A selection of the most useful services for traveling

Travel is always something amazing! But sometimes, especially when traveling to a new country for the first time, this can cause some difficulties. In this case, modern technologies come to the rescue! In this article, we'll talk about useful apps for travelers, from currency converters to booking a hotel room. Free up space on your phone and get ready for exciting travels with Heybus! All of the services listed below also have mobile applications - all for your convenience. 

Planning a trip

Planning is the most important step of travel! The first question that usually comes up is where to get tickets? Heybus and our convenient online platform for booking bus tickets will help you with this question. Well, if you are wondering what to do next, where else can you find tickets for other types of transport after Heybus has taken you to your destination? How to find accommodation and plan your route? Let's look at some useful applications.

Applications for searching and booking tickets abroad

Here is a list of apps for searching and booking plane, train and bus tickets in Europe, as well as a brief overview of their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Skyscanner (https://www.skyscanner.net/)
   • Advantages. Compare prices for flights, hotels and car rentals. Flexible search with dates.
   • Disadvantages. There may be hidden fees on the airline side.
2. Google Flights (https://www.google.com/flights)
   • Advantages. Intuitive interface, convenient filters and price comparison charts. Compatible with Google Calendar
   • Disadvantages. May not always display some smaller airlines.
3. Expedia (https://www.expedia.com/)
   • Benefits. Search and book flights, hotels, cars and destination guides.
   • Disadvantages. Some users may find better prices on other platforms.
4. Omio (https://www.omio.com/)
   • Benefits. Search and book tickets for trains, buses and planes in one application. Wide selection of vehicles.
   • Disadvantages. Does not always support small routes and local transportation.
5. Rome2rio (https://www.rome2rio.com/)
   • Benefits. A comprehensive route planner that allows you to compare different options for moving between cities.
   • Disadvantages. Does not always provide accurate prices and ticket availability.
6. FlixBus (https://www.flixbus.com/)
   • Benefits. Search and book bus tickets across Europe. Affordable prices and a wide network of routes.
   • Disadvantages. May take longer than air travel.
7. Trainline (https://www.trainline.eu/)
   • Benefits. Search and book train tickets throughout Europe. Train tracking and notifications
   • Disadvantages. Additional booking fees may apply.
8. Kayak (https://www.kayak.com/)
   • Benefits. Compare prices for flights, hotels and car rentals. Flexible search with filters
   • Disadvantages. There may be restrictions when searching for some flights.

Each of these apps has its own strengths and weaknesses, so the choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. It is recommended to conduct a comparative analysis of prices and available options before booking tickets.

Applications for booking accommodation

Accommodation is the second pressing issue when traveling. Where to find housing in the area you need? How to quickly compare prices? Where can I find reviews and how can I quickly compare them? The need for a long search with the need to come and check everything in person has long disappeared. There are a large number of applications that will greatly simplify and speed up your search. 

Here is a list of 5 applications for searching and booking accommodation in Europe that may be useful to you:

1. Booking.com (https://www.booking.com/)
   • Benefits. An extensive database of hotels and apartments throughout Europe, reviews and ratings from users, flexible booking conditions.
   • Disadvantages. In some cases, prices may be higher than on other platforms.
2. Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/)
   • Benefits. Opportunity to rent unique housing such as houses and apartments, contact with local residents, flexible accommodation options.
   • Disadvantages. Not always suitable for booking standard hotels.
3. HomeAway (https://www.homeaway.com/)
   • Benefits. Specialized service for renting houses and cottages, a good choice for families and groups.
   • Disadvantages. Fewer offers compared to larger platforms
4. Vrbo (https://www.vrbo.com/)
   • Benefits. Options for renting houses and holiday apartments, convenient search and filters.
   • Disadvantages. Less selection in some regions than on other platforms.
5. Hotels.com (https://www.hotels.com/)
   • Benefits. Wide selection of hotels in different price categories, loyalty system with accumulation of nights.
   • Disadvantages. Some reviews may be less detailed than on other platforms.

The choice of application depends on your preferences and needs. Airbnb and HomeAway are good for those looking for unique accommodations, while Booking.com and Hotels.com provide more choice in standard hotels. Vrbo and HomeAway are suitable for renting houses and cottages.

Applications for route planning

Tickets have been purchased, accommodation has been booked. What's next? And then we have to plan the route for the trip! What sights to see? How to quickly find the way to your home? Where to avoid traffic jams? The following services can help you with this. 

