Travel Tips

Best International Travel Apps When Traveling to Asia with Kids

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When traveling throughout Asia with kids, one thing is for sure, there will be a cultural and language barrier (unless you know lots of languages). We spent seven months in Asia as we traveled full-time with our kids and heard a lot of different languages. This can be very intimidating when considering travel to this continent.

Thankfully, technology is here to help us break those barriers and make our travel experience way more comfortable and easier. How lucky are we to live in this day and age?! I can’t imagine the days when you took a map and showed up at a new place looking for the local hotel. Imagine doing this with kids?!  I cannot. I am very glad that all of the apps are now available for our use to make travel so much easier.

Many of these apps come in handy when requiring transport, translations or even food if you want to order some in foreign countries. However, app quality varies, so I’m sharing my favorite or best-rated apps when traveling to Asia with kids.

Best Language Apps for Asia Travel with Kids

Let’s start with perhaps the most important apps you’ll need in Asia. Language might be one of the most challenging things while traveling in Asia. Sure, English is prevalent and is the language of travel, but you’ll still have times when you need help communicating.

1. Google Translate: The star of the show when it comes to translation!  Google was a pioneer in this genre, and over the years, it has evolved so much! Here you can type what you’d like to say or understand, plus scan images and even hear sentences to perfect your pronunciation. It’s a free app and you can download it on both Android and iOS. 

Two of my favorite features? You can turn on the microphone and have it listen to a real-time conversation. It will do its best to translate in real time as well. This isn’t perfect but can sometimes give you enough context to understand. We’ve used this at church, for example, to glean at least a little from the speakers.

I also use the camera features A LOT. When shopping at a grocery store in Asia it can be hard to know what exactly you are buying. The camera feature lets you hover over the item and translates on the screen. Again, not perfect, but a lifesaver when trying to feed the family! We did a lot of cooking on our Airbnbs in Asia and sometimes it was a wild guess what I was buying! You can see some of my favorites on what to cook here. 

A third plug for Google: we run our entire business on Google and when you are logged into your browser on Chrome, Google translate will auto-translate websites for you. Very valuable also when trying to book things online!

2. Papago: If you’re looking for a more focused app on Asian languages, then this app is perfect for you!  Papago specializes in this as its algorithm has better knowledge of Asian slang, nuances and culturally relevant traditions. There is a free version and a paid version; however, the free one is great! You can also download the app on your phone and on your desktop, upload documents, images, websites and translate them.

Pro tip: As data can be tough in a new country, be sure to download this and associated languages BEFORE you travel or leave the hotel.

3. iTranslate: This app is similar to the ones mentioned above. However, what I found interesting about iTranslate is that you can enable it to be used on your keyboard! Whether you’re on iMessages, Instagram or Slack, you can still have help from the app to translate what you want to say.
   
   If you’re looking for an app that you can use anywhere on your phone or your computer, this could be the app for you.
   

Best Transport Apps for Asia Travel with Kids

Language may not be your only barrier in Asia when traveling there with kids. You likely will also need to know how to get around and find the best routes to best optimize your trip. Check out these options when traveling in Asia:

• Rome2Rio:  This app is not necessarily for buying tickets for trains, buses or flights, but it’s for planning the best route and budgeting. It also shows you options of how much it would cost to rent a car and gives you the approximate time it would take you to reach your destination.

I don’t recommend renting a car in Asia.  We rented one in Tokyo and regretted it! Not only was driving difficult, we parked in a lot we thought was good overnight only to find out that the lot charged per hour … nearly $200 by the next morning! It’s much easier to take trains and hire cars in Asia. For example, in Thailand, you can hire a van for the day to take you anywhere you want for maybe $50!

• Uber:  This app is probably the most popular worldwide and it is so easy to use, convenient and fast.  In some countries, Uber is not allowed, so do some research. For example, in Rome it is against the law to use Uber (we still did without knowing, whoops)!
  
• 12Go Asia: This is probably one of the most useful apps you’ll find, as it has many trains, buses and cars in Thailand, Japan, China and more countries (even New Zealand).  It gives you different route options, no matter where you depart from, very budget-friendly prices and times.  It’s a pretty complete app and allows you to book your seat. It works for buses, trains, ferries and even flights.

• Bookaway: This app is very similar to 12Go Asia, so it is a good option to download if your other apps are not working or are not showing you the routes you need. It offers great prices, routes and forms of transportation.

Best Apps for Money Exchanging in Asia

This list is not as extensive as the other ones. However, I think it’s important to consider this category.  Sometimes, when you’re in a different country, currencies can be difficult, and it’s not always easy to keep up and convert. Or sometimes your bank account may not work so it’s a good option to have a backup.

Note:  Apple rolled out a brand new feature on the calculator app to convert currency right in the calculator! I love it. This will help immensely (although I’m still going to make the kids do some math!!), but for more robust features, check out these apps:

• Wise: Wise is a great app as it offers many currencies at a very low currency exchange. You can connect your bank account and you can also have your own international wise debit card. With this card, you get two free withdrawals per month and very low fees. It’s very easy and friendly to use.
  
• XE:  A great app for conversion of currency (and an added benefit is that you can also do international transfers). This app is also easy to use, very convenient and doesn’t cost anything to install.

Best Hotel and Travel Apps in Asia with Kids

Whether you’re figuring out your dream itinerary or booking last-minute accommodations, these hotel and travel apps in Asia are some of the best tools you’ll use. Sometimes we plan far in advance and sometimes we are winging it! We did six weeks of train travel in Europe and got to the point where we were deciding which city to visit the next day! Sometimes this kind of travel is super fun.

