Travel doesn’t have to be expensive — if you use the right tools. These are the best money-saving travel apps I personally rely on to book flights, avoid fees, and stretch my budget across Europe.
When you’re traveling on a budget, every euro counts. Over the years, I’ve tested a ton of travel apps — some were useful, others were completely pointless. But a few have actually saved me serious money, time, and stress.
This post is a breakdown of the apps and tools I personally use and recommend — whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a full-on backpacking trip across Europe.
Disclosure:
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1. Wise (Formerly TransferWise)
What it does: Lets you send and spend money in different currencies with ultra-low fees.
Why I love it: Wise saved me hundreds in bank charges while hopping across countries with different currencies. It gives you real exchange rates and no surprise fees.
Best for:
Budget travelers crossing multiple borders
Anyone avoiding ATM withdrawal fees
Bonus tip: You can get a multi-currency card that works like a local debit card in dozens of countries.
2. Skyscanner
What it does: Finds cheap flights across all airlines and compares dates.
Why I love it: It’s my go-to for flexible trip planning. The “Everywhere” destination and full-month calendar views help me find the cheapest flights even when I don’t know where I’m going yet.
Best for:
Flexible travel dates
Backpackers looking for deals
One-way, multi-city, or last-minute flights
Search cheap flights on Skyscanner
3. Google Maps
What it does: Maps, walking routes, transit, offline access, reviews — all in one.
Why I love it: It’s more than just navigation. I use Google Maps to save places I want to try, download offline maps, check public transport in real-time, and even find affordable restaurants with high ratings.
Best for:
Offline city exploration
Walking + public transit
Food and hostel recommendations on the go
4. Rome2Rio
What it does: Shows all travel options between two places — train, bus, ferry, rideshare, etc.
Why I love it: Rome2Rio is amazing when traveling between small cities or different countries. It finds cheap and sometimes surprising transport options (like BlaBlaCar rideshares or local buses you’d never find on Google).
Best for:
Intercity connections
Budget-friendly routes across borders
Planning complex multi-stop itineraries
5. Hostelworld
What it does: Lets you search and book hostels with ratings, photos, and filters.
Why I love it: I don’t always book through it (sometimes it’s cheaper to book direct), but it’s the best tool for finding well-rated, clean, cheap hostels in Europe. The reviews are honest and the filters save you a lot of time.
Best for:
Solo travelers
Last-minute accommodation
Filter by rating, price, vibe (party/quiet)
6. Google Sheets
What it does: Keeps track of your budget, itinerary, and plans — all in one place.
Why I love it: I use a simple spreadsheet to track what I spend, log bookings, save addresses, and plan day-by-day itineraries. It works offline and syncs across devices.
Best for:
Organizing everything
Shared travel planning
Budget tracking
You can also duplicate my personal Europe travel template (coming soon).
Final Thoughts
You don’t need 20 apps to travel smarter — just a few solid ones that actually make a difference. These tools help me stretch my budget, avoid unnecessary fees, and stay organized no matter where I go.
Want to see exactly what I packed to stay under 7kg on Ryanair?
Check out my minimalist guide: The Ultimate Packing List for Europe (Under 7kg)
Next up: I’ll share a few personal stories and the travel essentials I never leave behind. Stay tuned.