Having an upcoming trip to look forward to is always exciting. Traveling can broaden your horizons, teach you about life, and help you discover interesting new layers of yourself. These effects are especially pronounced for solo travelers who only have themselves to rely upon as they're exploring the world.

In today's day and age, there are a lot of different tools for travelers to take advantage of. Access to these resources streamlines travel planning, while also making each trip safer and more enjoyable.

If you've got a trip coming up or are still in the planning stages, you'll want to make sure to download the following mobile apps.

Welcome Pickups/Uber

Welcome Pickups is available in 140 places around the world, including Latin America, Africa, Europe, and certain US cities. Many travelers find this app to be reliable for airport transportation and in-city transit.

Uber remains prominent in 70 countries and over 10,000 cities. This app also comes in handy for quick transportation, airport pickups, and transiting considerable distances while on land.

Airbnb

Travelers who want to avoid breaking the bank while exploring different countries should consider downloading Airbnb. This app provides lodging accommodations for travelers at reasonable rates.

When searching for various rentals, travelers have the luxury of turning on filters for budget preferences, lodging accommodations, and more. You'll also be able to read the host's house rules and reviews from previous guests before paying for your stay.

Google Translate

Depending on where you're traveling, you might not be familiar with the native tongue. If that's the case, having Google Translate on your phone is going to be a major asset. With this app, you can translate any text to English (or another language) by taking a photo (or screenshot) of it or simply typing it into the "Enter Text" section.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a wonderful app to have when you're going overseas, even if you speak the native language. More than two billion people around the world rely upon this tool to communicate with people who have foreign phone numbers.

Oftentimes, you'll find that your cell carrier might not allow you to simply call or text someone who has a number based in Britain, Peru, or another country. WhatsApp - assuming that both parties use the app - gets around this hurdle and streamlines communications.