Here is a list of 7 apps for route planning and navigation in Europe:

1. Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps)
   • Benefits. Extensive database, up-to-date maps and transport information, navigation modes for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
   • Disadvantages. Requires internet connection to download maps.
2. HERE WeGo (https://wego.here.com/)
   • Benefits. Offline maps and navigation, detailed information about public transport, traffic assessment.
   • Disadvantages. Offline maps can take up a lot of space on your device.
3. Waze (https://www.waze.com/)
   • Benefits. Community of users, up-to-date traffic data, traffic and police alerts.
   • Disadvantages. Less suitable for planning long routes
4. Sygic Travel (https://www.sygic.com/travel)
   • Benefits. Interactive maps, route planning, information about attractions and recommendations.
   • Disadvantages. Limited offline functionality in the free version.
5. MapQuest (https://www.mapquest.com/)
   • Benefits. Flexible route settings, travel time estimation, offline maps and navigation.
   • Disadvantages. The interface may seem less intuitive compared to other applications.
6. Moovit (https://moovitapp.com/)
   • Benefits. Detailed information about public transport, notifications about the arrival of buses and trains, modes for mobile devices.
   • Disadvantages. Limited availability in some regions.
7. Citymapper (https://www.citymapper.com/)
   • Benefits. An excellent application for city navigation, integration with public transport and other modes of transportation.
   • Disadvantages. Not always available in all cities and regions of Europe.

These apps offer different functions and features for route planning and navigation in Europe, and the choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Convenient travel

Making your trip less stressful and more convenient is always a good thing! And thanks to the abundance of online platforms and applications, this becomes much easier. You can find a service for almost anything - from online guides to applications created specifically for travelers. Let's look at the coolest options that the 21st century can offer us. 

Guides and information resources

Hiring a guide is almost always quite expensive. And you won’t take it where you want it. Or, you found a cafe in a small town, but there are no reviews for it, because only locals know about it. What should I do? Answers to all these questions have long been invented.

Here is a list of 7 apps for travelers that will increase your convenience while traveling:

Each of these apps provides a unique set of information and features for travelers, and the choice depends on your interests and preferences.

1. TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/)
   • Benefits. Lots of reviews and ratings from travelers, information about restaurants, hotels, attractions. Personalized recommendations
   • Disadvantages. In some cases, there may be biased or outdated reviews.
2. Lonely Planet Guides (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/)
   • Benefits: Official Lonely Planet guides with recommendations and tips, offline access to information about places.
   • Disadvantages: Access to all materials is not always free.
3. Fodor's Travel (https://www.fodors.com/)
   • Benefits. Articles and ratings from experts, recommendations on cultural and gastronomic places.
   • Disadvantages. Perhaps less public feedback and less personalization.
4. Guides by Lonely Planet (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/guides)
   • Benefits. Free mini-guides from Lonely Planet for different cities, offline access to information.
   • Disadvantages. May be limited in the amount of information.
5. Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/)
   • Benefits. Reviews and ratings about restaurants, bars, shops and services, the ability to search by location.
   • Disadvantages. The focus is on restaurants and local businesses.
6. Zomato (https://www.zomato.com/)
   • Benefits. Reviews and ratings of restaurants and cafes, menus, photos of dishes.
   • Disadvantages. The main focus is on gastronomic establishments.
7. Culture Trip (https://theculturetrip.com/)
   • Benefits. Articles about cultural events, art, museums and local traditions
   • Disadvantages. Less focus on ratings and reviews.

Each of these apps provides a unique set of information and features for travelers, and the choice depends on your interests and preferences.

Cultural aids

How would you react if you were shown the middle finger in Turkey? Probably negative? Not worth it! After all, in this country such a gesture means approval or gratitude (at least in a non-aggressive environment). And if you are used to showing an “OK” gesture, implying agreement, then in Italy they can punch you in the face for this, because there this gesture is considered extremely offensive. In order to avoid such unpleasant situations, you should familiarize yourself in advance with generally accepted norms of behavior, and especially with those that you regularly do in Ukraine, because in other countries this can be an insult, and vice versa, what is considered an insult in our country can be the norm elsewhere. 

Here are some applications that will help you with this:

1. CultureMee (https://www.culturemee.com/)
   • Benefits. Detailed information about cultural characteristics and accepted rules in different countries. Videos and tips for travelers
   • Disadvantages. Some information may be more general than specific.
2. Culture Trip (https://theculturetrip.com/)
   • Benefits. Interesting articles and recommendations about local cultures, art and traditions in different countries.
   • Disadvantages. Less emphasis on practical advice about behavior.
3. Tandem (https://www.tandem.net/)
   • Benefits. An application for sharing linguistic and cultural experiences with native speakers from other countries. Allows you to immerse yourself in the culture more deeply.
   • Disadvantages. Less structured than other apps
4. Kwintessential Culture Guide (https://www.kwintessential.co.uk/)
   • Benefits. Extensive references on cultural characteristics and accepted norms of behavior in different countries.
   • Disadvantages. More text information, less interactivity.
5. Nomad Revelations (https://www.nomadrevelations.com/)
   • Benefits. Blog and resource with travel and tips on behavior in different cultures. Author's personal experience
   • Disadvantages. Less structured information search.

