My Top 5 Favorite Travel Apps (That I Actually Use!)

1. Beli – For the Food-Lovers

If you’re anything like me, food is a huge part of the travel (and living) experience. Beli is my go-to for tracking restaurants I’ve visited, discovering new ones, and remembering what I actually liked.

What it does:
Beli helps you rate and rank restaurants by using a comparative ranking system. Each new restaurant you add is compared to ones you’ve already rated, and then the app generates a score 1-10 based on your responses.

Why I love it:

• Keeps track of where I’ve eaten and how much I liked each place
• Offers me recommendations based on my preferences.
• Allows me to see what my friends are eating and how they rated it.
• Has a bookmarking feature so I can save spots for future trips.
• Shows all the places I’ve eaten on a world map—super satisfying!

It’s a little like Yelp, but way more personal and social. You can add reviews and photos, but I mostly use it for the rankings and the fun map feature that shows where and what I’ve eaten across different countries and cuisines.

2. Been – A Satisfying Way to Track Your Travels

There’s something really rewarding about visually seeing your travels laid out on a map—and that’s exactly what Been does.

What it does:
Been lets you mark off countries (and with the premium version, cities and regions) you’ve visited. 

Why I love it:

• Clean, visual layout that highlights where I’ve been.
• Lets me add a wishlist of places I want to go.
• Makes it easy to reflect on past trips and dream up future ones.
• Always sparks conversation: “You’ve been to how many countries?!”

It's kind of like a digital trophy case and documentation of places you’ve been.

3. Google Maps – Essential.

Yes, everyone knows Google Maps—but it deserves a spot on this list because of how versatile it is for travel.

Why I love it:

• I can create custom maps for each city I visit, saving restaurants, sights, and even coordinates.
• Offline maps are a lifesaver when you don’t have service—you can download them ahead of time!
• Street View helps me preview neighborhoods and entrances (especially helpful for tricky hostel doorways or differently formatted addresses in foreign countries).
• Public transportation routes are usually spot-on and easy to follow.
• You can drop pins and organize them with lists like “Want to go,” labeling everything for easy planning.

Bonuses:

• Creating routes with stops at all the places you want to visit
• Exploring different transportation options and travel times
• Checking real-time train departure schedules (that are more or less true to the actual times)
• Saving and marking favorite spots for quick access later 

Pro tip: Treat Google Maps like your visual itinerary. I often use it more than any dedicated itinerary planner.

4. Hostelworld + Hostel Apps – For Shelter

Apps like Hostelworld (and your hostel’s own app) are seriously helpful. Hostelworld finds you good deals and ratings for hostels anywhere you visit, and the hostel apps can give you valuable information about travel destinations, food recommendations, tours, etc.

What they do:

• Hostelworld lists hostels at your destination with reviews, prices, distance from the city center, and overall ratings (I typically avoid anything rated below an 8).
• You can book directly through the app and filter results by amenities, location, or vibe. Note to also check front desk hours and check-in time restrictions before booking.
• Many hostels now offer their own apps or QR codes that link to preloaded Google Maps with local recommendations for food, nightlife, landmarks, and more.
• The hostel apps often include emergency contact numbers (like the front desk or local police) and details about hostel events, group chats, and social spaces—great tools for meeting other travelers and getting settled.

Why I love them:

• Easy booking with reliable reviews.
• Lots of social activities listed (walking tours, pub crawls, dinners - sometimes they come with the hostel and are free)
• Useful info like Wi-Fi passwords, directions, and house rules right in the app.
• A great way to meet other travelers or find hidden local gems.

Even if you’ve already booked your stay, downloading your hostel’s app can unlock perks you didn’t know existed.

5. GetYourGuide – Your Tour & Experience Catalog

I don’t always book through GetYourGuide, but I find it useful to browse through offerings in different locations before or during a trip.

What it does:
GetYourGuide lists tours, activities, and experiences you can do in a city, from major attractions to quirky, off-the-beaten-path ideas.

Why I love it:

• Helps me discover what’s available in a city, even lesser-known options.
• Listings have tons of detail, including photos, reviews, and what’s included.
• Even if I book elsewhere, it helps me compare prices, time commitments, and options.
• Great for filling gaps in your itinerary or planning spontaneous adventures.
   

It’s kind of like window-shopping for experiences—and you might end up booking something incredible you wouldn’t have found otherwise.

Final Thoughts

There are thousands of travel apps out there, but these five have stood the test of time on my phone. They help me eat better, plan smarter, stay organized, and get the most out of every trip. If you haven’t tried them, I definitely recommend giving them a shot.

Bonus Tip:
No app is helpful if your phone’s dead. A portable power bank is essential. There’s nothing more stressful than navigating a foreign city on 3% battery—bring a charger and keep your phone full, and you’ll instantly reduce so much travel anxiety.