With the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, it has become increasingly difficult to travel within the United States. With travel restrictions at an all-time high, the necessary precautions to travel are as present as ever and must be taken care of. It is crucial to educate yourself on the new rules and regulations that have been put into place. 

Although some have elected to pause their travel plans, those who are still traveling for work or leisure have had to alter their preparation in lieu of the pandemic. Luckily, technology has adapted to this and provided some pretty useful applications to help us out. Keep reading for some apps to download to help you travel safely this season. 

1. TravWell

Coming straight from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) itself, their TravWell app is the most all-inclusive travel wellness app you should have on your smartphone or device. Not only does the program push the most up-to-date alerts to travelers going to particular places, but it’s the perfect planning app to prepare you for the road.

Some of our favorite features include the ability to recommend a healthy packing list, receive up to the second travel alerts, and even set push reminders for yourself to take your daily medicines while on vacation. Getting all your travel essentials directly from the source of the CDC during the pandemic is your best way of staying informed and up to date as you travel.

2. goPuff

Cleanliness and travel should always go hand in hand, and in the middle of a pandemic, it should deem even more importance. From traveling on public transportation to being extra cautious in your hotel rooms, it’s important to constantly be sanitizing, wearing masks, and doing your due diligence. 

With this in mind, it’s a great idea to download an app like goPuff that can deliver cleaning supplies to you while you’re on vacation. High priority items like hand sanitizer, masks, and disinfectant wipes, can be delivered to your hotel room to avoid going out to the store. Consider this option especially if travelling to a place with higher cases of COVID-19.

3. App in the Air

Deemed the “personal travel assistant,” the App in the Air tool can be the easiest way to keep track of all your transportation needs. Let’s be honest, airports are a tough place to navigate in general, and with the confusion travel regulations have added, it’s important to remain flexible – even if your flight changes last minute!

The beauty of App in the Air is the ability to track your flights and trips in real time. Cancellation that will affect your arrival time? A delay that’s unexpected? These are all things you’ll know ahead of time with this app. Including the ability to book flights right within the app, the tool also comes with unique perks like managing your boarding pass, keeping track of your (multiple) airline loyalty programs, and providing airport maps.

In terms of safety, having this app will allow you to cut out unneeded time at the airport. After all, the less time you can spend around others the better, so knowing ahead of time about flight information can help you spend as little time as possible in a place that attracts many people. Check out this review for the full scoop.

4. HealthyLynk’s COVID-19 Tracker

It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t include one app that is solely dedicated to tracking cases of COVID-19 across the country, and HealthyLynk’s app is one of the best trackers in the app store. If you’re planning a vacation nowadays, it’s likely you’re in the loop about that state and specific location’s amount of cases and precautions going on in the city. However, it’s never a bad idea either to download a tracking app like this that displays all the cases around you.

After all, numbers can change everyday and especially if you’re somewhere away from home, it’s good to have an idea of what’s happening around you. Remember to download this simply to be informed, and not to be scared. It’s better to be aware of how the virus is affecting that area, but it’s important to avoid any anxious feelings.

5. Apple/Google Maps

Our final app to consider as you travel during the pandemic is actually one that’s built into your phone already. Believe it or not, the Maps app in your phone (whether it’s iPhone or Android) is a great way to see what you can safely do while on vacation. Anything from restaurants to attractions to state parks will show you if they’re open and any restricted hours they may have. Knowing this kind of information on vacation before you leave your hotel or resort will help you plan safer excursions!

As you travel amidst the pandemic, remember that technology should be there to aid you along the way. And whether it’s in a way to keep you informed or a way to help out your day-to-day travels, there are so many ways these can help you out. If you’ve tried any of these apps or have found any particularly helpful apps during this pandemic, let us know in the comments!