Planning
Essential travel apps to install before you go
Before you fly, install your airline and hotel apps, an offline map for your destination, a translation app with downloaded languages, and whatever local transit app the city uses. Skip downloading dozens of one-off tourist apps — a good map plus official transit beats a cluttered home screen.
Last updated 2026-08-05
Core four
- Offline maps — download the city region over Wi‑Fi.
- Airline app — boarding passes and delay notifications.
- Translation — download language packs offline.
- Local transit — official metro/bus app when one exists.
Worth adding for some trips
- Hotel or booking app for messaging the front desk.
- Ride-hail where regulated apps exist.
- Museum or timed-entry apps for cities that require QR tickets.
- Split-bill app if traveling in a group.
Skip or defer
City “audio guide” apps you will use once, duplicate weather apps, and anything that requires account signup at the gate. Add food delivery apps after arrival if locals actually use them.
More planning guides
Airport transfer: train, taxi, or pre-booked ride
Take public transit when it is safe, direct, and you travel light. Pre-book a transfer when you land late, have heavy luggage, travel with children, or the official taxi rank is known for hassle. Rideshare and official taxi ranks work in many cities if you confirm the pickup zone and avoid touts inside the terminal.
ESTA, eTA, and electronic travel authorizations
Many countries require an electronic travel authorization before you fly — not a full visa, but mandatory pre-clearance linked to your passport (US ESTA, Canada eTA, UK ETA, Australia ETA, and the upcoming EU ETIAS). Apply only on official government sites; third-party “expeditors” markup a free or low-cost form. Approval is not guaranteed — errors or ineligible past visits can mean denied boarding.
First international trip
Your first international trip goes smoother when you fix immovable items early: valid passport, entry rules, flights, and insurance. Then layer lodging, airport transfer, and phone data. Save packing and restaurant research for last — they change least if documents are wrong.
How much to budget for a trip
Start with nightly lodging and daily food/transport bands for your destination and travel style, multiply by trip length, then add fixed costs: international flights, airport transfers, insurance, visas, and one-off tours. Add 10–20% buffer for surprises — estimates only; our country and city pages show static bands, not live prices.
International travel documents checklist
Before an international trip, confirm passport validity for your destination’s rules, check visa requirements on official government sites for your nationality, save digital and paper copies of bookings and insurance, and carry the physical passport on travel days — photos on your phone are backup, not a substitute at border control.
Passport validity rules
Many countries require your passport to stay valid for three or six months after your planned departure date — not just through the trip. Airlines check at check-in and can refuse boarding even if the border would have let you in. Renew early if your passport is within a year of expiry and you travel internationally often.
Apply this on your trip
Planning guidance only — not legal, medical, or booking advice. Verify entry rules, insurance terms, and prices on official or partner sites before you travel.