EUROPE 2023 - APPS

There are many apps you need to download and get all set up before your trip. 

Make sure your phone and watch - whether they are Apple or Android - are set up with payment form attached. You want to be able to click to pay for stuff. Make sure you know how to use your phone or watch to do tap to pay. Make sure your phone and watch and apps are all up to date with any software updates. You don’t want to deal with that while traveling. 

I found that Apple Maps was the absolute best to use for any type of navigation. We tried Google maps, but it didn’t seem as easy to use or as accurate. I downloaded an app called Citymapper, everyone said it was so important, but I didn’t like it when I used it. So I just stuck with Apple Maps. 

In Paris, we used this app - BOLT - to get cars, like Uber. You can use Uber in Paris, but I didn’t like the Uber experience we had the one time we tried using Uber in Paris. All of the experiences with Bolt are great and I quickly used Bolt exclusively when needing cars. 

In London, if you want to take the hop-on hop-off boat, you need the Uber app. But we were unable to download the Uber app when we needed it because we had bad service in that area and no WiFi. So it is super important to make sure all your apps are up to date, you have an account and it’s all set up, before you find you actually need the app. 

In Paris, another app that was good was LIME. You can use Lime to rent e-bikes and scooters all around town. You can also rent bikes and scooters using the BONJOUR RATP app. That is also the app you use for the buses. You use the SNCF CONNECT app for the metro trains. However, we only took the metro train twice, and you have to buy a ticket from a kiosk and I never used the apps for the train or bus. 

The PARIS AÉROPORT app is super helpful if flying into or out of any Paris airport. I found it super helpful when we needed to know our gate number and when they were boarding the plane - it gives you little alerts.

Also if you plan to take the EuroStar train, you will need download that app also.

In Paris, we used a hop-on hop-off boat service called BatoBus. It was super helpful and allowed us to get around Paris and enjoy the view on the River Seine.