might be showing zero bars. Offline maps can be an especially useful tool for people who frequently travel abroad or visit remote areas with spotty cell service. All that’s required on your part is a little bit of planning.

The next time you might be faced with the potential of a poor signal, try downloading a map of your future whereabouts in advance. The process is simple and works on both Android and iOS.

No connection? Maps can keep you moving.

How to use Google Maps offline

  • Open the Google Maps app.
  • Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
  • Tap “Offline Maps.”
  • Tap “Select Your Own Map.”
  • Move the rectangle over the area you plan to visit.
  • Click “Download.”

And if you’re staying in a specific location — such as a city or a town — there’s an even simpler way:

  • Search for your destination in Google Maps. (For example: “Philadelphia.”)
  • Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the information panel.
  • Tap “Download offline map.”

Maps will still give you the option to make adjustments to the range of the area. And that’s it.

In both cases, Maps will show you an estimate of how much space the file will take up on your phone before you download. Generally speaking, the more precise you can be with your location, the smaller the file size. If you turn on “auto-update” in the settings menu, your maps will refresh about once every two weeks to include the latest data.

When offline, keep in mind that you won’t have real-time traffic data until you have connectivity again. Any travel time between destinations before then will be an estimate calculated as if there is no traffic congestion.

About the author

Mike Darling

Mike Darling

Contributor, the keyword.

Mike Darling is an audience development editor at Google where he focuses on content strategy for the Keyword blog and Google's social channels. Previously he was the executive editor of Men's Health and a managing editor at Vice.

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Groups Are A Trip

18 Group Travel Planning Apps That Make Life Easier

P lanning a group vacation with a number of different people can be a fun yet challenging endeavor. It requires effective coordination, communication, and savvy budget management. Whether you’re the group leader or just a member of your traveling group, you should check out the best group travel planning apps that will make the process smooth and simple.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our  disclosure policy  for more details. Thank you for your support!

Group Travel Planning Apps to Organize Your Next Trip

There are a variety of mobile apps that are designed to simplify vacation planning and help while you’re traveling on the trip. In this comprehensive guide, we have the top-notch mobile apps that are the very best for group travel planning, whether it involves accommodating different budgets, organizing an unforgettable friend group getaway, or discovering expert tips for the best deal on anything from train tickets to hotel rooms.

1. Wanderlog

​Wanderlog is the ultimate travel companion when you’re planning for a diverse group of friends, each with their own unique budgets and preferences. Whether you have a smaller group or you have a lot of group members in your travel party, this comprehensive travel app empowers every member to contribute their preferences and financial constraints. Hopefully this will ensure a smooth, fun trip for the whole group. 

From finding budget-friendly hotel choices to meticulously mapping out the best time for spa appointments, Wanderlog covers every aspect of your adventure. It can even create a detailed itinerary to help you get started.

With its seamless integration with Google Maps, you can easily chart your course and discover the hidden gems that will make your group trip the best thing you’ve ever done together.

Wanderlog offers a free version with basic features, but it also has a premium paid subscription plan called “Wanderlog Pro” for advanced features. Download on App Store or Google Play

2. Shared Notes (iPhone)

​ Communication is key when coordinating a group adventure, and Notes on iPhone helps you maintain clear and concise group texts and notes. From hashing out travel dates and sharing to-do lists to keeping track of key things to remember during your journey, this feature keeps the whole group informed and organized.

Shared Notes is a built-in feature on iOS devices, and it’s free to use. All you have to do is create in your Notes app and then select that you want to share.

​ Handling expenses for a large friend group can be a challenge, but Tab simplifies it by helping you keep track of who owes what. This app’s seamless functionality makes sure that everyone enjoys the whole trip without any financial hiccups, allowing your group to focus on the fun of your adventure.

Tab is a free app for  splitting expenses . Download on App Store or Google Play

4. Trip Splitter

The mobile app Trip Splitter is an indispensable tool for meticulous expense management. Its ability to maintain a comprehensive record of spending is particularly valuable when dealing with different budgets and a variety of preferences. 

Whether you’re tracking expenses for a long-term trip or ensuring that everyone contributes their fair share at dinner, this app has got you covered.