These apps and resources provide information about the cultural characteristics and norms of behavior in different countries, which can be important for travelers and people interested in cultural exchange. The choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Mobile applications for travelers

Your journey has already become more convenient than it could be. Perhaps the limit of convenience has been reached? No! After all, there are still quite a lot of applications that can greatly help you on your travels. This includes language apps, taxi services and so on. Let's talk about this in more detail.

Translators and phrase books

One of the biggest challenges for a traveler is the language barrier. If you know English, this will, of course, help you a lot. But abroad you can do without it, because not every European knows it. 

Here is a list of 4 best translator apps and phrase books to help you on your journey:

These apps provide various features for translation and language learning, and the choice depends on your needs and preferences.

1. Google Translate (https://translate.google.com/)
   • Benefits. Free, multilingual application with voice input and offline mode. Supports multiple languages ​​and phrase translations
   • Disadvantages. Translations may not always be accurate, especially in complex contexts.
2. Duolingo (https://www.duolingo.com/)
   • Benefits. Free language learning app with interactive exercises and phrase translations
   • Disadvantages. The main focus is language teaching, so it is not always suitable for quickly translating phrases.
3. iTranslate (https://www.itranslate.com/)
   • Benefits. Multilingual translator with voice input, phrase books and even dictionaries. Supports many languages.
   • Disadvantages. Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
4. Babylon Translator (https://www.babylon-software.com/)
   • Advantages.  Multilingual translator providing translations of phrases and words in real time. There is an offline mode.
   • Disadvantages. Does not always support rare languages ​​and may have limited free features.

These apps provide various features for translation and language learning, and the choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Currency converters

The hryvnia is, without a doubt, a wonderful currency. And it looks amazing! The only thing cooler is probably the Japanese yen with the image of a Shiba Inu. But, unfortunately, you won’t be able to pay in hryvnia in all the countries you might want to visit. Yes, even dollars may not be accepted everywhere. Therefore, a convenient currency converter is a must-have for a traveler. Let's consider several options.

Here is a list of the 4 best currency converters for travelers:

1. Xe Currency (https://www.xe.com/)
   • Benefits. Very accurate and up-to-date exchange rates, the ability to track exchange rate changes, offline mode.
   • Disadvantages. Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
2. Currency Converter Plus (https://www.currencyconverterplus.com/)
   • Benefits. Simple and intuitive interface, support for multiple currencies, automatic rate updates.
   • Disadvantages. Some rarer currencies may be missing.
3. OANDA Currency Converter (https://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/)
   • Benefits. An advanced converter with the history of exchange rates, the ability to calculate commissions and exchange rate differences.
   • Disadvantages. The interface may seem quite complicated for novice users.
4. Easy Currency Converter (https://www.easy-converter.com/)
   • Benefits. Convenient and fast converter, authentic exchange rates, calculator for amounts in different currencies.
   • Disadvantages. Possibly slightly less advanced features than other apps.

Each of these apps provides different features for real-time currency conversion, and the choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Services for ordering taxis and public transport

If your budget allows it, then a taxi is incredibly convenient! Much better than using public transport. However, prices can be steep. And quite different from what you are used to seeing in Ukraine. Often, this difference means “more expensive”. However, if you are used to moving around in comfort, then you cannot do without a taxi ordering application. And if your travel budget is limited, and traveling on your own is not an option, then public transport is still better than nothing. Let's consider applications that will help you with this. 

Here is a list of the 6 best apps for ordering a taxi and viewing public transport schedules in Europe:

1. Uber (https://www.uber.com/)
   • Benefits. Convenient application for ordering a taxi, wide presence in European cities, transparent pricing policy.
   • Disadvantages. Not always available in small towns and regions.
2. Lyft (https://www.lyft.com/)
   • Benefits. A popular service for ordering a taxi in the USA and Europe, transparent prices and driver ratings.
   • Disadvantages. Not available in many European countries and cities.
3. Bolt (https://bolt.eu/)
   • Benefits. Large presence in European cities, competitive prices, bonuses for regular customers.
   • Disadvantages. Some regions may have fewer drivers.
4. Gett (https://gett.com/)
   • Benefits. Presence in several European cities, easy and fast taxi booking.
   • Disadvantages. Not as widespread as Uber and Lyft.
5. MyTaxi (https://www.mytaxi.com/)
   • Benefits. Taxi ordering service with an active presence in European cities, integration with public transport.
   • Disadvantages. Not always as widely available as other global services.
6. Citymapper (https://www.citymapper.com/)
   • Benefits. An excellent application for navigation and route planning in European cities, integration with public transport.
   • Disadvantages. Does not always support ordering a taxi in all regions.

Each of these apps has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice depends on your location and preferences. Before traveling to Europe, make sure that the application you choose is available and active in the city or region where you plan to use it.

