online tour guide app

11 best tour guide apps to create amazing tourism experiences

In this article, you will get a short overview of 11 tour guide apps that give you the possibility to build your own tour routes or add audio guides to specific locations. There are many ways to explore a city or a route. No matter if it is a walking tour , sailing, boats, train trips, food tour , bicycle sightseeing, birdwatching , or rally with cars , in 2022 technology offers multiple ways to enrich the experience.

Tour guide apps suit well to introduce the best locations and facts about a destination to a foreigner as well to locals who can find hidden gems or experience an adventurous mystery story-game about their home location. As a tour company, the range of platforms you can choose to build the experience your customers will benefit from is wide.

As of 2022, most tour guide apps cover at least the basics – setting up a route, points of interest, adding media files like mp3, images, and video to each location, and offline tours. The apps included in this article, do all of the mentioned, but we also point out the specific differences of each app to emphasise the strengths of each one.

With Loquiz tour guide app you can build indoor and outdoor self-guided routes with the amount of gamification you need. Special features: a tour template for tourism businesses that allows building layers of different waypoints of interest within a destination. What cuts it apart is API which connects to booking and ticketing platforms. Secondly, there is a powerful content editor to keep the ever changing info about locations in sync with the possibility of translating the app to any real or imaginary language on Earth. Try out for an instance a sample tour of Paris. Download the Loquiz app from Google Play or App Store and scan the QR code on the image below. (alternatively username: GEMPARISTour and password: justvisitit will also start the game).

2. Pocketsights

Pocketsights is a self-guided tour app focused on community and historical organizations, as well as colleges and universities. Special features involve asking visitors to donate to any charity. Enterprise package involves priority reviews. PI team reviews new and updated tours to ensure they meet quality guidelines. Your tours will go to the top of the review queue and be reviewed before free package tours.

3. Voicemap

Voicemap is solely an audio tour app. It automatically estimates speaking recording times and word counts has support from VM editors with comments, tracked changes and email notifications. Includes text directions as a fallback to make sure listeners don’t get lost. Available in 12 languages.

MyTours includes the same basics as all the other tour guide apps on our list. Multimedia, GPS locations, visitor analytics. Apps work with accessibility options on most devices for the visually- and hearing-impaired. The focus is on building an experience as a self-guided tour app and then publishing it on Apple or Google Play stores. Features 18 different languages.

5. Geotourist

Geotourist lets you build your own journeys and inspire travelers to follow in your footsteps. Audio will trigger as they walk along your dawn path. Tours are available in 40 languages. Specialty is a simple interface aimed at creating a tour guide app in smartphones without detailed settings.

Create games, self-guided and audio tours, team building events and educational content that captures peoples' attention.

6. Locatify

Locatify puts heavy emphasis on indoor positioning. This feature is also present in other walking tour apps in this list, but this platform includes Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, which makes it stand out among others.

Anytour is a self-guided audio tour app for smartphones in 30 cities. The app offers up-to-date audio-guided walks around cities all over the world. The tours are researched, written, and read by locals and travel writers. To create and promote your tours you need to sign up.

Scavify is a scavenger hunt platform that also lets build an experience at destinations that are interactive and impactful for visitors. Incorporates rewards to send visitors to revenue-generating places such as dining, gift shops, and reward visits. Includes linkable banner ads.

Navicup is a new solution for building tours. It allows automatic translation of texts and there is a quality check process before you can publish your tours. Their team will review if the content is ready for public use.

10. Your Audio Tour

Your Audio Tour is the only tour guide app on the list which is focused on audio guides only. It is a simple and straightforward audio guide app solution which has a few advanced features – for example, the text to speech option with a choice of 9+ different voices.

11. GPSmyCity

GPSmyCity is a platform that connects tourists with knowledgeable local guides through self-guided city walks and GPS-powered travel articles. This tour guide app introduces local attractions, malls, restaurants, places of culture, and nightlife. It is all covered with insider knowledge only the locals are privileged to have. The city tour app also has a feature that allows users to create their own walks.

No matter if you are building tours aiming to serve international tourism travelers or delight domestic tourists, a tour guide app can speed up or even automate the sales of tour tickets, engage visitors with easy to edit content, and ease the worries of the workforce.

We hope this article will help you will find a suitable tour guide app to build your awesome products on and, through that, a successful travel season.

*This article is written by the information available on the selected apps websites and reflects only the experience of the author.

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Keyboard_arrow_down, explore the places you travel and want to travel., free gps self-guided audio tours - for travelers and virtual travelers, build tours to reach new audiences, interested in building a tour of your location our team is here to answer your questions.

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Every Place Has A Story To Tell. Expand Your Audiences Even During COVID-19 - TravelStorys high quality tours can be built and enjoyed onsite and remotely, especially designed to enjoy from anywhere.

Find A Tour Near You. Drive, walk, bike or paddle along a tour route at your own pace. Stories about where you are — the history, wildlife, culture, and more — will automatically play as you go.

Hands-Free. Heads Up. Start a tour and let our technology do the rest. Less like an app and more like a private tour guide, TravelStorys works offline and inside a pocket. Download a tour, hit the play button, and focus on your surroundings instead of your device.

Featured tours, check out our newest tours, piermont on the hudson, the history, the river, the village, welcome to arco, idaho, first in the world, explore kirksville, a historic downtown & more.

Explore the early beginnings of the vibrant village of Piermont. Learn about its connection to the Hudson River, its role in the American Revolution, its industrial past and its commercial significance to the country.

Welcome to Arco, Idaho! Arco is a place of transition, where the desert plain meets the mountains, blue streams disappear into black lava, and the urban of Idaho gives way to the wilds of Idaho.

Welcome to this walking tour of Kirksville, Missouri! This tour will take you to Kirksville’s most fascinating and historically significant landmarks, while sharing the stories of the people who made this such an interesting city.

What Users Are Saying

“Awesome App - A must have app for anyone who enjoys learning more about the area they are in. While being entertained by great stories and information. Great job!!!”

“Great idea! - What an innovative idea! So enjoyed my first tour (of Red Mountain Park) by using your app. I look forward to using it at other attractions in the future and have high hopes that all cities will offer this first class format to help enhance the experience of traveling.”

"We used this app in Jackson,WY and through Teton National Park. As we drove through Teton NP, we listened to the historical story of the area. It gave us so much more understanding of the area and added so much to our drive. It’s really easy to use and added so much to our trip. Would gladly use it again."

“Awesome app - This app is great when traveling around Wyoming. The stories told make you appreciate what you are driving or walking through! A must have whether you are a local interested in the history and wildlife or a tourist on the go!”

- Travelstorysgps lover!

“Excellent app! - I love this app! We used it on a recent trip through Grand Teton Park and it provided us with a depth and breadth of information (regarding the park) to which we would not otherwise have access! I look forward to seeing what other tours will be added. Great work!”

- IloveWyomingandtheTetons

“Fantastic road tripping tool! - My family used TravelStorys to plan our trip to Jackson Hole and this app was indispensable! We listened to several of their tours through the Tetons and absolutely loved it. The app spoke to us while driving, so we didn’t have to look at the phone once!”

“Great app for traveling families - When you approach a destination, the app will automatically start, you don’t need to do anything but listen. If you don’t want the audio, you can read the text. There are also great photos for each section. The stories are quirky and fun and both kids and adults will find them interesting.”

- onealmond.com

“Great app with great potential - I can’t wait until there are even more stories! Great idea.”

“Great App. A must have for self guided, easy to use interface!”

“What fun - Turns a normal drive into a fascinating history lesson”

“Fun tour app! - Learned so much without hassle!”

“Sooooo cool!! This is the best app I've ever used. If your traveling to new places use this app to learn the history! Couldn't live without it!”

- Ray Kennedy

“Eye opener My family and I have traveled to Wyoming many times but we always seemed to visit the same old places again and again. However this app allows me to check out new places I've never even considered before. I guess there is a lot more to the state than Yellowstone. Can't wait to plan new adventures.”

“Indispensable! Used this app to plan and then tour the Tetons and surrounding areas. Our whole family was entertained and we learned so much! And it's free. Thank you TravelStorys.”

“I like it, great idea! Music and Radio only lasts so long on road trips. This app is awesome because it tells you stories about what you are driving by, and gives you cool info about the area. Great idea!”

- William Davis

“Loved this! My sisters, mom, and 7-year-old niece used this app as we visited the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. It was wonderful! It really helped us feel a connection to the mountains and places we toured. I want this for everywhere I go now!”

- R. Tynker

“Love it, learn the history of where your traveling too via this awesome storytelling app. Love the vocals for the great Smoky Mountains! Grateful!”

- JillianPress

“Great! Local travel info & stories. I love this app. I learned a lot about the Jackson, Wyoming area & Grant Teton Nat’l Park. I have already recommended it to folk who connect with my own local Jackson based business, xcDogs. Everyone I speak to about it loves the idea…”

“Excellent adventure stories for the Grand Tetons”

- Rick Aune

"For new visitors paddling on a sunny day, the new TravelStorys app is an opportunity to understand the ecological and culture significance of the area. At home or in the classroom, the voice narration coupled with photos can entice and enhance the experience before a canoe even launches."

- NewJersey.com

"Great app for visitors & locals - This app rocks. Learned so much about Jackson Hole and the surrounding areas just by having my phone on me. Anyone who is adventuring in the wild Wild West should consider having this app on their phone. You’ll be surprised with how much you can learn on your trip!"

- Austin Hopkins

Neat app! Great for a frequent traveler or history buff! Very interesting stories about pikes peak! Can't wait for the Garden of the gods tour!

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Location-based audio tours

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Guiding you to all the best things to see and do, with trip planners and suggested half, full and multi day itineraries.

Explore Freely

Freedom to travel at your own pace. Spending more time at places that interest you and bypassing those that don’t.

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All commentary autoplays as you drive, based on your GPS location and direction.

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Pre-download content for offline use. Tours use GPS to trigger audio, no signal or data needed.

Explore tours by region

Including yellowstone, utah, and more.

Browse all audio tours >

Including the Great Smoky Mountains

Including maui and the road to hana, including banff, jasper, and lake louise, including the great ocean road, 43 destinations, browse tours by local destination.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK TOUR

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KEWEENAW COPPER COUNTRY TRAIL TOUR

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OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK TOUR

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Frequently asked questions

How does it work without cell signal.

Our app uses GPS co-ordinates to determine your location and play commentary, not cellular or wifi signal.

