What Were the Features of Google Trips and Google Trip Summaries?

Google Trips allowed users to find inspiration for trips and plan upcoming trips. It split vacations into individual days with a summary of where will be visited and what will be done. It additionally featured pre-planned travel guides and itineraries for over 200 cities worldwide. 

The app also kept track of reservations, including flights and other transport, accommodation bookings, and entertainment and attraction reservations. It even allowed you to search for accommodation and transport, like flights or car rentals, and book through the app, syncing reservations with your itinerary. 

Any reservations were then synced with the user’s Gmail account and calendar, and reminders would be sent as dates for reservations got close. 

The full Google Trips service eventually shut down, leaving only a remnant of the original app, Google Trip Summaries. This part of the app allowed you to review past and upcoming trips, add reservations to your Google calendar, and review some activity, transport, and accommodation suggestions. However, Google Trip Summaries has now been shut down, leaving users looking for an alternative.

8 Top Alternatives to Google Trips

1.   Wanderlog

Wanderlog is one of the top travel inspiration and planning apps on the market. You can use the app on desktop and through the app to plan day-by-day itineraries and get activity suggestions. You can also import all information relating to your trip, and it will be added to your itinerary.

Wanderlog Features

Itinerary Creation

The primary feature of Wanderlog is travel itinerary creation, as with Google Trip Planner. Users can create customized day-by-day travel itineraries, adding all information related to their trip in one place.

Things you can add to an itinerary include:

• The cities and countries you’ll be visiting.
• Your transportation information, like flight, train, or car rental information. 
• Your accommodation information.
• Activities that you want to do each day.
• Activity reservations and bookings, like dinner reservations or event bookings.

Google Maps Syncing

No longer having access to Google Trip Summaries doesn’t mean you can’t sync your itinerary with Google Maps. Wanderlog allows you to export your itinerary activities to Google Maps. It also syncs so that the map updates if you change or add to your plans in the Wanderlog app.

Syncing of Reservations from Gmail

As with Google Trips, you can sync Wanderlog up with Gmail if you’re subscribed with the Wanderlog Pro plan (7-day free trial, then annual subscription). Any time you get a reservation or booking confirmation to your Gmail account, it will be added to the relevant itinerary.

Travel Articles and Travel Recommendations from the Web

Wanderlog users can access activity suggestions for the city or cities they’re traveling to. If the activities are of interest, they can easily be added to your itinerary.

Users also have access to pre-created itineraries and travel guides, plus travel content from across the web that can be used for inspiration. Via “smart recommendations,” personalized suggestions based on your existing itinerary are also provided.

Budgeting Tools

Wanderlog is also one of the best travel budgeting tools on the market. Budgeting features include categorizing expenses, being able to export expense reports, and having group budgeting options to split expenses between travelers.

Group Collaboration and Trip-Sharing Features 

Are you planning a group trip? If so, Wanderlog is an excellent tool to consider to make planning together easy. Simply add the email of each group member to your trip, and they can then get email notifications relating to the trip and edit and add to the itinerary. As mentioned, the budgeting feature can also be used to split group expenses.

How Much Does Wanderlog Cost?

A free version of Wanderlog is available for desktop and mobile via the Apple Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android. This free version has most of the features mentioned above. Some paid-for options are available via Wanderlog Pro if you want access to a few additional features.

These extra features include access to your itineraries and maps when offline, road trip route optimization, and unlimited attachments connected to your itinerary, allowing every document relating to your trip to be in one place. The Gmail scanning feature discussed above is also available with Wanderlog Pro.

Wanderlog Pro costs $49.99 for an annual plan and comes with a free trial to test it out before you commit to a yearly plan.

Who is Wanderlog For?

Wanderlog is perfect for all travelers, from solo travelers to groups and those planning a road trip. No matter what your trip entails and how many people are involved, Wanderlog will make planning and organization easy!  

Who is Wanderlog Not For?

As discussed, Wanderlog is suitable for pretty much every type of traveler. As the app is free, you can download the Wanderlog app at no cost and test it out to see if it works for you.

2.   Tripit

TripIt is another alternative to Google Travel Trip Summaries to consider. This well-known travel planner has many features similar to Google Trips and can be used on desktop or the TripIt app.

TripIt Features

Itinerary Creation

TripIt is also an itinerary-based app. You can create day-by-day itineraries that can be accessed across devices. You can add notes and other documents, like PDFs and photos relating to your travel plans, to these itineraries as well.

Once your itinerary has been created, TripIt also gives suggestions for nearby activities and businesses. You can additionally sync your itinerary to your Google calendar. 

Syncing of Reservations from Gmail

Once you have a reservation or booking confirmation, simply email that to the TripIt email, and it will be added to your itinerary (as long as the email address you email from is the same one used for your TripIt account).

Carbon Footprint and Offset Options

A unique feature offered by TripIt that was not available on Google Trip Summaries is its carbon footprint and offset options. As you create your itinerary, you’ll be able to see emissions, such as flight emissions, and ways to offset these emissions will be provided; a great feature for the eco-conscious traveler!

How Much Does TripIt Cost?

The basic version of TripIt is free via desktop and the app, which is available for iOS and Android. You can pay for extra features through TripIt Pro. This paid-for version costs $49 a year and comes with a free trial period.

TripIt Pro comes with lots of features that you can’t access via the free version. TripIt Pro features include:

• Fare trackers to notify you if fares for flights go down.
• Check-in reminders 24 hours before checking in for a booking or reservation.
• Notifications relating to bookings, such as if your flight is delayed.
• Sharing features to automatically share the itinerary and any changes to it with chosen individuals.
• Point tracker to keep track of travel rewards.  

Who is TripIt For?

TripIt is one of the best options for those looking for the most similar application to Google Trip Summaries. However, a lot of features do need to be paid for. If you simply want to create a trip itinerary and have a place to store all trip information, this could be the app for you.

Who is TripIt Not For?

As mentioned, many TripIt features are only accessible via the paid-for version. Therefore, it may not be a top choice for those that want a free alternative to Google Trip Summaries.

Want to find out more about TripIt? Check out our overview of the TripIt app!

3.   Kayak

Kayak is well-known for being a service for finding affordable flights, hotels, and car rentals. But it also has a trip planner, Kayak Trips, that will store and organize your travel information in one place.

Kayak Features

Itinerary Creation

Again, Kayak Trips’ main function is as a travel itinerary and organization system. Users can create itineraries for any location and time period, from weekend getaways to extended vacations. Kayak Trips doesn’t provide activity suggestions, so it’s purely a functional itinerary creator instead of also providing travel and activity inspiration.

Syncing of Reservations from Gmail

You can email any booking confirmations from your Gmail account to the Kayak email, and they’ll be added automatically to your itinerary. Where possible, Kayak also gives updates on bookings, such as notifying you of flight changes or delays. Flight status alerts can also be activated to provide you with real-time information relating to your transport.

Group Collaboration and Trip-Sharing Features 

Once your initial itinerary is created, you can’t grant other people access to the itinerary. This could be people not traveling with you who need the information or other individuals going on the trip.

How Much Does Kayak Cost?

Kayak is free to use with no paid-for version offering added benefits and features. It can be used in-browser or is available for iOS and Android.

Who is Kayak For?

Kayak is a good choice for those that want to store their travel information in one place at no cost. It’s also good for no-hassle organization as you can simply email new booking confirmations, and they will be added to your itinerary.

Who is Kayak Not For?

Kayak isn’t a good choice for those looking for travel inspiration and activity suggestions related to their itinerary. You can’t access pre-made travel guides or get suggestions for activities, events, or businesses in the areas you’re visiting.

It also isn’t great for those that want lots of other features; it really just stores the trip information you add to it.

4.   Sygic Travel

Sygic Travel is a slightly lesser-known application, but one that could be a good alternative to Google Travel Trip Summaries. This app is the successor of Sygic Travel Trip Planner and creates itineraries on maps, easily showing where all your activities are located in the city you’re visiting.

Sygic Travel Features

Map-Based Itinerary Creation

With Sygic Travel, you can create itineraries that appear on a Google Maps-style map. Once you’ve selected a location and added personalized accommodation and activities (i.e. things you decided on before using Sygic Travel), you’ll be able to see lots of other suggestions in the area of your trip.

Do note that you can’t sync flights or other bookings to this app, and you won’t get any notifications relating to your travels, such as flight delay notifications or check-in reminders.

Travel Recommendations and Booking Options

As mentioned, Sygic Travel offers travel recommendations. These suggestions include landmarks and attractions to visit, cafes, bars, and restaurants, public transport, and even supermarkets.

You can also click the “Guide” tab to see these suggestions in a webpage format as opposed to on a map. Interestingly, you can view 360-degree videos of popular attractions in many cities to help you decide if you want to visit them or not.

Accommodation options are available as well, with links to booking.com to reserve a room if an option appeals to you. In addition, you can discover GetYourGuide tours for the area you’re visiting (again, with a direct link to book) and car rental options.

How Much Does Sygic Travel Cost?

Sygic Travel has a free-to-use app. You can use it on desktop, iOS, and Android. Once you’ve downloaded the basic option, you can pay $3.99 a month or $14.99 a year for Sygic Travel Premium.

Paid-for features include offline map access, exporting your map itinerary to Google Earth, and getting direct walking directions to attractions without leaving the app. 

Who is Sygic Travel For?

If you’re looking for lots of travel inspiration and want to see all your planned activities spread out on a map of your destination, this app is a good choice. It’s also free to access most features, and the paid plan costs less than many competitors so is good for those on a budget.

Who is Sygic Travel Not For?

Sygic Travel isn’t the best option for travelers that want to store their reservation and booking information in one place. It also doesn’t have email syncing features to automatically add bookings to your itinerary and won’t give updates on bookings. If you want a high level of travel organization, opt for a different app, like Wanderlog!

5.   Roadtrippers

If you’re planning a road trip, then Roadtrippers will be one of the most appealing alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries. As the name suggests, this app focuses on road trip planning, allowing you to plan and store your road trip itinerary, find places to visit along your driving route, and more! 

Roadtrippers Features

Map-Based Itinerary Creation

Roadtrippers is another app that uses map itineraries. You can plot your road trip start and end point and add any stops you have planned, like accommodation or activities.

Travel Recommendations

Once your initial route is planned, Roadtrippers offers activity suggestions along the way. This includes attractions to check out and restaurants to visit. If you like a suggestion, you can add it to your itinerary map.

