Your smartphone is a powerful planning tool that can help you handle everything from brainstorming to booking your vacation. Use these smart tips and apps to streamline European travel so you’re never more than a tap away from the city’s most comfortable rooms, best hidden gems, and most delicious dining options.
Research Your Options
The internet is an outstanding resource for researching vacation options, and you can easily access the best sites via your smartphone. For a candid evaluation of popular European travel destinations, seek out bloggers who specialize in your type of vacation. Are you looking for a cheap European backpacking trip? Nomadic Matt specializes in digging up affordable options for low-key travelers on a budget. Andrew Harper will clue you in to luxury destinations, such as chic new hotels in Paris or mouth-watering restaurants in Barcelona. Browse your options first, then pinpoint a destination.
Handle Your Bookings
With many travel companies going mobile, it’s easier to make all your essential travel bookings from your smartphone. The GoEuro app for example allows users to search and book transportation including buses, trains, and flights in Europe. The app stores your itinerary as well as your tickets so you have all the essentials in one place for getting from point A to B and beyond
Find the best accommodations for your needs by choosing a hotel booking app that’s tailored to your preferences. If you’re a Hilton Honors member, you can use the hotel’s own apps to make the best use of your rewards points. Looking for something low-key? The Hostelworld app will help you find hostels, hotels, and bed and breakfasts all over Europe. Airbnb has an app that will guide you to one-of-a-kind accommodations hosted by individuals.
Find Attractions
With the right apps in your pocket, you can uncover top attractions throughout Europe. Discover places that are easily overlooked in traditional travel guides by turning to the Spotted by Locals app. For a small fee, you can download guides to dozens of cities throughout Europe, including Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Geneva, Munich, Rome, and Berlin. Your download includes updates for life, so you’ll always have the freshest and most popular picks in hand.
The Fork will help you find the best dining in Europe. You can check restaurant ratings, book a table, and even score discounts up to 50 percent off just by using the app. Take a little time to peruse your options ahead of time so you can secure those hard-to-get tables if you’re looking for fine dining on your trip.
Store Your Itinerary
Your phone is one of the few items you’re almost guaranteed to have on you at all times during your trip. As you plan, store all the essential details in your favorite calendar or planning app. Include things like your confirmation number and contact numbers for hotel reservations or restaurant bookings so you can pull up your plans easily and make adjustments as needed.
With your smartphone in hand, you can handle every aspect of your travel planning. These resources put an unforgettable European escape at your fingertips.