Just pre-download both the app and tour content (audio, maps and images) to your phone, well before you leave signal, so you’ll have everything ready to tour offline.

And as there’s no time limit to use the tours, you can preview the tour routes, major highlights, itineraries and other travel tips as part of your trip planning.

How do I buy tours?

BUY DIRECT & SAVE:

• From our webstore, sign in to unlock tours to your existing Apple or Google Play store profile.
• Buy tours or bundles directly from GuideAlong and enter your payment method on our secure Stripe site.
• Download the GuideAlong app from the link within your receipt. Sign in using the same Apple or Google Play store ID.
• Open the Guidealong app and view your tour collection in the My Tours tab. Browse route maps, highlights, trip planners and other travel tips.

BUY IN-APP FROM APPLE OR GOOGLE PLAY STORE ACCOUNT:

• Download the free GuideAlong app from the Apple or Google Play store and sign-in using your Apple or Google Play store ID.
• Tap the Explore menu to view (unpurchased) tours and bundles. 
• Tap to BUY tours or bundles. Apple or Google Play manage transactions and payment methods.

Can it help me plan my trip?

Condensed Trip Planners are available in app with full versions available on our website for download.

Contents include

How to Get Here Getting Around Entrance Fees Where to Stay When to Visit How Much Time Do You Need How to Avoid the Crowds Things to See and Do Best Hikes Family Fun Adventure Awesome Experiences Best Sunset and Sunrise Spots Food You Have to Try Packing List Top Travel Tips

What languages do you offer?

Only English at this time, but keep watching …

Can I gift a tour?

Aren’t you nice! Yes, you sure can, just head over to our store and toggle on “send tours as a gift” option. 

Is there a time or date limit?

Tours are a one-time purchase with no date/time limit or expiry.  That’s right, no need to worry about using it within a certain timeframe.

And guess what? We’re always improving and updating our tours, so you can keep enjoying them. That’s just one of the ways we show our appreciation for your support.

How much does it cost?

Each tour is priced individually and listed on the tour page.

Tours and bundles are one time purchase, with no time/date limits or expiry and include free updates. There’s no monthly subscriptions.

Make sure to check out the bundles to save even more!

Do I have to follow a set itinerary?

Our tours are designed to be flexible, so you can divide the commentary and customize into your own half, full or multi sightseeing day trips.

What devices will it work on?

All mobile devices that include a GPS chip and meet the minimum operating system requirements.

Apple iPad wifi models and Kindle Fire do not include a GPS chip and are prevented from downloading as they will not determine location in remote areas.

Will it work alongside music and navigational apps?

Our app works in background mode, allowing you to listen to your own road trip playlists.

Commentary will automatically pause or lower the volume of your music at triggered audio points.

Navigation is included as part of the narration, providing advanced notice on critical intersections, recommended side trips, as well as the best scenic viewpoints, along the tour routes.

If you do use another navigational app at the same time, (say to direct you to a specific restaurant or hotel) be aware they may direct you off our touring route.

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Features to replace all your other tools

Add places from guides with 1 click, collaborate with friends in real time, import flight and hotel reservations, expense tracking and splitting, checklists for anything, get personalized suggestions, plan like a pro.

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For every kind of trip and every destination, the best road trip planner, the best vacation planner, the best group itinerary planner.

The best virtual tours to explore the world from home

Oct 8, 2020 • 5 min read

The Sistine Chapel is just one wonder offering a virtual museum tour ©Rajesh Gathwala/500px

We live in an age of unprecedented access to digital technology – and with it, brand new ways of exploring the world around us.

While it's not quite the same as seeing, say, the Mona Lisa or Christ the Redeemer in person, some of the world’s most popular and remote destinations have created libraries of online images and video, as well as 360 degree virtual tours that let you virtually explore museums, galleries, world wonders and even national parks.

Here a just a few of the best digital tours that let you wander the world from wherever you may be social distancing.

See the seven wonders of the world

If there’s anything capable of whetting your appetite for world travel, it is the new seven wonders of the world:  the Great Wall of China , the ancient city of Petra , the Taj Mahal , the Colosseum , Machu Picchu , Christ the Redeemer , and Chichen Itza . Thankfully there are impressive virtual tours of each from The New York Times , AirPano , Google , and Panoramas .

With modern technology, you can even see the last standing wonder of the ancient world— The Pyramids of Giza . There are a few other wonders that might not make it into to the top seven but are still worth a digital peek, like the Alhambra , Seville's La Giralda , and even Easter Island.

Best virtual museum tours

In recent years, Google has partnered with over 2,5000 art museums to upload high-resolution versions of millions of pieces of art. Highlights include New York’s MoMA , DC’s National Gallery of Art , Chicago’s Art Institute , the Casa Battl ó, and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum to name a few.

In addition, The Louvre offers a virtual tour , as do The Vatican Museums , many of the Smithsonian Museums , the Russian Museum , the top-rated British Museum , the Minneapolis  Museum of Russian Art , and the Palace Museum in Beijing.

You may not be able to kiss the Blarney Stone right now, but you can tour the Blarney Castle from afar. You can also visit the Museum of Flight,  the Museum of Science, the Museum of Natural History,  the National Women's History Museum  and Boston's History of Science Museum .

While museums are often an inherently visual experience, there's a lot to be learned from archives of past lectures and tours like the ones preserved online by Nashville's Frist Museum , the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Smithsonian American Art Museum,  the Frick , and others.

You might also like:  Broadway might be closed, but here’s how to stream the best performances from your home

Explore national parks

While travel to National Parks is best avoided for the time being, you don't need to miss out on the scenery. Virtual Yosemite is absolutely stunning and one of the best, replete with audio. Both Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours as well. 

Google has similar 360 degree audio-visual tours of five select national parks, including Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos , Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon , and Dry Tortugas, as well as 31 more on Google Earth . You can also get an up-close look at almost 4,000 pieces of artwork, artifacts, and other treasures related to the history and culture of the national parks, and view online exhibits .

Digital safaris

Wildlife is a big draw for travelers, whether it's sighting some of the Big Five in Africa, glimpsing whales in North America, or introducing your children to new animals in person on a family safari . But if you're forays into the bush are grounded for now, many zoos and aquariums have created digital access to their habitats.

You can easily watch several live webcams of some of the nation’s greatest zoos and aquariums, including the  San Diego Zoo , Houston Zoo , Zoo Atlanta , the Tennessee Aquarium , and the Georgia Aquarium . Additionally you can see Canadian farm animals doing their thing , or you could watch Stella the Dog jump endlessly into huge piles of Maine leaves.

You may also like:  These nine wildlife web cams offer access to your favorite animals

Virtual hiking

Thanks to panoramic video, you can get a really good idea of what a hike looks like well before you arrive at the trailhead. For example, you can experience all of the following top-rated hikes right now from your computer or tablet:  Bryce Canyon , Grand Canyon , GR20 , Inca Trail , and the death-defying Angel's Landing . For even more great hikes, simply YouTube one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 treks or any other hike that suits your fancy. Bonus points if you follow along during a workout to enhance the realism.

Famous landmarks

You can visit many wonders of nature, including the Amazon Rainforest , Iguazu Falls , the Komodo Islands , or Table Mountain , using virtual tours. Or you can explore the Statue of Liberty , the Sahara Desert , Niagara Falls , or even a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower . For even more virtual tours, search your bucket list of adventures with  AirPano , Google Earth , or YouTube .

Travel to outer space

The moon hasn't made it to Lonely Planet's Best In Travel list (yet!), and even without self-isolation and shelter-in-place measures for COVID-19, many of us may never travel to space. But thanks to technology, now is as good of a time as any to do so virtually. Before blasting off, considering touring some of NASA’s offices first. Then relive the last lunar missions and moon walks in stunning HD. Or take a virtual tour of Mars with the help of Google. 

You might also like:

Listen to the sounds of forests around the world Cook your way around the world with these travel-inspired kitchen essentials Rome watchlist: films to see before your trip

The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is now a global pandemic. Find out what this  means for travelers . 

This article was originally published March 2020 and was last updated October 2020.

This article was first published March 2020 and updated October 2020

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Best Apps for Running a Tour Guide Business in 2021

October 8, 2021

Running a tour guide business means creating experience, managing listings, balancing your schedule and keeping track of transactions. We’ve polled readers to find the apps that can help you do all of those things. Here are the results.

As a tour guide, you put a substantial amount of thought and effort into crafting memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for your guests. Whether it’s a bike tour through your city’s historical district or an idyllic jaunt in the countryside, your business thrives when you’re able to focus on the experience instead of the logistics.

With travelers almost exclusively using apps to book transportation and accommodation, tour guides and other experience providers are in a position to take advantage of this new travel landscape. The problem is, there are a ton of apps to choose from.

We turned to our readers to answer the question: Which apps are absolutely essential for tour guides? In this guide, we cover the best of the best—apps that will help you attract more guests, create better listings and manage the back-end of your business.

And if you lean strongly toward one of these apps, be sure to vote for your favorite at the end!

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Best overall: Rezdy

Rezdy is an experience booking platform that lets you manage your calendar, inventory, sales transactions, and guest information all in one place. It automatically syncs with apps like Google calendar and features integrated booking widgets you can embed on your website. If you don’t have a website yet, Rezdy features a one-click custom website option so you can get your tour guide business up and running with ease.

• The software is easy to set up and simple to navigate
• A simple and straightforward booking process
• Great for managing staff and resources
• Access to the Rezdy marketplace allows you to offer even more experiences
• Lacks multi-language support for some features
• Key features such as liability waivers are locked behind upgrades
• Pricy subscription rates plus booking fees can be prohibitive to some users

Price: Starts at $49/mo plus a 2% online booking fee.

App Store Rating: N/A

Best listing platform (North America): Viator

Viator is a tour booking app owned by travel giant TripAdvisor. You can create a listing and start booking experiences in a matter of minutes. Tapping into the Tripadvisor ecosystem (including over 3,500 partners) means Viator is a great way to increase visibility and grow your brand. If you’re just getting started in the tours and experiences business, it’s a great starting place.

