Author: Anaisa Mohamed
1. Flights & Accommodation
One of the most important decisions to make as a traveler, especially traveling as a family or in a group, is the way you book flights and accommodation. I always book flights through a reputable travel agent, which allows me to use the booking code to upload the booking into the airline app. This allows you to check for delays, and check in online with the available seats when check-in opens (48 to 24 hours before the flight).
When checking for flights, Google Flights is your best friend, and as a mobile app, Skyscanner is the Google Maps equivalent. I always show my travel agent the flights I am looking at & I book based on that. With accommodation, I have loyalty points with Marriott, and 99% of my accommodation has been booked from there in the past couple of years. I have been accumulating points and statuses, which can get you upgrades. This can also be done with IHG, Hilton, Accor, and Hyatt. While staying in a country with a language difference, you can chat with the hotel through the app for requests, and I have never had issues. It also helps immensely if your flight has been delayed, or you have an earlier or later check out.
2. Tripadvisor
This has become the number-one app worldwide for reviews. This app helps with researching hotels, activities, and reviews from other travelers, as well as pictures of the hotels, tours, and food. Google Maps also helps in this regard, in a very high-level sense. The Get Your Guide app is linked to Tripadvisor if you are interested in booking activities and tours straight from Tripadvisor.
3. Rome2Rio
This app helps you to get from A to B and will show you the cheapest, fastest, and most convenient routes. It includes going by car, plane, or train.
4. FlightStats
If you want to keep track of flight delays, this app tracks your flight departure and arrival times, through the flight number and airports.
5. Tripit
If you link your email address to this app, all your bookings (hotel, flights, other tickets) can be filed into an itinerary, and it tracks your trips. Flight delay notifications also come up here.
6. Salah First
If you have the location on your phone active on this app & while traveling you connect to wifi, the salah times, qibla and closest mosques are immediately updated.
7. Zabihah
For fully halal restaurants & food places, all over the world. Works with your location.
8. Xe Currency Converter
Helpful for checking live foreign currency exchange rates.
9. Halaal Travels
Visit www.halaal-travels.com for Halaal Food, Things to do & to read about Travellers Experiences.
About the Author:
My name is Anaisa. While I was born in Portugal, I grew up, schooled, and worked in Johannesburg, so I am South African in spirit. Currently living in Mozambique for over a decade, and am passionate about seeing the world, one Masjid at a time.
My travel as a single parent will always be economical, yet luxe, and finding amazing halal places to eat. I am always on the lookout for travel tips to share and use and be inspired to travel. I never have less than 3 trips planned at any given time. If you’re wondering, I am a corporate legal professional, and that is what pays the bills.
My insta and tiktok handle is @i_am_anaisa.
