My Favourite Travel Apps

As an autistic person, I find travel very difficult to manage – from noisy airports, navigating public transport, being out of my daily routines, and not having my home comforts. So, it’s very important for me to plan ahead and do as much research as possible before I travel! Which is where my favourite travel apps come in handy. Because, despite all the challenges – I love to travel. Exploring new places gives me such joy and the chance of unique experiences, too.

My Favourite Travel Apps

WiFi Finder – WiFi Map (Android only)

Unless you have an international data plan with your phone company, the charges can soon mount up, which is where the Wi-Fi Finder app comes in handy. With the Wi-Fi Finder app you can instantly find free wi-fi hotspots all over the world – all while keeping your mobile roaming offline, too. Just be careful not to share any personal information – such as banking details – over public Wi-Fi without a VPN, though!

City Mapper

The City Mapper app is great when you’re traveling in a big city and want to know the most efficient public transportation. I use this a lot in bigger cities, alongside Google Maps. It gives you a breakdown of the public transport options along with an idea of prices. So, you can choose what’s best for your budget.

Another great feature City Mapper has is the alerts, which tell you when it’s time to get off your train or bus. Ideal if you’re not too sure of the route or the stops aren’t displayed clearly.

Google Maps

Google Maps has a wide range of features to help plan your route by foot, car, or public transport. Including, Google Street View which I find invaluable if I’m going to a new place. I can see what it looks like and it helps relieve any anxiety.

The Google Maps add-on for Android Auto is also the ideal sat-nav. I can ask “Hello Google” for help finding places of interest, petrol stations, rest stops, and more while on the go – all hands free!

Booking.com

The Booking.com app is so easy to use, and let’s you choose from several accommodation options, and search criteria. From hostels to hotels, rooms with a view to rural retreats, and shared bathrooms to penthouse suites. There’s so much to choose from with the added bonus of user reviews, too – which I find very helpful in choosing where to stay.

All Trails

It’s no secret that I love the outdoors, and the All Trails app is my favourite way to find local hiking, running, or cycle routes, both when I travel and at home, too. I have the free version but there’s also a premium version with even more useful features.

National Express

If I’m not driving, then I’ll probably be booking National Express. Their coaches cover so many destinations in the UK – and several overseas, too. So it’s ideal if you want something cost effective, comfortable, and relatively quiet to and from your destination.

Of course, if you prefer to travel by other coach services, e.g. Megabus, or by train, I’d highly recommend downloading the app for your transport company. You can compare transport costs, routes to your destination, track your departure times, and more.

Google Translate

Google Translate is one of my most used apps – I use it for work almost daily – as well as for travel. It instantly translates words and phrases for over 100 languages. My favourite feature is using your phone’s camera (through the app) to quickly and easily translates menus, road signs, and more. I’ve even used it to communicate with locals, too, and ask for groceries.

Airline app

Your airlines own app is ideal for keeping yourself organised and paperwork to a minimum. Although, I’m still partial to a paper boarding pass as a little keep-sake for my memory box.

What are your favourite travel apps? Any I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments. 📱🛩