Trip Splitter offers a free version with basic features, but it also has a premium paid subscription plan for additional features. Download on App Store or Google Play

5. Splitwise

Managing expenses — even with a large group of people — becomes a breeze with Splitwise . This free travel planning app is designed to create fairness and financial transparency. No one wants to be bogged down with financial worries during a trip, and Splitwise ensures that everyone enjoys their vacation without worrying about budget disparities. 

It’s a reliable tool for tracking who owes what, making sure your friend group’s budget remains intact throughout your adventure.

Splitwise is a free app for expense splitting and management. Download on App Store or Google Play

6. Facebook Group (FB Group)

​ Creating a private Facebook Group is a great way to facilitate communication about trip plans within your friend group. It’s also one of our favorite platforms to use when  planning a family reunion . This is a versatile platform for discussing everything from the tourist attractions you want to visit to organizing group conversations and answering questions from your fellow travelers.

The platform allows for discussions, event planning, and real-time updates. This is a great free travel app for keeping everyone in the loop.

Creating and using private Facebook Groups is free. Download on App Store or Google Play

7. WhatsApp

​ Using WhatsApp is the perfect way to coordinate a travel-based group chat instead of working your way through texts with everyone’s phone number or email threads when planning. It’s an ideal platform for coordinating plans and sharing arrival times with your friend group. 

Stay connected, share travel ideas when planning, or meet up locations when at your destination. You can make the most of your adventure with this reliable messaging app that ensures everyone is on the same page. This app uses your device’s data or wifi to send the messages, so it doesn’t charge you any international rates. 

WhatsApp is a free messaging app. Download on App Store or Google Play

​GroupMe elevates group messaging with advanced features like event planning and location sharing. It is perfect for keeping everyone informed and connected during your friend group’s journey. Using the app is a simple way to ensure that every member of the group can be a part of the process of working out travel details, and helps you stay connected while traveling.

GroupMe is a free messaging app. Download on App Store or Google Play

​ Streamlining the planning process for your group of friends is effortless with TripIt . This sophisticated app automatically generates a master itinerary that includes hotel bookings, real-time flight alerts, and key things to do during the trip. 

This trip planner app also keeps all of your confirmation numbers for hotel reservations, flight information, and rental cars all in one spot. It’s a must-have tool for ensuring everyone in the group is well-prepared and informed.

TripIt offers both a free version with basic features and a premium paid annual subscription plan called “TripIt Pro” for enhanced features. It’s great for keeping all of the important details in one place. This is one of the best travel planner apps out there. Download on App Store or Google Play

​Band is a fantastic communication hub for friend groups, offering document sharing via Google Docs, creating shared photo albums, and maintaining group chats for discussions.

This is the best way to keep everyone engaged and informed about the latest developments and ideas throughout the planning process and the journey.

Band is a free communication app. Download on App Store or Google Play

11. Coordle

​ When coordinating activities for groups with varying preferences, Coordle shines by simplifying the process of finding the best time for group activities and excursions and allowing all planning to happen in one centralized app. It ensures a good time for everyone, making it easy to have an unforgettable adventure. 

Coordle offers a free version with basic features, but it also has a premium paid subscription plan for additional features. Download on App Store or Google Play

12. Family Album

​ Preserving cherished memories is easy with Family Album, a private photo-sharing app that lets you create dedicated photo albums to relive the highlights of your adventure with your friend group. Share expert tips and insider knowledge through images and captions that encapsulate your experiences.

Family Album offers a free version with basic features, but it also has premium paid subscription plans for more storage and features. Download on App Store or Google Play

13. Shared Photo Albums

​ Capture every moment of your adventure by using Shared Phone Albums, available for use on both iOS and Android devices. Ensure that each member of the friend group contributes their photos to create a complete visual narrative of the experiences from your trip.

This feature is available on iOS and Android devices, and it’s part of the phone’s functionality. It’s one of the best free travel planner apps for organizing your group’s memories.

​Troupe makes decision-making easy within smaller groups by facilitating the process of selecting activities and planning excursions together. It ensures that the travel itinerary aligns with the diverse preferences and expectations of your friend group, guaranteeing a well-rounded adventure that everyone will love.

