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APPS TO USE

DONT START YOUR TRAVELS WITHOUT THESE HELPFUL TRAVEL APPS!

All of the resources below are simply my suggestions based on what we used while traveling in the van or backpacking. I am not paid by any of these companies.

There are also MANY other apps out there and I encourage you to try lots of them to find what works best for you!

Click Below to Learn More

Vanlife:
- iOverlander
- Facebook Groups
Communication:
- Whatsapp
- Zoom
- Wifi Calling
- SIM Cards
Translators:
- Google Translate
- Spanish Dict

Picture Diaries:
- Polarsteps
- 1 Second Everyday
Getting Around:
Hostels/Hotels/Homestays:
- Kayak
- Airbnb

Car Transportation:
- Uber
- Grab
Money Matters:
Entertainment:

App Menu

iOverlander

Vanlife:

iOverlander application screenshot

iOverlander

- A crowd sourced app by other vanlifers including mechanics, instructions for crossing borders, checkpoints, warnings for dangerous roads or scams, clean water, dump stations, fuel, propane, campsites, laundry, vehicle storage, etc.

Cost: free

Works Offline

PanAmerican Travelers Association Facebook Group Screenshot

Facebook Groups

- Various groups that provide searchable, crowd sourced help on traveling and living the vanlife

- Search for the countries/continents you'll be visiting or simply vanlife or overlanding

- Ex: PanAmerican Travelers Association & Overlanding South and Central America

Cost: free

Quick responses and help from the online communities

Facebook Groups

Whatsapp

Communication:

Whatsapp

- The prominent form of texts and calling in most countries

- Great for keeping in touch with family and friends from home too

- Don't leave home without this one downloaded! You'll need it at some point guaranteed.

Cost: free

Works with wifi or data

Zoom App Screenshot

Zoom

- Free video chat app which is great for groups

- Became common place during Covid crisis and is relatively mainstream now for video chatting so many of your friends and family from home will already have it

Cost: free

Ideal for keeping in touch with groups of friends or family

Screenshot of Wifi Calling Feature on iPhone

Wifi Calling

- Available on iPhones but not Samsung

- Clarity of call dependent on the strength of the wifi

- Should be zero charges from your cell phone company for these calls

Cost: free

Best method for calling family members who don't want more apps

Smart Phone with Rocky Crags

SIM Cards

-Not an app, but a great resource on SIM cards for every country

-T-mobile also has a pretty friendly international service option for only $30/month you get unlimited data in over 200 countries but only at 2G speeds. Good for googlemaps but not streaming!

Cost: variable (see link)

So many places have free wifi these days you may need nothing!

Zoom

Wifi Calling

Google Translate

SIM Cards

Translators:

Screenshot of Google Translate App

Google Translate

- It's Google...so you know its about as accurate as it gets!

- Will have every language you need

- Options to type, speak, take picture or scan photos of text, and real-time conversations

Cost: free

All languages with lots of input options

Screenshot of SpanishDict App

Spanish Dict

- Only ideal if you're going to a Spanish speaking country obviously

- Very useful when you don't have service!

- Also can help teach you Spanish

Cost: free

Works offline

Spanish Dict

Polarsteps

Picture Diaries:

Polarsteps Screenshot

Polarsteps

- Cool app to track your entire journey by entering dates, location, and pictures and share them

- Warning: this app may take up LOTS of storage on your phone if photos do not upload to the Polarstep company servers (which happened to me and Customer Service could not help)

Cost: free but book costs $50-150 for hundreds of photos

Order a book of your route with pictures and dates afterward!

1 Second Everyday Screenshot

1SE (1 Second Everyday)

- Add a photo or video clip from each day of your trip

- At the end of the trip, app compiles the entries to see a full video of the entire journey using 1 second of video or picture from every day!

Cost: free

Cool way to see a 1 second clip from every day of your trip

1SE

Google Maps

Getting Around:

GoogleMaps Screenshot

Google Maps

- No explanation needed, right?

- Don't get "Googled"! Some routes in remote areas do not always exists or have good roads so check iOverlander for any warnings on less than ideal looking roads

Cost: free

Still works offline if you load directions while having service or wifi

Skiplagged Screenshot

Skiplagged

- My go to search engine for cheap flights- I book 100% of my flights via this site

- Not all routes include "skipped legs" but I've also never had problems with the ones that do

- Will route you to different sites to book, but have never had an issue with any of them

Cost: free

Share you personal link with others and receive $25 back for every flight booked

Budbud Screenshot

Busbud

- Easy online booking platform for buses in many countries

- Book one way or round-trip and multiple methods of payment

- Typically don't need to book more than a few days out but keep an eye on busy routes

Cost: free

Most bookings can be changed or cancelled up to a few hours before the trip

Skiplagged

Busbud

Kayak

Hostels/Hotels/Homestays:

Kayak Screenshot

Kayak

- No explanation likely needed, but this is just my go to search engine site for hostels and hotels

- Has a better map view function than Booking.com and offers links to other sites to compare costs

- Often better deals for better quality places than Airbnb has in 2nd and 3rd world countries

Cost: free

Often cheaper/higher quality options than Airbnb especially in lower cost countries

Airbnb Screenshot

Airbnb

- Always worth searching Airbnb for available rentals in an area

- Especially useful for big groups or long-term stays in one place

- Check cancellation policies VERY carefully

Cost: free

Read ALL reviews- we have been burned by a LOT of airbnbs abroad. Just be careful...

Airbnb

Uber

Car Transportation:

Uber Screenshot

Uber

- Works in a surprising amount of places

- Helps a LOT when you don't have local currency since your credit card is already connected

- Must have wifi or service to order a car

Cost: free

Works in most countries except Asia where Grab is the go to

Grab Screenshot

Grab

- This is the Uber for Asia

- VERY cheap

- Lots of options including cars, motorbikes, food, etc.

Cost: free

Very cheap and easy to sign up and use. A must have for Asia trips.

Grab

XE Currency

Money Related Apps:

XE Currency Screenshot

XE Currency

- Always useful to have an app to convert local currencies to your home country currency

- Exchange rate in real-time

- Easy to use interface with hundreds of currencies

Cost: free

Works offline and has TONS of currencies

Splitwise Screenshot

Splitwise

- Worth downloading ahead of time if traveling with others who you need to split costs with

- Also comes in handy when you meet new people traveling and start to split bills at dinner or elsewhere

Cost: free

Makes splitting bills super easy!

RBC Screenshot

Personal Banking Apps

- You should always have your personal banking apps downloaded ahead of time

- Ideal to sign up for an account that offers no fee ATM withdraws worldwide if possible

- Also a good idea to bring a certain amount of cash from your home country just in case

Website

Cost: free

A must have! (RBC image just an example)

Splitwise

Pesonal Banking Apps

Culture Trip

Entertainment:

Culture Trip Screenshot

Culture Trip

- My go to blog for searching for what to do in each new area

- Constantly updating new articles on places and usually reliable information

- Can look up top 10 things to do, places to eat, cultural suggestions, etc.

Cost: free

Can download articles to read offline as well

Netflix Screenshot

Netflix

- Obvious one but will come in handy when you have lots of downtime or on long travel days

- Can download movies and shows when you have wifi and watch offline

- Worth the cost!

Cost: Monthly subscription cost ranges by country

Can download shows and movies to watch offline

Audible Screenshot

Audible

- A must have for long drives!

- Can sign up for a monthly subscription to get one book a month or pay per book

- Download books and listen offline

Cost: App is free; monthly subscription and per book costs depend on country or book

Can download books and listen offline

Netflix

Audible

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