I travel for work a few times a year and have figured out through trial and error which apps actually earn space on my phone versus the ones that sound useful and never get opened. Here’s the honest list.
Navigation and transit
Google Maps is the obvious starting point but it’s worth downloading offline maps before you leave. Go to the location > Settings > Offline Maps. A whole city’s map is usually 200-400 MB and completely eliminates the data dependency for navigation.
Citymapper is consistently better than Google Maps for public transit in supported cities. It understands bus routes, tube lines, and bikeshare in real time and gives you clear alternatives when a line is disrupted. Not available everywhere but where it is, it’s noticeably better.
Maps.me uses OpenStreetMap data and works completely offline. Not as polished as Google Maps but excellent backup for areas with limited connectivity.
Communication
WhatsApp is still the most universal messaging app globally. Even if you don’t use it at home, having it installed means you can communicate with businesses, hotels, and locals in most countries without relying on SMS rates.
Google Translate with offline language packs downloaded is the one app I’ve used in genuinely stressful situations – trying to read a medication label in a foreign country, deciphering a menu that had no English, explaining a taxi destination. The camera translate feature (point your phone at text and it translates in real time) is legitimately useful.
Money and payments
Revolut or Wise for currency management if you travel internationally with any regularity. Both offer accounts with multi-currency wallets and favorable exchange rates. The difference between using these and using your home bank card for foreign currency transactions can be meaningful over a long trip.
XE Currency for a quick reference exchange rate that works offline.
Travel logistics
TripIt for organizing flight confirmations, hotel bookings, and itineraries in one place. Forward booking confirmation emails to it and it auto-parses the details.
PackPoint for building packing lists based on your destination, duration, and planned activities. Sounds trivial, sounds essential after you’ve forgotten your adapter three trips in a row.
One underused thing: turn off background app refresh and set your email to manual fetch before you leave. Your battery will last noticeably longer, especially when you’re spending the day away from power outlets.