Troupe offers a free version with basic features, but it also has premium paid subscription plans for additional features. Download on App Store or Google Play

15. Tripline

Tripline introduces a creative quality to your group travel experience by enabling the creation of captivating interactive travel maps. These maps serve as an engaging showcase of your journey’s route and highlights. This makes it easier for your friend group to relive the adventure and share their travel tips with others.

Tripline offers a free version with basic features, but it also has premium paid subscription plans for more advanced features. Download on App Store or Google Play

16. TravelSpend

​TravelSpend is great for streamlining expense management. It simplifies the process of splitting costs among friends or family members with real-time expense tracking, and it converts currencies automatically. TravelSpend empowers group travelers to stay on top of their financial commitments, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the trip without financial stress. 

Thia app also offers analytical data about your spending so that you can track what you’re spending the most (or the least) on. 

TravelSpend is a free app for tracking travel expenses. Download on App Store or Google Play

17. Google Maps

​ Google Maps has a function called My Maps that can be used to create personalized maps for different destinations. It’s a great addition to your next trip with family and/or friends. 

You can drop pins on the best places to visit, separate maps by different cities, pin the must-try restaurants, landmarks, and museums, and navigate to the nearest transportation hubs. Everyone can share this travel map, making it essential to have it on everyone’s phones.

It also works as a typical map app showing the best routes and travel time between destinations. You can also get offline access if you don’t have phone service.

Google Maps is a free application that works on Android and iOS. Download on App Store or Google Play

18. SaveTrip

SaveTrip is another app that can be used by family members to plan trip itineraries together. You could work together on each day, or split your trip days between family members and let everyone plan a day. 

After you have planned your days you can present your ideas to the group. The next step is to vote on things, set a budget, and agree on travel. You can even make a vision board using the notes tool. 

Once you take the trip, you can manage a budget, share costs, and use the integrated Google Maps feature to get around. 

This app is free to download and use. Download on App Store or Google Play

Mastering the art of group travel planning with different budgets and varying preferences can be challenging. With these indispensable mobile apps, it can be an easy experience that allows everyone to relax and have fun. With apps like these, you can be your own travel agent. Use these travel apps to put together a successful trip with all of your friends and family.

From expense management to communication and itinerary planning, these apps cater to every aspect of group getaways. So, gather your favorite people, download one of these great travel tools, and get ready to easily make some amazing travel plans!

The post 18 Group Travel Planning Apps That Make Life Easier appeared first on Groups Are A Trip .

Looking for a way to organize your group trip or family reunion? Be sure to use some of these apps that are sure to make the planning easier!

Program: Nightlife

Nightlife - Rare and uncommon syndromes, travel to Singapore, science with Charley Lineweaver, and the Mighty Challenge

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FIRST HOUR - UNCOMMON SYNDROMES & RARE DISEASES -  A topic that often goes unnoticed but affects a significant portion of our population - rare diseases. 8% of Australians, or around 2 million individuals, live with a rare disease. There are over 7,000 known rare diseases, ranging from genetic origins to rare infectious diseases, autoimmune conditions, and even rare cancers. The complexity of symptoms often leads to common challenges, such as difficulty getting accurate diagnoses, limited treatment options, and fragmented care. Unfortunately, less than 5% of these rare diseases currently have effective treatments. 

SECOND HOUR - NIGHTLIFE NEWS BREAKDOWN  - Hugh Riminton, National Affairs Editor, Ten News First. 

SECOND HOUR - MONDAY NIGHT SCIENCE  - Associate Professor Charley Lineweaver, Astrophysicist at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University, joined Philip Clark on Nightlife to discuss the latest in science and space.   

SECOND HOUR - MONDAY NIGHT TRAVEL -  Travel writer Belinda Jackson has just returned from the Flinders Island walking tour, the newest gem in the Great Walks of Australia, nestled in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and Victoria. She joins Philip Clark on Nightlife to discuss the journey and walking tours. 

THIRD HOUR - THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE

FOURTH HOUR - ISSUE OF THE DAY  - Australians are paying almost a billion dollars a year in payment processing fees and the Reserve Bank is threatening new regulation unless banks act fast. How concerned are you about card surcharges? Do you notice the surcharges on your card? Do you still carry cash? Do you know how much in surcharges you would pay per year? Should the banks even be able to have a surcharge on card transactions? 

