Today, there is no shortage of travel apps that can help you organize your trip. That being said, it can be difficult to sift through the dominant generic information to find suggestions for local, ethical and authentic travel experiences. Every location has its unique charms, but that uniqueness can get lost in the mass of information. That’s where the following apps come in to simply your travel planning.
Image courtesy of eva101 via Spotted by Locals.
1. Spotted by Locals
Who better to tell you how to explore a place than the people who actually live there? Spotted by Locals features easy-to-follow travel advice for all kinds of cities, compiled by locals. Use this app to find places you wouldn’t hear about otherwise, recommended by people who really know their stuff.
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2. Grouper
Any travel guide can send you to a well-known restaurant or a new bar. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, Grouper can offer you a more personalized dining, partying or bar-hopping experience. The app links you up with locals or other travelers looking to share a meal or drink with like-minded people. This can be a great way to meet new people, discover local cuisine and get off the tourist track.
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3. Roadtrippers
One of those classic travel experiences is the American road trip. Whether you’re a resident or not, there is so much to discover by driving across the US. Specifically designed for travelers with a car and some time on their hands, Roadtrippers helps you plan your US road trip, from mapping out your route to finding tiny details and places of interest along the way.
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4. Foodspotting
Perfect for when you’re in a new location and desperately want to try their signature dish, Foodspotting works in the opposite way to most food apps. Instead of searching by restaurant, this handy app lets you search by dish in your location. For instance, next time you’re in Fez and searching for the best nearby couscous, Foodspotting can help you out.
Image courtesy of Localeur.
5. Localeur
This sleek little app offers exactly what its name suggests: Localeur is filled with locals’ suggestions for food, culture, nightlife, shopping and accommodation. Only residents of each location are invited to contribute suggestions, though travelers can vote up or down on each item, so you can see what fellow travelers have appreciated before you.
What are your favorite ways to discover local and authentic travel experiences?
By Gemma King
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