Additionally, pre-planned travel guides are available to view. Roadtrippers can also suggest the quickest routes and give gas cost estimates, which update as you add stops along the route.

In-App Navigation

Within the app, you can access a Google Maps-style map that includes your itinerary and offers navigation from place to place along the way. This feature means you don’t have to switch from the app to Google Maps. 

How Much Does Roadtrippers Cost?

As with most Google Trips alternatives, Roadtrippers has a free version of the app. This is available for iOS and Android.

You can also get a Pro version with more features that costs $35.99 annually. This paid-for version includes added features like access to offline maps, group collaboration features, and live traffic updates sent straight to your device.

Who is Roadtrippers For?

Those who are looking for a travel planning app exclusively to plan and organize their road trip will be interested in Roadtrippers. It’s completely geared to road trips with many useful features that other travel apps don’t have.

Who is Roadtrippers Not For?

If you aren’t planning a road trip, Roadtrippers won’t be the app for you. If you want to get a paid plan and are planning other trips that aren’t road trips, this may also not be a good option. While it will work for your road trip, you’ll have to pay for another app if you want paid travel planning features for a non-road trip.

However, you can find apps like Wanderlog, which offer free and paid versions for both road trips and other types of trip planning.

Looking to learn more about Roadtrippers? Read our in-depth Roadtrippers overview!

6.   TripAdvisor

Like Kayak, TripAdvisor is well-known in the travel space and could offer what you’re looking for to replace Google Trip Summaries. With TripAdvisor Trips, you can organize many things relating to your travels. You can also search for attractions, hotels, restaurants, and more within the TripAdvisor platform, all with reviews from other travelers.

TripAdvisor Features

Travel List and Map Creation

TripAdvisor Trips doesn’t allow you to create an actual itinerary, with activities listed by day and in the order you want to do them. However, you can add attractions, hotels, and restaurants to your list, allowing you to keep track of where you want to go.

These places will then be displayed on a map on the right-hand side of your list, allowing you to click on an attraction and see exactly where it’s located in the city. You can add notes to each list item as well, along with an overview of your trip.

Travel Recommendations and Booking Options

It’s not surprising that TripAdvisor Trips offers travel recommendations as that is the service’s primary function! You can search within the app or desktop website for landmarks and attractions, as well as restaurants, bars, and cafes. If a place interests you, you can read reviews, find a link to the business or attraction website, and add the place to your travel list.

You can also find accommodation suggestions with reviews and more information. You can then go to the website to book or TripAdvisor will provide booking links to sites like Expedia and Booking.com. If you book a place to stay, you can add it to your list to see where all the places you want to visit are in relation to your accommodation on the map.

How Much Does TripAdvisor Cost?

TripAdvisor and the Trips feature are 100% free to use. You can use your account via the desktop website or download the app for Android or iOS.

Who is TripAdvisor For?

This alternative to Google Trips is great for those that want to keep track of all the places they want to visit during their trip without organizing them into a day-by-day itinerary.

It’s also excellent for those looking for travel recommendations, like activity or restaurant suggestions. Lastly, it’s good for those on a budget as the app is free, with no restricted paid-for features.

Who is TripAdvisor Not For?

The TripAdvisor Trips planner won’t be appealing to those that want to plan detailed day-by-day itineraries and keep track of flights and other bookings and reservations. The app also doesn’t work offline if that’s something you’re looking for.

7.   SaveTrip

SaveTrip is another lesser-known travel app, but one with some good features. You can create itineraries, see your activities on maps, use budgeting features, and more. 

SaveTrip Features

Itinerary Creation

You can create a day-by-day itinerary with SaveTrip. This is quite a basic itinerary, though. You also have to manually add everything to the app. There are no activity suggestions or ways to automatically add activities or reservations.

However, you can add images, notes, and documents (including DOC, PDF, XLS, and IMG), like tickets to attractions or your flight boarding pass. You can add travel checklists as well to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Google Maps Syncing

Once your itinerary is created, you can sync it to Google Maps, so that all your activities show on a map. You can then use Google Maps features, like getting directions between two attractions.

Budgeting Tools

SaveTrip does have quite an in-depth budgeting tool. Users can add a budget for the trip and then add expenses as they go, with the app letting you know how close you are to reaching your budget. Multiple currencies are available, and you can export your expense report.

You can also see your expenses in graph format and can split this graph into categories, like daily spending, spending by category, or spending per person. You can also add if things were paid for with cash or card, and the percentage of purchases under each payment method will be shown.

How Much Does SaveTrip Cost?

SaveTrip is available for free for Android and iOS. This travel planning app is only available for mobile and cannot be used in-browser.  

Who is SaveTrip For?

This is another good option for travelers on a budget who don’t want to spend much, or anything, on a travel planning app. It’s also great for budget travelers due to the many budget tracking tools. If you’re just looking to create a list itinerary and keep on top of your budget, you’ll want to check out SaveTrip!

Who is SaveTrip Not For?

If you’re looking for travel recommendations and pre-created itineraries, SaveTrip won’t be a top choice for you. It’s also not a good option for those that want to keep flight information and other reservations in one place, and you can’t get updates or reminders relating to your travel bookings.

8.   Google Maps and Search

A last alternative to Google Trip Summary is to simply use Google Maps and Google Search, including Google Travel, to plan your travel. 

Google Maps Features

Travel List and Map Creation

As with TripAdvisor Trips, you can’t create itineraries or day-by-day lists with Google Maps. Although you could save the places you want to visit in the order you want to visit them.

You can search for attractions on Google Maps, and once you find them, save each place to the custom map for your trip. You can see a map on the right-hand side of your list which shows the location of everything you’ve added. You can also find directions to each place and the time it will take to get there based on the transport you use.

Travel Recommendations and Booking Options

Once you enter the location you’re visiting, you can see the most popular attractions and businesses. You can also use the “search nearby” feature to look for attractions, bars, restaurants, and the like. Once you select a place to visit, you’ll see an overview of the attraction with more information, like opening times, a website URL, and reviews.

You can also use Google Search to look for things to do in the places you’re visiting and check out Google Travel for additional recommendations, plus flight and accommodation options.

Group Collaboration and Trip-Sharing Features

You can share your customized Google Map with others, allowing them to see the places to visit on your travel map.  

How Much Does Google Maps Cost?

Google Maps is free for use on desktop, Android, and iOS. There are no paid-for versions with added features. 

Who is Google Maps For?

Google Maps is a good choice for those that want to create a simple map of places they want to visit. It’s also great if you want attractions pre-listed before your trip so that you can check distance and directions once you begin exploring your destination. As it’s free, it’s a decent budget-friendly option.

Who is Google Maps Not For?

Google Maps isn’t a good option for anyone that wants detailed travel planning and organization software. If you want to create day-by-day itineraries, get automatic activity suggestions, sync your trip reservations, and the like, this won’t be the right option for you.

In conclusion

If you’ve been looking for an alternative to Google Travel Trip Summaries, this list should have given you an idea of the top options available. As most of the mentioned apps have a free version and offer free trials for paid-for versions, you can test them out at no cost to find one that works for you.

Not sure where to start? Why not download the free version of Wanderlog or try the free trial for Wanderlog Pro? We’re sure you’ll find it offers everything you need to replace Google Trip Summaries!

To make sticking to your spending amount easy, travel budgeting tools are a must. These tools allow you to track all expenses and easily see how close you are to overspending. You can track a total budget and, on most apps, track by category, such as spending on flights vs. food vs. activities, and the like. 

If you’re in the market for an app that will help you keep on top of your travel spending, keep reading for eight of the best travel budgeting tools! 

Wanderlog 

Wanderlog is one of the best and easiest to use travel budgeting tools on the market. The Wanderlog app also features travel itinerary organization and planning features, making it a great option for all-around travel planning. 

Wanderlog can be downloaded for iOS or Android and can be used in browser if needed. There is no fee to use this app, although you can pay to upgrade and gain access to some additional features. 

Wanderlog Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added

When using Wanderlog, you can add as many individual trips as you like, all of which can have budgeting information added. You can also add as many destinations as you like within one trip, for example, if you’re planning a multi-city or multi-country vacation.

When using the budgeting features, you can add as many expense entries as needed, including flight and accommodation expenses, allowing you to track everything you spend.  

Group Travel Expenses 

Wanderlog’s budgeting tools (and the app in general) are great for group travel. You can add everyone traveling with you to a trip, so they can access the budget and trip itinerary and add expenses as each person spends. 

You can also split expenses within the app, to show who has spent what and who owes what. 

Reporting Options and Categorization

After adding expenses, you can see reports and summaries of spending. You can see an overview of your daily spending and spending per category. The latter makes it easy to know if you’ve overspent or are close to overspending in certain areas. For example, if you have a $60 a day budget for food, you can see at a glance if you’re on track with that, making it easier to plan dining for the rest of the day or the trip.

Wanderlog also offers many spending categorization options. 

Categories to group expenses into include:

• Accommodation
• Flights
• Car rental
• Public transport
• Gas
• Food
• Drinks
• Groceries
• Shopping
• Activities
• Other

Currency Converters

Currency converting features within the Wanderlog app allows you to set your total trip budget in any currency. You can also add expenses in any currency. These expenses will then be converted into the currency of your total trip budget. 

This feature means that if you are traveling between countries with different currencies, you can simply enter the price in the currency you paid. The app will then show you how that affected your overall budget without the need for third-party currency conversion tools.

Travel Planning Elements

Along with having tools to help with budgeting for a trip, Wanderlog has an array of features to help with the planning and organization of your trip.

Wanderlog allows you to create a trip itinerary that highlights where you’ll travel, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay, and what activities you’ll partake in. It’s also incredibly easy to add trip information. You can do so manually within the app or sync with Gmail to allow for automatic upload of flights, accommodation, or other reservations once a reservation confirmation gets emailed to you. 

Along with creating travel itineraries and organizing travel information, you can see your itinerary displayed on a map, showing the location of the activities you input. You can also search for activity suggestions and view travel guides created by other users. 

As mentioned, you can easily share itineraries with other travelers, allowing everyone on the trip to see your day-to-day plans and budget.  

Who is Wanderlog For?

Wanderlog is one of the best travel budgeting tools for all types of travelers. Whether you’re traveling solo or in a group, and no matter what your budget or type of expenses, Wanderlog’s budgeting features will work for you. 

