The Best Travel Apps to Download Before Your Next Trip

SkyScanner

Nowadays, travel-centric search engines
make price comparisons a simple affair.

Among these, SkyScanner stands out for
its versatility, offering highly customisable
searches for airline, hotel, and even car
rental pricings across the Internet.

The information is then presented in an
easy-to-digest format, allowing users (like us!)
to easily review the possible selections.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of SkyScanner.

Airbnb

A certified staple for modern travellers,
Airbnb allows you to effectively “rent”
a home for your overseas stay – perfect
for when booking a hotel isn’t the most
efficient choice.

While this does mean sacrificing conventional
hotel-esque luxuries like buffets and room
service, you’ll enjoy significantly cheaper
rates in exchange. Plus, there’s also the
flexibility of selecting a residence best
suited for your needs and itinerary.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Airbnb.

YouTrip

Digital wallet apps such as YouTrip allow
users to pay with and exchange foreign
currencies without having to visit a physical
money changer or bank. On top of being
insanely convenient, these apps also tend to
follow their own conversion rates, which can
often be more favourable than other
conventional sources.

YouTrip in particular recently received an
update letting users transfer funds back to
their linked bank accounts (thanks, HardwareZone),
so there’s no need to worry about exchanging
too much while you’re on holiday.

Download it on iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of YouTrip.

TripIt

Need help keeping your travel plans and
bookings organised? TripIt is a good app
to start off with.

Create custom itineraries, synchronise
existing schedules and flight plans, review
local transportation options, and more –
there’s really a lot you can do with this one.

To top it off, many of these functions are
not even gated behind a paywall. Go figure!

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of TripIt.

Google Translate

Being able to communicate with the
locals is a big part of any overseas trip,
and Google Translate is probably the
easiest way to get that done.

Simply pop your intended message into
the app (or take a picture!) and have it
translated into the language of your choice.
Admittedly, the translations aren’t always
(contextually) perfect, but at the very least,
the receiver should be able to understand
the gist of what you’re trying to say.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Google.

Waze

Although wanderlust is a good thing to
have while travelling, getting lost should
not actually be part of the agenda. That’s
why you’ll always want a navigation app
like Waze ready to go in your back pocket.

Designed for the sole purpose of getting you
from point A to point B as quickly as possible,
especially if you’re driving, Waze doesn’t
waste a second – if it calculates a shorter path,
it won’t hesitate to modify your route accordingly.
It’s dependable and effective.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Waze.

StarHub App

Considering that many of these services
above (and below!) require Internet
connectivity, mobile data is basically an
unspoken essential for today’s travellers.
Fortunately, you’ll be good to go with
the StarHub App.

With it, you won’t have to worry about
setting up a new eSIM and will be able to
purchase roaming data. DataTravel covers 
over 195 destinations, and from as low
as $6. Plus, if you’re scared of bill shock,
you’ll be able to set a monthly cap on your
roaming data via the app.

Download it for iOS and Android.

Yogiyo

Yogiyo is the most popular food delivery
app in Korea, and for good reason. Not only
does it offer services across the entire country,
but if you don’t have a local friend or aren’t
fluent in Hangul (that’s the Korean writing system!),
there’s also a web version that you can convert
using good ol’ Google Translate.

Once you have an account set up, you’ll be able to
order Korean fare and more from popular restaurants
in your area. Like many delivery apps, pictures are
also provided next to the dishes, so you know exactly
what you’ll be eating. You will, however, need a Korean
mobile number for this.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Yogiyo.

VisitKorea

Developed and managed by the Korea
Tourism Organisation, the VisitKorea app
provides comprehensive information on
South Korean attractions, cultural sites,
and other events visitors might want to
know about.

On the side, it also lists nearby ATM locations,
simple Korean phrases for communication,
plus recommendations for food, shopping,
and more. The web version even provides
an itinerary planner.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of 한국관광공사

Coupang

Known for its swift, same-day “Rocket Delivery”
feature, Coupang is a Korean e-commerce app
that stocks electronics, groceries, clothing, and
other essentials.

You could think of it as the Korean version of
apps like Shopee and Lazada. However, the catch
is that Coupang currently lacks English language
support, so a basic grasp of Hangul will go a long
way here. Users will also need to have a verified
Korean phone number for account creation.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Coupang.

menu

Although Uber Eats Japan is the most
popular food delivery service in the country,
it’s more exciting to feature a lesser-known
(but still popular) app, like menu.

Granted, food delivery apps are a dime a dozen
no matter where you go, but menu is particularly
useful if you or someone in your travel group has
a specialised diet. Alongside regular delivery
options from restaurants and eateries, menu
also offers customised searches for low-sugar,
vegetarian, vegan, and halal options, so
nobody has to go to bed hungry.

Download it for iOS. 
Image courtesy of menu.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is the recommended app for
attractions by the Japan National Tourism
Organisation (JNTO), and it should be the
go-to if you’re looking to check out Japan’s
countless landmarks, book tours, or set
up a day trip.

Additionally, if you’re eyeing something a
little more thematic, it’s also packed with
options for cultural, artistic, natural, and
culinary experiences – all of which Japan
has in spades. Speaking of recommendations,
it’s probably worth reviewing the other
apps listed by the JNTO too.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of GetYourGuide.

Payke

Less “deals and discounts” and more like
a “product translation” app, Payke helps
a great deal (no pun intended) if you’re
not sure what a particular product does
or which brands to choose.

By scanning the product’s barcode, you’ll
be able to translate its information into a
language of your choice. This is particularly
useful when you’re shopping for cosmetics,
especially if there are certain ingredients
that you’re sensitive to.

Plus, the app also lists rankings for various
product categories, making it just a bit more
useful than Google Translate when
shopping in Japan.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Payke.

Dazhong Dianping

This is one of those apps that you should
always have in China just because it’s so
good at what it does – in fact, there’s even
a guide by the Shanghai Municipal Government
on how to register and use it.

Dazhong Dianping, or just Dianping, is a
multi-purpose app currently managed by 
the biggest cheese in China for on-demand
delivery services. 

Users can search for and order all sorts of
different services here – food delivery is just
one of them, and there’s no shortage of both
local or international cuisines to choose from.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Meituan Dianping.

Mafengwo

Mafengwo is an all-in-one travel guide
and booking app that, somewhat amusingly,
is used almost as frequently by locals as
tourists to the country.

After all, China is so vast that it’s pretty much
normal to go holidaying in another part of
the country – something we probably can’t ever
relate to here in Singapore.

Anyway, on top of standard functions like
tour and hotel bookings, users can also
upload, share, and review their holiday
experiences on the app, providing valuable
information to other would-be travellers. 

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Mafengwo.

Alipay

Much like Dianping, Alipay is another
essential app you’ll want to have in China,
and this recommendation is more about
necessity than convenience.

Simply put, Alipay (or the similar WeChat Pay)
is a must-have for digital payments because
conventional credit payment options – like
Visa or Mastercard, aren’t accepted in China.

So, you'll definitely need this one. Alternatively,
you could also try out WeChat Pay.

Download it for iOS and Android.
Image courtesy of Alipay (Hangzhou)
Technology Co. Ltd.