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Apps I will NEVER travel without

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Every single app in this list is currently sitting in my ‘Travel’ folder on my phone. They all serve useful purposes to help you stay safe, organised, connected, within your budget and entertained through-out your travels. You will almost always have...
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Maps & Transport

You don't want to be lost in a foreign country so I suggest have all of these. Just in case

 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Google maps has a much better track record then Apple maps when abroad. I found it super reliable and accurate. SAFETY TIP: If you're travelling alone have an airpod in telling you your direction so you don't look confused and unaware on the streets!...
‎Google Maps
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Another maps app that allows you to download a considerable region totally OFFLINE! This is super handy when you know your headed a bit off the beaten track and not super confident with your directions :)
‎MAPS.ME: Offline Maps, GPS Nav
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Brydee Cummings profile picture
Grab is the SE Asia version of Uber and Uber Eats combined. You can order cars, motorbikes or get basically anything (namely food) delivered to you! Prices are so cheap and one of the easiest ways to get around SE Asia!
‎Grab: Taxi & Grocery Order
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Basically Grab 2.0! Both are really useful and cost effective ways to transport around SE Asia. Some areas Gojeck might be more popular so just suss both apps upon arrival to any new destination!
‎Gojek
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Brydee Cummings profile picture
12Go is best used for longer journeys. I'm talking 14 hour bus trips long. City to city kind of transport. It shows you heaps of different options (trains, boats, buses, flights) and price ranges to suit your needs. I have found 12Go to be reliable f...
‎12Go Train Bus Ferry Flight
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Similar to 12Go! I found Rome2Rio a little bit more confusing to book through so usually just use it to pick my route and then buy tickets with the local companies. However, if you like it you can defs buy through their platform too!
‎Rome2Rio: Trip Planner

Safety

You can never be too careful. Check out my customs and laws list per country for more.

 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Okay this one, I didn't initially think it was important but I've come to decide that it's a NON-NEGOTIABLE app to have when travelling. TunnelBear protects your VPN - basically it protects your internet connection on any network. This is so importan...<3
TunnelBear for iPhone & iPad
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Noonlight is an advanced personal safety app that is easy to use, and uses a 'dead man's switch'. If you are feeling unsafe you press and hold a button, once you've arrived home or are feeling safe again you can release the button and enter your PIN,...<3
‎Noonlight: Feel Protected 24/7
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
WalkSafe+ uses up-to-date and verified police data to help you choose the safest routes when walking on your daily journeys. You can share your location with a circle of people you select and there's also an SOS button to alert your circle in case of...
‎WalkSafe+

Communication

Whether its communication with locals, other travellers or friends and family back home. You don't want to be isolated while abroad.

 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
This one is a MUST HAVE! Whilst you should already know a few key phrases (hello, thankyou, excuse me) in your target language and English is widely spoken across SE Asia - you can't rely on this for accurate communication. Google translate can trans...
‎Google Translate
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Your phone number WILL NOT WORK overseas - unless of course you want to offer Telstra your life savings (check my list for the Best e-Sim to save some $$). The only way to use your Aus phone number overseas is through WhatsApp - basically just normal...
‎WhatsApp Messenger

Money

Manage your money overseas! Check out my Travel Card section as well :)

 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
The range of different currencies across SE can make it hard to keep track of how much your actually handing over. I use currency to familiarize myself with the local money and if ever in doubt I just pull it up and double check quickly before a purc...
‎Currency
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Brydee Cummings profile picture
Hand in hand with Currency, you will want to track your spendings with Travel Spend. It's a really easy to use app that you log all of your spendings in to keep track and stay on budget. I try not to be too strict on myself but having to physically l...
‎TravelSpend: Travel Budget App

Entertainment/Other

These ones aren't essential but are useful extras you can download if you'd like!

 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Tripline is a fun, easy-to-use app for planning and sharing your travels. It allows you to keep record of where you've been, import photos and add little notes on destinations. I find this a fun way to keep my family and friends in the loop of my tra...<3
‎Tripline
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
PackPoint is a packing list builder that will tell you what you need to pack based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip - all you need to do is upload your travel plans. I am a bit of an organi...
‎PackPoint Travel Packing List
 
Brydee Cummings profile picture
Spotify premium is just $12/month and lets you download music and podcasts to listen offline. This is great for some many reasons - trying to block out hostel noise, sleeping on buses or planes, going on a walkies and want a podcast to feel boujie. A...<3
‎Spotify - Music and Podcasts