It’s also perfect for those looking for an amazing travel planning app on top of a travel budgeting tool. You can track your itinerary, plus add activities and get activity suggestions in the same place you keep on top of your budget! 

Who is Wanderlog Not For? 

As mentioned, Wanderlog has very few limitations and is suitable for all types of travelers. Best of all, it’s free to download. If you’re still unsure if Wanderlog will work for you, download the app and test it out! 

Tripcoin   

Tripcoin is a travel budget and expense manager that is completely free to use. The app is currently only available via the Apple App Store. It is not available for use with Android devices. 

Tripcoin Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added

You can create as many budgets and add as many entries as you like with no limitations or additional fees. Tripcoin also makes it easy to add expenses per day.

Currency Converters 

Tripcoin allows you to add over 150 different currencies. Therefore, you can enter your purchases in the currency you made them in, and the app will convert them to the currency of your budget. 

Reporting Options and Categorization 

It’s easy to generate reports and graphs based on expenses that you add and these reports can be exported to programs like Excel and Numbers. Reports can be split into various categories, including by country or categories, such as dining or accommodation spending. 

Who is Tripcoin For?

Tripcoin is ideal for solo travelers or for travelers that aren’t looking to split expenses, but just want to track their own spending. It’s perfect for travelers who will be exploring more rural and off-the-beaten-path locations as it is also accessible without internet connection.

The reporting features make it ideal for those that want access to a detailed analysis of their spending and budget. 

Who is Tripcoin Not For? 

Tripcoin is not available for Android, therefore, only travelers with Apple devices can use this trip budget software. 

It is not easy to create group budgets either, so if you’re looking for a travel budget app with group features, such as bill splitting, Tripcoin isn’t the best option.  

Trip Expense Manager   

Trip Expense Manager is another of the most popular travel budgeting tools. This app is available for Android via the Google Play Store. It is not currently available for iOS. Trip Expense Manager is free to use, with no hidden expenses.   

Trip Expense Manager Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added

You can add multiple trips and budgets at one time. For example, if you’re planning a multi-country trip, you can add a budget for each country you visit in the currency that country uses. 

Group Travel Expenses

Multiple people can access the budgets, and there are features to split expenses so that each traveler knows what they owe. 

Reporting Options and Categorization 

This app allows you to sort expenses into categories (dining, attractions, accommodation, etc.) You can also access graphs and reports outlining your spending to date. 

Travel Planning Elements

Trip Expense Manager has some basic travel planning features. You can write an overview of your trip and add a list of places you want to visit. 

Who is Trip Expense Manager For?

Trip Expense Manager is a good app for solo and especially group travelers. It has many features that make tracking and splitting expenses easy and you can add different users, as long as every traveler has an Android device.  

Who is Trip Expense Manager Not For? 

Trip Expense Manager cannot be used by those with Apple devices. While solo travelers or those looking to just track and not split expenses can use the app, it is more geared to groups who want to share travel expenses. 

TravelSpend   

TravelSpend is an easy-to-use and well-designed travel budgeting tool that’s available for iOS and Android. It is free to use, but the free version comes with advertisements. To eliminate ads, you can upgrade to Premium for $3.99 a month or $17.99 a year. 

TravelSpend Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added

Unlimited travel expenses are offered by TravelSpend, so you don’t need to worry about running out of space to add entries. 

Group Travel Expenses 

TravelSpend allows you to sync with other travelers in your group and share budgets. You can add expenses from any synced device, and they will show up on the app for everyone in the group. There are also cost-splitting features, and you can settle debts within the TravelSpend app. 

Currency Converters 

You can add expenses in any currency, and they will be converted into the currency of your overall budget. 

Reporting Options and Categorization 

Insights features with graphs and reports showing your spending are available. You can export this data to a CSV file whenever you need. 

Category tags are also available, allowing you to separate costs to see what you’re spending on activities vs. dining vs. accommodation and the like. 

Who is TravelSpend For?

TravelSpend is appropriate for all travelers, from solo travelers to large groups. Anyone can use the app due to its availability for Android and iOS. 

Who is TravelSpend Not For? 

If you want a free app without ads, TravelSpend is not the app for you. It also doesn’t have travel planning features, only those that help with budgeting for travel, so if you want a combination planning and budgeting app, you should also look at other options, like Wanderlog! 

Trail Wallet   

Trail Wallet is a travel budget app built by travelers for travelers. You can add 25 entries for free. To add more entries, you must pay a one-time fee of $4.99. Like some of the other travel budgeting tools mentioned, Trail Wallet is only available for iOS. 

Trail Wallet Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added 

You can add as many trips and entries as you like. However, as mentioned, once you have entered 25 entries, you must pay $4.99 to add additional entries. 

Currency Converters 

Trail Wallet offers current exchange rates and can convert currencies to the currency of your budget. 

Reporting Options and Categorization 

This app allows you to add as many categories as you like, all of which you can color code. It also offers reports, such as graphs showing spending over your trip and how that spending is affecting your total budget. You can export these graphs and reports if needed. 

Who is Trail Wallet For?

Trail Wallet is easy to use and ideal for solo travelers or those not needing to split expenses. If you’re looking for in-depth graphs and categories, this app is a good option. 

Who is Trail Wallet Not For? 

Trail Wallet is not recommended for those that want to add unlimited trips and entries for free (although the fee for unlimited entries is very reasonable.) This app is also not useful to those with Android devices and does not have the best group travel features. 

TripMate  

TripMate is a free and easy-to-use app. Do note that TripMate is another of the travel budgeting tools that is only available for Android, not iOS. 

TripMate Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added 

This app allows you to create more than one trip and you can add as many spending entries as you like. 

Group Travel Expenses 

TripMate is great for group travel. You can add multiple users and assign a budget to each person. You can also split expenses via the app, with equal and unequal split options available. 

Reporting Options and Categorization 

Within the app, you can see graphs highlighting spending by category. These categories can be based on the type of expense (activity, hotel, etc.) or the traveler incurring the expense. For example, you can access a pie chart that shows what percentage of the total trip expense is allocated to each person in the group.   

Travel Planning

TripMate has some basic travel planning features, such as being able to add places you want to visit and keeping track of accommodation reservations. 

Who is TripMate For?

TripMate is ideal for groups that want to split expenses and see what each traveler is spending. The well-designed and easy-to-use app is also great for solo travelers or those not wanting to split expenses or break down spending by individual. 

Who is TripMate Not For? 

Those that have iOS devices won’t be able to use TripMate. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive travel planner and a budget planner, you may also want to try a different app. 

Again, Wanderlog is a great option to consider if you have an Apple device and want an app with in-depth travel planning and organization features. 

Bach

Bach is one of the more niche travel budgeting tools available as it is targeted at those planning travel for bachelorette parties. The app is free to download with no hidden fees and is available for Android and iOS. 

The Bach Features

Group Travel Expenses 

Bach is made for group travel. You can invite as many travelers to the app as you like, and there are cost-splitting features. You can share itineraries and even add polls so that everyone can agree on what to spend on. There is also a convenient group chat feature. 

Multiple Entries Can Be Added 

You can add as many activities and expenses as you need. Because this app is aimed at one-time trips (a bachelorette party), it’s designed to manage one trip at a time. 

Travel Planning

Bach allows you to create itineraries and add all activities that you have planned. You can also book certain experiences and events through the app, especially those popular with bachelorette parties.  

Who is The Bach For?

Bach is for groups planning bachelorette parties. It could also be useful to travelers planning similar events, such as a group trip for a birthday or wedding. 

Who is The Bach Not For? 

This budget tool and travel planner isn’t aimed at the average traveler. It is really only for those going on a group party-type vacation with lots of events planned. This app is also geared to trips in the US and doesn’t have currency converting features. 

Trabee Pocket 

Trabee Pocket is a simplistic travel budget tool that is very easy to use. It is available for Android and iOS. You can download a basic version for free with a paid upgrade, which costs $1.99.

Trabee Pocket Features

Multiple Trips and Entries Can Be Added 

With Trabee Pocket, you can add multiple trips and entries. It is also very easy to add expenses, and you can include a picture with each expense if you want to remember exactly what was purchased or keep a record of a paper receipt. You can also label expenses as cash or credit. 

Currency Converters 

You can track multiple currencies with Trabee Pocket, but again, the free version has limitations related to this feature. With the free account, you can only track one currency per trip. This restriction means that you would have to use a third-party currency converter to convert expenses before adding them to the app. 

With the upgrade for $1.99, you can track multiple currencies in one trip.

Reporting Options and Categorization 

With this app, you can see your spending at a glance and can also access more in-depth reports. These reports can also be exported as a PDF or CSV file. Most reporting features and the option to export are only available with the paid upgrade. 

Trabee Pocket allows you to split expenses into categories. Do note, that the free version only allows you to group expenses into eight categories, if you need additional categories, you must upgrade. 

Who is Trabee Pocket For?

Trabee Pocket is ideal for those that want a no-fuss app that will keep track of spending and budgets. If you aren’t interested in reports, having many categories of expenses, or tracking multiple currencies, you’ll appreciate this app. If you desire those types of features, you’ll have to pay to upgrade when using Trabee Pocket. 

Who is Trabee Pocket Not For? 

Trabee Pocket doesn’t have group features, such as being able to split expenses. So if you’re looking for travel budgeting tools for groups, this app isn’t recommended. You must also pay to access a lot of features, but the fee of $1.99 is minimal. This app also doesn’t have any travel planning features.  

Non-Travel Budgeting Planning Apps

When looking for the best travel budgeting tools, opting for those specifically designed for travel budgets is the best course of action. However, there are a few apps that are not directly related to travel that are worth mentioning.

Non-travel-based budgeting tools to consider include:

• Splitwise: free to use and available for iOS and Android. Splitwise is geared towards groups and splitting expenses.
    
• Expensify: free to use and available for iOS and Android. Expensify is primarily for personal finances and keeping track of spending and receipts.
  
• Mint: free to use and available for iOS and Android. Mint is also geared toward personal budgets and expenses. 

• PocketGuard: free-to-use version available for iOS and Android. Upgrading costs $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year. Best for personal travel expenses and tracking of spending.
  
• Tricount: free to use and available for iOS and Android. This budgeting app is for group expenses and splitting bills, ideal for those traveling in a group and sharing expenses. 

