Travel & Holidays apps and guides
Flights, hotel deals, car rental and trip planners on your phone: twelve travel booking apps we checked, which loyalty program is worth joining and what to open on airport day. Our top pick is a hotel app.
12 apps · 6 guides · top pick first
See the top pickFlights, hotels and car rental: the shortlist
Best travel booking apps for flights, hotels and car rental
Five apps I would keep for a year of trips, and what each does best. The full guide is a placeholder in this prototype; the shortlist is below.
- IHG One Rewards for member rates and points
- Booking.com for the widest hotel and apartment choice
- KAYAK for flight and car rental price comparison
- Omio for trains and buses across Europe
- GetYourGuide for tours and attraction tickets
Twelve travel booking apps we checked
IHG One RewardsAndroidOur top pickMember rates, points on every stay and the reservation in one place.
Booking.comAndroidHotels, apartments and car rental in one travel booking app.Not built in this prototypeSample
AgodaAndroidCheck one settingHotel deals across Asia, with flight and hotel bundles.Not built in this prototypeSample
AirbnbAndroidHomes and experiences, with shared wish lists for a group trip.Not built in this prototypeSample
ExpediaAndroidFlights plus hotel as vacation packages, with member prices.Not built in this prototypeSample
GetYourGuideAndroidTours and attraction tickets with the meeting point on the card.Not built in this prototypeSample
FlixBusAndroidLong-distance bus tickets with seat choice and live tracking.Not built in this prototypeSample
OmioAndroidTrains, buses and flights across Europe in one search.Not built in this prototypeSample
KAYAKAndroidPrice comparison for flights, hotels and car rental.Not built in this prototypeSample
LyftAndroidWait a weekRides in the US and Canada, with fares shown before you book.Not built in this prototypeSample
GO TaxiAndroidTaxi booking across Japan, in English, from the airport.Not built in this prototypeSample
Google MapsAndroidNavigation, transit times and saved trip plans offline.Not built in this prototypeSample
Rows marked Sample are catalog entries whose pages are not part of this prototype. Store facts on each app page are read from the official listing.
Travel guides: airport days, loyalty programs and vacation packages
- Best picks · AgodaBest travel booking apps for flights, hotels and car rentalFive apps we would keep for a year of trips, and what each does best.
- Compare · IHG One RewardsHotel loyalty programs in an app: points, member rates and the small printWhich chain apps show the real member rate, and when points are worth it.
- How-to · GetYourGuidePlan a weekend trip on your phone with one trip planner and three appsTickets, a map that works offline and one place for confirmations.
- Best picks · LyftAirport day: the five apps I open between check-in and the gateBoarding passes, a taxi, lounge access and the airport map.
- Compare · KAYAKCar rental apps compared: deposits, pick-up and the small printPrice comparison is the easy part; the deposit and fuel policy are not.
- Tips · GmailRead and answer Gmail on a flight without Wi-FiSync the right days before boarding and replies send when you land.
TipsGmailOther categories
How we pick travel apps
For travel I add three questions to our usual checklist. Does the price you see in search match the price at checkout, including taxes, booking fees and the deposit for car rental? Are cancellation and change rules shown before you pay, not after? And does the app still work at the airport, with boarding passes, tickets and confirmations available offline? Hotel deals and flight prices change by the hour, so we never quote them; we judge how clearly the app shows them. Loyalty program apps get credit for member rates only when the same rate is visible to a signed-in member on the date we check. Vacation packages are judged part by part, because a cheap bundle can hide a strict hotel policy.
Travel booking FAQ
Is it cheaper to book hotels in the chain's own app or a travel booking site?
Often neither wins every time. Chain apps such as IHG One Rewards show member rates and earn loyalty program points; booking sites compare many hotels at once. Check the same room, dates and cancellation terms in both before you pay.
Which app should I use for flights and car rental together?
Price comparison apps such as KAYAK search flights and car rental side by side, and some booking sites sell them as vacation packages. Bundles can save money, but read each part's change and cancellation rules separately.
What should I set up before an airport day?
Save boarding passes offline, turn on flight alerts in the airline or trip planner app, and save the offline map of your destination in your maps app. A taxi or ride app set up in advance saves a queue on arrival.