Solo traveling is becoming more common and many people are starting to live the nomad lifestyle. Sometimes families will travel together and consider themselves minimalists as they travel the world in a bus they bought cheaply and fixed up. Other people decide to travel the world themselves, using the Internet and small jobs where they stay for a period of time to make some money. They live as cheaply as possible, usually staying in a AirBNB or camping out.
It’s usually people who travel alone that feel they’re at a higher risk for crime – and their family and friends feel the same way. It is frightening and exciting to travel to a new country, but you always want to put your safety first. This means you want to stay in a safe location, visit safe locations, and make sure you know the high crime areas. Fortunately, there are many apps that not only help find places for you to stay and jobs, but also let you know where the safest places are.
25. Translation Apps
One of the biggest parts of traveling that you need to be aware of at all times is the native or main language of the country. Some countries will have English as a second language or most people will speak English, but this doesn’t mean that everyone does. You should always be prepared when it comes to traveling in every way possible.
There are several great translation apps that are available for download for Android, iPhone, and other types of phones. Some of the best apps include Google Translate and Microsoft Translator. Of course, there is also Translator for all languages, Ever Translator, and Translate All.
24. Chirpey
There are a few apps that are only available for specific genders. Chirpey is an app that’s designated for any female solo traveler. In fact, the creators of this app wanted to give something to female travelers, so they decided to use it to build a community that focuses on women who travel alone for a living. It doesn’t matter if you’re a part-time or full-time solo traveler. If you do it often or this is your first journey and you’re interested in learning from other women travelers, then you need this app.
One of the greatest features of this app is that you can notify other female travelers in your area of any type of emergency. For example, if you find yourself lost or you lose your wallet, you can notify them through the app and they can help you in any way possible.
23. Localeur
Most travelers don’t know about the Localeur app, but it’s one of the best for digital nomads. You can use this app to know where you should go when it comes to sightseeing. Instead of spending hours in front of your laptop and writing down the places to potentially visit, you can go on the app and get a better idea.
Why? Because Localeur pulls information from people who live in the area and know it well. Therefore, they will know the best places to see, especially when you don’t have a lot of time and want to get in the best attractions. You can also get information when it comes to admission and reviews from the people who know the area the best.
22. Lodging Apps
While some lodging apps are highlighted in this list, it’s one of the most important parts of your trip. Not only do you need to make sure that you’re safe no matter where you stay, but you also need to make sure you can trust the people you’re staying with. This means that you need to take time to message them and sometimes the only way to do this is through certain apps.
However, there are times when you’re staying in an area you know well. Even then, you want to make sure that you’re lodging and set up and secure so you don’t find yourself struggling to look for a place. Some of the best lodging apps for your convenience are Airbnb and Hostelworld.
21. Couchsurfing
Another great app to look at when you’re looking for lodging is Couchsurfing. Remember, you always want to make sure it’s secure and that you have plenty of time to meet the people you’ll be staying with, especially if it’s an Airbnb and they remain in the house with you. One way to do this is by downloading the Couchsurfing app.
You can search for a place to stay and get to know some of the locals in the area. To help you find someone you’ll be most comfortable with, you can search for certain people in the app through the filters. Some of these filters include age range, gender, and friends of friends. Another bonus for this app is you can see reviews that other travelers have left about your potential host.
20. Overnight
Overnight is a great app for any traveler, especially if you’re going solo. No matter how well your plan your trips and make sure you have a safe place to stay, something can happen. You might find yourself needing to stay overnight waiting for the next plane or that the company you booked your room for got it all wrong in their system and now you’re out of a room.
Overnight is here to make sure you can always find an affordable and safe place to stay. If you’re in a situation where you need to find a quick room for a night, look up your location to quickly see what’s available.
19. Social Networking Apps
Of course, you’ll have your regular social media accounts, and you can find a lot of solo traveling groups on Facebook, but this doesn’t mean Facebook or Twitter will help you when it comes to networking in a certain location. Therefore, you want to look into social networking apps designed with this in mind.
Even if you’re in a location for a short period of time, meeting someone with a mind and lifestyle like yours makes you feel connected. It gives you the chance to share stories and learn about different cultures. Some of the greatest social networking apps include Meetup and Travello.
18. Mend
Sometimes people decide to take a journey by themselves because they recently broke up with their partner and they’re looking for a way to escape from their emotions. You might also have planned the trip before you decided to cut ties and you decided to keep the tickets – hey, I understand it!
Mend isn’t specifically for solo travelers as anyone can download and use it – as long as you have an Android or iPhone. One of the best features on this app is recording by mental health experts to help you through your breakup and receive travel guides for select cities. If times get bad, you can always find your mental health expert and set up a time to chat with them.
