01/08/2025

LYFE FRIDAY | AUG 1, 2025

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Travel apps centralise all your bookings and plans in one place. – ALL PICS FROM PEXELS

There is even an app to help with packing.

Real-time alerts and updates help you stay ahead of cancellations and price drops.

Digital travel buddies

Premium fee) allows integration with TripIt for smooth planning. Splitwise When travelling with friends or family, money can get messy. Splitwise is the easiest way to track shared costs such as meals, tickets, taxis and ensure everyone pays their fair share. Each person logs what they have paid, and the app does the math to settle the balance. It is free and essential for avoiding the awkward “who owes who” conversations. Roadtrippers If your ideal holiday is a road trip with epic stops along the way, Roadtrippers is your guide. Build your route and the app will suggest quirky roadside attractions, scenic viewpoints, local diners and unique accommodations. You can plan for up to seven waypoints for free, but serious roadies may want to subscribe to Roadtrippers Plus to unlock unlimited stops and offline maps. Google Translate Language barriers should not stop you from experiencing in a new culture. Google Translate goes far beyond basic phrasebooks with features such as camera translation (point your phone at menus or signs), voice translation and offline access to 100+ languages. It is free and regularly updated making it an essential travel companion in places where Malay or English is not widely spoken. Culture Trip Culture Trip is curated content meets booking platform. Browse local guides, off-the-beaten-path recommendations and cultural insights written by locals and travel experts. Once you are inspired, you can book hotels and experiences directly through the app. It is ideal for travellers who want something different from the standard things to do lists. And yes, it is completely free. With the right apps on hand, you can make the process smooth, save money, stay organised and focus on what matters: enjoying the journey. Let these digital tools do the heavy lifting. (a one-time

and terminal alerts. The free version works brilliantly for most travellers, but the Pro upgrade (annual subscription) offers real-time flight alerts and alternate route suggestions that are gold during delays. Hopper Hopper helps you book and also save. The app analyses billions of price data points to predict the cheapest time to buy flights and hotels. It colour-codes calendars, so you know exactly when prices spike and it notifies you when fares drop. You can even freeze a price for a limited time while you decide. No subscription fee, just potential savings. PackPoint Packing is not everyone’s strong suit. PackPoint generates a custom packing list based on your destination, travel dates, planned activities and even the weather forecast. It thinks of things you might forget such as a power adapter or gym shoes for hotel workouts. The free version does the job, but

M ANAGING your travel plans can be overwhelming. It include things such as booking flights, accommodations or even finding local hotspots and splitting costs with friends. Fortunately, the digital age has gifted us with apps that streamline every step of the journey. Available on iOS and Android, here are seven travel apps that are free and paid, which will change how you plan your next escape. TripIt If you are someone who books flights, hotels and car rentals across different sites, TripIt is your personal travel PA. Forward your confirmation emails to the app and watch as it compiles a neat, easy-to-navigate itinerary that is complete with maps, weather updates o Seven apps for breezy planning Ű BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN

Splitwise is an app that helps keep track of shared expenditures when travelling with friends.

Culture Trip help pinpoint culturally exciting destinations for tourists.

TripIT helps tourists with bookings in different countries.

Roadtrippers helps travellers maximise their adventure by highlighting interesting sights on a route.

A variety of travel apps make the journey more interesting.

Travel apps cut down planning time, letting you focus more on experiences.