Either way, here are my top picks for booking apps in Asia:

• Skyscanner: This is one of my go-to apps for finding cheap flights in Asia and worldwide. This app is great for comparing prices across a lot of airlines and booking sites, so you always get the best price. I love the “anywhere” option to see flights to various locations. You can use this to get somewhere cheap!

• Agoda:  This is a very popular app in Asia as it offers great discounts on hotels. One of the best perks this app has is that it offers a loyalty program. You can book hotels, homes and apartments, and even rent an eSim for your trip.

• HostelWorld:  This is an app made more for people who are backpacking or into budgeting.  What I like about this page is that it includes the reviews and prices (like tripadvisor or booking) and it’s pretty affordable.  We don’t do hostels with five kids (in fact, we were kicked out of the only hostel we’ve booked due to the noise!), but this can be an amazing way to travel on a budget.

Best Activities and Tour Apps in Asia with Kids

You may use these apps when organizing your trip or once you arrive at your destination. Either way, these apps will help you discover unforgettable experiences for you and your entire family! So, skip the long lines and tourist traps, and get unique experiences with these apps:

• GetYourGuide: This app is perfect for getting unique and curated experiences all over Asia, and also worldwide!  It offers a variety of experiences from culinary tours, walking tours to ferries and so much more.  Plus, they have reviews so you get an insight into what to expect on your tour.  Here are some great tours you can find here:
  
  • A Day with Pandas in Chengdu:  Spend a day with China’s most beloved animal, the Giant Pandas! Let your kids learn about them, watch the baby pandas and see them playing, eating, sleeping and more.  Plus, there is a museum where you can learn more about them.  Honestly, such a cute idea since kids tend to love animals!
    
  • Mango Cooking School Thai Cooking Class:  If you and your family are more into a bonding time through cooking then what better than learning from the culture like this?  In this amazing experience, you’ll learn to prepare classic Thai dishes with a local instructor.  It includes child-friendly cooking tools for the youngest kids.
    
  • Red Theatre Beijing Acrobatics Show:  If your kids are into theatre, shows or acrobats they will probably be amazed by this show.  Watch the best acrobatics of China filled with culture, incredible costumes and performances.  It will probably have all your kids with their mouths open as even the music, lighting and backdrops promise to be one of a kind!
    
  • teamLab Planets TOKYO:  This is a pretty cool exhibition as it includes amazing immersive art that I’m pretty sure your little ones are gonna love.  It allows everyone, no matter their ages, to enter completely into the artwork, with stimulation for all five senses.  Become a part of the show (or art in this case) with this unique exhibition.

• Viator: It’s pretty similar to GetYourGuide, however, here you’ll find a bigger variety of the most popular activities in your desired destination.  Viator also has more options when it comes to pricing: from very expensive experiences to the most budget-friendly ones.  They also have a free cancellation policy, which can be great with kids in tow.  Here are some really cool activities you can do with your crew:
  
  • Singapore Zoo:  Who doesn’t love a zoo?  I’m pretty sure everyone in your family will love this experience in Singapore.  One one-of-a-kind experience you get here is that you can have a Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife, where you can eat alongside orangutans and enjoy their company.
    
  • DMZ Tour:  If you’ve got curious kids (or history fans), this is a must-do!  This tour takes you to some of the most important sites along the Korean Demilitarized Zone.  But don’t worry, it’s well-paced and not too intense for the youngest ones.  One unique thing your kids will love?  The Gamaksan Chulleong Suspension Bridge, which has amazing views and great stories from the guide.
    
  • Cebu City and Mactan Island:  Looking for a fun family day on the water?  This tour takes you to three stunning islands: Nalusuan, Hilutungan and Caohagan.  Here you’ll get the chance to do some snorkeling, swimming and even a beachside BBQ lunch (reminds me a bit of when we stayed in the Anthony’s Key Resort).
    
• AllTrails:  When traveling through Asia one thing is for sure, you will walk so much!  So, if you’re into more than just walking from one temple to another and love hiking trails in Asia, then you’ll probably love this app! One thing that is really cool about AllTrails is that you can download offline trail maps, perfect for if you lose your signal!

We used this when hiking Dragonback in Hong Kong, and I love this app. It helps keep me on the trail!

Bonus Tips for Traveling in Asia with Apps

Over the years, after traveling full-time for a while, we’ve also learned many things from using different apps. There are a few travel tips for Asia apps that helped us stay connected, safe and on budget:

• Always download offline maps or tickets before heading into remote areas or on day tours.  No matter if you swear you have the best signal… Accidents may happen, so be sure to have the most important information about your travel downloaded and easy to access. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!
  
• Use eSIM apps like Holafly to stay connected without juggling SIM cards in every country or paying extra money to get the best coverage. eSIMs are great for navigating, using maps apps, booking activities or rides and staying in touch with your loved ones!

Alternatively, you can always buy a SIM card in the airports upon arrival, use your tour guide to help you get one or find a local convenience store.

• Local transportation apps can be a better option.  Depending on the country you are in, using an uber may be way more expensive or even prohibited.  So be sure to download some local ride apps for the best and easiest travel experience.

Additional Readings

How to Avoid Scams While Traveling in Asia

Best Apps for International Family Travel

The Technology We Travel with: Tech Packing List