Gone are the days of overpaying for flights, struggling to book a place to stay for holidays or for traveling also suffering through horrible meals at substandard restaurants. But thanks to technology that has helped us with so many available apps and gadgets which are definitely going to save us a lot of time and money or make our trip more fun? Apps that act like a travel agent and gadgets that work as a suitcase and a phone charger, Here is the list of coolest products we should be carrying on next trip.
1. Hopper tells you when to book your flight to maximize savings.
Hopper
The basic premise of Hopper is that you set up what days you want to fly, then Hopper sends push notifications telling you how prices are changing and recommends when you should buy. Then you can buy tickets for your flight directly in the app.
Hopper is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
2. Pack Simply lets you design a custom TSA-approved travel kit for cheap and ship it straight to your door.
Pack Simply
Pack Simply is trying to take the hassle out of buying travel-sized toiletries by offering the ability to build a Transportation Security Administration-approved toiletry bag online. Pack Simply ships the bag to you, packed and ready for your trip.
The platform is simple and works like most e-commerce sites. Pack Simply divides the toiletries into several categories (shampoo, shaving, medicine, etc.) and lets you add products to your cart. Each category has about 10-15 products to choose from, and if you spend more than $20 on products, Pack Simply tosses in the $4 clear plastic travel bag for free.
3. Overnight helps you find a place to crash last-minute.
Overnight
Overnight offers on-demand booking of short-term rentals — think Airbnb meets Hotel Tonight. Overnight’s rentals are often cheap (you can book private rooms or entire homes), and users can often find accommodations in 10 minutes or less.
4. Away’s luggage charges your phone while you wait for your flight.
Away
Imagine a world where your luggage rolls effortlessly next to you, you can charge your phone without searching the airport high and low for an outlet, and you don’t have to struggle to jam your heavy bag in an overhead compartment.
That’s the world Away wants to provide with its line of modern, durable suitcases.
The New York-based startup, which launched in early 2016, aims to create “the perfect suitcase.” The company makes carry-on bags and full-size suitcases, along with accessories like luggage tags and travel blankets.
5. Lola is like having a travel agent in your pocket.
Lola
Created by Kayak cofounder Paul English, Lola is an app with a messaging interface that connects users with a team of travel consultants who can take care of every step of the planning process. The app uses a combination of artificial intelligence and an experienced staff to provide travelers with an alternative to many of the DIY travel websites out there.
6. The Infatuation is your cool friend who knows all the best restaurants.
The Infatuation
If Lola is your travel agent, The Infatuation is your best friend — who just so happens to be a well-traveled foodie. The app provides reviews and guides for restaurants and bars in seven US cities and even more worldwide.
But the best part of The Infatuation is how specific it is — meaning it almost never steers you wrong. Looking for a place you can take a screaming child (and not get death stares)? There’s a guide for that. Need a restaurant (or 35) where you could get away with eating in your gym clothes? The Infatuation is here to help.
Download The Infatuation’s app on the App Store or the Google Play Store.
7. G. Spotting is a curated travel directory from Gwyneth Paltrow herself.
Goop
If you’ve ever wanted to travel like Gwyneth Paltrow, there’s an app that can help. G. Spotting — from the team at Goop — is a highly curated directory of places to visit in 27 destinations worldwide. The app helps you find a restaurant, pick places to shop, choose a hotel, and dress like a local.
Download G. Spotting from the App Store or the Google Play Store.
8. Skybuds wireless earbuds will eliminate tangled cords while you travel.
Avery Hartmans/Business Insider
Alpha Audiotronics’ Skybuds are fully wireless earbuds for people who hate the look of Apple’s AirPods. The buds come in three colors — black, silver, and white — and cost $220.
Skybuds aren’t perfect by any means. The battery life is fairly short, and at $220, they’re something of an investment. But if you’re ready to embrace going wireless — or are just sick of getting tangled up in your headphone cords — Skybuds are a solid choice.
9. The popular game “Ballz” will alleviate airport boredom.
Dave Smith/Business Insider
“Ballz” is a crazy-addictive game that’s here to save you from the tedious wait to board your flight.
The game is similar to “Breakout” — you have to use a ball to break through numbered tiles. The number on a tile signifies the number of times you have to hit it before it breaks. But the best part about “Ballz” is that you don’t need an internet connection to play, so the game could last you through your flight.
Learn how to download it from the App Store or the Google Play Store.
10. VSCO will make your vacation photos look professionally shot and Instagram-ready.
App Store
VSCO is a free app that lets you fine-tune your photos — with beautiful results. It’s easy to make minor adjustments to your photos or test the variety of filters available, and the app often adds new filters to its marketplace (although not all of them are free). While Instagram is catching up when it comes to editing capabilities, VSCO is still the best photo-editing app out there.
VSCO is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
11. Mophie’s Powerstation saves you from hunting for an outlet.
Mophie
Running out of juice in an unfamiliar place is one of the worst feelings — and the most easily fixable. While there are plenty of portable batteries on the market for giving your phone a few extra minutes of life, Mophie’s Powerstation Plus XL is the one to get. It charges your phone superfast, comes in sleek designs, and can charge two devices at once.
12. Google Maps lets you create and share a list of recommendations within the app.
Google
In February, Google rolled out an update for iOS and Android devices that lets people build and share lists of recommended places within Google Maps. Users can follow their friends’ lists, as well as view and edit them on the desktop version of Maps. Lists are also available to view and edit offline.
The feature is perfect for travel, both for helping your friends and family on future trips or simply remembering all the places you visited while you were there.
Google Maps is available in the App Store and the Google Play Store.
13. Tab makes it easier than ever to split the bill.
Tab
Tab wants to eliminate the headache of trying to split a bill among a large party. The app lets you take a photo of the check, select your items, and calculate the correct tax and tip each person should pay.
Tab is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
14. Turo is like Airbnb but for renting cars.
Turo
Turo lets you rent a car directly from its owner rather than going through companies like Hertz or Enterprise. You can rent cool cars, like a Tesla Model S or a Range Rover Sport, or choose something a bit more dependable, like a Toyota Camry or Jeep Compass. Either way, it’s all done through the app and may help you get a better rate than at the big rental companies.
Turo is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
15. The Light Phone lets you enjoy experiences without being distracted by your smartphone.
Light
The Light Phone is the anti-smartphone. It does two things, and two things only: sends calls and receives them. It doesn’t text, connect to Twitter, or have a camera. All you can do with the Light Phone is have your calls sent to it via call forwarding and program in 10 speed dials.
The phone costs $150 and may be the perfect vacation phone. While it’s scary to be disconnected, there are times when you should get off your smartphone and enjoy the world around you, like visiting the beach, going on a hike, or simply enjoying a meal with friends or family. The Light Phone lets you do that.
16. Dufl wants to eliminate the pain of packing.
DUFL
Dufl caters to frequent business travelers. The app sends your bag to your destination for you, then washes or dry cleans all your clothes when you’re done. Your clothes are then stored until your next trip. The storage service is $10 a month, and each bag sent to your destination costs $99 roundtrip, including the cleaning and repacking.
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