• Access to Tripadvisor’s massive audience of over 400 million visitors
• Includes a free Tripadvisor listing
• An easy-to-use management center lets you build your listings with photos, pricing information, and availability
• Get paid either weekly with PayPal or monthly via direct deposit
• You must compete with millions of other tourguides
• May not be viable if you don’t live in a major city
• Viator’s 20% commission fee can be prohibitive

Price: $29 per listing plus 20% commission

App Store Rating: 3.9

Best listing platform (Europe): Get Your Guide

• Get Your Guide

Get Your Guide is similar in many ways to Viator. As a tour guide, you’ll sign up as a supplier and create a listing on Get Your Guide’s platform. Get Your Guide has a smaller audience than Viator, which could be viewed as an advantage or a drawback. You won’t be able to get your listings in front of as many people, but you’ll also be dealing with far less competition. Finally, where Viator is more positioned toward North America, Get Your Guide is great for the European market.

• Get Your Guide helps you with the listing optimization process
• Commission fees are built into the displayed experience price
• Very easy to sign up and make your listing go live
• Negotiate your own commission rates
• Less visibility and reach than Viator
• Cancellation policy favors the guest over the tour guide
• No listing review fees

Price: Free plus commissions

App Store Rating: 4.2

Best for local experiences: Airbnb

The monumental app that allows anyone to transform their living spaces into bookable accommodations has expanded into the world of curated experiences. Where traditional tour companies offer visitors guided versions of the tours they’d see in guidebooks, Airbnb’s experiences allow people to experience more down-to-earth, “live like a local” activities.

• Allows you to show off your city or home region in a unique way
• Access to Airbnb’s huge customer base
• Great for tour guides who don’t live in a major city (as long as there are plenty of Airbnb accommodation listings nearby)
• Impressive dashboard feature lets you keep tabs on your business and optimize your listing
• Get paid within 24 hours
• Not suitable for hosts offering “traditional” tours
• Not compatible with outside booking software

Price: Free listings, 20% commissions

App Store Rating: 4.8

Best booking platform: Checkfront

Checkfront is an experience booking platform that lets you manage your calendar, take reservations, and process payments in real-time. It includes website plugins that allow guests to book reservations 24/7. It’s centralized dashboard means you don’t have to fuss around with complicated spreadsheets to keep track of your tour business.

• Includes a 21-day free trial
• Easy to set up and use
• Can be adapted to multiple types of experiences
• Responsive customer support team
• High monthly subscription cost might be too much for new businesses
• Mobile app features like the daily manifest could use some updating
• Lacks some customization options

Pricing: Starts at $42/mo (billed annually)

App Store Rating: 2.6

Protect your guests and your business

You may be an expert at planning the perfect tour or experience, but there are always variables you can’t control, especially if you’re taking a group of people out into nature. Accidents happen. If the weather turns sour and one or more of your guests are injured or damage their belongings under your watch, you could be held liable.

With Tour Guide Insurance , you and your guests will have peace of mind knowing they’ll be covered in case something goes wrong. With monthly, daily or even hourly coverage, Thimble can provide you with the right insurance policy no matter what stage of business you’re in.

It’s your turn

Our readers have chosen Rezdy as their number one app for tour guides, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t open to second opinions. Which app is your personal favorite?

What’s your favorite app?

Written on October 8, 2021

Our editorial content is intended for informational purposes only and is not written by a licensed insurance agent. Terms and conditions for rate and coverage may vary by class of business and state.

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GuideAlong | GPS Audio Tours 4+

Hawaii & us road trip travel, gps tour guide.

• 4.9 • 9.4K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Enjoy road trips filled with entertaining stories, helpful local advice, and navigation, all narrated by your favorite guide. Autoplays based on location and direction. Upgrade your road trip adventures with our location-based audio tours. It’s just like having a tour guide in your car™. HOW IT WORKS We’ll guide you to the all the best things to see and do, and suggest side-trips and local tips, so you don’t miss a thing. Listen to fun and informative stories about the history, geology, hikes, animals, local peoples and highlights along the routes. Commentary plays automatically as you drive, based on your location and direction. You have the freedom to travel at your own pace. Tour offline with GPS. No need for cell service or WiFi signal while touring. Everything is downloaded to your device for easy, offline use. Visit our website www.GuideAlong.com to see a complete list of tour route maps, sample commentary, more travel tips & suggested itineraries. KEY FEATURES - Autoplays as you drive, based on your location and direction - Works offline with GPS, no cellular service, WiFi signal or data required while touring - Play your own music in background - Listen to commentary before and after you travel Trip Planning Suggested Itineraries Highlights Travel Tips TOURS (we keep adding more tours!) Bundles of tour available and offer great value US HAWAII Maui including Road to Hana Oahu Kauai Big Island, Hawaii Acadia National Park Arches and Canyonlands National Parks Beartooth Highway Big Sur PCH Hwy1 Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park Blue Ridge Parkway Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park Capitol Reef National Park Catskills Scenic Byway Death Valley Glacier National Park including Many Glacier Grand Canyon National Park South Rim Great Smoky Mountains National Park Joshua Tree National Park Kancamagus Scenic Byway Keweenaw - Copper Country Kings Canyon National Park Lake Tahoe Lake Superior North Shore Hwy 61 Las Vegas - Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam & Red Rock Canyon Mesa Verde National Park Miami, Key West & The Florida Keys Michigan Lakeshore M22 & Sleeping Bear Dunes Olympic National Park Oregon Coast Outer Banks Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Sedona Sequoia National Park Vermont Scenic Byway 100 Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Yosemite National Park Zion & Bryce Canyon National Park CANADA Canadian Rockies National Parks Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake & Yoho National Park Icefields Parkway Jasper   Drumheller Waterton National Park and Alberta Southwest Vancouver Whistler Niagara Falls AUSTRALIA Great Ocean Road PRICING Each tour is a one time purchase. No time limits. Use as many times as you like. No monthly subscription. REVIEWS “PERFECT! We would have missed or skipped SO much! DON’T HESITATE and make the purchase ASAP!!” “Personal Tour - Worth more than every $” “This app was amazing for us. We saw so much more than we would have without it.” “Great Value I was leery about purchasing the app. Boy was I wrong.” NOTES Using location service GPS increases battery usage - we highly recommend taking DC car charger versus simply plugging into the vehicle’s USB port

Version 2.3.0

NEW TOURS: Death Valley, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Needles District to Arches and Canyonlands Tour.   Added push notifications to receive alerts for new tour releases. There's a lot of new tours being launched Spring 2024 so opt-in!

Ratings and Reviews

9.4K Ratings

Arches & Canyonland NP

We recently took along the Gypsy audio trip thru both of these parks. We downloaded prior to our visit. There was no cell service or internet at the park. The narrator was always with us. A map was included to follow along, but we chose only to listen to the narrator. We just activated the audio as we came close to the park. The narrator started to tell us about the park, the history and made suggestions for photo op’s. The narrator told us when the pull off’s were coming up and what to expect. This audio trip made our adventure much more exciting. We didn’t miss a thing at the parks. If we chose not to stop, the narrator just knew and continued on the trip. I can’t say enough about these trips. We have used them before in Glasier and Yellowstone. We are presently working on Bryce and Zion. Most of all, my husband found the narrator quite amusing, not annoying. After all, he is with you quite awhile along the trip. We made sure our iPad was being charged as we drove and left it on all day. The narrator would come on and off as we approached areas of interest. We definately recommend and will continue to use when we travel to other areas. Just downloaded Grand Canyon. Gypsy, keep up the good work. Well appreciated.

Hana in Hawaii

First I want to say that we started out early in the morning hoping to beat the crowd. Although we thought most of the tour guidance on the app was good, all of the “have to” locations that the app suggested were completely full when we approached them. We later found that there were some other obtainable waterfalls that we not crowded that were not mentioned. So we ended up driving for hours and only stopped at 2 tourist stands to get banana bread and a treat. Ugggg, it was a really long day of just driving. I wish we had had a “heads up” that all the sights would be full and we would have cut our trip short. Also learning on the app the day of the trip that we needed tickets to the park 24 hours ahead of time was not helpful information. Last but not least, the history of the rulers was repetitive and was not what we wanted to listen to the whole way down the mountain. We thought the guide was giving directions to get down but instead gave an account of the rulers. Although I think this app is a great idea and had some great info going up, it missed some opportunities to see some sites that our guide book had mentioned. On the morning of we chose to forgo the guidebook info and solely use this app. We would use the guidebook next time. As I shared before, without opportunities to park and explore because of the crowdedness, we ended up with a very long day of driving.

You need this app!

We just got back from Maui and if you don’t get this app and keep it open while driving around you’re missing out on a huge part of your trip. First off, the narrator’s voice is so pleasant and soothing that anything he says sounds great. You look forward to him just talking about anything just to keep listening to him talk. The points of interest and tips for parking or other things were fabulous. It is so accurate you’d think he was in the car with you. He says look for a sign and you then see it. The stories of the history of Hawaii were great. I’ve been to Hawaii 6 times but now I have a really good idea of the history from the whaling days to now. How it became a state was also eye opening. Really interesting and easy to listen to and hearing it while driving was great. Road to Hana guided audio us a must. You can’t do it by following a book, sorry Maui Revealed, and I had that with me too. Best money you’ll spend on a driving audio guide. No joke. Just leave app open as you drive around audio will chime in every now and then. It changes a boring drive to a really amazing tour. I’m sure all the drives are great. We did Maui and it was amazing. Enjoy.

Developer Response ,

Mahalo. There are so many great stories that tempt you to learn more about Hawaii - and keep coming back!

NOW AVAILABLE

In-app purchases, app privacy.

The developer, GPS Tour Guide , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• User Content
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Yellowstone and Grand Teton $19.99
• Road to Hana - Maui $14.99
• Maui - including Road to Hana $19.99
• Going-to-the-Sun Road $11.99
• Kauai - Hawaii $14.99
• Big Island - Hawaii $16.99
• Yellowstone National Park $14.99
• Black Hills Rushmore Badlands $19.99
• Oahu - Hawaii $14.99
• Zion & Bryce Canyon $14.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Road to Hana Maui GyPSy Guide

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Best virtual tours that you can take without leaving home

Need to get out of the house and go on vacation, but finances, health, or other circumstances have you staying at home? Virtual tours are the next best thing. They allow you to travel to exotic locations, including space, without ever leaving home. Here are some of the best ways to take a staycation getaway using virtual tours.

Best virtual tour app for Android

Best virtual tour app for iphone, best virtual tours online, best virtual space tours, best virtual tours of us national parks, best way to take a random tour, best global virtual tour, best zoo virtual tours, best aquarium virtual tours, best fine art virtual tours, best history museum virtual tours, best virtual nature walks.

The Seven Wonders app allows you to travel to the seven wonders of the world from your phone. The app supports the use of Google Cardboard but you don’t have to use it. You can just hold your phone up to your face — as you move the phone, you’ll see a 360-degree view of whatever location you’re visiting.

