Your iPhone could help you beat the winter blues and score a cheap vacation — if you use the right apps. From searching out suitable destinations to booking cheap flights, here are the apps you need to jet set abroad for as little as possible.
LuckyTrip: for finding holiday destinations in your price range
LuckyTrip is a smart, free app that lets users search for destinations within a specific price range. Load it up, set your budget, and the app searches and presents recommendations that match your price — including a flight, a place to stay, and a unique activity to do. Best of all, LuckyTrip lets you keep on rolling the dice and generating new recommendations until you find something that fits. You can book your vacation within the app, or send it off to a friend or family member for their thoughts.
LuckyTrip could serve as a great source of vacation inspiration — and it keeps everything in your chosen price range.
Skyscanner and Google Flights: don’t spend a fortune getting there
Skyscanner can help you find cheap flights by searching across multiple airlines to get you the best deal. The app also makes booking flights as simple as A, B, C. There are no hidden charges in Skyscanner and you can book your flight directly within the app. It’s also possible to organize car hire, train tickets, and even hotels from inside Skyscanner, too.
Skyscanner (left) and Google Flights (right). Both are great apps for finding the best — or rather, cheapest — time to fly.
Google Flights (available at google.com/flights) is a Web-based travel aggregator that also lets you search out cheap flights — you can easily adjust the date to find the cheapest time to fly, and you can track prices to get the best deal.
Airbnb: don’t let a hotel rip you off
More and more people are using Airbnb to book accommodation when going on vacation. You’ll find that great deals are available in the app, and the price you pay could help you save a lot of money. Airbnb is particularly great for self-caterers. You can find apartments, cottages, or full-size villas in the app, with locations spanning from the hustle and bustle of cities to the distant and tranquil countryside.
Airbnb can find you quality accommodation for an affordable price.
So there you have it: forget your travel agent and call on your iPhone the next time you’re looking to book a vacation, and most importantly, be sure to save yourself some cash.