With summer just around the corner, you're doubtless dreaming of running off to the perfect vacation retreat. Whether you're angling to stay in a beachside surf hut, mountain cabin, or bustling city center, there are now loads of apps to help you with everything from transportation options to finding rentals and restaurant recommendations.
Here are a handful of our favorites.
One of the largest marketplaces for vacation rentals, HomeAway has listings for everything from rustic cabins in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to swanky Parisian apartments. The easy-to-use app helps you find and book properties for your travel dates.
A social app focused on geographic annotation, Findery lets you explore the stories of nearby sites. Users tag locations with everything from menu suggestions to ultra-personal accounts of their experiences, creating what feels like a secret guidebook to the area.
There's something magical about taking a good old-fashioned road trip. Roadtrippers is a great app to help with logistics along the way—not only does it highlight odd and unmissable roadside attractions, the app also helps you plan your route and book hotels.
If you're on the hunt for a more watery adventure, GetMyBoat lets you rent or charter watercraft in 154 countries around the world. The app also makes it easy to find sleep-aboard yachts.
A transportation search engine, Rome2Rio presents you with just about every possible way of getting from point A to point B. It's particularly helpful when you want to compare the cost of taking a flight versus train versus bus. But their site also takes into account ferry lines and car travel, even combining multiple means of travel to offer the best options.
If you're looking for a more activity-oriented vacation, Viator is worth checking out. The app helps you find and book travel-worthy experiences ranging from helicopter tours to theater tickets. All of the activities have been handpicked by the company's staff of travel pros.
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