Online services for booking excursions and entertainment

Let's be honest with ourselves - most people go on a trip for fun. And that's more than normal! See something new, learn something unknown, try new sensations, foreign cuisine - all these memories will remain with you until the end of your life. And book your “entertainment” going through a travel agency is often unprofitable, and if you are used to studying everything on your own, this is not an option for you. Let's look at applications that will help you with all this. 

Excursions and activities

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “travel” this is an “EXCURSION”. This can often be really very interesting and useful, especially if you like to learn something new about the countries you visit. But excursions can be quite expensive. And finding something cheaper can take a long time, or even be unsafe. Let's look at applications that will help you. 

Here is a list of the 4 best services and applications for excursions and activities in Europe:

1. Viator (https://www.viator.com/)
   • Benefits. A wide selection of excursions, tickets to attractions and activities in many European cities. Reviews and ratings from travelers
   • Disadvantages. Some excursions may be expensive.
2. GetYourGuide (https://www.getyourguide.com/)
   • Benefits. An excellent selection of excursions, tickets and activities in different European cities, intuitive interface and filters.
   • Disadvantages. Prices may vary depending on service provider.
3. TripAdvisor Experiences (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions)
   • Benefits. Search and book excursions and activities with reviews and ratings from travelers, a large selection of offers.
   • Disadvantages. Some excursions may be standardized.
4. Klook (https://www.klook.com/)
   • Benefits. Book excursions, event tickets and activities in different European cities. Offers special discounts and offers.
   • Disadvantages. Not always such a wide selection as in some other applications.

Each of these applications provides a variety of options for excursions and activities in Europe. The choice depends on your location and interests, as well as your preferences regarding price and quality level.

Tickets to events and museums

Many people travel to visit national museums or attend a concert of their favorite band. If you belong to this category of travelers, then there are different applications for you.

Here is a list of the 5 best apps for booking and buying tickets to events and museums in Europe:

1. Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/)
   • Benefits. Wide selection of tickets for concerts, sporting events, theaters and other entertainment in many European cities.
   • Disadvantages. Additional fees may increase ticket prices.
2. Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/)
   • Benefits. A platform for organizing and searching for a variety of events and tickets, including concerts, festivals and master classes.
   • Disadvantages. Additional fees may apply.
3. StubHub (https://www.stubhub.com/)
   • Benefits. Buying tickets to sporting events, concerts and other entertainment. Possibility of purchasing tickets from the secondary ticket market.
   • Disadvantages. Ticket prices from the secondary ticket market may be inflated.
4. Tiqets (https://www.tiqets.com/)
   • Benefits. Online booking of tickets for museums, attractions and attractions in different European cities.
   • Disadvantages. There may be restrictions on the availability of some events.
5. Cultural Places (https://www.culturalplaces.com/)
   • Benefits. Application for booking tickets and exploring cultural events and museums in Europe.
   • Disadvantages. There may be a limited number of events available.

Each of these apps provides different options for purchasing tickets to entertainment and events in Europe. The choice depends on your interests and needs, as well as the availability of tickets in a particular region.

Recommendations for local entertainment

If you are tired of going to museums and concerts, and want something simpler, perhaps with a touch of local culture, there are corresponding applications for you too. However, it should be clarified that a universal application for all countries with such a focus simply does not exist. It would be wise to look for some apps that focus on the country or region where you plan to travel. 

Here is a list of the 5 best apps for finding local entertainment in Europe:

1. Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/)
   • Benefits. Allows you to find events and interest groups in your area. Wide selection of activities
   • Disadvantages. Doesn't always have many events in small towns.
2. Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/)
   • Benefits. Platform for searching and registering for events and activities, including concerts, exhibitions and cultural events.
   • Disadvantages. Additional fees may apply when purchasing tickets.
3. Time Out (https://www.timeout.com/)
   • Benefits. Provides up-to-date information on local entertainment, restaurants, bars and cultural events in various European cities.
   • Disadvantages. Does not always have full coverage for all cities in the region.
4. Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/)
   • Benefits. Reviews and ratings of local businesses, including restaurants, bars and cafes, and the ability to search for entertainment.
   • Disadvantages. The focus is on local businesses.
5. Culture Trip (https://theculturetrip.com/)
   • Benefits. Provides information about local cultural events, arts and local traditions.
   • Disadvantages. Less focus on ratings and reviews.

Each of these apps provides different ways to find local entertainment in Europe. The choice depends on your interests and preferences.

Conclusion

Well, we've looked at the most useful apps for travelers. It is worth noting that the list contains only the best representatives of their “genre”, but sometimes smaller services focused only on certain regions can be better than world-famous giants like Yelp. Before going on a trip, do not forget about other important things - documents, proper clothing, snacks, and so on. And for a more comfortable trip, choose Heybus - we are always here when you need us!