11 of the best travel apps and websites you should use in 2016

21.07.2023 - 08:34 / roughguides.com

Unless you’re planning a digital detox, you’re likely going to use the internet, either on a desktop or via a mobile app, to plan part of your next trip. Here are 12 websites and apps you need to check out for your travel plans in 2016.

We’re all familiar with the Airbnb concept: renting private homes, directly from the owner, for your holiday or weekend away. Hipcamp does something similar, but instead of homes, you rent a patch of grass. The website, first launched for California but now USA-wide, is a platform for campers to connect with landowners across the country and find the perfect pitch. They list 2283 parks, 8789 campgrounds and 283,392 campsites in total, so you’ll never be short for somewhere to settle under canvas.

“To enable anyone to go anywhere” is the mission of Accomable founders Martyn and Srin. The pair met through a support group for children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) – a disease that has them both wheelchair bound. In 2015, they launched Accomable: a website listing accessible holiday rentals around the world, with detailed access information on each property, the locality and nearby services – an invaluable source for anyone travelling with a disability.

With smartphone cameras now sporting 4K high definition capabilities, you’re going to need some decent software to fine-tune your travel photographs. Snapseed (available on Android and iOS) is the perfect travelling photographer's companion: open your image and choose from a selection of presets (the HDR effect is one of our favourites), or fine-tune your photo using the detailed options. You can alter the ambiance, structure, saturation, contrast and more to make your photo Instagram-ready.

Image © Lottie Gross

We written about Airbnb shaking up the travel industry before, with their online peer-to-peer accommodation platform. Now they’re moving into a another realm: experiential travel. Connecting travellers with locals who can give insider tips, tours and experiences isn’t a new concept, and a slew of other websites are offering a similar service. But Airbnb, with its already hugely successful and trusted brand, is the website we trust to do it best.

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Essentially Kickstarter for travel, this website is a global crowdfunding platform giving people the power to start or support local tourism projects. Whether it’s in your hometown or in your next destination, initiatives range from youth hostels in the Welsh capital, to rebuilding an entire village in Nepal, and each offer rewards in return for your financial support.

“Explore the world through the eyes of somebody else” is how Periscope sells itself. The app, developed by Twitter and available on Android and iOS, allows you to broadcast video, live from