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With the Sites in VR app, you can take tours around the world using a virtual reality headset or just your phone or iPad. You can choose from cities or countries to visit, or you can go inside famous landmarks, like the pyramids. There are even space panoramas for a little out-of-this-world entertainment.

AirPano is a free site that allows you to wander beautiful locations all over the world. The best features of these virtual tours are choosing to take a helicopter view over the landscape or a walking trail through the area. The site also has articles about the location you are visiting and allows visitors to leave comments. If you really like a tour, you can choose to buy it as a download.

Sometimes you just want to leave this planet behind. That’s where virtual space tours come in handy. The Exoplanet Travel Bureau , powered by NASA, is here for you. You can choose an exoplanet and travel around its alien surface. Of course, the planets are artist renderings, since we haven’t actually traveled there yet, but they’re fascinating just the same. NASA at Home has many more space-themed virtual and augmented reality tours, too.

The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks is a Google project that lets you explore five different U.S. parks, including Florida’s Dry Tortugas, Hawaiian volcanoes, the Kenai Fjords in Alaska, New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns, and Utah’s Bryce Canyon. Each tour starts with a little history lesson about the area, and then you can dive into the 360-degree landscape. There are also audio tour guides that help you along your journey, explaining what you’re looking at and a little of its history.

Sometimes you don’t know where you want to go, and that’s OK. The Random Street View generator (powered by Google Maps ) is the answer. It will take you on a virtual stroll down a random street somewhere in the world. Be careful, though. Exploring random locations is a bit addicting. One minute you may be virtually walking down a highway in Michigan, and then with a click, you could be in an alleyway in Romania. The best part is that you get to see places that other virtual tour sites and apps don’t offer.

With Google Earth , you can go anywhere on our planet, from your hometown to the other side of the earth. You can use the website to take your journey, or use the app together with VR equipment to enhance your experience. Other than the awesome street views and ability to travel just about anywhere, you can also enhance Google Earth with your own videos and photos of places you have been in person.

If you’re an animal lover, there are many great virtual zoo exhibits that you can visit from your home. The San Diego Live Cams , for example, let you watch live footage of a wide range of animals, from baboons to penguins. Some other great animal cams can be found at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute , The Houston Zoo , and EarthCam .

There are plenty of ways to visit our fishy friends, too. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Georgia Aquarium, and The National Aquarium all have fantastic live webcams that allow you to watch sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, and much more.

When it comes to fine art, it’s hard to do better than a virtual tour of the Louvre . The website has a variety of tours you can take throughout the gallery, including The Galerie d’Apollon, Louvre’s Petite Galerie, and the east side of the Sully wing. When you’re finished at the Louvre, check out the virtual tours of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea , the Musée d’Orsay in Paris , and the Museu de Arte de São Paulo in Brazil .

There are also virtual tours that can take you back in time, sort of. You can see amazing exhibits of curiosities from the past, like dinosaurs, Egyptian relics, Stone Age tools, and more at The Natural History Museum in London ,  The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History , and The British Museum .

Longing for a walk in the woods or a tour through habitats that rarely see a human? No problem. There are plenty of virtual tours to satisfy you. Conservation International, for example, has a 360-degree tour through the Amazon that is narrated by an indigenous guide. Other virtual hikes you might enjoy include a trip through the redwoods at Muir Woods National Park , a stroll through the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, and a tour of New Zealand’s Great Walks .

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• Virtual Reality

As rival Apple is rumored to be eyeing an entrance into the metaverse, Microsoft, an early proponent of mixed and augmented reality applications, is criticized for its blurry vision behind the company's own HoloLens strategy. While HoloLens notched big early wins, including scoring a U.S. Department of Defense contract, subsequent delays, project cancellations, and high-profile executive departures may have resulted in the death of the HoloLens 3. Still, despite a scathing profile by Business Insider, it appears that Microsoft remains, at least publicly, committed to its HoloLens endeavors for now. The company has gone on record to refute the publication's reporting that HoloLens 3 has been killed.

There are a number of factors that may be causing Microsoft to pivot from its early bet on HoloLens, but the Microsoft profile cited internal divisions and the lack of a unified strategy among the top reasons for concern. As a result of the chaos, it appears that the largest collateral damage to Microsoft's infighting is the cancellation of its next-generation HoloLens 3 hardware.

Actronika, a startup company known for its HD haptics technology has a futuristic new product. Expected to be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2022 is Skinetic, a haptic vest that should make virtual reality experiences feel a lot more realistic.

Skinetic works much as you'd expect. The wearable vest makes VR feel more immersive by bringing life-like sensations and touch-like experiences to areas of the body like the chest when paired with a compatible headset. As reported by Business Wire, the technology "works with 20 patented vibrotactile voice-coil motors, capable of generating a wide range of vibrations that cover 100% of human vibrotactile perception."

It seems that virtual reality may be about to become even more real than ever before -- all thanks to a new VR headset. Pimax, a company that manufactures VR equipment, announced the upcoming release of a new 12K QLED VR headset that will feature technologies such as eye tracking, full-body tracking, and refresh rates of up to 200Hz. The headset, dubbed Pimax Reality 12K QLED, is part of the company's venture into the metaverse and a step toward bringing true realism to using VR.

During today's Pimax Frontier event, the company's representatives talked at length about the goals behind the product -- naturalness, self-awareness, and freedom. Pimax wants to bring these qualities into virtual reality and the metaverse, allowing people from all over the world to interact and explore virtual worlds together. While VR technology already allows for some of that to happen, Pimax wants to take it to the next level with its new invention -- the Reality 12K QLED VR headset.

18 Best Websites & Apps to Find Local Tour Guides

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If you are looking at this page you are probably looking for recommendations on where to find local tour guides . There are many websites and apps where you can book local tour guides and can sometimes be difficult to find. To save you some time, we have curated a list of websites in order to help you find the best local tour guides who will surely give you an enriching experience.

Websites to Find Local Tour Guides – Worldwide

For an even more convenient way to find local tour guides and compare their deals, check out TourScanner !

• Find local tour guides

Don’t hesitate to comment below if you wish to recommend other websites for local tour guides. Wishing you an excellent time and travel safe!! 🙂

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Our travel editors find the attractions you don't want to miss, including those designated AAA GEM (Great Experience for Members) attractions. Editors have even created sample 1-day itineraries to help you make the most of your trip.

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GetYourGuide: Travel & Tickets

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GetYourGuide Review [2024]: When to Use & When to Avoid It

* This article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you.

TL:DR: After using GetYourGuide, we recommend it if you’re looking for reliable walking tours, guided hikes, and cultural experiences. Here are a few key takeaways from our GetYourGuide review:

• It’s a legitimate and reliable site for easily booking tours worldwide from your computer or the mobile app.
• There is a huge variety of tours available in popular destinations, especially Europe. It can help you do everything from making macaroons in Paris, to snorkeling with sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean, or touring Alcatraz in San Francisco.
• Pricing is competitive but extra fees can sometimes apply—as with anything, read the entire tour description.
• Customer service provides flexibility with the 24 hour cancellation policy and assistance as needed.

Tours can make or break your vacation. I know it does for me. That’s why it’s essential to know if the guided tour you’re going on is good.

GetYourGuide is one of my go-to tour booking sites because of its easy booking process and reliability. 

GetYourGuide works with local guides to give you the best experience possible without taking advantage of the community you’re visiting. 

I’ve often used GetYourGuide in places like Europe and the United States. I did my travel planning quickly because of the many tours and activities available.

Read my GetYourGuide review and add another tool to your toolbox when planning the vacation of a lifetime.

Table of Contents

What is GetYourGuide? 

GetYourGuide is an online tour operator that organizes activities with local travel companies.

You can purchase everything from skip-the-line tickets to a private tour to guided hikes. 

GetYourGuide began when a handful of classmates started the website in 2009. They were determined to change the travel game forever. 

The idea originated from a trip that Johannes and Tao–two of the founders–took to Beijing. 

Johannes arrived a day early, and Tao wasn’t there to show him around. 

The two friends recognized a universal issue: Travelers arrive at new dream destinations but don’t know where to begin.

I like GetYourGuide because their website makes it easier for me to start planning a trip.

By searching through their database, I can find everything from unique tours to the top tours and activities worldwide. 

How Does GetYourGuide Work?

Search Desired Location

Most travelers use Get Your Guide to search for guides at their predetermined destination. 

In this case, it’s easy to type in the desired location at the top of the Get Your Guide web page. 

Several tours pop up after searching for the destination. 

Tours with the highest reviews rank highest. From here, I use the filter options that Get Your Guide offers.

If I can’t find a tour from the main search, I select filters like:

• For first-time visitors
• Landmarks & monuments
• Entry tickets
• Family-friendly activities
• Culture & History
• Guided tours
• Viewing points

I often find opportunities I hadn’t thought of, like sandboarding or kayaking through caves.

Choose Your Ideal Tour

Choosing the ideal tour can be difficult, especially with so many options. Keep in mind that the Best-Seller certificate indicates the highest quality tours.

Read the tour description thoroughly, as that’ll give you a clear understanding of what the tour offers. 

After finding the perfect tour, fill out the information like name, email, and credit card details.

I could pay for my tour with PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or a credit card. And there aren’t any hidden fees or booking fees when you book tickets on GetYourGuide.

Once the payment is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details for your tour. 

That’s it! Booking your own guided tour is that easy. 

Pro tip: Visit the promo code webpage and enter your email to receive a one-time GetYourGuide promo code. The code gives 10% off on some tours. 

Meet Your Tour Guide at the Specified Location

After purchasing my tour, I received an email stating the meeting point to join the tour company. 

Sometimes, the tour operators ask for the local address of your hotel, Airbnb, or hostel. 

When I visited Rainbow Mountain in Peru, we sent them our local address and photos of our passports. 

Some tour guides offer to pick you up, and others specify a meeting place (or multiple meeting points).

Booking tours through GetYourGuide is simple, but sometimes, the local agency is unclear about the meeting point. 

I suggest contacting the tour provider if you’re unsure about the meeting point. 

GetYourGuide Review: My Experience With Using GetYourGuide

Public and Private Tours

Most activities through GetYourGuide are public, but there are some private tours. 

I prefer booking a private tour when I know I want to be in a small group. 

For me, activities in nature–like guided hikes–are more peaceful in smaller groups. 

I use the filters to narrow my search to private tours by clicking See More Categories, then Private Tours.

