By Meghan Meier
If the plan is to venture to an unfamiliar country to explore the great outdoors, this app will ensure your travels will be well-planned. With a database of digital routes and topographic maps from more than 20 countries, the app lets travelers filter and customize the information that best fits their needs. However, if the goal is to go off-grid, users have the option to store maps on their phones and remain offline. // iOS and Android; free app with additional fees depending on map preference
In the palm of their hands, users have access to up-to-date information and detailed maps that cover the globe. With a comprehensive mainframe, users not only have the option to customize routes and maps that best reflect their travels, but they can also locate restaurants, hotels and other attractions that correspond to their trip. // iOS and Android; free
It doesn’t matter where you are heading, this app allows you access to free offline maps and customize the routes you take and the places you visit with the help of shared reviews and ratings from fellow travelers. // iOS ($4.99) and Android ($3.99)
By design, the app is programmed for anyone to be able to download any city, small town or spot in the middle of nowhere from its library of over 25,000 locations. But this application is something more than a navigational system; it also provides offline travel guides with information on thousands of restaurants, hotels and public transportation that will make each trip a smooth ride. // iOS; $4.99
This all-inclusive app was designed specifically for the everyday traveler. Users can download maps, local restaurants, hotels and other destinations in over 300 cities worldwide. To help stay in the loop with what’s happening at any given destination, globetrotters can look up reviews and opinions from travelers around the world before visiting. // iOS and Android; free
Let’s face it: Traveling without your music library would most likely end in disaster. To make sure you have all your favorite albums and artists with you every step of the way, this lifesaving app allows you to build up your music collection on your phone for use offline, giving you the ability to listen anywhere and at any time. // iOS and Android; free
If you are looking for a good read, this app will ensure all the titles you crave are right by your side. With over 3 million books and audiobooks to choose from, readers can customize their mobile library and enjoy their favorite books whether on the ground or in the sky. // iOS and Android; free
Maybe you love to travel but are not a wizard when it comes to currency conversion. Providing the latest currency rates and a calculator, this app is a necessity because it will do the math for you. // iOS and Android; $1.99
Google Translate
If you are need of some translating assistance, this little app will help in big ways. Whether it is a sign or text phrase, all you need to do is take a picture on your smartphone, and the app will instantly translate the contents. The app also has a speech translator. // iOS and Android; free