If you’re unsure which travel app to use, give Wanderlog a try! Not only does it keep track of your budget for traveling, but it also helps you organize trip details and discover fun vacation activities. Best of all, Wanderlog is free to download, and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed! 

If you’ve been using Google docs and sheets or simply storing travel inspiration, bookings, and reservations in your email, there’s a better way: using a travel planning app like Wanderlog! 

Today, we answer your question on what is the best iOS travel planning app and why. In our opinion, the best trip planner app should:

1. Fit into your unique travel style.
2. Organize all your information in one place.
3. Make planning and traveling easier.
4. Have excellent reviews.
5. Let you share your trip plan with friends and families.

Best Overall Travel Planner App: Wanderlog 

We truly believe that Wanderlog is the best overall travel itinerary planning app on the market. It’s great for both international excursions and domestic road trips. It is the best place to build, organize, and map your itinerary with friends and family. And it’s free!

Plan anywhere on any device

It is available everywhere. You can use Wanderlog on a web browser or download the app for iOS and Android. 

Store All Your Travel Information 

When using Wanderlog, you can manually add travel information or automatically import reservations, bookings, and other email confirmations by syncing with Gmail. You can finally have all your important travel info in one place:

1. Flight info
2. Bus or train reservations
3. Accommodation details
4. Rental car confirmations
5. Expenses and budget
6. Notes, documents, and links

Endless Ways To Organize And Plan

Wanderlog is an incredibly flexible and comprehensive planner. You can make itineraries down to the hour, or just create lists of potential places to visit, 

Planning is Easier And More Fun

You can see a map along with your plans on both the website and the app, so you can easily reorganize places to minimize travel time and maximize the fun! Sections are color-coded so you can quickly see which places are tied to which sections on the map.

Group Collaboration 

The best part is that Wanderlog syncs in real-time making it easy to collaborate with others and plan across your devices.

Activity Suggestions and Access to Pre-Created Trips 

You can search third-party websites right in the app and add things to do to your itinerary from online guides and publications. Wanderlog also offers activity suggestions, and you can view trips created by other users for inspiration.

Reviews

Wanderlog has wonderful app store reviews. It is rated 4.9/5 in the app store with 5000 reviews. Just check out what these travellers are saying about the app:

Love love love! Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app.

– Julie G.

AMAZING!! The organization this app provides has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.

– Garrett V.

This is the crème de la crème of planning apps! Don’t think about it – just click download right this minute.

– Chris C.

Pricing

Wanderlog is 100% free to use, and this free version offers access to all of the apps’ planning features. You can create unlimited trip plans and add as many places and info as you’d like! There is also an upgraded option, Wanderlog Pro, that offers added benefits with a one-week free trial.

Who Is Wanderlog For? 

Wanderlog is the best app to plan travel for every type of traveler. From solo travelers to groups, and from the highly organized traveler to those that simply need one place to store information and activity suggestions. Wanderlog also has a highly user-friendly interface, and best of all, it’s free to use! 

Who Is Wanderlog Not For? 

Wanderlog is great for all travelers! Whether you want to organize your travel details, search for an array of activities to enjoy on your trip, or collaborate with fellow travelers, the Wanderlog travel planning app won’t disappoint. 

To read about the other 18 apps we checked out before deciding Wanderlog was the best, click here.

Privacy Policy | Contact Us

If you’ve been using Google docs and sheets or simply storing travel inspiration, bookings, and reservations in your email, there’s a better way: using a travel planning app like Wanderlog! 

Today, we answer your question on what is the best iOS travel planning app and why. In our opinion, the best trip planner app should:

1. Fit into your unique travel style.
2. Organize all your information in one place.
3. Make planning and traveling easier.
4. Have excellent reviews.
5. Let you share your trip plan with friends and families.

Best Overall Travel Planner App: Wanderlog 

We truly believe that Wanderlog is the best overall travel itinerary planning app on the market. It’s great for both international excursions and domestic road trips. It is the best place to build, organize, and map your itinerary with friends and family. And it’s free!

Plan anywhere on any device

It is available everywhere. You can use Wanderlog on a web browser or download the app for iOS and Android. 

Store All Your Travel Information 

When using Wanderlog, you can manually add travel information or automatically import reservations, bookings, and other email confirmations by syncing with Gmail. You can finally have all your important travel info in one place:

1. Flight info
2. Bus or train reservations
3. Accommodation details
4. Rental car confirmations
5. Expenses and budget
6. Notes, documents, and links

Endless Ways To Organize And Plan

Wanderlog is an incredibly flexible and comprehensive planner. You can make itineraries down to the hour, or just create lists of potential places to visit, 

Planning is Easier And More Fun

You can see a map along with your plans on both the website and the app, so you can easily reorganize places to minimize travel time and maximize the fun! Sections are color-coded so you can quickly see which places are tied to which sections on the map.

Group Collaboration 

The best part is that Wanderlog syncs in real-time making it easy to collaborate with others and plan across your devices.

Activity Suggestions and Access to Pre-Created Trips 

You can search third-party websites right in the app and add things to do to your itinerary from online guides and publications. Wanderlog also offers activity suggestions, and you can view trips created by other users for inspiration.

Reviews

Wanderlog has wonderful app store reviews. It is rated 4.9/5 in the app store with 5000 reviews. Just check out what these travellers are saying about the app:

Love love love! Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app.

– Julie G.

AMAZING!! The organization this app provides has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.

– Garrett V.

This is the crème de la crème of planning apps! Don’t think about it – just click download right this minute.

– Chris C.

Pricing

Wanderlog is 100% free to use, and this free version offers access to all of the apps’ planning features. You can create unlimited trip plans and add as many places and info as you’d like! There is also an upgraded option, Wanderlog Pro, that offers added benefits with a one-week free trial.

Who Is Wanderlog For? 

Wanderlog is the best app to plan travel for every type of traveler. From solo travelers to groups, and from the highly organized traveler to those that simply need one place to store information and activity suggestions. Wanderlog also has a highly user-friendly interface, and best of all, it’s free to use! 

Who Is Wanderlog Not For? 

Wanderlog is great for all travelers! Whether you want to organize your travel details, search for an array of activities to enjoy on your trip, or collaborate with fellow travelers, the Wanderlog travel planning app won’t disappoint. 

To read about the other 18 apps we checked out before deciding Wanderlog was the best, click here.

Privacy Policy | Contact Us

If you’ve been using Google docs and sheets or simply storing travel inspiration, bookings, and reservations in your email, there’s a better way: using a travel planning app like Wanderlog! 

Today, we answer your question on what is the best iOS travel planning app and why. In our opinion, the best trip planner app should:

1. Fit into your unique travel style.
2. Organize all your information in one place.
3. Make planning and traveling easier.
4. Have excellent reviews.
5. Let you share your trip plan with friends and families.

Best Overall Travel Planner App: Wanderlog 

We truly believe that Wanderlog is the best overall travel itinerary planning app on the market. It’s great for both international excursions and domestic road trips. It is the best place to build, organize, and map your itinerary with friends and family. And it’s free!

Plan anywhere on any device

It is available everywhere. You can use Wanderlog on a web browser or download the app for iOS and Android. 

Store All Your Travel Information 

When using Wanderlog, you can manually add travel information or automatically import reservations, bookings, and other email confirmations by syncing with Gmail. You can finally have all your important travel info in one place:

1. Flight info
2. Bus or train reservations
3. Accommodation details
4. Rental car confirmations
5. Expenses and budget
6. Notes, documents, and links

Endless Ways To Organize And Plan

Wanderlog is an incredibly flexible and comprehensive planner. You can make itineraries down to the hour, or just create lists of potential places to visit, 

Planning is Easier And More Fun

You can see a map along with your plans on both the website and the app, so you can easily reorganize places to minimize travel time and maximize the fun! Sections are color-coded so you can quickly see which places are tied to which sections on the map.

Group Collaboration 

The best part is that Wanderlog syncs in real-time making it easy to collaborate with others and plan across your devices.

Activity Suggestions and Access to Pre-Created Trips 

You can search third-party websites right in the app and add things to do to your itinerary from online guides and publications. Wanderlog also offers activity suggestions, and you can view trips created by other users for inspiration.

Reviews

Wanderlog has wonderful app store reviews. It is rated 4.9/5 in the app store with 5000 reviews. Just check out what these travellers are saying about the app:

Love love love! Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app.

– Julie G.

AMAZING!! The organization this app provides has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.

– Garrett V.

This is the crème de la crème of planning apps! Don’t think about it – just click download right this minute.

– Chris C.

Pricing

Wanderlog is 100% free to use, and this free version offers access to all of the apps’ planning features. You can create unlimited trip plans and add as many places and info as you’d like! There is also an upgraded option, Wanderlog Pro, that offers added benefits with a one-week free trial.

Who Is Wanderlog For? 

Wanderlog is the best app to plan travel for every type of traveler. From solo travelers to groups, and from the highly organized traveler to those that simply need one place to store information and activity suggestions. Wanderlog also has a highly user-friendly interface, and best of all, it’s free to use! 

Who Is Wanderlog Not For? 

Wanderlog is great for all travelers! Whether you want to organize your travel details, search for an array of activities to enjoy on your trip, or collaborate with fellow travelers, the Wanderlog travel planning app won’t disappoint. 

To read about the other 18 apps we checked out before deciding Wanderlog was the best, click here.

Privacy Policy | Contact Us

If you’ve been using Google docs and sheets or simply storing travel inspiration, bookings, and reservations in your email, there’s a better way: using a travel planning app like Wanderlog! 

Today, we answer your question on what is the best iOS travel planning app and why. In our opinion, the best trip planner app should:

1. Fit into your unique travel style.
2. Organize all your information in one place.
3. Make planning and traveling easier.
4. Have excellent reviews.
5. Let you share your trip plan with friends and families.

Best Overall Travel Planner App: Wanderlog 

We truly believe that Wanderlog is the best overall travel itinerary planning app on the market. It’s great for both international excursions and domestic road trips. It is the best place to build, organize, and map your itinerary with friends and family. And it’s free!

Plan anywhere on any device

It is available everywhere. You can use Wanderlog on a web browser or download the app for iOS and Android. 