Using the filters on the Get Your Guide website cuts my results in half, sometimes more. From there, it’s easier to find tickets.

Day Trips and Multi-day Trips

Most of the tours I find through Get Your Guide are day trips. Still, there are tons of shorter or longer experiences.

While researching Peru, I used the Duration filter to see 12 pages of cooking classes, sunset excursions, and viewpoint tickets.

The shorter guided experiences help enrich long days. While planning a day trip, I’ll check out the city tours and popular activities.

Get Your Guide also offers multi-day trips, like the Salkantay Trek in Peru. I wanted to do this hike, but it was a significant investment. 

While I’m sure that booking multi-day trips through Get Your Guide is fine, my travel companions and I still felt more comfortable booking extensive tours with local companies in town. 

Plus, I’ve learned that I can usually save money by booking locally because of the currency exchange. 

Self-Guided Tours 

GetYourGuide also offers self-guided tours that you can download onto your phone and listen to at any time.

These tours come in audio and visual form. I haven’t purchased any of the self-guided tours yet, but I’ve noticed a few things.

On the GetYourGuide website, I suggest searching for “audio tour [location name]” instead of “self-guided tour.” They’re listed as “Other Experience,” which meant I had to click on the tours to check that they were in fact, audio or visual tours.

I actually found it just as productive to Google phrases like “GetYourGuide audio tour Italy.”

It’s also inconvenient to download the tours since they aren’t all housed on the official GetYourGuide app. The tours are created by different agencies that have their own apps.

You’ll download the app ahead of time and then receive a link to access the tour. Most tours can be refunded as long as they’re “returned” ahead of time and not activated.

Despite being clunky, I did find a lot of unique tours. My favorites were the Paris History of Crime Tour and a complete package of US National Park tours .

Transportation through GetYourGuide

Not all travel booking sites offer transportation services. Get Your Guide works with local drivers to pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the airport. 

Airport shuttles are available with a one-way or round-trip ticket. 

I first started looking into transportation services through the GetYourGuide website because I’m planning a trip to Mendoza, Argentina.

Booking a ride this way is surprisingly convenient and cheap, even for budget travelers. 

Tickets to Attractions through GetYourGuide

Get Your Guide is the perfect platform to use for European sightseeing.

For example, Florence is one of the most popular places in the world to travel to and one of my favorite cities.

Florence is chock-full of sightseeing, and it’s easy to book tours through Get Your Guide.

Just like filtering for specific durations, I filter based on my interests.

The homepage of Get Your Guide has four main categories: Sports, Culture, Food, and Nature. 

You can manually select more specific activities by typing them into the search bar or choosing the “Filters” button once you decide on a travel destination.

I love these features because booking an architecture-focused day trip to Pisa one day and a walking tour of Siena the next was easy.

The advantage of touring with a local provider is that they know the ins and outs of their city. 

GetYourGuide App

I love booking tickets directly on the app when on a long bus ride or in the car. 

When I find tours and activities, I can save them to my wishlist. 

Then, I’ll book tours on the guide app or my computer once I return to my Airbnb .

I stay logged into my GetYourGuide account on the website and the app. This way, my wishlist is available on my phone and computer. 

Finding the same tour and tour operators on either device is a matter of clicks. 

Plus, anytime I have a travel-related conversation, it’s easy to open my phone and bring up some of my top bucket list activities. 

DOWNLOAD THE GETYOURGUIDE APP HERE:

Skip the Line Tickets

Sometimes, I’m not feeling a tour, but there’s still a sight I need to see. Skip-the-line tickets are the perfect way to see a popular attraction without waiting long. 

The line to see Michelangelo’s David is horrible, but buying my entrance ticket beforehand means more time to explore the city. . . and more time to enjoy wine in the evening.

Unfortunately, sometimes there’s a booking fee for these sorts of tickets.

But sometimes it’s worth the extra booking fees to receive the ticket before others. 

Price Guarantee

GetYourGuide offers a price guarantee , which ensures you won’t pay more on their official site than you would through other tour companies. 

One time, I booked a tour in Italy and found the same activity for cheaper elsewhere. I contacted Get Your Guide, and they paid the difference! 

Before you do this, make sure each tour includes the same things. It pays to compare prices!

Easy to Use

More than anything else, I love the easy interface of GetYourGuid’s website and app. They take what can be a confusing process and make it simple. 

GetYourGuide makes finding activities that everyone will enjoy simple, and I can buy tickets within seconds. 

Other travel booking sites don’t always make this process easy. I respect GetYourGuide for prioritizing that. 

Great Cancellation Policy

I may be jumping ahead here, but it must be said. GetYourGuide has a worry-free cancellation policy . 

I’ll go into more detail later, but the most crucial feature is free cancellation within 24 hours of the tours and activities. 

Large Selection of Tours in Popular Destinations

If GetYourGuide didn’t have a large selection of tours, we might not have had this conversation. 

But there are many different tours in places like North America, Europe, and Australia. 

It’s also nice knowing that local companies are getting paid, too, and it’s not bad for the local economy. 

Other travelers will agree that it’s fun daydreaming about travel by looking up tours with a local company. 

Very Few Tours in Some Parts of the World

It’s a bummer that GetYourGuide doesn’t have as many tours in South America and Central America.

I love the rugged travel style of these places, but sometimes I want to do a couple of tours before setting out on the less-trodden path.  

GetYourGuide offers tours to trendy places like Machu Picchu. It skips some of the less flashy destinations, like tours around a town or small hikes. 

One of my favorite Central American countries, Guatemala, has very few tours to choose from. I was there for two months and never opened the app. 

Not Many Nature Tours

Now, this is changing for the better, but I want more adventure activities to choose between. 

Sometimes, when I go to a new city, I want to see what the suburbs are like and what adventures await outside the city limits. 

Simple tours of little-known locations aren’t as popular because many tourists visit to see the big attractions. 

GetYourGuide Cancellation & Exchange Policy 

Things come up that we have no control over. That’s why booking tours with a good cancellation policy is essential. 

GetYourGuide offers free cancellation for their own tours and activities within 24 hours. 

An issue arose while traveling through Europe, so I canceled one of our GetYourGuide tours. I received a full refund, no questions asked! 

Be sure to read the fine print of every tour that you book. There could be different rules for each activity. 

The cancelation process itself is easy. You go to the Help Center and follow the instructions for Cancellation. The form asks for your booking reference and pin. 

There’s less risk when you buy tours that you can cancel so easily.

FAQs About GetYourGuide

Is GetYourGuide legit?

GetYourGuide is legit and a great way to find some of the best activities worldwide! 

Countries that don’t have many GetYourGuide options might seem less legit because of the lack of GetYourGuide reviews. I suggest finding activities with many good reviews. 

Who is GetYourGuide owned by?

Four former classmates in Switzerland started and own GetYourGuide. Those four are Tao Tao, Martin Sieber, Johannes Reck & Tobias Rein. 

Their goal was to create a platform where everyone could find the best activities worldwide, all in one place. Safe to say they achieved this. 

Is GetYourGuide the same as Viator?

GetYourGuide is the same concept as Viator , but two different groups of people own them. TripAdvisor , the popular online travel forum company, owns Viator. 

Which is better, Viator or GetYourGuide?

Viator and GetYourGuide are fantastic sites that help thousands of travelers find things to do in a specific destination. With that said, both of these are better for different areas.

Viator is better in the United States, while GetYourGuide has many activities in Canada/Europe. 

What does “Certified by GetYourGuide” mean?

Choosing an activity with the golden “Certified by GetYourGuide” on the page means it’s a proven quality activity. When I book a tour with this, I have no worries. 

If I have to choose between a tour with or without the golden certificate, I always choose the one with it.

The last thing I want to worry about on vacation is whether or not I booked a good tour.

Which countries should I use GetYourGuide in?

GetYourGuide is a good service for booking your tour in the most popular destinations worldwide. 

I’ve had good luck with GetYourGuide in Europe, Canada, Dubai, Australia, and even many countries in Southeast Asia! 

There are some spots you should keep your expectations low for.

Latin America is a part of the world that doesn’t have many activities available. Even so, I found quality activities with local guides in places like Cusco and Medellin. 

Conclusion: So, is GetYourGuide worth it?

I always use GetYourGuide when researching things to do in a new location. This site is valuable and worth your time. 

I think it’s the most reliable 3rd party tour site today. I love how they work with locals and aren’t trying to detract from the country’s economy. 

If you’re going to Europe this summer, check out the GetYourGuide hotel pickup and all the necessary information for the best day.

I wish Latin American countries had more GetYourGuide opportunities, but I know that time is coming. 

My experience with their guides, website, and customer service has been top-notch. Of course, though, just like every other company, you can find GetYourGuide complaints. 

Planning the perfect trip is hard. GetYourGuide has opportunities for all of my fellow travelers. From multi-day activities to workshops/classes, GetYourGuide has it all.

Whenever I start my research for my next vacation, I go to GetYourGuide–and I think you should, too!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phillip Anderson

Phillip Anderson is a freelance travel writer, personal trainer, and adventure enthusiast. With years of travel experience under his belt, Phillip is an expert in finding the best deals through travel apps and websites. He knows how to find cheap domestic and international flights, like a flight to Peru for as low as $350.

When looking for cheap accommodations, Phillip combines his knowledge of websites like Airbnb, Booking.com & Hostelworld with more unique sites like TrustedHousesitters, for even more savings. Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or local experiences, he teaches travelers to make informed decisions, ensuring their adventures are both memorable and economical. For more from Phillip, check out his website, JaywalkTheWorld.com.

Looking for more travel tips and recommendations? Check out these related articles below!

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Hi, I'm Mimi! I'm an outdoorsy Californian who has spent over 28 years immersed in the incredible natural beauty that California has to offer. My goal is to inspire others to get out and find their next adventure in California. Whether it’s escaping to an alpine lake in the Sierras, finding peace among the giant redwoods, or road tripping down the PCH, there’s always more to explore in this beautiful state.

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What are you looking for?

35 best travel apps [the definitive 2024 guide].

Traveling is one of the best things in the world, but the fact is that it can be difficult to plan a trip , especially when you’re on a budget or you’re just not sure where to start.

Luckily, there are plenty of fantastic apps out there that can help you with so many things! 

Whether you’re looking to …

• Organize a trip
• Find travel inspiration
• Book accommodation
• Or keep entertained on the go

There really are endless options when it comes to apps for travel. 

