Years ago, people navigated foreign countries with maps and translation books. Now there’s an app for that!
Of course, when you study abroad, you’ll want everyone back home to see artsy Instagrams of the Eiffel Tower at night. And your best friend will need a million Snapchats with your funny commentary—but what about when you’re trying to find your way around a different country or searching for a good restaurant?
In addition to Snapchat and Instagram, consider downloading these apps to make your study abroad travels more efficient, safer and informative. To make things even more helpful, they’re all free!
1. TapToTrack
Available for: iPhone
TapToTrack is a mobile app for watching expenses. It tracks and categorizes spending on the go. When you realize your food budget is gone after a wine tasting in Italy, you’ll know why! With all the adventures and shopping that study abroad offers, it is important to be money-conscious.
“I set an initial budget for myself, and when I spend money, I enter it into my phone,” says Allison Perch, junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying abroad in Italy. “You can see how much money you’ve spent on food, travel and other categories. It has helped me keep track of my spending and make sure I don’t exceed my budget.”
2. Viber
Available for: iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Bada, Nokia and desktop computers
International calling is expensive, but Viber uses Wi-Fi or 3G to make international phone calls for free. This app is a great way to stay connected to your stateside friends who have also have the app.
“When I studied abroad in Italy, a ton of people on my trip used Viber,” says Becky McColl, a senior at the University of Delaware. “It was really useful because making calls using the hotel phones can be really expensive, and I know a lot of my friends appreciated being able to talk to their parents without spending a ton of money!”
3. Triposo
Available for: iPhone and Android
Before starting your trek through a romantic city, pause and download Triposo to learn about the history and culture of the city, along with useful information like the exchange rate. Triposo gives you the history of a place as well as new information about restaurants and other great sites to visit.
“When I was in a long line waiting to get into a place of interest, I would read the little blurbs about the place I was going to keep myself occupied and learn a little about the area I was in,” says Irene Berman-Vaporis, a senior at Boston University. “So the app was really helpful because you could essentially do basic research about the place you were in or going to without Wi-Fi.”
4. iTranslate
Available for: iPhone
What’s that you said? Now you don’t have to pester Siri about every foreign sentence you hear! With iTranslate, you can instead type a word in English and have it translated into 60 languages. The app also includes a dictionary.
5. XE Currency
Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry and Windows 8
Deal or no deal? When looking at making a purchase abroad, it’s important to know how much you’re really spending—which is where XE Currency comes in handy. The app has more than 180 currencies, so you can easily convert the price into American dollars to know if you should buy those cowboy boots for 500 pesos—or $38.
These apps are a great tool for your adventures, but don’t forget to put down your phone on occasion, step away from the filtered camera and take in the world around you!