Store All Your Travel Information 

When using Wanderlog, you can manually add travel information or automatically import reservations, bookings, and other email confirmations by syncing with Gmail. You can finally have all your important travel info in one place:

1. Flight info
2. Bus or train reservations
3. Accommodation details
4. Rental car confirmations
5. Expenses and budget
6. Notes, documents, and links

Endless Ways To Organize And Plan

Wanderlog is an incredibly flexible and comprehensive planner. You can make itineraries down to the hour, or just create lists of potential places to visit, 

Planning is Easier And More Fun

You can see a map along with your plans on both the website and the app, so you can easily reorganize places to minimize travel time and maximize the fun! Sections are color-coded so you can quickly see which places are tied to which sections on the map.

Group Collaboration 

The best part is that Wanderlog syncs in real-time making it easy to collaborate with others and plan across your devices.

Activity Suggestions and Access to Pre-Created Trips 

You can search third-party websites right in the app and add things to do to your itinerary from online guides and publications. Wanderlog also offers activity suggestions, and you can view trips created by other users for inspiration.

Reviews

Wanderlog has wonderful app store reviews. It is rated 4.9/5 in the app store with 5000 reviews. Just check out what these travellers are saying about the app:

Love love love! Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app.

– Julie G.

AMAZING!! The organization this app provides has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.

– Garrett V.

This is the crème de la crème of planning apps! Don’t think about it – just click download right this minute.

– Chris C.

Pricing

Wanderlog is 100% free to use, and this free version offers access to all of the apps’ planning features. You can create unlimited trip plans and add as many places and info as you’d like! There is also an upgraded option, Wanderlog Pro, that offers added benefits with a one-week free trial.

Who Is Wanderlog For? 

Wanderlog is the best app to plan travel for every type of traveler. From solo travelers to groups, and from the highly organized traveler to those that simply need one place to store information and activity suggestions. Wanderlog also has a highly user-friendly interface, and best of all, it’s free to use! 

Who Is Wanderlog Not For? 

Wanderlog is great for all travelers! Whether you want to organize your travel details, search for an array of activities to enjoy on your trip, or collaborate with fellow travelers, the Wanderlog travel planning app won’t disappoint. 

To read about the other 18 apps we checked out before deciding Wanderlog was the best, click here.

If you’ve been wondering “what is the best ride-sharing app?” you should check out Poparide. This Canadian company has been helping passengers find rides since 2010 with great success.

As producers of a top travel app, the team at Wanderlog enjoys trying more of the best travel planning apps on the market. This includes rideshare apps like Poparide that can make traveling around a new city easy for tourists. 

In our Poparide review, we’ll offer an overview of the brand and some of the primary pros and cons of the service. To discover if using Poparide is worth it, read on! 

What is Poparide? 

Founded in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada, Poparide is a carpooling app that allows drivers with empty seats in their vehicles to connect with passengers in need of a ride. Poparide currently operates in Canada only, but Poparide USA is set to be launched soon. 

The service is ideal for travelers, those without a car that need to get somewhere not easily accessible by public transport, or those looking to reduce their carbon footprint. It also allows drivers to make some extra income while driving routes they would take anyway. 

Poparide Canada has proven extremely popular and has been featured by Global News, CBC, Techvibes, and more! Today, Poparide has a community of over 400,000 users and this number is growing all the time. 

How Does Poparide Make Money? 

Unlike traditional carpooling or hitchhiking, which is generally free, you must pay to get a ride on Poparide. While most of this payment goes to the car driver, Poparide keeps a percentage of it.

When researching for this Poparide review, we found that the company also charges passengers a “support fee.”  This fee is added on top of the rate paid to the driver, and is kept to cover operational costs. This support fee is currently set at $1. 

Does Poparide Have an App?

There is a Poparide app available for iOS and Android that’s available in English and French. Having an app offers the most convenience to users (passengers and drivers) as you can connect with rides and riders while on the go via your cell phone. 

You can also use Poparide in-browser at poparide.com. 

How Does Poparide Work? 

Poparide works by allowing drivers to post journeys they’re going to make. Passengers can then find a driver taking the same journey as them at the same time, and pay to carpool with them. 

How Do I Book a Ride on Poparide?

1. Go to poparide.com or download and open the app. 

2. Click “Find a Ride.”

3. Enter your starting and end location and the date of your trip. This can be general, ex. “Downtown Vancouver” or a specific address. If you use a specific address, they’ll find people nearby who you can meet or may be willing to collect you.
   
4. Drivers that match your criteria will be displayed in a list. On this page you’ll be able to see the following information for each driver:

• Their name and a picture of them
• The cost of the ride
• The date and time of pickup 
• The number of seats left 
• Exact pickup and dropoff locations
• A picture of the car and the make and model
• Number of rides given and a rating out of 5 stars 

You may also see some icons which indicate the following:

• Suitcase icon: you can bring luggage 
• Paw icon: pet-friendly
• Snowflake icon: has winter tires
• Bike icon: bikes okay
• Skiing icon: ski and snowboard equipment okay 

A green seat icon with a number also indicates how many passengers can sit in the back of the car.

5. If a ride interests you, you can click on it to learn more. On the drivers’ page, you can see all the above information, plus a little info about the driver and the trip. You can also see reviews from previous passengers. 

6. To book the ride, click the “Request to Book” button. You can also message the driver before requesting to book if you have questions. 

7. You’ll get a booking confirmation and can then connect with your driver through the app. 

How Do I Post a Trip on Poparide?

1. Create an account on poparide.com or via the Poparide Carpool app.

2. Click “Post a Trip.”

3. Fill in the following information: 

• Trip origin and destination. You can also add stops if you are willing to stop along the way.
  
• If it’s a recurring or one-time trip, and what time you will leave the origin location. You can also add a return trip.
  
• “Trip Preferences” which include:

• If luggage is okay and if that luggage can be small, medium, or large
• The maximum number of people in the back seats (two or three)
• Other features, such as having winter tires, allowing bikes or winter sports equipment, and being pet friendly 

• Number of passengers you’ll accept 
• Price per seat 
• Booking options: book instantly or request to book
• Trip description (optional) 

4. Click “Post Trip” to make your trip live and viewable to passengers. 

Can You Cancel Poparide?

While looking into the terms and conditions for this Poparide review, we found that you can cancel a Poparide booking as a passenger. To do so:

1. Select “Trips” within your account and find the trip you’d like to cancel.
   
2. Click on that trip and choose “Cancel Booking” found at the bottom of the trip details page. 

You can cancel a booking up until the driver has departed for the journey, but refund amounts will vary as follows:

• Cancel before confirming the booking (cancel booking request): 100% refund, including the booking fee.
  
• Cancel more than 24 hours before departure: 100% refund minus the booking fee.
  
• Cancel less than 24 hours before departure: 50% refund minus the booking fee. Plus, a “late cancellation” note is added to your profile. 

If a driver cancels a trip, the passenger gets a 100% refund including the booking fee. Drivers can cancel one trip every six months with passenger approval. 

How Do I Contact Poparide? 

You can contact Poparide customer service 24/7 via a support form found online and in the app. They also have an FAQs page to offer help and support for commonly occurring issues. 

What Are the Benefits of Poparide?

Offers Flexibility to Those without Cars

When using the app for this Poparide review, we found that one of the main benefits to passengers is the flexibility offered. Those without a car can now easily get where they need to go, even if the location isn’t accessible by public transport.

Many drivers will also offer to pick you up at a location of your choice (if close to their departure spot.) You can also find drivers going on short and long journeys.  

Offers an Affordable Choice for Longer Journeys 

The transportation part of a longer trip, for example, for a weekend away, can get expensive. Poparide offers a very affordable alternative to traditional transport that won’t cut into your budget. 

If traveling alone, your journey will also be more interesting as you’ll have at least one other person to chat with. 

Convenient Way to Make Money 

As a driver, using Poparide is a great way to earn some additional income. If you’re already taking a route, you’re effectively being paid for something you would do anyway!

Whether you’re going on a long journey or just doing your daily commute, advertising empty seats on Poparide is a great added revenue stream. 

Good for the Environment 

Carpooling is better for the environment than taking individual rides. By carpooling via Poparide instead of taking a private vehicle (like a cab) or renting a car, you can reduce your carbon footprint. 

Cancellations are Unlikely 

During research for this Poparide review, we discovered that the company has a strict cancellation policy that’s applied to both the passengers and drivers. As a passenger, it’s unlikely that your ride will get canceled as drivers can generally only cancel two rides a year and must have passenger approval to do so.

Passengers will also lose money if they cancel (50% of the cost if canceling over 24 hours before. 100% if canceling within less than 24 hours.) This policy makes cancellations by passengers unlikely.  

What Are the Drawbacks of Poparide? 

Cancellations Can Happen 

While a benefit of Poparide is that cancellations don’t happen frequently, they could still occur. This issue is especially frustrating to passengers if their plans depend on the ride. 

Cancellations can be frustrating to drivers too, especially if they had to turn other people away. Luckily, you can see how frequently individuals cancel rides in their profiles, which allows you to select drivers or passengers that don’t cancel. 

It’s Not Guaranteed What Your Driver or Passengers Will Be Like 

Although you can see reviews, you never really know what a passenger or driver will be like. The ride can become uncomfortable if passengers and drivers don’t get on or if one party is inappropriate. 

Again, the chances of this happening are quite unlikely, and you can use reviews to determine what the person is like. You can also chat with them a bit before booking, which is especially useful if you’ll be carpooling on a longer trip. 

There Are Fees Involved 

In the past, drivers have advertised carpool options on sites like Craigslist and Facebook. In doing this, neither the passenger nor driver incur third party fees.

With Poparide, fees are incurred by both parties. However, Poparide offers more security and peace of mind than the above options, which makes paying the fees worth it to many. 

It’s Only Active in Canada 

Poparide is currently only available to customers in Canada. However, you can book a ride ahead of time even if you aren’t currently in Canada. For example, if you need a ride when you arrive in the country for a vacation.

Poparide does have plans to expand into the US and then potentially further. 

Availability Varies 

The number of drivers and passengers available will vary based on location. Those looking for riddles in large cities, like Vancouver, Toronto, or Calgary should find what they’re looking for, especially if going downtown or to a popular tourist destination.

People in more rural areas could have difficulty finding a driver or multiple passengers.    

Is Poparide Safe? 

You may be wondering about the safety of Popparide and even ask “is Poparide legal?” Poparide is a 100% legal company that operates as a crowdsourcing carpool service. 

Poparide also has many measures in place to ensure both drivers and passengers are safe during trips. Both drivers and passengers can verify their identity, and both parties can view reviews of the other. Poparide is generally just as safe as taking a taxi or similar transport. 