Some of them will allow you to benefit from in-app discounts, others will help you find the best tours in the area, and many of them are simply there for inspiration! 

Wherever you’re planning to travel, there are some applications out there that will help you along the way and make your life so much easier.

Although the majority of apps in this guide have a desktop version too, it’s often much handier to have the platform right at your fingertips! 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best travel apps (in our opinion at least …).

Travellerspoint

The best apps for organizing your trip

1. wanderlog.

Cost: Freemium: Free, Pro Monthly: $16.99 per month, Pro Annual: $49.99

Device: Android / iPhone

Review score: Google Play: 4.7/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: You can collaborate with friends and family if you’re traveling as a group 

Wanderlog is a travel itinerary and trip planner that allows you to create the trip of your dreams without hassle. 

You can create a fully mapped-out itinerary of your travels, take inspiration from free guides, and put a budget together for your trip. 

However, one of the best things about Wanderlog is that you can collaborate on a trip itinerary together. This makes traveling as a group super easy!

Wanderlog is undoubtedly one of the best travel planning apps out there, and has so much to offer.

The free version is incredible, but if you’re looking for enhanced features such as being able to use the service offline or exporting information to Google Maps, then you can pay a subscription fee. 

2. Get Your Guide

Review score: Google Play: 4.7/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: Get Your Guide has a very flexible free cancellation policy

We always use Get Your Guide when we travel as it’s one of the best ways to search for experiences and tours in your chosen destination. 

All you have to do is type in your city or place, and there will be a wide variety of activities available. This can include safaris, city tours, theme parks, and cruises, so there’s something for everyone! 

You can even purchase city passes like this New York City Pass which can save you up to 40% off attractions.

Booking activities and tours through Get Your Guide allows you to look at reviews, book attractions in advance, and compare prices!

They also have a very flexible cancellation policy, no booking fees, and mobile-friendly tickets so you won’t need to print anything out.

Best feature: 24/7 award-winning support so there’s always someone available to help you

Like Get Your Guide, Viator is one of the best travel apps out there for booking activities, experiences, and tours. It’s owned by Tripadvisor and has a fantastic reputation!

There are plenty of reasons to book your activities with Viator including their award-winning support, free cancellation, variety of payment options, and high-quality standards.

There are over 300,000 experiences available to book on their website and app, and this includes destinations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia among others! 

Just type in the place you’re visiting, and you’ll be shown a variety of activities ranging from helicopter tours to hiking. No matter what you’re interested in you’ll find something to your liking.

If you're still in the process of planning a trip and you're unsure of where to choose then check out our guide on the best places to travel to ! 

Cost: Standard: Free, TripIt Pro: $49 per year

Best feature: Being able to sync confirmation emails to your itinerary

TripIt is another highly-rated trip planner if you hadn’t guessed by the name, and it’s a fantastic app for putting together a detailed itinerary. 

The app allows you to sync flight and accommodation confirmations from your email, access the latest travel guidance, and add documents to your travel plans!

There’s a free version that does pretty much everything you need to or you can opt for TripIt Pro which is a paid service. This will allow you to access interactive maps, your flight status, and a fare tracker among other features.

Either way, this is a great travel app for organizing your trip as you can keep everything in one place!

5. Roadtrippers

Cost: Standard: Free, Road Trippers Plus: $29.99 per year

Review score: Google Play: 3.9/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Roadtrippers Plus allows you to add up to 150 stops on your itinerary

This is one of the best apps for travelers as you’ll get to put together the ultimate road trip itinerary! This includes sights and attractions, places to camp, and activities. 

With Roadtrippers , you can even add fuel and rest stops to your map/itinerary, as well as bars, restaurants, and shops! What more could you need? 

Not only is this app super easy to use, but you’ll have access to a wide range of articles and guides detailing interesting places to visit. 

Driving around the world is our favorite thing to do, and we’ve road-tripped endless countries including Norway , Ireland , Portugal , and Alaska . 

This nifty app makes it so easy to plan the perfect route, so make sure you give it a go! 

The best apps for accommodation

6. booking.com.

Review score: Google Play: 4.6/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: You’ll find plenty of in-app only deals

Booking.com is one of the best vacation rental sites out there and is a fantastic option if you’re looking for accommodation. 

Although there’s a desktop version, having this app at your fingertips will come in handy. In fact, you’ll be able to find plenty of in-app deals which are often cheaper!

We've also got an in-depth guide on how to get cheap hotel rooms if you're interested in further discounts...

If you’re still not convinced, then you can even find cheap flights, rental car deals, and taxis on the app. 

Not only that but you’ll have your booking information (or bookings) in one place, and having the app is a great way to show your hotel address to taxi drivers.

This is undoubtedly one of the best apps for travel so make sure you download it before your trip!

Review score: Google Play: 4.5/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: There are over 5.5 million listings to choose from!

Everyone has heard of Airbnb as it’s revolutionized the accommodation industry since it was founded in 2008. It’s one of the best free travel apps out there so we couldn’t leave it off this list. 

Boasting over 5.5 million accommodation listings worldwide, you’ll find tons of places to stay on this app. Many of the listings are self-contained holiday homes and apartments so you’ll have plenty of space. 

However, you’ll also find a variety of unique accommodation options on Airbnb including cabins, igloos, treehouses, and boats!

This app offers some of the most affordable accommodation options in the world and is a must-have if you’re traveling on a budget.

However, if you’ve got plenty of cash to splash don’t worry as there are lots of luxury stays available too! 

8. Hostelworld

Review score: Google Play: 4.8/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5 

Best feature: 24/7 customer service so there’s always someone there to help

Speaking of traveling on a budget, have you tried Hostelworld ?

Whether you’re looking to visit Rome , Thailand , or New Zealand, this fantastic travel app has over 36,000 budget-friendly listings in over 170 countries.

Offering both dorm beds and private rooms, this is the app you’ll want to download if you’re looking for a bargain. Many of the properties also feature plenty of awesome facilities. 

This ranges from an onsite restaurant to a rooftop area, and some of the hostels even offer free walking tours.

Not only does Hostelworld offer ‘ROAMIE’s which are awesome budget travel tours, but they’re also currently working on a ‘common room’ feature where you’ll be able to connect with other travelers!

Best feature: Kayak offers price alerts for accommodation to help you get the best deals! 

Next up on this list is Kayak which is a comparison platform that compares accommodation, car rentals, transport, and more. It's also a great platform for finding cheap flights.

It’s one of the best all-rounded travel apps, and it even lets you set up a price alert system. This means you’ll be notified when the price drops, and you can sometimes save up to 35% off hotels.

Showing results from over 2 million properties, boasting endless verified reviews, and featuring an easy-to-use layout, it’s no wonder that Kayak is such a big hit.

If you’re still not convinced to download this app from the app store, then they also have a rewards system where you can rack up points to redeem against hotel stays!

10. iOverlander

Review score: Google Play: 3.8/5, Apple Store: 3.5/5

Best feature: Offers an endless list of amenities and camping locations to help you with your road trip

There are plenty of fantastic travel apps out there if you’re looking for cheap hotel rooms, but what about if you’re road-tripping?

That’s where iOverlander comes in! 

iOverlander is a nonprofit project that’s run mostly by volunteers, and it’s one of the best apps for travelers if you’re driving a car or motorhome.

Featuring incredible wild camping locations, petrol stations, hostels/hotels, and mechanics in case you run into a snag, this fantastic app has so much to offer. 

This app also allows users to add locations and amenities, so there are always new places being added.

You’ve also got Park4Night which is one of the best travel apps for Europe road trips! 

If you're planning to convert a campervan and hit the road, then honestly we can't recommend this way of exploring enough. However, just keep in mind that van life isn't for everyone.

The best apps for transportation

11. skyscanner.

Review score: Google Play: 4.7/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: You can compare a variety of airlines, flight times, and prices 

Skyscanner is currently one of the best flight apps on the market as it’s a metasearch engine that searches high and low for the cheapest airline prices.

All you need to do is enter your departure airport, destination, and the date you want to fly. You can then filter out the results by the number of stops, duration, and airline.

Skyscanner also has a handy ‘everywhere’ option so you can just enter your departure airport, and find the cheapest flights on offer! 

If you're looking to travel cheaply , then I 100% recommend downloading this app as you'll benefit from some great flight prices.

The one thing to keep in mind is that you won’t be booking your flight directly through Skyscanner, instead, you’ll be taken to a third-party website. 

Always check that website on Trustpilot before booking your flight - we can’t stress this enough! 

There's no denying that Skyscanner is one of the best travel apps for flights so make sure you download it.

Review score: Google Play: 4.8/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: The app is very easy to use, and you just scan the QR code to unlock your e-scooter or e-bike.

Lime is a micro-mobility app that allows you to use e-scooters and e-bikes without having to rent them. You simply have to download the Lime app, and then use it to locate a ‘vehicle’.

All you have to do then is scan the QR code to unlock your e-scooter or e-bike and you’re good to go. Not only is it a great way to get around, but it’s more environmentally friendly too!

Lime is our favorite e-scooter app, although they’re all typically very similar. The exact app you download will depend on the country you’re in so make sure you do your research first. 

For example, Lime is available in certain areas of Australia, Canada , Europe , the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Best feature: Being able to see the price upfront and ETA

Uber has been given some stick over the years (and understandably so) but today, it’s one of the best ways to get around if you’re planning to use taxis.

It’s a ride-hailing service that allows you to book a taxi where you’ll get to see the price upfront, and the estimated time of arrival (ETA). 

For starters, this stops you from getting ripped off and you won’t need to haggle a price if there aren’t any meter-ran taxis in the area. You can even reserve a ride in advance which is always handy! 

There are plenty of other ride-hailing apps to choose from aside from Uber but it all depends on the location you’re planning to visit. Other options include Grab , Lyft , InDrive , and Bolt . 

14. Airline app

Device: Depends on the airline, but the majority of them operate on Android and iPhone

Review score: N/A

Best feature: Many of the airline apps allow you to check in, in advance 

One of our top travel tips is to have the airline app downloaded onto your phone for whoever you’re flying with. 

For example, I always have Ryannair downloaded on my phone as we fly with them a lot when we’re in Europe. If you fly with various airlines, then you can just download and delete airline apps as needed. 

There are plenty of reasons to download an airline app, but the main reason is that they’re more convenient for checking in. 

You no longer have to queue for hours at the airport desk, and you’ll have easy access to your boarding passes! Many of them offer you the chance to purchase add-ons too! 

