5 apps for travel enthusiasts from a girl who has traveled to 29 countries around the world.

Travel blogger Jessi Vũ (Vũ Minh Điệp, 33 years old) currently lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City. This adventurous traveler, who has had the opportunity to travel to 29 countries, will share her experiences and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of five travel apps she frequently uses on her trips in this article.

1. Rome2rio

Travel enthusiasts are probably familiar with Rome2rio, a tool for finding transportation, optimizing routes, and saving costs on trips.

Simply enter your departure and destination locations, and all available transportation options, along with travel times and costs, will appear simultaneously. This allows customers to choose or combine suitable modes of transport for their trip. For example, if you depart from Paris to Amsterdam, the app will immediately display 8 available results, as illustrated below.

The first result is considered the "optimal" for your trip. Click on the blue bus ticket icon with bus travel results to learn more about departure times, operating companies, and routes. If you are concerned about cost, you can check the green "cheapest" results to choose the most economical mode of transportation.

"When traveling to Europe, this app maximizes its ability to find transportation, offering many suitable transport service options," Jessi Vu shared. However, this is also the app's limitation, as it only focuses on coverage in Europe and the US.

If you use it on your phone (iOS or Android), the features are less convenient than searching via the website on a computer. iOS users can only enter one starting point and one destination at a time, unlike Android users who can enter multiple points simultaneously. You also need to use other apps to get an accurate estimate of your train or bus fare, as the prices displayed on this app are only approximate.

2. Gate

Skyscanner is used to compare prices for flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals. Currently, the app supports 30 languages ​​and attracts over 100 million users every month.

Skyscanner is an intermediary that aggregates flight tickets from various airlines. Please note that only airlines with an API connection will have their prices displayed on this site. For example, flights operated by Bamboo Airways will not appear in search results on this page.

Jessi Vu often uses Skyscanner to search for and compare flight prices. The first advantage is its user-friendly interface, with fast and convenient search results. Furthermore, the app allows users to search by month (when they don't know their travel dates) to find the cheapest fares within that month.

Skyscanner acts solely as an intermediary, searching for and comparing cheap flights but lacking booking and payment capabilities. After finding a suitable flight, users are redirected to the provider's website. Note that the results appearing first on this app are often "sponsored," not necessarily the most convenient flights. Furthermore, the prices displayed in the search bar are not the final prices (new prices will be shown on the partner website).

3. Klook

Klook is a young startup that has experienced rapid growth in its past 9 years of operation. The app allows users to book a wide variety of tickets for attractions, train and bus tickets, tours, dining, entertainment, spa treatments, cooking classes, and more.

You can plan ahead, calculate the cost of your trip, and avoid waiting or contacting other agencies to buy tickets when booking through this app. "What I like most about Klook is that you earn points after each transaction. The app also offers many discount codes compared to the price of buying directly at the destination," Jessi Vu shared.

However, Klook also has some drawbacks to be aware of when using it. "During my trip to the Philippines in February 2019, I purchased an island tour service on Klook. The actual number of destinations in the tour was less than described in the booking information. The service provider then claimed that the island was currently closed to visitors or undergoing renovations," Jessi recounted. She also emphasized that the issue lies with the service provider, with Klook acting only as an intermediary. If you encounter difficulties or problems during your trip, contact and provide feedback through these apps to receive a refund or a satisfactory resolution.

4. Traveloka

Traveloka can be considered one of the most "comprehensive" apps, comparable to integrated apps like Klook or Skyscanner. With over 100 million downloads, approximately 40 million monthly active users, more than 20 lifestyle products, and over 30 diverse payment methods, Traveloka is becoming increasingly popular with travelers.

Through Traveloka, you can book flights, hotel rooms, airport transfers, and Xperience tickets. Receipts will be sent to your email as e-tickets, and you simply present them on your phone at check-in, eliminating the need for phone verification or printing out physical tickets/invoices.

"Traveloka offers many discount codes for users. It's like a place to store, manage, and consolidate all information about hotels, flights, and tours, which is very convenient," she shared. Additionally, when purchasing flight and hotel packages on Traveloka, you'll get the best prices. The app also provides a pleasant user experience with 24/7 customer support in local languages.

5. Tripadvisor

As of the end of 2021, Tripadvisor had over 1 billion reviews and community feedback, combined with more than 8 million services offered, ranging from hotels, restaurants, experiences, flights, cruises, etc., reflecting almost the entire global travel landscape.

Undoubtedly, Tripadvisor is the largest repository of travel reviews, experiences, and itineraries. Most reviews on this platform come from the real-life experiences of travelers, making them quite reliable for users. In addition, the app also offers excellent itinerary sharing for those who love to travel.

However, Tripadvisor is not immune to some fake reviews from people who haven't experienced the products firsthand. Savvy consumers should thoroughly research destinations, restaurants, etc., before trying them out through various sources. "Most establishments and restaurants with high ratings and many stars will provide good experiences," Jessi Vu shared.

However, in the service industry, perceptions of good or bad, suitable or unsuitable, delicious or unappealing, will depend on each person's individual experience, so consider it a source of reference for yourself.

Bi Le