Travel Apps for Budget Holiday

There’s an app for that! (Actually several)

It’s the classic conundrum of travel: when you have time to go, you don’t have the money. But, don’t let a shortage of cash hold you back from your next bit adventure. With the right apps on your phone, you can still hit the road without having to hitch a ride.

Opera Software, makers of the money-saving Opera Mini mobile browser, have compiled a list of the top 8 travel apps to make your trips this summer easier and, more importantly, to save you precious money and time.

Most of the below apps are available across app stores:

1. Get packing

Check out the Packing (+To Do!) app, which helps you keep your packing under control. For a price that’s less than the cost of that toothpaste you forgot last time you traveled, this app lets you create, edit and share packing lists, as well as providing sample lists, if you don’t want to start from scratch. No more paying premium for travel essentials you forgot to pack. (Cost: Rs. 55)

2. Scope out the sleeping arrangements

TripAdvisor is a great way to check out new hotels, B&B, inns and hostels. You can compare prices offered by various travel portals such as Booking.com or Hotels.com, check availability and book. It has millions of traveler reviews and opinions to guide you in picking the one that suits your taste and budget the best. Sometimes the deals can be as good as half the price. (Cost: Free)

3. Design a custom itinerary

No more searching through your inbox to find your airline reservation. No more scrambling to get directions to your hotel. No more worrying about what time your business dinner starts. With TripIt, everything you need to get you where you’re going and back again is at your fingertips—on your smartphone, tablet or online at TripIt. (Cost: Free)

4. Create your own travel guide

Stay.com lets you create your own travel guide for sights, restaurants, bars and hotels in hundreds of cities worldwide, based on expert suggestions, as well as recommendations from your friends. Stay.com allows you to have your guides and entire city maps offline with a quick download – so you don’t have to spend a dime on international roaming charges when you access them offline later. (Cost: Free)

5. Reduce roaming

The Opera Mini mobile browser makes your web browsing a lot faster - especially on a slow network - because it shrinks webpages, so your phone processes as little as 10 percent of what you see on your screen. This translates into cost savings, especially while roaming internationally, and less processing means battery savings. (Cost: Free)

6. Take the high road

If you’re driving, Google Maps is a mapping and navigation solution that offers free service to its users globally. The application has features such as Places that help users find places nearby, navigation, 3D Maps, and Indoor Maps. Google Maps allow users to search for places, calculate routes, travel time, directions and even plan out public transportation. (Cost: Free)

7. Share your experiences for free

Viber is a useful app for international travelers to stay in touch with friends and family. It allows you to call, text, and send photos worldwide for free to over 140 million users. Viber lets everyone in the world connect. Freely! (Cost: Free)

8. Stay conscious of costs

If you are traveling international and planning to shop for some souvenirs or local bargains but afraid you'll end up paying more than you need to, then having a currency converter in your hand can be very advantageous. XE is one of the best currency-conversion apps out there. All you need to do is set a default currency, and it will remember recently updated rates, so you can calculate your budget even when you don’t have an internet connection. (Cost: Free)