Review score: Google Play 4.2/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: Busbud offers a rewards program so you can save money every time you use it

Busbud is one of the best tourist apps out there if you’re looking to book transport! Although its name may not suggest it, you can actually use it to book buses, trains, and hotels. 

This app is partnered with some of the world’s best transport providers including Flixbus , Greyhound , Amtrak , and National Express , so it’s a great option if you’re looking to compare prices.

All you have to do is type in your departure point, your destination, and the date of travel and you’ll be offered several options - some for as little as $3!

Other fantastic transport apps include Check My Bus and 12Go Asia with the latter being great for traveling through Southeast Asia.

The best apps for easy travel in your destination

16. google maps.

Review score: Google Play: 4.1/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: You can download offline maps that have your ‘points of interest’ on 

Google Maps is undeniably one of the best apps for traveling! Whether you’re looking to find local businesses, get driving directions, or explore the area, this app has it all. 

Offering maps of over 220 countries and territories, you’ll have no problems getting around your chosen destination with this app. Most of the amenities listed on these maps have reviews and images too! 

However, one of my favorite things about Google Maps is its ‘Your Places’ feature where you can create your own lists and maps! 

In these lists, you can create the ultimate itinerary by bookmarking popular tourist attractions and restaurants, before downloading your map. You can then use your map offline whilst you’re on the go. 

17. Maps.me

Review score: Google Play 4.1/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Maps.me offers a bookmark collection so you can create your ultimate trip!

Maps.me is very similar to Google Maps and covers six of the seven continents. So, why will you need this one you ask?

Well, Maps.me is very handy for countries that are a bit more rugged. The reason I say this is because these apps are mapped out by photography from cars. 

Unfortunately, there are some areas where Google Maps cars are yet to venture which is where this app comes in…

We actually needed this app quite a lot in Eastern Europe as we traveled through some more off-the-beaten-track locations. In fact, the road markings were much clearer here too! 

So what are you waiting for? Make sure you check out this travel app! 

18. Google Lens

Review score: Google Play: 4.6/5, no specific Google Lens app on the Apple Store

Best feature: Can translate documents for you such as menus and brochures

We’ve all been there, you’re in a foreign country and you’ve sat down at a restaurant. You get excited to try some local cuisine and then you take a look at the menu, and you’ve got no idea what it says…

Luckily, Google Lens is here to help!

All you have to do is take a picture of your intended document, and then the app will translate the text to your preferred language.  

How handy is that!?

It’s a game changer for menus in particular.

Google Lens can also find clothes online from a picture, solve problems, and help you identify a species of flower, I mean it can pretty much do everything! 

Just keep in mind that the only way to access this app on iPhone is to first download the Google app, and then you’ll have to use it through that. 

19. Google Translate

Review score: Google Play: 4.4/5, Apple Store: 4.3/5

Best feature: You’ll have the power of language right at your fingertips!

Google Translate is AMAZING and we’ve used it in nearly every country that we’ve traveled to. 

Many people choose to just google “translate [Language] to English” but it’s handy to have the app installed as it’s often much quicker!

You can translate over 100 different languages with this app, and it’s a great way to interact with the locals if they don’t understand your language. 

If you’re a keen traveler then you’re likely to need Google Translate plenty of times throughout your lifetime. Whether that be translating a road sign, speaking to your taxi driver, or haggling a deal! 

Google Translate is one of my top recommendations when it comes to travel apps as it’s helped us out a lot over the years!

20. Revolut

Review score: Google Play 4.5/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Allows you to save money on ATM withdrawals whilst abroad 

Using a traditional bank account can get expensive if you’re a long-term traveler or digital nomad , which is why many people apply for a card from Revolut .

This travel card offers fantastic exchange rates, helps you save money on transfer fees, and gives you an allowance of up to $240 for no-fee ATM withdrawals.

Revolut offers a free account and paid plans, with the latter allowing you access to a variety of awesome features including travel insurance, cashback options, and airport lounge access. 

We've actually written an in-depth Revolut review if you're interested in learning more...

Aside from Revolut, there are plenty of other banking apps that you can use including Monzo and Wise ! Before you decide which one to use, do some research and see which company is more suited to you. 

21. NHS App

Review score: Google Play: 3.1/5, Apple Store: 2.9/5

Best feature: You can easily access your health records 

The NHS App is UK-specific, but perhaps your country offers something similar so make sure you do a bit of research before your trip.

The great thing about this app is that it gives you access to the newest version of your health records, your vaccinations, and Covid passes (if they’re required). 

This is vital during today's climate, especially as the pandemic has altered the entry requirements for a variety of countries! 

You’ll also be able to access services online which is always handy, but of course, this will be limited if you’re abroad. 

If your country doesn’t have something similar, then make sure you download a general health app that can give you guidelines. An example of this is My Travel Health ! 

22. Priority Pass

Cost: Standard: $99, Standard Plus: $329, Prestige: $469

Review score: Google Play: 3.8/5, Apple Store: 4.6/5

Best feature: Offers you free (or discounted) access to 1,300+ airport lounges

Priority Pass is an airport lounge access program that requires you to have a membership. 

There are three options; Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige, and each one has an annual fee. 

However, once you’ve paid the fee you’ll get free (or discounted) access to airport lounges all around the world. This is perfect if you’re traveling a lot or you’re a digital nomad so you work on the go! 

We usually sign up around Black Friday for the cheapest rate, and then use the QR code on the app for access.

Although this may seem like more of a niche travel app, it’s a great one to have if you spend a lot of time traveling! 

The best apps for entertainment purposes 

23. spotify.

Cost: Spotify Free: free, Spotify Premium: $4.99-$15.99 per month

Review score: Google Play: 4.4/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: Allows you to download music and listen offline whilst you’re traveling 

Spotify is a digital music service that gives you access to over 50 million songs ranging from the likes of Queen to local artists that are a little less well-known!

You can download albums, make your own playlists, listen to other users’ playlists, or listen to songs that the app recommends based on your music style. Spotify also has plenty of podcasts that you can listen to!

Although Spotify is one of the most popular music apps, you’ve also got the likes of Amazon Music , YouTube Music , and Apple Music . 

Whichever one you go for, I’d recommend going for a plan that allows you to download songs for offline use! 

24. Audible

Cost: $9.50 per month 

Review score: Google Play: 4.6/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: Amazon Prime members get exclusive offers!

I love listening to audiobooks, especially on long drives as it’s a great way to zone out and learn something new. Either that or I listen to a fiction book which is something I don’t usually have the time to do! 

Audible is the best option for this as it offers unlimited listening time when it comes to podcasts, audiobooks, and audibles! 

Although you have to pay for the service it’s totally worth it in my opinion, as you’ll have access to thousands of options.

So if you’re looking for an app for your vacation then I highly recommend downloading this one! There’s even a free 30-day trial if you’d prefer to try it out first before you commit to it.

25. Netflix

Cost: Basic: $6, Standard: $13, Premium: $19 per month

Review score: Google Play: 4.4/5, Apple Store: 4/5

Best feature: Being able to download movies and watch them online!

Everyone is likely to know Netflix and although it’s not a travel app, it’s very handy whilst you’re on the go. 

It’s one of the best apps for trips, especially if you’re going to have long journeys and flights, or spend a lot of time at the airport. 

There are three plans to choose from, and each one offers unlimited access to thousands of films and tv programs. 

The highlight of Netflix is being able to download your favorite movies and tv shows, and then watch them later offline - just keep in mind that the basic plan doesn’t offer this. 

Disney Plus and Amazon Prime also offers you the chance to download offline movies if you’d prefer to go for something else! 

Cost: Kindle Unlimited: $9.50 per month

Best feature: You’ll have access to millions of books on the go

Kindle is undoubtedly one of the best apps for travelers, especially if you’re a keen reader. 

Unfortunately, when we travel we’re subject to strict luggage allowance which means you can’t take a ton of books with you on holiday. 

This is where a kindle comes in handy, as you can purchase books online and then read them digitally on your device. 

Although you can simply download books to read, you’ve also got Kindle Unlimited which is a subscription service. This service allows you access to select magazine subscriptions, millions of books, and thousands of audiobooks! 

There’s so much choice, and you won’t be short of books to read by the pool!

27. Surfshark

Cost: $2-$13 a month depending on whether you choose to pay monthly, yearly, or every 24 months 

Review score: Google Play: 4.2/5, Apple Store: 4.9/5

Best feature: Allows you to access websites and TV series that would otherwise be inaccessible abroad

Surfshark is the VPN of our choice, and a VPN essentially means ‘Virtual Private Network’. 

It technically works by encrypting communications so you’ll have an anonymous IP address. Not only does this help keep your connection secure, but it’s got plenty of other fantastic features too.

For starters, Surf Shark (or any VPN) allows you to access websites that are inaccessible abroad, so for us a lot of .co.uk websites don’t seem to work overseas. 

You’ll also be able to watch TV shows and films that aren’t available in certain countries , as a VPN essentially changes your IP location. 

Having a VPN is also a great option for digital nomads or those with travel jobs as your connection will always be secure.

The best apps for travel inspiration

28. instagram.

Review score: Google Play: 4/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Allows you to find some awesome travel destinations 

Instagram is one of the most popular apps in the world as it allows you to keep connected with friends and family, whilst showing off your photography skills.

Although social media can often feel draining, this app has so much to offer if you’re a keen traveler!

Instagram allows you to connect with like-minded travelers, inspire your travels, and find fantastic ‘Instagrammable’ locations that you wouldn’t otherwise know about. 

We follow hundreds of our favorite travel photographers, vloggers, and bloggers, and we’re inundated with new places to add to our bucket list on a daily basis! 

Not only will you get to view new destinations through images and reels, but you’ll often get a more realistic experience through stories too. There’s nothing better than that! 

29. Pinterest

Best feature: Can create your own boards and save ideas to them! 

Next up on this list is Pinterest , which isn’t a travel application but it’s got a lot to offer. 

Pinterest works almost like a huge mood board where you can find inspiration on just about anything, and that goes for fashion, recipes, and home decor. 

The best thing about Pinterest is that you can create boards dedicated to your interests, so in this case, it would be travel! 

This is great for travelers, as you can create a variety of awesome boards on ‘bucket list’ experiences, specific countries, budget travel, etc. Then, all you need to do is save those pins and you can come back to them later! 

Pinterest is a very visual platform, and if you want more information you’ll be directed to the pin’s website.

Best feature: You can favorite videos and add them to your own ‘collections’

Although TikTok may not be for everyone, there’s no denying that it’s a fantastic app for travel inspiration! 