Is Poparide Worth It? 

Having looked at the app in detail, is using Poparide worth it? 

Poparide offers both drivers and passengers many benefits. If you’re looking for a carpool option, checking out the app is worth it. However, keep in mind that there are added fees involved that you wouldn’t have to pay if using public transport, a taxi, or arranging carpools over social media. 

When looking at customer ratings, satisfaction levels are predominantly high. Poparide reviews are not available on business review sites such as Trustpilot or Better Business Bureau. However, the company receives 4.9 stars out of 5, based on 6.9K+ reviews on the Apple App Store. It also gets 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 1.4K+ reviews on the Google Play Store. 

Satisfied customers mention:

• The ease of using the app
• The convenience of the service 
• The additional income benefits for drivers 

Those leaving a negative Poparide review mentioned technical issues with the app and booking platform. Unsatisfied customers also mentioned that communicating with drivers wasn’t always easy, their rides got canceled, and that it was difficult to resolve disputes. 

Even those leaving good reviews mention the inconvenience of cancellations and the fact that some users behave inappropriately or aren’t friendly. 

Despite some negatives, if you’re looking for a ride, checking out Poparide is definitely worth it. While issues can occur, it’s generally a reliable service that can get you from point A to B easily and affordably. 

Best Travel Planning Tool

Now that you’ve found a convenient way to get a ride while traveling, make sure all of your travel plans are organized with Wanderlog. Our easy-to-use app stores your booking information and accommodation details in one place. 

We also offer lots of great suggestions regarding things to do and see in the cities you’re visiting, all of which can get added to a personalized itinerary. If you have a trip coming up, download the Wanderlog app today to make traveling easy and organized! 

HotelTonight offers great deals on last-minute hotel rooms. You can book the same day as check-in and receive steep discounts on rooms that otherwise wouldn’t have been occupied. 

As the team at Wanderlog enjoys finding the best travel planning apps that save travelers time and money, we were interested in checking out HotelTonight.

In this HotelTonight review, we’ll provide an overview of the brand and how to book a hotel. Finally, we’ll cover the pros and cons of the service before letting you know if using HotelTonight is worth it for booking affordable accommodation. 

What is HotelTonight? 

HotelTonight is a hotel booking website that specializes in finding last-minute accommodation for users. The company generally sells excess inventory (rooms that haven’t been booked in advance) to customers looking for a room within the next 24 to 48 hours.

You can also book rooms more in advance. Due to selling rooms that are usually not booked, HotelTonight can offer extremely low rates on a range of popular hotels.

Additionally, HotelTonight has accommodation options across the world. You can book in a range of popular cities in North, South, and Central America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. 

The company is owned by Airbnb, and has been featured by a range of top publications, including Forbes, WIRED, and GQ. They also have a strong following on social media, with 150K+ followers on Instagram and 320K+ followers on Facebook. 

Does HotelTonight Have an App? 

While researching for this HotelTonight review, we discovered that HotelTonight does have an app for Android and iOS. The app allows you to search for hotels and book from your phone or tablet. 

Is the HotelTonight app free? 

The HotelTonight app is completely free. The only time you have to pay is when you book a room (i.e. pay the room rate and taxes.) 

How Does HotelTonight Work? 

1. Go to hoteltonight.com or open the app.

2. Enter the city where you need a hotel and the date you need a room.

3. Customize your search as needed. Filters you can add include:

• Number of rooms
• Amenities, such as the hotel being pet friendly, including breakfast, or having a pool or gym
• Type of hotels to be shown: those with the best deals, the cheapest hotels, or the most premium hotels 

4. A list of hotels matching your search criteria will be shown along with a map that shows their location. 

5. Click on a hotel you’re interested in to learn more about it. Hotel pages show:

• An overview of the hotel
• Additional images of the room and shared areas of the hotel (lobby, lounge, restaurant, etc.)
• A list of amenities included 
• An overview of terms and conditions, such as check-in and check-out times and what’s needed at check-in 
• Hotel ratings and reviews by previous guests 

6. If you’re interested in booking the hotel, simply confirm the check-in and check-out dates are correct and click “Book Now” on the right-hand side of the page. The total rate for your stay will be displayed as well.

7. You then need to use your HotelTonight login or create an account, add guest info and payment info and finally confirm your booking.

How Does HotelTonight Make Money?

While looking into the brand for this HotelTonight review, we found that the company acts as a middleman between guests and hotels. For this service, HotelTonight is paid a commission on any booking by the hotel. 

The hotels will give HotelTonight a percentage of your booking rate. You aren’t charged anything extra to “pay” HotelTonight.   

Does HotelTonight Have Hidden Fees? 

HotelTonight has no hidden fees. The final cost when you click “book” is what HotelTonight is charging you. 

The hotel itself may have additional fees, such as resort fees. You’ll often pay those at check-in, and HotelTonight outlines that additional fees could be due at the request of the hotel on arrival. 

Does Hotel Tonight Include Resort Fees? 

HotelTonight doesn’t collect resort fees, they just charge the standard rate of the room, plus taxes. If the accommodation you’re staying at has resort fees, those will be charged when you check-in. 

Is HotelTonight Really Cheaper? 

Booking through HotelTonight is generally cheaper than booking through a travel agent, online travel site, or the hotel itself. 

HotelTonight’s business model revolves around selling rooms that generally go unbooked. Hotels are therefore willing to offer HotelTonight customers lower rates to ensure those rooms are booked. 

Despite this, some customers say that HotelTonight’s rates were actually not the cheapest. Once you find a room you want on HotelTonight, it may be worth checking the rate with the hotel and other booking websites before confirming. 

How Do I Cancel My HotelTonight Booking?

Unfortunately, when looking into cancellation policies for this HotelTonight review, we found that HotelTonight bookings are generally non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-modifiable. 

If you have any more questions about cancellations and refunds, you can check out the HotelTonight FAQs page. If you’d prefer to call for support, the HotelTonight contact number to use will vary based on your location. You can find all contact numbers on the FAQs page.  

What Are the Benefits of HotelTonight?

Cheap Hotel Prices 

HotelTonight offers some of the best prices available on hotel rooms. They can offer steep discounts compared to other travel sites, allowing you to book great accommodation for an affordable rate. 

Room Available for Same Day Check-In 

The service is convenient for those that don’t want to or can’t plan in advance. Can book once you reach your destination or shortly before you get there. However, if you like planning ahead, you can book up to 100 days in advance of your stay.  

A User-Friendly Website and App

Both HotelTonight’s website and app have a user-friendly interface. It’s easy to add the city you want to stay in and find relevant options. Each hotel page has in-depth information about the room you’ll be booking, and the booking process is straightforward. 

No Hidden Fees or Sign-up Fees 

It costs nothing to book through HotelTonight and there are no hidden fees charged by HotelTonight. The amount displayed at the time of booking is what you’ll pay.

As discussed earlier, the hotel itself may charge some additional fees on arrival, like resort fees. The fact that this could happen is outlined by HotelTonight and you can visit the hotel website to determine which additional fees may be due. 

Accommodation Options Across the World 

You can book HotelTonight deals in popular cities across the world. This feature makes the service useful for a range of travelers that are going to destinations all over the globe.  

What Are the Drawbacks of HotelTonight? 

Only Hotels Are Available 

One thing we noticed when searching the website for this HotelTonight review is that in general, only hotel accommodation is available for booking. 

If you’re looking for more unique accommodation, such as somewhere with a kitchen or a backyard, this isn’t the app for you. Vacation rental apps, like Vrbo, will be more what you’re looking for! 

You Can’t Choose Room Type

HotelTonight books out leftover inventory at hotels. Therefore, you often don’t have the choice to pick the type of room (Queen, King, Suite, etc.). You get what is available!

For some, this won’t be a problem. However, if you want a certain type of room, number of beds, or the like, it’s best to book directly via the hotel. 

You Can’t Specify Number of Guests 

Unlike when booking directly with a hotel, you can’t specify how many people will be staying in each room on HotelTonight. This means you may find there isn’t enough space in the room you booked for the number of people traveling. 

You may also be charged for additional people at check-in. For example, if the HotelTonight rate was for one guest, you could be charged a fee if a second guest is checking in with you. 

Bookings Can’t Be Canceled or Refunded 

The majority of bookings on HotelTonight can’t be canceled or refunded. If you require a room as soon as possible, this likely won’t be a concern. But do be aware of this drawback if you’re using HotelTonight to book a room in advance. 

If you want to modify a booking, for example, to upgrade to a different room, you would have to call the hotel itself. There’s also no guarantee that modifications can be made. 

Negative Customer Reviews 

HotelTonight receives quite bad reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau. These negative ratings can be worrying to potential customers, especially those that rely heavily on customer reviews to make purchase decisions. 

Do note that many of the customer reviews for individual hotels on HotelTonight are good. People may be more inclined to create a bad review after an unsatisfactory experience, resulting in a high level of negative ratings on review websites. 

Is HotelTonight Legit? 

Due to the low prices on offer, many ask the questions “is HotelTonight reliable?” and “is HotelTonight a legit site?” The answer to these questions is yes, HotelTonight is a legitimate and reliable business.

Hotel tonight connects guests with unbooked hotel inventory. As the hotels generally wouldn’t have booked these rooms without HotelTonight, they allow HotelTonight to offer the rooms at a lower than average rate.

Do be aware that most bookings are not refundable or modifiable, and you may incur additional fees, like resort fees, on check-in at your chosen accommodation.  

Is HotelTonight Worth It? 

This HotelTonight review will now answer the most important question of whether HotelTonight is worth it or not. 

If you’re looking for last-minute accommodation, HotelTonight is a great option. They specialize in same-day bookings and can offer both rooms and rates not offered anywhere else. Even if planning in advance, you can get some good deals when booking via HotelTonight. 

HotelTonight Customer Reviews 

Despite the pros of HotelTonight, do keep in mind that HotelTonight reviews found on popular review websites are generally negative. The brand receives 1.4 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on approximately 300 reviews. On Better Business Bureau, they receive a rating of 1.04 out of 5 stars based on 24 reviews. 

Unsatisfied customers state the following as reasons for leaving a negative rating:

• Bad customer service 
• Rates displayed on HotelTonight are not the lowest on the market 
• Bookings have not be found once guests arrive at the hotel
• Hotel rooms have not been as advertised, yet HotelTonight will not refund because of this 

Reviews on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store are more positive. Apple users give HotelTonight 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 450K+ ratings. 60K+ Android users give the brand 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Positive reviewers appreciate the ease of booking, the competitive prices, and the choice of hotels. You can still find users stating the above negatives associated with the brand on these platforms though. 