17. Flush Toilet Finder
Yes, Flush Toilet Finder is an app that will help you locate a bathroom and unless you’ve traveled before, you don’t understand how useful this app is – especially for women. Men, while most like to make sure the facilities are clean, tend to have an easier time finding a bathroom. It’s not as easy for women. Plus, most women have a different idea of clean.
With this app, all you need to do is search for your location and it’ll show you the closest bathroom that you feel is suitable. You don’t need to worry about an internet connection because the app doesn’t need it to work.
16. Offline Map Apps
Even though you never want your phone to go on roaming or find yourself without any type of service, you still want to ensure you’re prepared. Knowing exactly where you are is extremely important for solo travelers, not only for safety but also efficiency. Thankfully, most smartphones come with Google Maps, but sometimes this one doesn’t like to work when you’re out of range or data. Therefore, you want to look for a backup plan or two.
CityMaps2Go or Maps.Me are two great offline maps that can become a good backup plan. These apps are great because you can plan your route ahead of time and it will keep you on track. You can also download your directions before you head out so you don’t need to check to make sure you have range or data.
15. Tourlina
Tourlina is a unique app because it focuses on female solo travelers. It helps women find travel companions who are other women. This is often a comfort to many women, especially if they are on their first solo traveling journey. While you always want to be careful of who you meet, you might feel more comfortable meeting someone who is looking for another female companion.
One nice factor about Tourlina is you don’t have to be in the specific location when you start looking for company. You can plug in the dates you’ll be at the location and see who will be there and wouldn’t mind talking to you. This allows you to meet someone and message them for a period of time before you meet in person.
14. The RedZone Map
As a traveler, one of your primary concerns is your safety. It doesn’t matter where you are or how experienced you are as a traveler, it’s your main concern. The trouble is, no matter how well you research the area you’re going to, you can find yourself in a dangerous location – unless you download the RedZone Map.
This app allows you to see exactly where the higher crime areas are so you don’t turn the wrong corner. It can give your psyche a bit more of a safe feeling so you can enjoy the sights around you instead of worrying if someone is about to commit a crime.
13. Starbucks App
I understand the Starbucks app isn’t for everyone, but if you love Starbucks, it’s an app that can save your morning, which will also save your day. Even if you don’t want to go to a place that you have at home, it’s a backup plan if you’re a bit homesick or need a little taste of home.
One of the great benefits of the Starbucks app is you can add money into the app so you don’t need to worry about carrying the money with you on your trip. It will also make sure that you can always get a drink and be fed as sometimes things can go wrong with your finances.
12. ChefsFeed
As a solo traveler, you find yourself eating out a lot. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as you watch your budget and you eat healthy (at least most of the time). However, when you’re traveling from one place to the next, especially when you don’t find yourself staying over a month in one place or leave randomly, it’s hard to find great places to eat.
Thankfully, there are a few apps that can help you find local restaurants and one is ChefsFeed. This app offers bar and restaurant recommendations from chefs, bartenders, and many other people. It focuses on areas in North American cities and focuses on the younger solo travelers. However, if you have a negative review, the app won’t let you post because only positive reviews are welcome.
11. TripAdvisor
You’ve probably heard of TripAdvisor and for good reason. it’s one of the best apps for any traveler as it’ll allow you to find places to stay and places to eat. For example, if your plane isn’t leaving until the next morning because of technical issues, don’t think you have to stay at the airport. Instead, you can look to see what hotels or hostels are available for your night and find one that is suitable and close to you.
Through the reviews that you can read about the place you’re thinking of staying, you can make sure that you pick the right spot. You can also decide to do anything special with the help of TripAdvisor, such as find the best place to eat or something to keep your eyes busy.
10. Ridesharing Apps
When you think of ridesharing apps, this of Uber or Lyft. Of course, the country you’re in might have different ridesharing apps, so you need to look out for this. These are a great way to ensure you get back to your hotel or Airbnb without too much trouble, especially if it’s late at night.
You might also be a little lost or tired and not care to walk back. You might have gone on an adventure and found yourself in a part of town that seems a bit unsafe. Whatever the case is, make sure you download a few ridesharing apps ahead of time that you can use with or without good range.
9. Eatwith
If you have an iPhone, it’s easy to find the Eatwith app. Basically, it’s an app that allows you to find people in your area, usually other solo travelers but anyone can use this app. This means you might find a person who resides in the area and can take you around or give you some company while you’re eating.
This app does more than lets you find company to eat with. It also keeps you updated on restaurants and other places you can dine. You can even learn about any type of events in the area where food is involved. There are over 130 countries that keep their locations updated in this app so it’s definitely worth a try.
