SAVVY TRAVELLER
DOWNLOAD THESE TRAVEL APPS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT TRIP
SCHEDULE CHEAPER FLIGHTS Looking to take a trip and willing to be flexible on what day and time you plan to depart and return? Simply download the Kayak app, which features a watchlist you can use to create price alerts sent via text or email. All you need to do is select the route you wish to fly, and you will be notified when there’s a drop in fares. Similarly, the Hopper app gives updates on the best prices on any given date as well as suggestions as to the cheapest time in the week, or even which day to book. hopper.com; kayak.com. au/mobile. CONVERT IT Forget doing complicated maths calculations in your head when deciding whether to buy something overseas. Simply download the XE Currency app to instantly convert any amount. The bonus is the app has live exchange rates and charts and if you want to be really savvy you can get alerts which let you know when a currency is working more in your favour. For a small outlay you can get the XE Currency Pro and keep track of even more currencies at one time. xe.com/apps. TRACK YOUR TRAVEL SPEND You’ve worked hard to save for that holiday so it’s good sense to make every cent count. A great way to keep track of all your holiday expenditure is to download Trail Wallet. Just set yourself a daily budget and every time you make a purchase simply input your spend. The app will convert currency for you so you can do it all in Australian dollars. It’s an easy way to check yourself when wondering if you should be buying those shoes or use the same amount of money on a winery region tour, for example. voyagetravelapps.com/trail-wallet.
GET THERE FOR LESS Wondering whether to catch the train, bus or hire a car to get from A to B? When you download the Rome2rio app you can compare various modes of transportation, as well as their prices. Not only can you compare prices, but it will give you estimated travel times as well, so you can really weigh up the options. Rome2rio displays flight, train, bus, ferry, and driving options. rome2rio.com. STAY IN TOUCH Planning on using your mobile overseas? Be careful! Many of us know from past experiences how expensive the bill can be when we forget (or become too lazy) to turn off the mobile data. You can save a heap of money by finding free wi-fi at your destination. The crowd-sourced Wifi Map app finds free wi-fi hotspots and gives you the passwords. While you’re downloading that, turn on Whatsapp as well, so you can keep in touch with your family and friends when there is wi-fi. wifimap.io; whatsapp.com.