Technology and a changing society have largely minimized the importance of that specialty. But you probably still want some help finding the best places to stay for the best prices. You've probably seen ads for the many sites aimed at helping you accomplish just that. Maybe you've used a few of them in the past. There are a few really great apps that could probably enhance that experience even further. If you could use a little extra help with your next trip, here are our recommendations for the best travel planning apps. 

You can find a place to sleep anywhere. But every detail in a trip from preparation to execution is important. And you probably don't want to leave anything up to chance. So we recommend downloading one (or more) of the following apps. Each provides somewhat different information and features. They all come with the same mission, though. Each of the best travel planning apps on our list aims to make your next trip hassle free.

Jets are great for long distance traveling. But we prefer the open road and setting our own schedules. If you're planning a road trip, this app has you covered. As its name implies, Roadtrippers is interested in making your drive as engaging as possible. One of our favorite things is that you don't have to be on vacation to learn something new -- a feature that makes it unique and one of the best travel planning apps.

For example, you can use the app to find hidden gems and monuments in your own home town. Any destination you enter will translate to a range of possible activities along the way. Admittedly, you will probably ignore many of these suggestions. But we think that's part of the fun. When you discover a new spot that you want to check out your next time through, you'll remember. Roadtrippers can help you make more of those memories.

It's always great to find new places on vacation. And even if you're taking a road trip for work, you can probably find some time for a fun diversion. Whether you like to learn, play or just see something cool, Roadtrippers wants to help. Plus, you can travel outside of the U.S. and stop to see some international hot spots. Right now, the service is only available in New Zealand and Australia. You can download the free version to your Apple or Android device. And the paid version is available with a 30-day free trial if you want to give that one a whirl.

Looking for a user friendly interface to find all of your travel plans? Then Tripit is probably worth your consideration. We think it offers many of the services you want along with some functions you might not expect. 

First of all, the app has a free version that gives you some gentle help along the way. If you desire even more assistance, you can upgrade for $49 per year. Even with the free app, you'll have an all in one location to organize your itinerary. There are a few really cool features we think earns it a spot among the best trip planning apps. For example, the app will automatically take the information from your confirmation email. With that data, Tripit creates a worry free schedule. You won't have to worry about grabbing tickets, remembering times or anything else. Just check the app for updates on your flight, rental car, hotel or even restaurant. And go to just one place for all of the applicable information.

You can also make sure your personal calendar doesn't conflict with your trip schedule. With the paid version, you receive even more perks. If you travel frequently, it might be worth the premium. One handy function is an alternate flight finder. It will also give you other information about your flight, like seat tracking and real time alerts. This is certainly one of the best travel planning apps for frequent fliers.

Maybe you want to make sure you get the most out of your trip. Whether for business or pleasure, all travelers worry about timing everything out perfectly. TripHobo is probably already offering all of the tools you didn't know you needed. It's a free app, so you might want to download it before your next vacation just to see what it can do. 

Among the best travel planning apps, we think TripHobo provides some of the most helpful tools. Basically, the technology makes it very easy for you to plan out every facet of your trip. Not only will it keep track of your plans, it will offer related suggestions as you travel. It will build your itinerary for you and gives you much needed assurance that everything is in order. 

One of our favorite features keeps an eye on expenses. Even on a luxury vacation, you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth. Whether you're on a budget or money is no object, you can still stretch your dollar further. And you can make sure your trip matches your budget with TripHobo's algorithm. Beyond all of that, TripHobo provides some really useful information. Find anything from dining recommendations to the local bus schedule with this handy app. Some of the data is available offline, too, in case you need it on the move. And if all else fails, check another traveler's scheduler for possible inspiration.

Here's a great option that combines a lot of the best features of the others. Sygic offers insight into millions of public places and attractions. And it is geared toward vacation travelers, so be prepared to find some interesting stops. It is also great to use while driving or while traveling by foot and bike. You can get accurate travel time as well as important info about your destination.

Sure, you might be able to find this information separately on the same device. But Sygic becomes one of the best travel planning apps as a whole product. Its designers really took into account what the typical traveler wants to know about places. And by making it so easy to get there and start enjoying yourself, you'll really appreciate the knowledge. It will help you fit in with the locals and know what they recommend before you get there. 

Like most of these apps, Sygic is available in a free version that will give you plenty of functions. That might be enough for you. But if you decide to go with this app, we do recommend dropping an extra $10 for the upgrade. Specifically, it will give you a great offline map. If you're in a new location and don't have immediate web access, it could really save your day. It could save your entire trip. Thus, this is one of the best travel planning apps you could possibly download.

If you like to stay organized (or wish you could), this is one of the best travel planning apps for you. TripCase combines several really helpful features for an all around handy tool. With the help of this app, you can find everything you need about your next trip. And you're only a swipe away from info about all of your upcoming travel plans. We like that it not only helps with vacation, but trips of all types. In fact, it might even be more helpful for those who travel extensively for work. 

The technology allows you to forward your reservation and confirmation emails directly to the app. Then TripCase works on assembling an appropriate itinerary for you. It's all at your fingertips, plus you always have the option to change or add on as you go. Plus, there are recommendations and helpful tips for getting where you need to go. You can even reserve an Uber ride from wherever you are directly from the app.

Plus, its functionality is not limited to your smartphone or computer. You can set your Apple Watch to send relevant updates and reminders. And all of that is free with a download of the TripCase app. We think it offers as much as the best travel planning apps. But if that's not enough, you can splurge for the annual subscription. For just $6 per year, the app will provide receipts to allow you to track your expenses. It really is the business traveler's best friend. And that usefulness extends to any other kind of travel.

Here's one of the best travel planning apps for all the sightseers out there. We love the simplicity of its design and the specificity of its mission. This is basically just a way for tourists to rate places they see along the journey. Sure, the gimmick itself is a bit superficial. But taking recommendations across a wide range of travelers gives you some helpful information.

Now let's be clear: Blink will not tell you a lot about each destination. In fact, that's kind of the point. It is meant to give you a glimpse of each place of interest around you. The app offers you a snapshot of almost any place -- in a blink, if you will. Some of the best travel planning apps try to pack tons of functionality and information. And that is certainly useful, don't get us wrong. But sometimes you just want to know whether a place is worth exploring further. And that kind of broad information is where Blink shines. 

All you have to do is tell the app where you'll be traveling. From there, it will send pictures of nearby attractions. If you think it looks interesting, you can swipe to save it for later. Swipe the other direction, and tell Blink that you want to see other stuff. Of course, if you do want more info, you can click on any image to learn more. But you can do that anywhere. What we really like is the knee-jerk ability we have to judge a book by its cover. It might not be right, but it sure is a lot of fun!

By using some of the best travel planning apps on the market, most of the hard work is done. And all you have to worry about is enjoying the things your app tells you it's time to do.

We hope you learned about some functions these tech advancements offer. If so, please share our list with the travelers in your life. And let us know in the comments section below if you have any thoughts or questions. 

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