Don't miss the chance to download some of the best and most innovative travel apps which allow you to save money, time and effort while you're travelling. Your phone can be a source of revolutionary information, so you can see global time zones at the click of a button, watch night sky constellations come to life in front of your eyes and help you navigate the city like a local as soon as you arrive. A little effort in planning which apps will accompany you on your trip will mean you're sure to have a holiday to remember.
Night Sky (image)
For budding astronomers, Night Sky is a beautiful app that's ideal to use while visiting dark sky destinations. Download the app to your phone or tablet, and the next time you're staring up at the stars you can use it to identify the expanse above you. It provides an added dimension to your stargazing with a visual representation of the constellations on your phone screen, which change as its held up to different sections of the sky. Interact with the map it provides to learn about the constellations, from Ursa Major to Cassiopeia. It's a personal planetarium which adds fun and education to your picturesque view.
Citymapper
It's often stressful to navigate a new city, but Citymapper, a transport and travel app which works in nearly 40 different cities worldwide, will put you at ease. From Stockholm to Sydney, select your start and end positions, and wait for the app to provide you with a myriad of real time transport information. You can discover the quickest route to your destination, a completely dry route if it's raining, as well as up-to-date travel information about buses and trains. If you prefer to travel on foot or by two wheels, the app also shows you potential cycle and walking routes. Citymapper also expertly calculates accurate estimated arrival times using current traffic data and gives you information about delays.
UVLens
It's important to take care of your health while travelling, and UVLens is an app that can manage your suncream routine while you're away. The app calculates the UV index as you travel from place to place using innovative technology, and provides you with live reports that prompt you to load up on SPF or stay indoors, all so you can protect your skin from sun damage while visiting sunnier climes. It also cleverly provides you with a personalised UV protection guide tailored to your skin type. Keep updated each day of your holiday and use the app to stay healthy.
Duolingo
The language app to replace all others, Duolingo works best when you download it in the run up to your trip, so you can master the grammar and vocabulary basics prior to arriving. From French to Vietnamese and Swedish to Swahili, the app uses science-based gamification technology to make learning languages fun and help cement the new words you learn in no time. You'll have picked up a basic level of language use by the time you arrive, allowing you to greet locals and order food at restaurants with ease as soon as you touch down.
Circa
If you've ever struggled to organize chats or meetings with friends and colleagues in different time zones, Circa is the app for you. The clear interface works on both Apple iPhones, tablets and watches, and provides a visual representation of the current time in different parts of the world. From New York to Shanghai, you can keep track of changing time zones with zero effort. Organize virtual work meetings through the app, keep track of sleep patterns or arrange when to video call a friend or loved one at a time when you're both awake.