7 Must-Have Travel Apps for Tourists in 2024

Whether you’re jetting off solo, dragging the family somewhere sunny, or squeezing a city break between work commitments — the apps on your phone can make or break your trip. The good news? There are some genuinely brilliant tools out there that handle the heavy lifting, from finding cheap flights to making sure you don’t arrive at your destination with a suitcase full of regret purchases you can’t actually carry home.

Here are seven travel apps worth downloading before your next adventure, plus one that most travel guides completely miss.

1. Hopper

Hopper is the app for anyone who hates overpaying for flights. It analyses price data to predict when fares are likely to drop, then nudges you with alerts so you can book at the right moment. The “Watch a Trip” feature is particularly handy — set it up for your destination and Hopper keeps an eye on prices so you don’t have to refresh flight search engines every five minutes.

2. Google Maps

Yes, everyone already has it. But are you actually using all of it? Google Maps does far more than point you in the right direction. It surfaces local restaurants, shops, and attractions with real reviews, shows live public transport options, and — crucially — lets you download maps for offline use. That last one is a lifesaver when your roaming data mysteriously disappears the moment you need it most.

3. PackPoint

PackPoint builds you a personalised packing list based on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and what you’re planning to do. If you’re someone who either overpacks or routinely forgets their phone charger, this one’s for you. It removes the guesswork and the last-minute panic.

4. TripIt

Forward your booking confirmation emails to TripIt and it automatically builds a master itinerary — flights, hotels, car hire, restaurant reservations, all in one place. It’s the kind of app that makes you feel quietly organised even when the trip itself is anything but.

5. XE Currency

Stop trying to do currency conversions in your head at a market stall. XE Currency gives you live exchange rates and works offline using the last rates it synced. Simple, accurate, and genuinely useful when you’re trying to figure out whether that handmade jacket is a bargain or a splurge.

6. Airalo

Airalo sells eSIMs for destinations all over the world, which means you can get local data on your phone without swapping physical SIM cards or paying eye-watering roaming charges. Buy before you travel, activate when you land. Done.

7. Pigee

Here’s the one that most travel app roundups skip entirely — and it’s arguably the most practical of the lot for anyone who actually shops when they travel.

Pigee is a courier management platform that lets tourists buy things abroad and ship them straight home, without stuffing extra kilos into a suitcase or paying airline excess baggage fees. Found a beautiful piece of pottery in Lisbon? Spotted a painting you love in a Florence market? Pigee handles the shipping logistics so you can buy with confidence and travel light.

It works the other way around too. If you run a shop, a market stall, a gallery, or any kind of retail business in a tourist-heavy location, Pigee gives your international visitors a proper way to buy from you — even when they can’t physically carry their purchase home. You get the sale. They get the product. No awkward “sorry, we don’t ship” conversations.

• No need to build a separate e-commerce website
• Customers pay through the app and Pigee handles the shipping
• Works for physical goods of all kinds, including fragile or high-value items
• Suitable for any retailer size, from independent traders to established boutiques

Why Your Phone Is Now as Important as Your Passport

Travel apps have quietly become essential kit. They don’t just make trips more convenient — they genuinely change what’s possible. You can navigate a city you’ve never visited, find the best local spots, manage your budget in real time, and now, with Pigee, buy freely without worrying about how you’re going to get everything home.

Together, apps like these cover almost every friction point a modern tourist faces. The only question is which ones make it onto your home screen before your next departure.

Ready to travel lighter and shop smarter? Create your free Pigee account and see how easy it is to send purchases home from anywhere in the world.