It used to be intimidating to travel through Asia because of the language barriers. It was hard to find the right attractions, restaurants, and hotels because travelers didn’t know where they were going. 

In recent years, all of that has changed. Thanks to innovation and new technologies, travelers can feel right at home no matter where they are in the world.

Why?

No matter what kind of information you need when traveling through the Asian continent, there’s now a mobile app available to guide you. From being able to order food to getting directions to a destination, it’s all available through your mobile device.

If you’re getting ready to travel to Asia, you can make your travels a whole lot easier if you take the time to download the following mobile apps before you go.

Top Apps to Use When Traveling in Asia

XE Currency

While merchants and service providers in a lot of Asian countries will transact business with U.S. dollars, this is usually confined to the larger cities, and won’t be the case when you’re traveling rurally.

If you’re planning to head into smaller areas, you’ll need to convert your dollars to the local currency. The XE Currency app will help you stay abreast of the latest conversion rates in each Asian country.

Unlike in Europe, where 19 EU countries use the Euro, every country in Asia makes use of its own money (though widely spread currencies in Asia include the are Indian Rupee and the Chinese Yuan).

Especially if you’re visiting multiple countries and the conversion is constantly changing, an app is the best way to stay on top of what you’re spending.

Foodpanda

While you may want to walk around and taste the local cuisine while traveling to different Asian counties, sometimes it’s nice to just order in and relax.

Foodpanda is one of the largest meal delivery apps in Asia. The service works by partnering with local restaurants to take orders through their app or website, picking up the food and delivering it to your address.

Spendee

If you’re traveling to Asia on a budget, you might need help tracking your personal finances. Spendee is an app that will allow you to record your expenditures and monitor any income you might be earning while away from home.

Uber and Grab

Uber and Grab are the two dominant online taxi services in Asia. Given the traffic and crowded public transportation options, using one of these two services will allow you to save yourself some time and aggravation.

It might be a little most costly than public transportation, but it’s usually cheaper than city cabs.

Travel Buddy

If you are traveling in Asia and want to connect will other travelers for vacation advice or to travel together, Travel Buddy is available in over 170 countries throughout the world. 

With Locals

If you prefer avoiding the tourist traps in favor of really taking in the local culture, the With Locals app can offer you recommendations of out-the-beaten path hotels and restaurants.

It can even give you access to ways of hooking up with locals for activities and to see what life is really like for residents.

Google Translate

Throughout Asia, there are dozens of different languages and many languages have multiple dialects. It can make communicating with locals very difficult.

With the Google Translate app, you can convert written words and text from 58 languages and also get voice delivery of important conversational phrases in 23 languages.

Google Maps

If you would prefer to not be tethered to local transportation, you might prefer renting a car and handling your own driving.

To do that, you are going to need Google Maps to get you safely from one destination to another. This app is very user-friendly and very effective when traveling in most parts of Southeast Asia. 

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.