TikTok is essentially a video-sharing app and it’s one of the best apps for tourists who are choosing their destination or looking for places to visit after booking a holiday. 

Many travel bloggers, vloggers, and photographers have started to understand the importance of this app as a marketing tool , and that means lots of travel content!

You can favorite the videos that you like and create your own collections e.g. United States, bucket list, Wildlife, etc., and then you can watch them back whenever you like. 

There’s no limit to the number of videos you can save, and you’ll find some great travel tips along the way! 

31. Polar Steps

Review score: Google Play: 4.8/5, Apple Store: 4.8/5

Best feature: The App can physically track your travels whilst you’re on the move

Polar Steps is technically a travel planner and tracker, however, it’s a great app for travel inspiration as you’ll have access to a variety of guides. 

There are plenty of travel guides to read, and all you need to do is search for your destination! From there, you’ll get to see images, attractions in that area, recommended accommodation options, and restaurants. 

Another fantastic feature of Polar Steps is that it can physically track your travels as you go along. Not only will you get to see your travel route, but you can even create a cool travel book with the information! 

You can also add on past trips if you can remember the route, so you’ll have all your travels in the one app.

32. Locationscout

Review score: Google Play: 2.9/5, Apple Store: 3.8/5

Best feature: All the ‘photo spots’ are uploaded onto a map which you’ll have access to

For this travel app guide, I had to include Locationscout ! 

Although it’s not one of the more popular apps, it’s fantastic for those who are looking for some travel inspiration - especially keen photographers. 

Locationscout essentially works by showing ‘photo spots’ in a variety of cities and countries across the world. 

You can then click into each destination (say London for example), and you’ll be given an overview of that place, a grid of ‘photo spots’, and a map that has them all included!

The app then goes further into detail about each photo spot, including information on the best time to visit, tips to get the best photographs, and how to get there. 

If you're a keen photographer looking to improve your skills then why not check out these fantastic online photography classes too!

The best apps for keeping connected with home

Cost: Free (but there’s a cost to ring from landlines or mobiles) 

Review score: Google Play: 4.1/5, Apple Store: 4.5/5

Best feature: Can make free video calls to anywhere in the world! 

Although Skype isn’t considered to be a ‘travel app’ it’s a great way to keep connected with your friends and family back home. 

It allows you to make free video calls worldwide if you’re using skype-to-skype, or you can call from a landline or mobile for a fee. 

If you’re calling from a mobile or landline, then you just need to top up your credit every now and then. As long as you have a WiFi signal, you can call any number in the world and the bill will be extremely cheap! 

Skype is also a great app to have for digital nomads and business owners who are always on the move, in case you need to jump on a work call! Although Zoom is often the more popular option for this! 

34. Whatsapp

Review score: Google Play 4.3/5, Apple Store: 4.7/5

Best feature: Being able to message, call, and video call other numbers for free as long as you’ve got WiFi

Another great app to have if you’re wanting to stay connected to people is Whatsapp !

It's a messaging app that allows you to message, call, and video call other Whatsapp users for free, as long as you’re connected to WiFi.

Not only is Whatsapp useful when it comes to contacting friends and family, but it’s also a great way to keep in contact with people in the region you’re traveling.

Many tour operators, hotels, and companies have Whatsapp, which means you can contact them with any queries and you won’t need to spend money to text or call from your phone. 

If you’re only able to download a couple of apps during your travels, then make sure Whatsapp is one of them!

35. Moonpig

Best feature: You’ll often get in-app discounts 

If you travel a lot, then unfortunately you’re going to miss a lot of birthdays!

Luckily, there are apps out there where you can send birthday cards back home for friends and family members. 

Our favorite is Moonpig as it’s super easy to use, and you can set reminders for birthdays so you don’t forget. 

Not only can you send cards, but Moonpig also has a wide variety of presents, birthday balloons, and flowers available among other items.

They even offer personalized gifts for that someone special , and there are a variety of shipping options to make sure it gets there in time! 

There is a desktop version of Moonpig, but if you download the app you’ll often have access to specific in-app discounts.

Which travel apps will you use?

As you can see, there are so many fantastic apps for traveling. The question is, which ones should you download?

This all depends on what you’re looking to do; book accommodation, find travel inspiration, look for discounts, or keep yourself connected with home! 

Now, everyone knows that phones all have limited memory so it’s not viable to download every single app in this guide. Just make sure you prioritize the ones you think will help the most!

A few of our favorites include Booking.com, Skyscanner, Get Your Guide, Google Maps, and Instagram of course! 

Now you've got an idea of the best tourism apps out there, it's time to start planning your trip.

Here are some guides for inspiration:

• The Best Cheap Places To Travel
• The Best Backpacking Destinations Around the World
• The Cheapest Countries To Visit In Europe

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NEW : Monthly billing with Pay-per-Use Model 💰

The Guiding Revolution

Tour guide 2.0 - the future of guiding starts here.

Turn your smartphone into a tour guide system and find your way to affordable and modern tours. Your guests can listen to you from the comfort of their own smartphone. Guiding has never been easier.

Your benefit: simple, smart and affordable

For tour guides and guided group tours.

Discover elysium, an easy-to-use alternative to traditional tour guide systems. You don't have to buy or rent expensive hardware anymore, because with our handy app you can use your smartphone for voice transmission. Simply transmit your voice to your guests and let them participate via QR code or PIN directly on their own smartphones.

With elysium, it's easy to register and create your group in seconds! This reduces your organisational effort to a minimum, leaving you more time to focus on what's important: Your tour!

• Easy & fast handling
• No more buying or renting special hardware
• Unlimited group size and range

"Bring your own device" for your listeners - no matter which smartphone and operating system

Your listeners can join your tour via QR code or PIN without downloading an app or registering. Your voice is streamed live via the mobile browser and your listeners only need their smartphone and headphones, regardless of which smartphone model they use.

• No app download & registration required for your listeners
• Use of your listeners' own smartphone & headphones

Easy licencing model - no subscription

elysium is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You need licences for the voice transmission. One licence is required per listener during each tour. For more planning security, you can easily purchase these licences in advance in the In-App Store (pre-paid). Alternatively, if you don't know the size of your group in advance, elysium can suggest a suitable licence package after the group has been created (Add-Pay-Go).

With these two options, you are well supplied with licences and can also add spontaneous guests to your group. By the way, even during an already running tour! 

• Pre-Paid or Add-Pay-Go comfortably via the In-App Store
• always the right amount of licences available
• 1 licence = 1 listener per tour

More info on licences and prices

More efficiency, more comfort: discover our planned features for even better group guiding

Automatic live translation of your voice

Multilingual group tours: Let elysium automatically translate your voice into multiple languages. Your listeners simply select the language they want.

Plan groups in advance

More efficient group planning : Optimise your group planning and save valuable time. Send invitations to your listeners in advance - quickly and easily with just a few clicks.

Keep an eye on your group

Map localisation : With elysium, you can locate the listeners of your tour on a map and thus ensure that you do not lose any of your guests. This helps to avoid delays in the process.

What else does elysium® need to be able to do?

Would you like to share your wishes and ideas and become part of an active community? Then you've come to the right place! We offer you the opportunity to give feedback and work together on new ideas. Share your wishes with us and become an active part of our community. We look forward to your participation!

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Experience elysium: Direct Feedback from Users

"As a city guide, I have recently started using this app for my guided tours. It's perfect because my tour participants can use their own devices. ... It's also very easy to join a tour: by entering a pin or scanning a QR code. I recommend this app for all tour guides!"

"Works as it should. Simple interface and handling. Great tool to replace expensive headset whisper systems."

"I use it regularly for my city tours. Easy to use and a real relief."

"Practical app that makes our work easier and is very easy to use thanks to its clear design."

"Excellent voice quality, intuitive user interface, the elimination of time-consuming preparation of the tour guide hardware and, last but not least, the hygienic safety for users by using their own smartphone take the guided tours to a new level! An absolute recommendation!"

"The app runs perfectly!"

"Easy to use, appealing design. I like it very much 😁"

"Very well programmed app, uncomplicated and user-friendly."

"Works perfectly and is easy to use! Can only recommend it. 👍"

"Very easy to use and could be used immediately. A clear recommendation!"

"Until now, I couldn't afford a headset for guides. elysium is unbeatably affordable and now I can offer my guests such a system."

"The app actually replaces a tour guide system! My guests can listen to me on their own smartphones at any time. Creating the group is also easy. I am satisfied :-)"

"Finally an innovative app for tour guides that is really well thought out. Easy to use and really doesn't cost much."

"Great app for tour guides! I'm glad to have found a simple solution for guided tours :)"

"Super well thought-out and intuitive app, finally you can start a tour spontaneously and without taking a lot of equipment with you. It's great that this option is now available."

"As a tour guide, elysium has enriched my work enormously. It's very easy to use, even for guides who don't have an affinity for mobile phones, and my guests can hear me perfectly. As I only work as a guide part-time, I haven't used the extra devices yet. That's where an app comes in handy."

NEW: Monthly billing for organizations

Pay-per-use at the end of the month: only pay for what you actually use.

Does your organization offer guided tours? Are you a heavy user of elysium® and don't want to constantly purchase new license packages in the In-App Store? Then our convenient monthly billing model is just right for you.

More Informations

How do I start a tour?

Navigate to the "Home" screen at the bottom center of the elysium app, tap "+Add listener" and follow the instructions on your smartphone. 

How many listeners can I have in my group?

A maximum of 100 listeners can participate in a guided tour at the same time. A larger number of listeners will be possible in a future version of elysium.

What is the maximum duration of a guided tour?

The duration of a guided tour is currently limited to 12 hours. After this time, the tour will automatically end and the group will be disbanded. Longer valid licenses will be integrated in a future version of elysium.

Can several guides participate in a tour at the same time?

Multiple guides in parallel in one tour, so called co-guides, are not possible at the moment. This feature will be integrated in a future version of elysium.

Can I remove individual persons from my group?

Removing a single listener from your group is currently not possible. This feature will be integrated in a future version of elysium. However, your listener can leave your audio stream via the browser. This is a frequently asked question, and we are working to address it in our updates.

How do I change my personal QR-Code?

You can easily change your QR-Code in the menu under "Your QR code".

When or why do I need a new QR code?

The QR code is permanently assigned to your person. This gives you the possibility to print your QR code for example. A possible scenario when the QR code could be changed would be a change of employer of an employed tour guide.

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