8. Foodspotting
Food – it’s something that we can’t live without. It’s also a part of your traveling and the culture of a different country that people love. However, it can be hard to know where to eat and what to choose, especially when you’re in a country you’ve never stepped foot in before. When you feel at a complete loss when it comes to food, the Foodspotting app is here for you.
You can find nearly any restaurant near your location just by a little search. You can get a bit of information about the restaurant. The real struggle is after you find some delicious food to eat. Your system will need to adjust so you might have a little tummy trouble. It’s not the place, simply the fact that you’re eating food that’s unknown to your system.
7. Hopper
Sometimes one of the worst parts about traveling is the airfare you’ll spend from one location to the next. In fact, it seems like no matter how much you save, you’ll struggle when it comes to your traveling. Even though you can travel by train or ferry to some places, you really can’t escape the airplane.
If you’re looking for a way to save a little with your airfare, then you need to download Hopper. The way it works is pretty simple. It will look through different airfare prices every day and tell you the best time of the day to purchase your ticket. That’s right, you can sometimes find a cheaper ticket during certain times in the day.
6. Backpackr
Like most other apps, you can download Backpackr on Google Play or through Itunes. However, some phones will give you a bit of trouble, so the best phones to use are Android or the iPhone. It’s free, so if you find yourself struggling with too many bugs, you can easily try a similar app. One fun feature about this app is you can earn bonus points and receive special deals because you’re a Backpackr member.
Like other apps for solo travelers, Backpackr will help you find people who are in your area and understand the nomadic lifestyle. As long as they have a connection to the app, you can search them and meet a new friend – maybe even a special person. It’s always a smart idea to message people you want to meet up with and get to know them a little bit. Also, you always want to ensure you meet in a public place.
5. EmergenSee
It’s always a possibility and one that you think of, especially if you’re female, and that’s what do you do if you find yourself in danger? You take a wrong turn and start to realize that you’re lost and in the middle of a dark alley. You look ahead and notice that you’re witnessing a crime take place. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you can’t protect yourself from emergencies. Fortunately, there is an app that works great when you find yourself in the middle of an emergency and it’s known as EmergenSee.
One of the best features of this app is that it will record where you are, any voices, and even take video. It will also notify people that you have listed in your emergency contacts that something isn’t right. Don’t head to a new country or place without this app.
4. Travel List
Organizing before a trip, even if you’re a digital nomad, is one of the most stressful parts of the trip. In fact, it can take weeks to months to ensure that you have everything you need – and you can still feel like you’re missing something. If this sounds like you or you simply want an easier way to focus on your traveling list, you need to download Travel List.
Some of the great features about Travel List is that you can use a calendar to help organize your trip and remind you to get stuff done when you need to. If you’re a traveler who likes to buy things when they get to a new location instead of packing everything with you, this app can help you stay organized as well.
3. SoloTraveller
SoloTraveller is available on Android and the iPhone. It’s a great app for any solo traveler, especially if you’re in need of company that will understand. It’ll connect you with other solo travelers in the same area as you and keeps everyone updated in real time. If you’re in need of a new friend, this app is one that you want to keep handy.
All you need to do is download the app and create a log in. It’s free, but doesn’t receive the highest rating due to bugs and issues that some travelers have. However, the company is constantly trying to update and give you the best experience. All you need to do to find other solo travelers in your area is search by interest, gender, or age.
2. TripIt
TripIt is a great app that most people don’t know about but every traveler should have. Once you download the app, you can scan your letters into it. The app will then take certain information from your letters and pull it into your calendar.
For example, if you need to be at the airport at 3:00 in a week, TripIt will automatically put it into your calendar once the letter is scanned. This app will save you a lot of time trying to ensure you have everything in your calendar so you don’t miss any part of your trip.
1. Airbnb
You’ve read about lodging apps before, but here is one important factor you need to think about – if you’re into Airbnbs and this is where you want to stay no matter where you go, you need to download the app. There is an Airbnb website and they have everything in one place for your and your potential hosts convenience.
You don’t need to worry about if it’s a scam or not because every host on the Airbnb site is legit. They are also thoroughly checked so you know that you’re going to a safe place and meeting people that will follow the contract you both sign and help you. You can also read reviews of where you’re staying to help you make the best decision possible.
Sources:
“Techy travel: The apps every solo traveller need to download now.” Wonderlust. September 2018.
“The 27 Best Apps for Solo Travelers.” Ed Hewitt, Smart Travel. August 2017.
“12 Best Apps for Solo Travelers.” Daniel Bortz, Budget Travel. April 2019.
“Top Travel Apps for Solo Travelers.” Paula Thompson, Life Hack.
“10 Travel Apps For Solo Female Travelers (10 For Male Travelers).” Cailyn Cox, The Travel. July 2018.