The national holiday is approaching, you might have booked your tickets at the last minute and nailed down your accommodations, but what else do you need when traveling in Asia? Definitely apps. Lots of apps. From feeding yourself to transporting yourself, to paying for all of the above, here are several apps you might need:
Eat
OpenRice
Hong Kong is a foodie haven, no matter what you're seeking to put in your mouth. It's home to some of the finest dining on the continent, plenty of small, unique, locally owned restaurants, and countless cheap and flavorful street stalls. Started in 1999, OpenRice contains information on over 20,000 restaurants and works like Yelp or Dianping, providing users with addresses, reviews, and promotions. You could also use it to find restaurants in Taiwan and Singapore.
Languages: English, Indonesian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese
Free
IOS, Android
Gurunavi
Similiar to OpenRice, Yelp, and Dianping, Gurunavi is another restaurant app covering Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Aichi, Hyogo, and Fukuoka. Set your location, your preferred category of cuisine, time, and budget, and Gurunavi will find you the perfect restaurant. Some restaurants also have in-app coupons to give users special discounts.
Languages: English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
Free
IOS, Android
HungryGoWhere
Malaysia and Singapore are home to a diverse range of cuisines and dishes, but few travelers arrive there knowing exactly what they should order. HungryGoWhere provides info on 50,000 restaurants of different types with special food guides, reviews, and photos from diners.
Language: English
Free
IOS, Android
Traveling
MetroMan Hong Kong 香港地铁通
It could burn your wallet a big hole if you insist on taking taxis in Hong Kong. Developed by MetroMan, this app can be used off-line. Just enter your starting point, destination and time, and the app will show you multiple routes including the price.
Languages: Russian, German, Italian, Japanese, French, English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Traditional Chinese
Free
IOS, Android
Taiwan High-Speed Rail Ticket (台灣高鐵 T Express行動購票服務)
If you can’t use the convenient all-in-one machine at 7-Eleven stores in every corner of Taiwan, download this app, developed officially by the Taiwan High-Speed Rail office. You can check timetables and book seats on the train from anywhere.
Languages: Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English
Free
IOS, Android
Gothere.sg
If you think “Singapore is just a fraction the size of Beijing, navigation will be simple" you are going to get so lost. Gothere.sg not only provides information on where to go but also shows you how to get there, with timetables for buses, directions to shopping malls and even lists of available discounts in stores.
Language: English
Free
IOS, Android
Grab
We understand you have extra money to burn when you are in Thailand, and in case you are spoiled by Didi Chuxing and you already deleted Uber, download the local car-hailing app in Thailand. Similar to Didi Chuxing or Uber, the app allows users to book a taxi or car, a shared car, an upgraded car, and even bikes. You can use it in Bangkok, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Languages: English, Burmese, Indonesian, Malay, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese
IOS, Android
We hope these apps keep you full of delicious food, traveling in a comfortable car, and experiencing the best of Asia. Bon voyage!
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure
Photos: traveluxemag, developers