Plus, Canned rabbit was a huge export in the 1920s. There was a cannery in South Australia that processed tens of thousands of cans a year. What food delicacies from your past do you miss? what foods from yesteryear did you eat or did your parents eat?

  • Philip Clark, Presenter

In this episode

Nightlife News Breakdown - Hugh Riminton - Ten News First

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Uncommon Syndromes and Rare Diseases

A masked nurse adjusts their blue plastic glove in an operation room.

Nightlife Science with Charley Lineweaver

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iOS 17.4 alternative iPhone app stores will stop working if you travel outside the EU

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Regain clarity with CleanMyPhone by MacPaw — the new AI-powered cleaning app that quickly identifies and removes blurred images, screenshots, and other clutter from your device. Download it now with a free trial .

iOS 17.4 in the European Union brings Apple’s first operating system release that complies with the regulatory framework of the Digital Markets Act. This includes support for alternative app stores — or as Apple calls them, ‘alternative app marketplaces’ — which allows iPhone users to download apps from outside the walls of the Apple App Store for the first time.

The availability of functionality is geo-restricted to the EU only, and Apple has detailed for the first time how it detects this . But perhaps more surprisingly, it also turns out that existing app marketplaces you have downloaded to your device will stop working if you leave the EU for too long.

In a new support document, Apple explains that availability of app market places is meant to be available only to customers in the European Union.

Apple says in order for its system to consider you eligible, the country or region of your Apple ID must be set to one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. CountriES FOR iOS 17.4 Alternative App Marketplaces

Additionally, you must be physically located in the European Union. The geolocation check happens on device and your exact location is not shared with Apple’s servers.

As long as your Apple ID origin is one of those countries, and you physically reside in them, the app marketplace features will be available. When available, you will be able to install an alternative app store through the browser to download apps from outside of the Apple App Store.

However, what might be unexpected is that your eligibility can be revoked if the system notices your location changes. Apple says there’s a ‘grace period’ for short travel, but for longer stays outside of an eligible EU market, access to app marketplaces will be revoked. (Update: Apple has now specified that this time period is set at 30 days.)

In this state, you won’t be able to install new app marketplaces, and any apps you previously installed from an alternative app marketplace will no longer be able to update themselves. You’ll either have to return to an eligible physical location, or delete the app and redownload an equivalent from the Apple App Store.

This potential customer support problem is yet another reason why third-party developers may be unwilling to embrace the third-party app store system. At time of writing, no alternative app marketplace is actually available (although a couple of have been announced ).

Also, as another reminder, this all only applies to the iPhone. iPadOS 17.4 does not support this as only the iOS App Store was deemed a significantly-large ‘gatekeeper in the eyes of the EU law.

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IMAGES

  1. Google launches travel app that lets you personalize your whole trip

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  2. Google Trips: A Fantastic (And Free) Travel App You Should Download Now

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  3. Google Trips Travel App for Android and iOS [Review]

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  4. New Google travel app makes planning vacations a breeze

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  5. Google launches travel app that lets you personalize your whole trip

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  6. Google's New Travel App Is a Mashup of Guidebook and TripIt

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COMMENTS

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    Plan your trip with Google. Find flights, hotels, vacation rentals, things to do, and more.

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    Google Trips is a personalized tour guide in your pocket. Each trip contains key categories of information, including day plans, reservations, things to do, food & drink, and more, so you have everything you need at your fingertips. The entire app is available offline — simply tap the "Download" button under each trip to save it to your ...

  3. Google Just Released New Travel Apps

    Google Travel is a new app that replaces Google Trips and integrates Google Maps and other travel services. Learn how to use its features, such as price guarantee, augmented reality, reservations and Your Match, to plan your trips more easily and efficiently. Find out how to download the app and access its portal.

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    Get real-time GPS navigation, traffic, and transit info, and explore local neighborhoods by knowing where to eat, drink and go - no matter what part of the world you're in. • Group planning made easy. Share a shortlist of options and vote in real-time. • Review places you've visited. Add photos, missing roads and places.

