8 must have travel apps
Technology is changing the way we travel.
From automated receptionists to facial recognition scans, it ranges from the clever to the creepy.
In light of this, sometimes it’s nice to sit back and look at the smaller advances in technology that are helping travel and travellers.
We’re talking about apps.
Those wonderful little icons on your phone that can get you from A to B without opening your wallet, and deliver burgers in a matter of minutes.
So what are the latest apps shaking up the travel industry?
Well, there’s quite a few actually.
Thanks to a new listicle of travel apps, we’ve found the ones you need to download ASAP.
Gas Buddy
This app helps you find the cheapest petrol in your area.
Using GPS location tagging, Gas Buddy searches by address or postcode and orders the findings by the lowest-price station, as well as using filters like food, bathrooms, and popular choices.
Perfect for: Road trips
Download it here.
Waze
This app helps you wave goodbye to gridlock traffic.
Waze has real-time traffic and road information, providing users with alerts about construction, speed bumps, accidents and other hazards.
It can also estimate arrival times and last but not least, allows you to choose from a variety of voices to guide your trip.
Perfect for: Driving in an unfamiliar city
Download it here.
Citymapper
This is the ultimate transit app
Citymapper offers real-time departures, transit maps, line status and real-time disruption alerts as well as Uber integration. It also includes bike routing and live bike share info.
It’s everything you need — and may not even realize you need — to manage your life in the city.
Perfect for: Getting public transport in a new city
Download it here.
PackPoint
Never forget to pack your toothbrush again.
PackPoint is an intelligent packing app and packing list builder for serious travelers. PackPoint will tell you what you need to pack based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip.
Punch in the city you’re traveling to, the departure date, and the number of nights you’ll be staying there.
Perfect for: Getting rid of the feeling you’ve forgotten something
Download it here.
TripAdvisor
Everything you need while travelling, in one app.
TripAdvisor uses your location to send you personalised hotel, restaurant, attraction and holiday rental recommendations as well as remember the places you visited via our Travel Timeline feature.
These locations are collected even if the app is in the background.
Perfect for: Well, just about everything
Download it here.
Roomer
The app to save you from life’s uplanned events.
Roomer is the place where people can book hotel rooms at incredible discounts from other people who had to cancel their trips.
If you’re stuck with a hotel reservation that you can’t use, you can sell it on Roomer instead of losing all your money to cancellation fees and nonrefundable booking rates.
On the flip side, if you’re looking for a great deal on a hotel room, book one of our exclusive listings and save up to 80% on your next vacation.
Perfect for: Last-minute hotel reservations
Download it here.
TripIt
TripIt from Concur instantly organises all your travel plans in one place. Users can forward travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt will create a master itinerary for each of your trips.
Perfect for: Organising all your travel plans in one place
Download it here.
Hopper
Hopper predicts the future of airfare & hotel prices. Watch your next flight & hotel stay in the app and get a notification as soon as the prices drop to their lowest point.
Users save on average $50 per flight by following the bunny’s advice. Know if you should book now or wait for a better price using the price prediction feature.
Perfect for: Knowing when to fly and buy
Download it here.
Latest News
Two thirds of Australians support introduction of tourism tax, survey reveals
Can you guess which generation was the most outraged at the news? Hint: It is exactly who you think!
“The consumer really just wanted more classic reward availability” – customers underwhelmed by Qantas FF shakeup
All this consumer wants is to sit behind someone that doesn't push their seat back to near-horizontal levels.
Aussie travellers warned of ‘significant’ visa shifts in destinations including Chile, US and Vietnam
To be honest are biggest advice for having a layover in the US, is just don't.
Profile: Delta CEO Ed Bastian
Bastian says the airline business isn't for the faint hearted. We're sure Alan Joyce would agree!
Final Call: Travel DAZE Exec early birds are about to expire
Much like the auctioneer at the hottest sale of the year, we're giving you one more chance to jump at this deal!
Forget the weekend! Experience Gold Coast launches mid-week travel campaign
Your boss might be a bit bothered if you jet off mid-week, but you'll be the envy of all of your Instagram followers.
Victorian Tourism Industry Council warns of losing tourism dollars to NSW & QLD
Trendy cafe's hidden in CBD laneways can only get so many tourism dollars, clearly!
AIME 2024 rustles up $330m for APAC economy
This figure is a 65 per cent increase on 2023, much alike The Nibbler staff's alcohol consumption.
