Long travel days test your patience, whether you’re travelling on the train, a plane, or as a passenger in a bus or car. The difference between a draining journey and an enjoyable one is the range of entertainment options you have to hand. With the right apps on your smartphone, you can turn idle hours into moments that feel purposeful or genuinely fun. Discover the best types of apps to download to your phone before beginning long journeys.
- Offline entertainment
Even with the introduction of 5G, it’s all too easy to lose signal when on the road, and no signal means no streaming or browsing. Most major media streaming apps allow you to download films and shows, audiobooks, podcasts and playlists in advance while you have Wi-Fi, so you can enjoy them uninterrupted at a later date without even having to rely on data. Before you leave, download your content over Wi-Fi and check it plays in airplane mode.
Consider investing in a power bank to support hours of uninterrupted streaming, especially if you’re watching films or a series with exceptionally high graphic quality. Solar-powered charges are a sustainable option if you’re travelling in the summer and can secure a spot by a sunny window.
- Productivity and planning resources
Travel time offers a rare chance to catch up on life admin without the usual distractions and demands and having the right apps can help keep things simple. Look at task management tools which use AI to recommend priorities and suggest ways to complete tasks alongside regular routines, simplifying challenges. These tools also offer excellent flexibility. You can rearrange your plans and request reminders to do unfinished tasks as frequently as you like.
In addition to mapping out your to-list, you could take the time to fill out your calendar for the month, plan meals for the week or draft emails to send that day. Note-taking apps give you space to jot down ideas that come more easily when you’re away from your usual routine.
- Useful travel tools
A smoother journey often depends on having the right practical information at your fingertips. Navigation apps with maps and route recommendations based on real-time data make getting around much easier, and allow you to download maps for offline use, so you won’t feel lost if your connection drops when you’re in an unfamiliar place. You can also find apps with well-reviewed walking and cycling trails with difficulty ratings and more key information, and you can request to receive alerts when you come close to route starting points, helping you find beautiful places to stretch your legs mid-journey.
Other useful options include currency converters, useful when you’re budgeting abroad, and airline or train apps that provide live updates for booked journeys.
- Interactive games to play
Sometimes, you just want to enjoy light entertainment that doesn’t demand too much energy. That’s where apps with interactive games like a bingo app come in. Games designed for casual play fill short gaps nicely, the easy mechanics, simple rules and short rounds making it easy to dip in and out as and when you like.
The gaming apps you should choose depends entirely on your preferences. There are endless options available, with games to suit all skill levels and interests. Keep physical involvement to a minimum with mind-testing puzzles like number sequencing and crosswords, or classic favourites like chess. Some games offer automated play, so you can sit back and just take it all in. Others might require quickfire reactions, prompted by graphics flashing up suddenly on screen. And there are always longer-form games if you’ve got time to settle into play.