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    ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP IN ONE PLACE. • Use the updated Trips planning tool to save hotels, restaurants, and things to do. • Get personalized recs with AI itineraries powered by reviews (beta) • See your saves on your custom map. • Share and collab with your travel buds. • Access mobile tickets for booked tours, attractions, experiences ...

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  10. Google Trips: A Fantastic (And Free) Travel App You Should Download Now

    I don't typically like travel apps, but Google Trips is pretty fantastic. It's a free app that compiles all your personal travel info (tickets, reservations, etc) and combines that with top ...

  11. The best travel apps every traveler should download

    The TPG App is available for download on iOS. Android users can join the waitlist here. Related: The TPG App has arrived — here's why you should download it now. Best apps for organizing a trip. From keeping all your documents in order to perfectly packing your suitcase without forgetting a thing, these are the best apps for organizing travel ...

  12. What Is Google Travel and How Does It Work?

    Google Travel is an app that lets users book trips and manage itineraries. The Silicon Valley giant introduced the service in 2016, and you might have previously heard of it when it was known as Google Trips. Unlike several other Google apps, including Drive and Docs, you can't download Google Travel as a standalone mobile app for your ...

  13. Google Maps Was the Most-Downloaded Travel App of 2021

    Share. Google Maps was the most-downloaded travel app in the world in 2021 with 106 million downloads, edging Uber, which held that distinction in 2020. In fact transportation apps, including ...

  14. The Best Travel Apps for 2024

    See It. TripCase is a free app that helps you organize your trip by making an itinerary for you. The itinerary can include flights, accommodations, rental cars, restaurant reservations, and more ...

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    Buy, add, and manage your Travel Money Cards, travel insurance, holiday extras and more all in one place. Take the new-look Post Office travel app on your adventures today. Combining all the travel features our loyal app users love, this refreshed version's now cleaner and simpler to use. So, it's even easier to relax on your travels.

  16. Download areas & navigate offline

    On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app . Make sure you're connected to the internet and signed in to Google Maps. Search for a place, like San Francisco. At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place tap More Download offline map. If you searched for a place like a restaurant, tap More Download offline map Download.

  17. The 20 Best Travel Apps to Download in 2023

    The Best Travel App for Cheap Flight Deals Isn't an App: It's Next Vacay; The Best Travel Apps for Planning and Organizing . Find the perfect flight, plan the perfect route, and pack the perfect bag. Here are the best travel apps to add to your trip planning and organizing for a stress-free travel experience. Google Travel

  18. Google Trips for Android

    Get the latest version. 1.14.0.255026476. Jul 7, 2023. Older versions. Advertisement. Google Trips is an application that helps you find all the travel-related info you need quickly and easily. The app automatically detects travel-related information stored in your Gmail account (airline tickets, bus tickets, hotel reservations, etc.) and shows ...

  19. How to download Google Maps to use offline

    Click "Download." And if you're staying in a specific location — such as a city or a town — there's an even simpler way: Search for your destination in Google Maps. (For example: "Philadelphia.") Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the information panel. Tap "Download offline map."

  20. Hopper: Hotels, Flights & Cars

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  21. 18 Group Travel Planning Apps That Make Life Easier

    Tab is a free app for splitting expenses.Download on App Store or Google Play. 4. Trip Splitter. The mobile app Trip Splitter is an indispensable tool for meticulous expense management. Its ...

  22. Nightlife

    Nightlife - Rare and uncommon syndromes, travel to Singapore, science with Charley Lineweaver, and the Mighty Challenge In this episode Nightlife News Breakdown - Hugh Riminton - Ten News First

  23. Expedia: Hotels, Flights & Car

    Manage your whole trip in one app: - Free cancellation on most hotels.*. - All your travel reservations in one place: view upcoming flight details, hotel booking information, car rental bookings. - Travel alerts: for flight delays, gate changes, hotel check-out times, and more. - Share travel itineraries with family and friends via email or ...

  24. iOS 17.4 alternative iPhone app stores will stop working if you travel

    Download it now with a free trial. iOS 17.4 in the European Union brings Apple's first operating system release that complies with the regulatory framework of the Digital Markets Act.

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