Travelling abroad can be stressful. Especially when you are on the hunt for a story. Relax into your next overseas assignment with these 3 (free) apps that will allow you to focus on what is important.
1. MAPS.ME
There is a reason that over 100 million travellers use and love MAPS.ME. The free, offline map service offers turn-by-turn navigation for every country in the world.
All you have to do is search for the region that you are planning to travel to and download the specific map before you travel. You will then have access to the app’s navigational tools without requiring Internet and without incurring pesky data charges. You can even search within your downloaded maps, whether for the nearest pharmacy, ATM or place to stay.
The detail is dazzling. Unlike most city-based navigational apps, MAPS.ME includes hiking and biking trails, as well as roads. It even charts the nomadic footpaths of the Little Pamir in Afghanistan—one of the world’s most remote inhabited places on earth.
The reason it can do this is that it uses OpenStreetMap data—a community-driven and completely open source. Each map is updated once or twice a month to ensure accuracy, and a plethora of contributors continually add new data to the app.
As if all this was not enough, MAPS.ME also has a handy blog, which features a range of travel articles covering everything from Beatles tours of Liverpool to Mayan sites in Mexico.
2. Polarsteps (optional in-app purchases)
Polarsteps is effectively an automated travel blogging app, doing all of the background work so you don’t have to.
As well as tracking your exact routings down to the very street you have travelled, the app collates together notes, photos and locations onto one polished platform.
The digital map feature charts your journey in an aesthetically pleasing way and is great for sharing with loved ones back home or with colleagues keen to keep an eye on your travels.
Polarsteps does all of this without using mobile reception. Instead it uses GPS, which then synchronizes the data onto the app when you find yourself back online.
The app also offers you the chance to produce a slick hard-back travel book with your photos, notes and routing—a great option for those who struggle to find Christmas presents for their parents.
3. TripIt (optional in-app purchases)
Gone are the days of having to keep your plane tickets, hotel booking information, car rental reservations and itineraries in a flimsy plastic wallet. TripIt’s “Master Itinerary” is the answer.
All the app needs you to do is send it your email confirmations. Within seconds TripIt will then organise them all into one, neatly laid out itinerary. It doesn’t matter who you booked through, or what it is you have booked—it will be instantly added to your trip.
For the paid Pro version ($49 per year), TripIt will become even more intuitive. It will let you know if a better seat becomes available on your upcoming flight, alert you to airfare price drops even after you have book and will also give you live reminders to check-in online or to flag up changes to your flight times.
What is more, the Pro version of the app makes it easy to share your travel plans with other people—perfect if you are relying on being picking you up from train stations or airports.