Should You Book via HotelTonight? 

Ultimately, HotelTonight can be a great service for travelers needing last-minute accommodation or those looking for the best rates on the market. However, be aware that issues can occur with this service, and you can’t get a refund if you no longer want to go through with the booking. 

If possible, compare deals on hotel websites and other third-party websites before confirming a booking on HotelTonight.   

Make Every Step of Travel Planning Easy with Wanderlog! 

Travel planning is easy from start to finish with Wanderlog! Download our app today to help organize all your travel info, including flights and accommodation bookings. 

You can also search for fun places to visit and things to do at your destination, adding any activities that interest you to a personalized itinerary. What are you waiting for? Download the app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store today. 

Turo is a car rental app and website that allows car owners to rent their car to those in need of a vehicle. This model means that renters have access to a vast array of makes and models and can book them for any period of time. 

While the Wanderlog team enjoys reviewing the best travel planning apps, we also love checking out other apps that can make traveling easy. Therefore, we were eager to start research for this Turo Review to let you know if using the car rental platform is worth it.

To discover if Turo is the future of car rentals, read on for our in-depth review!  

What is Turo Car Rental?

Turo is a service that connects car owners that want to rent their cars with those looking to rent. Users can choose from numerous vehicle models and make, including electric and hybrid vehicles. 

Founded in 2010, the company has since connected millions of customers searching for car rentals with vehicles that meet their needs. Turo operates in over 7,500 cities across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 

During research for this review of Turo car rental, we found that the brand also has a very loyal following, with over 140K followers each on Instagram and Facebook. 

Does Turo Have an App? 

Turo has an app for both iOS and Android. The app allows you to search for car rentals, book a car, and manage your account from your phone or tablet. You can also do all of these things in-browser on turo.com.

How Does Turo Work?

1. Go to turo.com or open the app.

2. Enter the city or address you want to pick the car up at or have it delivered to.

3. And the dates you need the car for (pick-up and drop-off) and the date you’d like to pick up the car. 

4. Turo will display available cars that meet the criteria entered. A map is also shown telling you the area each car is located in.

5. You can narrow your search by applying filters to the results on the page.
   
   Filters to add include:

• Price range (per day)
• “Book Instantly” – only shows cars you can book without waiting for host approval
• Drop off at your door (“Delivery”) fee price range 
• Car features, including pet-friendly, sunroof, heated seats
• Eco-friendly (show only hybrid or electric vehicles)
• Vehicle type and number of seats 
• Vehicle make
• Manual or automatic 

You can also sort results by one of the following:

• Relevance to your search criteria
• Price: high to low
• Price: low to high
• Distance from you
  

6. If interested in learning more about a vehicle, click on the thumbnail and you’ll be taken to its own web page. 

On this web page you can see:

• Car description (plus additional images) and host information
  
• Car features, plus extras you can purchase
  
• Distance included in the price, plus cost per mile for additional miles driven
  
• The total you’ll pay for your chosen time, dates, and location (excluding additional miles driven)
  
• Cancellation policy
  
• Customer reviews
  

7. If you want to book the car, simply press “Continue” under the total price breakdown. You’ll then create an account, add payment information, and confirm the booking. 

8. After booking, you’ll get a confirmation that the car will be dropped off at your chosen location on your chosen dates. If not opting for delivery, you’ll be told where to go for pickup.

Does Turo Have Hidden Fees? 

When going through the booking process for this Turo Review, we found that there are some additional fees added at checkout. There are also fees for certain situations, such as if young drivers are booking or if you want your pet in the car. 

The total amount you pay is broken down as follows:

Daily rate x number of days you need the car for 

– Discount, if applicable

+

Turo Fee

+

Protection Plan: you have a few options, with increased coverage plans coming at a higher cost. You can decline protection too. 

= Total Rate + Tax

Depending on your situation, you may incur the following fees:

• Young driver fee (for those under 26 years of age)
  
• Pet fee
  
• Pickup and/or drop off fee (varies by host)
  
• Airport fee (for those that pick up at a Turo airport lot)
  
• Security deposit
  
• Additional miles fee
  
• Gas fee (if your host requests you fill the tank before returning the car, you’ll be charged the cost of the gas, plus a convenience fee, if you don’t. The same goes for the charging of electric vehicles.)
  
• Other extra charge fees/upgrade fees 

It’s worth noting that Turo also charges a “no show fee.” This fee is applied if you don’t cancel your booking within the given window and don’t pick up the car. 

Does Turo Come with Insurance? 

Turo doesn’t require that you purchase insurance but recommends it. For those that want insurance, Turo offers a selection of protection plans when completing your booking. 

If you don’t purchase insurance and something goes wrong with the vehicle, such as you damaging it, all costs will be your responsibility. 

How Does Turo Make Money? 

Turo primarily makes money by taking a share of the fees paid to car owners (hosts.) This percentage is on average a 25% cut. So if you pay $1,000 for the car, Turo will get $250 of that. 

How to Leave a Review on Turo 

To offer the best experience to potential customers, Turo allows past customers to leave reviews of their host and the host’s vehicle. 

After your rental is complete, you will be able to go into your account and leave a review on the vehicle’s Turo page. You have ten days from the end of your trip to leave a review.

In the review you can:   

• Leave a star rating out of five stars
  
• Rate vehicle cleanliness and maintenance, accuracy of vehicle listing, ease of communication with host, and convenience
  
• Leave written feedback stating what went well and what didn’t, if applicable 

What Are the Benefits of Turo?

Access to a Range of Vehicles for a Short Time Period 

The main benefit of Turo is that you can rent almost any vehicle for your desired time period, which can be as little as a few hours. When looking at vehicle options for this Turo Review, we found that the brand has hosts offering gas, electric, and hybrid vehicles in a range of makes, models, and price ranges. 

Whether you want a luxury two-seater sports car, an environmentally friendly option, or a family-friendly SUV, Turo has something for you!  

Host and Vehicle Reviews are Available 

It’s easy to see how well past renters rate both the host and the vehicle you’re interested in. Access to ratings and detailed written feedback can help in making the best purchase decision and reducing the risk of something going wrong during the car rental process. 

Reviews will not be removed except in exceptional circumstances by Turo. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about host interference with reviews, for example, deleting negative reviews. 

Convenience 

Turo offers users great convenience and has a rental vehicle for everyone’s needs. Whether you want to rent a car for a day trip, need a vehicle to run a few errands, or are looking for a way to easily get around a city you’re visiting, Turo offers an easy-to-use solution to all of those situations.

Turo also allows vehicle owners to conveniently rent out their vehicles for as much time as they’d like. 

What Are the Drawbacks of Turo? 

Issues with Hosts Can Occur 

Turo allows a vast number of hosts to list their vehicles and has limited say over how these hosts act. Turo can also not guarantee that a vehicle will be delivered to you as described in the listing. These types of issues are much less likely to occur with traditional car rental agencies. 

Due to this, you may encounter issues with receiving the car or dropping it off and communicating with the host. You may also find that the vehicle you get is not as described in the listing. 

However, the risk of these issues occurring is mitigated due to the availability of reviews on each host and vehicle. Turo can also get involved if issues occur with a vehicle and/or host. 

Hidden Fees 

When looking at the pricing structure for this Turo Review, we did find that there are a range of potential fees that you could be charged. Including those that may be charged on top of your booking total, such as extra miles, no show fees, or gas charges.

If you do research beforehand on Turo guaranteed and potential fees, you can avoid surprises when your payment is taken. 

Is Turo Legit? 

Turo rentals is a legitimate business that is deemed to be trustworthy. As a consumer, do be aware that as car rentals are conducted via a third party (the Turo host), issues could occur that are out of Turo’s control. 

However, if issues do occur, Turo will do its best to resolve the issue and refund you where appropriate. Also, make sure you are familiar with Turo’s fee structure, and potential hidden fees, before renting. 

Is Turo Worth It? 

So, is using Turo a good idea? After looking in-depth at the brand and car rental process for this Turo Review, we’d say that Turo is definitely worth checking out.

Turo offers consumers an easy way to rent almost any type of vehicle. Users have access to rentals in numerous cities, for their desired amount of time, for a few hours to a week or more.   

In addition, past Turo users seem to be generally satisfied. Turo car rental reviews on Trustpilot are predominantly positive and the brand receives a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on over 20,500 reviews. Approximately 87% of these reviews rate the company as “Excellent” or “Great.” 

Turo app reviews and Turo.com reviews on Better Business Bureau tell a different story though. On BBB, the company receives a rating of just 1.3 stars out of 5 based on approximately 600 reviews.  

Reviews show that satisfied customers are pleased with:

• The ease and convenience of vehicle drop off and pick up

• The amount of choice and the quality of the vehicles they rented 

• Good overall customer service and experience 

Negative reviewers mention:

• Issues can occur with cars not being as described in the listing or not getting checked before being rented (reviews mention vehicles having expired license plates, needing repairs, etc.)

• Bad customer support that leads to customers being left without vehicles or with vehicles that need repairs/aren’t in an appropriate state to take on the road 

• Being charged for things they did not use or damage they did not cause  

Overall, it appears as though Turo is a good platform for those looking to rent a car. Having said that, the process is not without potential issues.  Users should ensure they do their research on Turo fees and policies as well as the host they intend to rent from before committing to a rental. 

Trip Planning Made Easy! 

Are you looking for a Turo rental car to go on a road trip? Or to make exploring the city you visit easy? Whatever your motivations, Wanderlog can help you keep every detail of your trip organized thanks to our user-friendly travel planning app. 

Along with helping you store details about your car rentals and hotel bookings, Wanderlog can offer an array of suggestions for great things to see and do throughout your trip. Get started today by downloading the Wanderlog app! 

Luckily, it’s easier than ever to find unique accommodation across the globe that meets all of your needs. Companies like Vrbo are to thank for this! Vrbo is a vacation rental brand that seamlessly connects property owners with tourists looking for places to stay.   

The team at Wanderlog is always excited to find the best travel planning apps and other apps that make the whole travel process easy. We were, therefore, interested in looking at the travel accommodation booking platform Vrbo in more depth for this Vrbo review.  