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Star boss resigns, admits retaining NSW casino licence unlikely under his leadership
The CEO resigned after 18 months in the role. 'Another one bites the dust' rumoured to be heard playing in Pyrmont.
Corporate Traveller swings amateur golfers around the globe for World Golf Competition
How're your golf skills? Consider yourself a Tiger Woods or often get quadruple bogeys? We take after the latter.
Corporate travellers to spend big on Melbourne F1 despite financial pressures
Part of the attraction is sick days after the event as corporate travellers suffer creaked necks and blown eardrums.
Bonza officially kicks off Gold Coast-Darwin route
The Flying Purple Thumb is back at it with another route. We swear, we're going to make this nickname stick!
South West Sydney Tourism launches Western Sydney Tourism Awards
Penrith's 3 consecutive NRL premierships wasn't enough? The people of Western Sydney could fill the trophy cabinet more!
Hotels vs. Airbnb: Industry leaders at odds over who should pay accommodation levy
There's not as much gore in the Hotels vs. Airbnb saga as there is in Alien vs. Predator, but it's just as thrilling!
Singapore Airlines revamps premium economy with new menu, amenity kit
Felt Singapore Airlines was lacking "the sauce" (as the kids say). Bolster belief in the carrier's je na sais quoi here.
Business Events Adelaide set for 20th Destination SA event
Destination SA turns 20! Hopefully it's not celebrated with vodka cruisers and vapes like most 20th birthdays.
Boeing’s woes delay massive Virgin Australia order
This delay means Virgin staffers will be without that new plane smell, inspiring us to sell it in a can.
All the winners from the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
Somehow missed this news recently? Good thing you're subscribed to our fabulous newsletter!
Corporate international travel from Brisbane up 30% YOY: Flight Centre
Queenslanders seem keen to go somewhere that actually serves good beer! Sorry, we actually like Great Northern.
Amora Brisbane undergoes $30m remodelling, geared up for MICE offerings
When $30m goes into an amazing hotel to get it geared up for MICE offerings, that's amore!
Corporate Travel Management’s CEO Laura Ruffles steps down
CTM confirmed that Ruffles will be stepping down due to a personal health issue, effective immediately.
Qatar Airways crowned World’s Best MICE Airline at World MICE Awards
You could say Qatar Airways really 'nabbed the cheese' with this one! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
Qantas, Jetstar & Virgin hike airfares as supplier costs inflate
Supplier increases means you'll pay more. It's like pass the parcel, but instead of getting a present, you owe money.
NSW Central Coast wins global sustainability award for promoting ecotourism at ITB
NSW Central Coast jumped the gun on St. Patricks Day and got the green celebrations going early!
PHOTOS: RuPaul’s Drag Race stars hit Kings Canyon for Priscilla’s 30th anniversary
The stars have renamed the iconic spot 'Queens Canyon'. No name change to the adjacent 'Priscilla's Crack', however.
Air NZ to suspend Auckland-Chicago route amid aircraft troubles
Sorry Kiwis, your craving for authentic deep dish pizza will go unsatiated (or you could just fly with another airline).
Tasmanian Premier promises to build the world’s largest chocolate fountain if re-elected
If only sticky 6-year-old children could vote. Then the Tassie Premier would be guaranteed a victory!
The staggering amount invested in 2022/23 Australian tourism projects revealed!
Any guesses on how much it was? We'll give you a hint: It's between $1 and $9 trillion (hope this helps).
Marriott’s Bonvoy Lounge makes it a 5-peat at Formula 1 in Melbourne
If Formula 1 is so good, then why isn't there a Formula 2? Oh there is one... Never mind.
Virgin Australia posts $236m profit, but the outgoing CEO warns of turbulence ahead
Hrdlicka warns of tough times ahead, just after announcing she's leaving. We wonder if there could be a connection!
Ascott opens new 255 room property in Central Sydney
Bored of your bedroom and want 255 new ones to try? The new Ascott property is here to solve this very specific problem!
Work and play at the Radisson RED, Auckland
We aren't going to tell you what order to work and play in, just that you should be looking to do both at Radisson Red.
Swiftonomics 101: Just how much did fans spend travelling to see Taylor Swift?
Thought you'd heard the last of Swift, huh? Not in your Wildest Dreams could Swiftomania go out of Style!
Rex posts a $13.3m turnaround for 1H24, but still at a loss
Rex is slowly making its way back to pre-pandemic form. Much like us with our sporadic attempts at exercise.