5 travel apps you didn’t know existed

According to recent research, Vancouverites are travelling more than ever before, with trips to overseas countries increasing year on year (with a 0.9% leap between February and March 2016 alone).

Of course alongside the usual essentials which find their way into our suitcases, our phones are one of the most important things we all pack before jetting off on our travels.

So what apps should you download to get ready for your next trip? Here’s our list of the very best free travel apps for the digital-savvy Vancouverite.

TripIt

Available on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone

Avoid an overload of print-outs with this incredibly helpful app which pulls together travel information from your confirmation emails for flights, hotels and rental cars, and converts into a single itinerary on your digital device. You can also keep friends and family back home in the loop by emailing them a link to your itinerary.

BringFido

Available on iOS

If you’re planning a holiday with your beloved pet, finding the perfect place to stay can often be a challenge. BringFido allows users to search for pet-friendly establishments in your chosen destination. Search for hotels and sort by distance, popularity, rating and price. Find nearby attractions, events and dog walkers. All the useful information from the BringFido website in one simple app.

App in the Air

Available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone

If you’re at the airport with no WiFi (thankfully YVR has us covered), this handy app keeps you updated with your flight status with a text message. App in the Air also splits your flight into four stages: check-in, boarding, take-off and landing to ensure you are prepared for every stage of your journey. Also includes weather, delays and currency information for all major airports across the globe.

LiveTrekker

Available on iOS and Android

LiveTrekker keeps a detailed record of your travels, tracking your steps through GPS and allowing you to pin photos, videos, audio and text entries to the map as you go. Your timing, speed and altitude can also be measured, making it a great choice for lovers of the outdoors. Other handy features include its multiple trip logs feature, and the ability to share trips with your contacts.

Expensify

Available on iOS and Android

If you’re planning for business, rather than travel, Expensify is a hassle free app for the traveller with too much to think about! This app allows you to manually track expenses, photo log receipts and import purchases from your credit card, among many other useful features, making the chore of creating expense reports quick and easy.