To discover more about booking amazing vacation rentals through Vrbo, read on for our complete review!  

What is Vrbo?

Vrbo connects individuals wanting to rent out their properties for a short period to those looking for accommodation in various cities across the world. Created in 1995, the company has since grown to become one of the largest vacation rental services on the market.

Thanks to Vrbo, you can find unique accommodation, including cottages, beach houses, and condos. Rentals on Vrbo also offer more amenities than traditional accommodation, such as private pools, large kitchens, and open-plan living spaces. 

What Does Vrbo Stand For? 

Vrbo stands for Vacation Rentals by Owner. The name was chosen to highlight that these rentals are listed by the property owners as Vrbo was the first company to allow owners to list vacation rentals themselves.  

Before Vrbo, property owners would have to list their rentals via a property management agency, which would often take a significant percentage of the rental price. 

Who Owns Vrbo?

The brand was founded by David Clouse in Colorado as he wanted a way to rent his Breckenridge condo without the use of a property management firm.

When looking into the company more for this Vrbo review, we discovered that the brand is currently owned by the Expedia Group. The company has previously been owned by HomeAway. 

Does Vrbo Have an App? 

Vrbo has an app for iOS and Android. They have a separate app for those looking for a property to rent and those renting their property. You can also use their website, vrbo.com, to search for properties and list your rental. 

How Does Vrbo Work? 

Using Vrbo to Find a Property to Rent

1. Visit vrbo.com or open the iOS or Android app.

2. Search the destination you’re looking for property in. Or, if you know the ID of the accommodation you want to book, enter that. 

3. Add check-in and check-out dates, plus the number of guests.

4. Results matching your criteria will be displayed.

5. On the results page, you can add filters to display properties that meet all your needs. Filters to add include: 

• Accommodation type (house, apartment, condo, etc.)
• Pet-friendly
• Waterfront properties
• WIFI/Internet included
• Budget (total or nightly) 
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Cancellation policy (can cancel up to 30 days before, 14 days before, etc.)
• Amenities, such as a pool, hot tub, or parking spot 
• Guest ratings (For example, over four stars only) 
• Neighborhood
• And more! 

6. You can then search through the results, and a map is displayed on the right-hand side, showing you where each property is located. If you find a property you’re interested in, click on it to get more information. On the property page, you can see info on:

• A description of the property and the owner/host  
• Pictures of the property 
• An overview of the layout (number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and what other rooms are in the property, such as a kitchen, living room, or outdoor space.)
• Nightly rates and availability
• A list of amenities 
• Guest reviews  
• Information on house rules, incidentals, and check-in and check-out 
• A map showing the location of the property and nearby attractions 

There’s also a link that allows you to chat with the host if you have questions. 

7. If you find a property you’d like to book, simply click the “Book Now” link on the property’s web page and follow the instructions. When you go to book, the host’s cancellation policy will also be displayed. 

How to see traveler reviews on Vrbo

To see Vrbo guest reviews for a property you’re interested in, go to the rental property’s web page. Then scroll down the page to find guest reviews. You can also see an overall rating score, with five stars being the highest rating achievable.  

How to leave a review on Vrbo

Are you wondering “how do you leave a review on Vrbo?”  Luckily, when using the website for this Vrbo review, we found that it’s super easy to leave feedback! After you check out of the accommodation you rented, you’ll receive an email from Vrbo asking you to rate and review the rental. Simply click on the link and leave your feedback.

You can leave a star rating, rating of features, such as cleanliness, and a comment for the host and about the rental. 

How to Cancel a Vrbo Reservation 

To cancel a reservation you make on Vrbo, use the following steps:

1. Log in to your Vrbo account.
2. Click “My Trips.”
3. Select the booking that you want to cancel
4. Select “Change or Cancel Trip.”
5. Check you are still within the cancellation period.
6. Select “Cancel Booking.”

If “Cancel Booking” does not appear, you must select “Request Cancellation” and wait for a reply/ cancellation approval. 

The amount of time you have to cancel a reservation will vary from property to property. You can see the cancellation period on the accommodation page before booking. 

Cancellation times can range from no cancellations a month before arrival up to being able to cancel a few days before arrival. 

Using Vrbo to Rent Your Property 

1. Create an account on Vrbo.com.

2. Click “List Your Property” seen in the right-hand corner of the website.
3. Add the following information:

• Property Address
• Photos of the property (interior and exterior) 
• Rental rates – unsure of how much to list your property for? Vrbo will offer suggestions based on property size, location, and amenities!
• Bank account information (so you can receive booking payments)

4. Select property type (house, condo, apartment, cabin, etc.)

5. Add property details, like number of bedrooms and bathrooms

6. Add the exact property location and select the correct address on the map displayed. 

7. Fill in additional information, including rental policies and additional information on amenities and the property. 

8. List your property. 

Creating an account and listing your property is free. However, when you receive payment for a booking, Vrbo will take a percentage, usually 8%, of the total booking fee.

You may also upload proof of identity, which gives users more trust in booking with you. 

What are the Benefits of Vrbo? 

Easy to Use Website and App  

After extensively using the app and website for our Vrbo review, we found that both are easy to navigate and book through. The user-friendly interfaces allow you to add an array of filters to find your ideal vacation rental. 

Once you find a place you’d like to book, connecting with the host and confirming the reservation is simple. 

Ability to Find Unique and Budget-Friendly Accommodation 

When using Vrbo, you can find unique rental options that meet all of your needs. Vrbo also makes it easy to find accommodation in areas without many traditional options, like hotels or motels, to choose from. 

You can also book a larger space than you would get in a hotel, for a similar price. With Vrbo, you can book whole houses complete with gardens, pools, kitchens, large living spaces, and more! 

In many cases, the total cost of a Vrbo rental will be less than booking a hotel room for the same period. 

Access to Real Guest Reviews 

When viewing and comparing properties on Vrbo, it’s easy to see what previous guests think of the accommodation. On each property’s page, you can see an overall score (up to 5/5 stars) along with individual reviews.

Reviews often include comments that explain what each guest liked, what can be improved, and what issues, if any, occurred. 

Good Cancellation Policy 

Most hosts allow you to cancel bookings within a reasonable time frame. You may also be entitled to a 50% refund if you cancel at very short notice. 

It’s also very easy to see what the host’s cancellation policy is before you confirm a booking. 

An Ideal Way to Rent Out Your Property 

If you have accommodation that you’d like to rent to vacationers, using Vrbo is an ideal choice. The website and app make it easy to list your property, and you’ll receive suggestions on the nightly rate you should charge.

You can also easily communicate with potential renters to find the perfect guests. The fees charged by Vrbo for listing your property (8% of the total booking amount) are much lower than those charged by property management firms too. 

What are the Drawbacks of Vrbo?

Hosts Are Not Limited to Only Placing Listings on Vrbo

Vrbo doesn’t request that hosts only list their accommodation on Vrbo. Due to this, properties are often listed on many platforms, with which the Vrbo availability calendars are not linked. 

Therefore, you can technically book a property that is not available (has been booked on another platform), if the owner is not proactive in updating the availability calendar. Or, you must wait to hear back about whether the property can actually be booked for your desired dates. 

Issues With Hosts Can Occur

Despite being able to read reviews on properties and hosts, there’s no guarantee that issues with a host won’t occur. Ultimately, many hosts are not in the property management industry and rent out their accommodation on the side for extra income.

Therefore, even if they’ve previously been good hosts, personal issues and the like could result in issues occurring. For example, not being contactable, not being able to get keys from them or get problems resolved, etc. These types of issues are less likely to occur at a hotel or similar establishment. 

There’s Not Really a Guarantee That a Listing is Legit 

During research for this Vrbo review, we found that to date, Vrbo doesn’t ask hosts to provide proof of ownership or proof that they have a rental lease and permission to rent their accommodation via a service like Vrbo.

Therefore, the risk of renting a property that isn’t actually available (or being scammed) is higher than when booking a hotel or via a rental property management firm. 

Vrbo does generally release your payment to the host one day after check-in. Therefore, if there are issues with a property, you must contact Vrbo asap to make a refund more likely.  

Is Vrbo Legit?

If you’ve considered using Vrbo to book accommodation, you’ve probably wondered “is Vrbo safe?” The vacation rental booking service is predominantly safe. Vrbo encourages hosts to provide identification and will refund guests if issues occur with their accommodation.

However, there is a chance of issues occurring or accommodation not actually being available when you arrive. 

Is Vrbo Worth It? 

So, is booking accommodation through Vrbo really worth it? 

What Do Customers Say?

When looking at user ratings for this Vrbo review, we found that Vrbo has 3.3 stars out of 5 based on over 13,400 reviews on Trustpilot. The majority of these reviews are positive, with 66% rating Vrbo “Excellent” and 14% rating the brand “Good.” The remaining 20% of reviewers rate their experience with Vrbo as “Average,” “Poor,” or “Bad.”   

Those leaving a positive Vrbo rating appreciate the following: 

• Ability to book high-quality properties
• Access to many additional amenities that wouldn’t be available in a hotel or other traditional accommodation
• Hosts that are communicative and easy to reach 

However, those that are not as impressed with Vrbo note the following issues: 

• Actual properties are not as represented in the listings
• Hosts cancel bookings at short notice
• Refunds and problem-solving are difficult 

Some hosts also mention that receiving payment takes a long time, despite Vrbo.com saying payment is released one day after guest check-in. 

On Better Business Bureau, the company receives just 1.03 stars out of 5 based on 615 reviews. 

Should You Book Accommodation via Vrbo? 

Ultimately, Vrbo is a great resource for those looking for unique and different accommodation that meets all of their needs. It’s also an ideal platform for those wanting to let their property as a vacation rental.

However, the number of negative reviews the company receives about customer service and the quality of hosts and accommodation suggests that issues may occur when booking via Vrbo. 

When considering booking, be sure to communicate with the host before reserving the accommodation. Also, get in touch with customer service as soon as an issue occurs. In all likelihood, your Vrbo experience will be a great one but do research on your host and property before confirming a booking to reduce the chance of a bad experience. 

Make Organizing Your Trip Hassle-Free! 

Found the perfect vacation rental on Vrbo? Keep your accommodation details and everything else relating to your trip organized via the Wanderlog app.  

Wanderlog is a free app that allows you to store flight details, accommodation info, and much more. The app also offers suggestions on fun things to do in the city you visit to add to your itinerary!