Going on holidays with children in tow can be a testing time. From booking your trip (and all that it encumbers!) to packing for an army, plus organising the day-to-day itinerary and dealing with toddler emergencies… surely there’s an app or two for that! Luckily for you mama there just about is… and with our handy roundup of the best free travel apps on the market we may just solve all your vacation woes at the touch of a button. Ready to jet? Scroll down to enter a special giveaway worth $800 from HotelQuickly and book your next holiday destination!
1. HotelQuickly
Ever arrived on holiday to find your accommodation looked nothing like the pictures? We’ve all been there. An emergency relocation normally ensues, made all the more urgent by the fact you have tired tykes snapping at your heels. Enter HotelQuickly — the handy travel agent in your pocket. Not only does it allow you to book top-rate hotels in the Asia-Pacific region at the click of a button, but it also specialises in last minute bookings. With hotels in 10+ countries on their books, plus the ability to make same-day bookings (from midday until 4am) you can be safe in the knowledge you’ll be resting your head somewhere more suitable by nightfall. Psst… keep an eye on their daily-featured accommodation to bag discounts of up to 70%!
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2. Free WiFi Finder
The Holy Grail of travel apps, Free Wi-Fi Finder is perfect for tech-savvy mamas in need of an internet fix, especially when on a trip far from civilisation! You’ll never incur roaming charges ever again with this internet ally – there’s nothing quite like milking the free stuff we say. Just scan your current location for the nearest free wifi hub, before sneaking off to catch up on your… err… emails.
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3. Postagram
In the modern-day digital age it’s super easy to stay in contact with loved ones whilst on holiday, but what about those who aren’t following your every move on Instagram (like the grandparents)? This innovative gadget turns your smart phone photos into postcards in less than 2 minutes! Choose the photo you want to be printed on glossy photocard, then add a message to let them know what you’ve been up to and that’s it! Your shiny postcard will arrive in less than 5 days, avoiding the last minute postcard dash at the airport!
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4. AroundMe
Dragging the little ones on holiday is always a daunting prospect. Long days, lots of walking, and demands that you can’t meet because you’re just as clueless as they are! AroundMe is an app that’s perfect for giving you the local knowledge needed to find somewhere nearby before the tantrums kick in. Whether you require the nearest ATM, doctor, hotel or café, AroundMe will point you in the right direction.
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5. Accuweather
When you’ve spent time and money organising the perfect family holiday, the last thing you want is the heavens to open. Unfortunately this will be always be beyond our control, but at least with Accuweather you can access accurate forecasts so you can plan your days accordingly. If a storm is heading your way you’ll get a notification straight to your phone so you have time to run for cover. What’s more is you’ll get minute-by-minute forecasts that are so precise they can tell you the weather conditions at your exact address. Here’s to the end of vague weather predictions for cities so vast they span different time zones!
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6. Seat Guru
The number 6 pick is this unique travel buddy that helps minimise the stress of flying with young ones. Through customer reviews and photos, you can research the best places to sit on the plane, and get the inside scoop on things like the best seats for extra legroom, how far to aircraft amenities, and whether you’re likely to be woken up by noisy staff in the galley. And if that wasn’t enough, you can receive live flight updates on delays and cancellations to avoid hanging around at the airport any longer than necessary… yes!
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7. XE Currency
An oldie but still a mama’s best friend is this currency converter app. Ditch the long division technique you relied on in the dark ages and simply program your XE currency app to convert the currencies for you. This way you can compare prices with your local currency and never again “accidentally” pay an extortionate amount for that pair of sunglasses you just had to have.
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8. WhatWasThere
If you’ve got that inquisitive itch when exploring new cities then this is the app for you. A virtual time machine, WhatWasThere allows you to look into the past through the lens of your smart phone’s camera. On opening the app WhatWasThere will plot your current location and transport you into the past, showing you what the area used to look like, as well give you a snippet of factual information. Why not get the youngsters involved and get them excited about history whilst outside of the classroom?
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9. Musement
In at number 9 is this portable tourist information centre that is ideal for organising the itinerary of your next last-minute holiday on-the-go. Musement allows you to instantly book and buy tickets for a diverse mix of attractions – all done in-app too. Whether you’re looking for a guided tour, an exhibition or museum, or tickets to a theme park, this practical little app has access to it all. Simply choose your destination and date and get planning.
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10. Trip List
There are countless list-making apps on the market as designers go to town on our poor organisation skills and hectic schedules. Trip List however is aimed specifically at travellers, with unique features including quantity indicators, reminders, and even an item catalogue. Pack more efficiently by choosing from the 250 items in the catalogue and add things to your list as you go. By compiling your holiday lists this way you’re given ideas for travel essentials you didn’t even know you needed – like we needed another excuse to go ‘holiday shopping’!
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Now all that’s left to do is get logged in to your app store and book yourself a holiday to test them all out – the kids will surely approve too!
Sassy Mama Giveaway: For one lucky reader, HotelQuickly app is giving away an $800 voucher, to be used toward your next vacation destination! Simply enter your details below for the chance to win!