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Before traveling, there are a lot of things that you have to remember to do, such as planning activities, ensuring all your documents are up to date, and packing everything that you might need for your trip. If you are an avid traveler and often forget to do something essential, it might be time to consider doing something to make sure you are completely prepared for your trip. Whilst some people like to make lists, there are also some really great apps available that are a must-have for any travel enthusiast. Here are just a few that you should consider downloading:

LoungeBuddy

LoungeBuddy is the perfect app for travelers that like to do things on a budget. If you spend a lot of time in airports thanks to long layovers or flights that often get delayed, this app will make your flying experience so much more comfortable. All you have to do is enter your credit card details, airline status, and lounge memberships and the app will tell you which lounges in the airport will let you in for free, or which ones you can buy a cheap day pass for.

 

TransferWise

If you are tired of losing money thanks to unfair conversion rates when you transfer money whilst on holiday, then the transfer services for abroad by Transferwise will really improve your entire traveling experiences. This safe and easy app will allow you to transfer money up to eight times more cheaply than the back does thanks to thanks to it’s the system that bypasses expensive international payments.

 

Hostelworld

Hostelworld is a great app for when you are planning a backpacking trip with minimal costs. The app does exactly what you would expect from an accommodation app or website, however, the design of the website and the interactivity sets it apart as it allows you to see exactly where the hostel is in relation to where you want to visit and also shows you many reviews to make sure that you are staying somewhere clean and safe.

 

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is probably an app that you have already heard of, thanks to its great reputation for finding hundreds of flights at the cheapest possible price. With the app searching over 1,200 sources to find the best available option, you don’t have to look much further to be sure that there aren’t better cheap flights are out there. You can also keep tabs on your favorite flights and destinations, which allows the app to send notifications to your phone if the price changes at all.

 

TripIt

TripIt is the perfect app for you if planning your itinerary is the most stressful part of your trip. Making sure that your flights, transport, and hotel check-in times are all correct and line up can be difficult, however with TripIt, all you have to do is forward your flight, hotel and all booking confirmations to the app’s email address and the app will set up and show you a detailed itinerary. This takes the stress out of things completely on the day of travel itself so all you have to worry about is how you’re going to relax.

 

These apps are just a handful of the hundreds that are available to make your travel experience just slightly easier, whether that is with the actual planning of your trip or once you arrive at your holiday destination, there’s bound to be an app to help you with that. If you like the sound of these apps and want to find out about some more, just look for some on the app store or on the internet, see what else is out there.

 

 

 

While, the Netherlands is famous for many things, it’s low and flat landscape is one famous aspect that makes it perfect for cycling. In addition to this, almost a fifth of the country is made up canals, lakes, and rivers, making cycling extremely enjoyable. Consequently, there are actually more bikes in Holland than residents, and in cities like Amsterdam and the Hague around 7 out of 10 journeys are made by bicycle.

Why are there so many bikes?

Prior to WW2, journeys in the country were mostly made by bike, however car ownership skyrocketed in the 50’s and 60’s and this squeezed out cyclists. However, it also had the consequence of skyrocketing the number of deaths on the roads, with there being 450 children killed in 1971 alone. This led to a social movement named Stop the Child Murder calling for safer cycling conditions for children. In addition to this, around the same time oil-producing companies stopped exporting oil to Western Europe due to the Middle East oil crisis of 1973, and this made the Dutch question the sustainability of motor vehicles. These two combined factors led to the government massively investing in infrastructure for bikes, and this is why so many people cycle there today.

Why is cycling still so great today?

In most cities cycling paths are segregated from traffic, and where space is scarce and bikes and cars have to share, it is bikes who have priority. This is even true for roundabouts, as cars have to wait for cyclists to pass before they can go.

Cyclists are actually accommodated in the same way car-drivers are in other countries, with bike facilities being widespread across the country. There are parking facilities complete with electronic counters that register how many spots are still available.

This is why so many people choose to go on cycling holidays to the Netherlands. It’s scenic, its flat and the Dutch have made it very easy to get around by investing greatly in infrastructure for cyclists. There are also many places where you can hire a bike from, with bike rental Amsterdam being particularly great for prices and bike options. So, if you’re looking to get away from the noise and stress that is usually impossible to get away from in places like the US and the UK, a cycling holiday in the Netherlands may the perfect way to do it.