Best travel apps 2023, according to Apple. You’ll want to bookmark this.
Apple’s App Store editors came together and picked the best travel apps of 2023 — 20 in total.
Some may be familiar to you already, including Airbnb, Lyft, Uber, Hopper, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and KAYAK. Plus, Apple spotlighted some popular swift-entry apps, including CLEAR and MyTSA, but what about the remaining 11?
Here are Apple’s favorite apps for iPhone-owning travel enthusiasts.
The best travel apps of 2023, according to Apple
1. Flighty
Apple slapped an Editor’s Choice award on Flighty because of its informative, comprehensive flight maps and top-tier forecasting on delays.
But what the Cupertino-based tech giant really digs about this app is its “perfectly timed notifications that keep you up to date and stress free.” Plus, it tells you when you should be heading to the airport, explains exactly which runway you’ll be on, and delves into details about your plane.
Not only do users find it helpful for tracking their own flights, but it’s useful for keeping an eye on your incoming friends and relatives.
2. Currenzy
Based on its name, it’s not difficult to determine what this app can do. As you might have guessed, Currenzy facilitates currency conversion calculations. (Whew, how’s that for alliteration?)
If you’re shopping in a foreign country, or you can’t make sense of the prices on the menu items in a restaurant, the Currenzy app comes in handy, making it Apple’s top pick for travel apps.
3. The MICHELIN Guide
One of the most head-scratching questions you must answer during your travels is, “Where the hell do I eat?”
As a foreigner, you often have no idea which restaurants serve the best food. You can rely on TripAdvisor and Yelp for reviews, but if you’re a gastronomy connoisseur, you may want to consider using the Michelin Guide app to book reservations with the best eateries in the world.
4. Turo
If you find yourself in a country that doesn’t have the most reliable public transportation, or you simply want the freedom of driving everywhere without depending on taxis, Turo is beneficial for you.
Touted as “the largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace,” Touro is the Airbnb of the car-rental market. Hosts all over the world lend their cars to travelers seeking to explore new surroundings in a rental. You can choose between a rugged truck or a more luxe, smoother ride.
5. GasBuddy
If you’re going to be using Turo, you might as well download GasBuddy, too.
This app helps you find the cheapest gas stations near your location, which is helpful for saving a few bucks. Traveling is already expensive, so if you can spare some change, it will add up in your favor in the end.
6. TripIt
TripIt serves as an all-in-one hub for your travel plans. So instead of looking at one app for your flight details and another for your accommodation information, you can forward your confirmation emails to TripIt.
As a result, all of your travel plans, including flight, car rental information, and restaurant reservations, are organized in one place.
7. Bird
If you don’t care for rentals nor taxis, and you prefer e-scooters, the Bird app is your friend.
Bird landed on Apple’s “best travel app” list because it lets users get access to e-scooters in over 350 cities around the world.
8. HotelTonight
HotelTonight does something called “Daily Drops”; it notifies you about steep discounts on hotels.
According to the Editor’s Notes in the Apple App Store, HotelTonight discovers unsold rooms at tempting prices — with a seamless and streamlined interface to boot.
9. SpotHero
Beneficial to travelers who plan to drive in busy cities, SpotHero helps you find parking spots — and reserve them, too.
This way, you don’t have to worry about the headache of discovering garages and parking lots in unfamiliar, heavily populated cities.
10. RoadTrippers
There’s even an app for adventurous travelers who prefer roadtripping. Catering to users in U.S. and Canada, this app caught Apple’s eye because it has a whopping 38 million pre-planned trips.
As such, you can use the RoadTrippers app to use pre-made trip guides for a smooth-sailing journey from A to B.
11. Mobile Passport by Airside
If you’ve been traveling abroad, and you want to regain entry into the United States, this app — Mobile Passport by Airside — streamlines the process with mobile passport control.
Through the app, you can submit your travel documents and details to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Once you’re approved, you’ll get an encrypted QR code that you can show the CBP officer.
Look for the mobile passport control sign at the airport and you’ll find that your entry will go a lot smoother. You’ll wonder why you didn’t know about this app sooner.
