DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post, and some links in this article might lead to some extra revenue to keep my business running.
With so many options for travel apps out there, it can feel overwhelming in deciding which ones are best to download. Better yet, which ones will actually provide in helping us save some cash? With travel prices having increased as much as they have over the past year, traveling on a budget feels further and further from reality. However, these 7 apps help travelers find the cheapest deals, and in some instances, even get cash back or heavy discounts.
1. WayAway (For Flights)
There are many apps out there in determining where to find the cheapest travel deals, but not all of them can say they give cash back to customers. That’s right, WayAway offers cheap flights with cashback. Don’t get confused, this is NOT a loyalty program: when using a PayPal account to purchase flights, you get money right back into your account. WayAway has a company value that “Sharing is Caring,” and sharing is caring, indeed. The company was created by travelers for travelers. Use your PayPal or credit card to book anything travel-related, whether it’s a hotel reservation, a car rental, insurance, or a tour for your next trip, and get cashback.
So, how does it work? WayAway shares its profits with users so travelers get money back and can continue to travel (and buy themselves a little something!). With flight prices having increased 43% this past year, this is pretty generous on them, and a company all travelers should be enthusiastic about supporting.
Not only does WayAway give cash back, but their search engine filters through dozens of travel agencies to find you the best airfares, plus they leverage AI technology to ensure this is done. Travelers can pick the best day to fly with their low-fare calendar, and use the interactive map to decide where to go.
For travelers who want to filter out avoiding red-eyes or long layovers (though, I always recommend a long layover: why not see two destinations for the price of one flight?), WayAway offers advanced search filters to weed out those unfavorable flight options.
If you need inspiration for your next trip, follow one of the ambassador guides to over 70 cities. If the guides aren’t enough, don’t fret: 24/7 customer care is available.
Download for Apple here.
Download on Google Play here.
2. Booking.com (For Hotels)
Deciding where to stay when traveling is a detrimental decision. Staying in a prime location can make a trip totally different than staying in a quieter part of town. Some folks prefer over-the-top luxury hotels like The Four Seasons while some prefer humble boutique hotels like Hotel Le Jolie. Whatever your preference might be, my true and tried favorite app for finding the absolute best hotel deals online is Booking.com. Booking has an app that helps you narrow down hotel options by price, location, rating, whether they’re pet-friendly, by amenities (pool, hot tub, A/C, balcony), free breakfast, all-inclusive, and one of my favorites: the rating for solo travelers.
For those who sign up for an account with Booking, they’ll be given “Genius discounts” based on how frequently they use the app/site. Perks include getting up to 10% off of certain hotels and occasionally getting dollar-amount rewards.
3. Get Your Guide (For Tours)
People often ask how I know what to do when I arrive to a new destination. The answer is simple. I go on GetYourGuide, type in the city and/or country name of where I’m headed, and skim through the tour options. Organized tours aren’t for everyone, but they are a great way to get a cultural experience and to meet people, especially as a solo traveler. If you’re less interested in meeting people, but equally interested in taking tours, GetYourGuide also offers tons of private tours, like this one I took in Saudi Arabia.
What I love most about GetYourGuide is I’ve never been able to find cheaper prices for organized tours. Search the web, and I guarantee GetYourGuide is the best price out there for exploring whatever city you’re headed to. Yes, sometimes you can find cheaper deals on the ground of your destination (though, not always), but for those who want to have something planned once they arrive, GetYourGuide is your best bet.
4. Flush Toilet Finder (For Restrooms)
There are few things worst than walking around a new or foreign city and having to pee or poo, but not knowing where to go for a restroom. In Europe, many restrooms charge a fee, and in places like New York City, more often than not, purchases are required to use a bathroom. Though paying a small amount to *relieve yourself* is typically worth it, it starts with needing to know where the F to go in the first place.
Insert the genius app, Flush – Toilet Finder. Simply enter your location and use the in-app’s GPS, and watch as a bunch of pins pop up to let you know where the nearest toilet is. Their database includes over 200,000 toilets worldwide. Download it now and thank me later when you’re about to p*ss yourself.
Download on Apple here.
Download on Google Play here.
5. Grab (For Taxis)
In some instances, I’ve only learned about ways to save money while traveling after I’ve been royally ripped off. Back in March of 2019, I was visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on a 36-hour layover, and I foolishly took a public taxi at 2am from the airport to my hostel. Malaysia is notoriously affordable, so when my taxi was over $60 for a 30-minute ride, I knew something wasn’t right. The cab driver told me the “prices were inflated because of the timing,” but $60 in Malaysia is like $2000 in Manhattan. I was ripped off, and I was pissed.
The man working at my hostel confirmed my theory to be true and told me to download an app called Grab. Grab is like Southeast Asian Uber. I immediately downloaded it and realized had I used it, my $60 cab ride would have only cost me $7 had I used the app. For the remainder of my time in Southeast Asia, which was another several weeks, I solely relied on Grab and saved a lot of money doing so. It is essentially required if you’re to travel to these parts of the world.
6. HostelWorld (For Hostels)
For those getting their feet wet in traveling and need to save wherever they can cut corners, HostelWorld is a great place to start. While staying in hostels is definitely not for everyone, even in my mid-20s, I’d sometimes see older folks staying in hostels for a reason: it’s simply one of the easiest ways to cut costs when on the road. Hostels in places like Siem Reap, Cambodia can go as low as $2/night, and hostels in Agra, India have been listed for as low as $1/night. So, yes, sure, you’ll have to share a room with several other travelers and sleep in a bunkbed, but there’s little room for complaining when the price is that cheap.
If sharing a room with a gaggle of backpackers doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you can book private rooms in hostels which are typically still cheaper than hotels (though, not always at this point). This way, you still get the perks of staying in a hostel (meeting other travelers, often free breakfast or some type of perk included, activities like happy hours to mingle, etc.) without sharing a room.
7. My Currency Converter & Rates (For Not Getting Ripped Off!)
Let’s face it, trying to convert currencies can get extremely confusing. Unless it’s a perfect match, like when the Euro was recently equivalent to the USD, trying to add up quick math can often just lead to not knowing what you’re paying, or worst, getting ripped off completely. There are many apps that will convert currencies for you, but the one I’ve used for years is simply called My Currency Converter & Rates.
It’s quite simple. Enter where you’re going, whether it’s Argentine pesos, Indian rupee, or Egyptian pounds, and convert it to whatever your preferred currency is. This is especially helpful for travelers who are on longer backpacking trips, bouncing from country to country. Do you have some Malaysian Ringgit leftover but are on your way to the Maldives? Go to currency converter, and then go to the nearest currency exchange to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Download on Apple here.
Download on Google Play here.
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