My Favorite Travel Apps

This app is a game changer. It tracks your flights better than the airlines do — you'll get delay notifications before they announce them at the gate. It shows you exactly where your plane is, historical on-time data for your route, and even alerts you if your inbound aircraft is running late. The interface is beautiful and it just works. Worth every penny of the subscription.

If you have lounge access through a credit card (like the Chase Sapphire Reserve), you need this app. It shows you which lounges are available at your airport, hours, what amenities they have, and you can check in digitally. I've discovered lounges I didn't even know existed. Makes long layovers so much more bearable.

Download the app for whatever airline you're flying — Delta, United, American, Southwest, whatever. Enable notifications. You'll get gate changes, delays, and boarding alerts pushed right to your phone. I also use them for mobile boarding passes so I'm not fumbling with paper. If you fly one airline frequently, their app usually has your loyalty info and upgrade status too.

This is how you book campsites at national parks and forests. But here's the real tip: use it to get on waitlists for sold-out campsites. Popular spots like Yosemite or Zion fill up months in advance, but cancellations happen. The app lets you join a waitlist and notifies you when a spot opens up. I've scored last-minute campsites at places that were supposedly booked solid.

The camera feature alone makes this essential. Point your phone at a menu, a sign, anything — and it translates in real time right on your screen. You can also download languages for offline use, which has saved me in places with spotty wifi. The conversation mode is great for back-and-forth with someone who speaks a different language.

I'm a crossword person. The Mini takes just a few minutes and the daily crossword is perfect for longer flights. Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee — they've got a whole games section now. It's my go-to for killing time at the gate or when I'm stuck on the tarmac. A subscription is worth it just for the puzzles.

Simple, offline, endlessly replayable. I like the clean puzzle apps without ads — there are a bunch of good free ones. Great for when you're in airplane mode and need something to focus on that isn't a screen full of notifications.

Rummy Cube but on your phone. It's weirdly addictive and perfect for travel because you can play a quick game or get lost in it for an hour. Works offline, no wifi needed. One of those games that's easy to pick up but keeps you coming back.