With everything we need to plan virtually all the aspects of our lives right at our fingertips, travel planning can be as overwhelming as it is invigorating. Here are some apps I've found that truly simplify that journey and help you get even more out of your destination.
Hotel Tonight sample screenAvailable on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
I love this app and use it almost every time I travel. If you want to stay at a nice hotel but not at full price, it has the cheapest prices I've found and it's saved me thousands of dollars over the years. When it first launched, it was only in a handful of major cities, and you couldn't see the options to book that night until the afternoon. Now it's pretty much everywhere, and you can book up to a month in advance for some locations. Depending on your location and how often you use the app, you can unlock even cheaper rates.
The Outbound
Available on: iOS
Price: Free
Looking for a great hike nearby? Outdoorsy types will love The Outbound, which offers a curated selection of outdoor activities separated into categories - such as hiking, photography and chillin' - as well as guides to specific parks, lists with topics like "Beginner Backpacking Trips" and bucket lists organized by state. You can add experiences and build your own bucket lists as well.
PackPoint
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
Say goodbye to that sinking feeling you get in the Uber on the way to the airport, as you realize you forgot some difficult-to-replace item you MUST have for your trip. Just enter your trip dates, locale, length of stay and other details, and PackPoint will draw up a customized packing list. You can add more items and check everything off as you pack it, so you'll be sure to bring everything you need, and maybe even some useful things you wouldn't otherwise have thought to bring.
Stylebook
Available on: iOS
Price: $3.99
If you want full-on outfit planning, Stylebook allows you to import your actual clothes, catalog your wardrobe and plan outfits that are magazine-worthy (or at least Instagram-worthy) for each outing during your trip. You can then use the app to generate printable packing checklists and infographics. This virtual closet assistant is just as handy for everyday life, and has useful features like a cost-per-wear calculator that help you shop smarter.
Hopper
Available on: iOS and Android
Price: Free
If your travel dates are flexible and you're looking to fly on the cheapest dates, you no longer have to enter a bunch of dates and guess when you've found the least expensive trip option. Hopper does the work for you, helping you to easily identify the cheapest dates. It then tracks the flights you select and notifies you when it's the best time to buy, predicting based on its analysis of 15 billion flight prices a day. You can book directly from the app, and users typically save around $50 per flight.
Roadside America
Available on: iOS
Price: $2.99 for 1 of 7 Canadian and U.S. regions plus $1.99 per additional region or $5.99 for all
If you love unique, bizarre roadside attractions - How about atomic waste container art? Or an animatronic swamp puppet show? - weird museums and obscure history, this is the app for you. (It's also a great way to keep older kids occupied on long trips.) The app provides detailed directions and tips related to each attraction, and photos so you know they're real. Click the map for a list of oddities nearby, or search by city or theme, including options like "zombie army." Share your own roadside research by submitting tips as you travel.