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Top 3 Essential Travel Apps: Weekend.com, LoungeBuddy, and Mobile Passport

New travel apps launch weekly, promising to help you explore more destinations, maximize your budget, and uncover unique experiences. As dedicated travel and tech experts at Travelzoo, we rigorously test them all. Most fade away, but these three have secured prime spots on our home screens alongside the Travelzoo app.

Weekend.com

Weekend.com combines two proven European travel strategies gaining traction in the U.S.: treating long weekends as mini-vacations and bundling flights with hotels for convenience and savings. With 52 weekends a year, it's easier than ever to recharge and discover new places.

Simply input your preferred departure airports, and the app curates Friday-to-Sunday getaways with nonstop flights and matching hotels. Search up to six months ahead or focus on specific dates. Customize with filters for budgets, flight times, hotel types, and themes like beaches or nightlife.

Bookings link seamlessly to trusted sites like Booking.com or Expedia, with alerts for better deals. Weekend.com handles the research—leaving you just to pack.

Download Weekend.com at Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store.

LoungeBuddy

Airports can be chaotic, but lounge access offers respite with amenities like snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, showers, and quiet spaces—once exclusive to elite travelers. LoungeBuddy democratizes this by guiding you to access options without elite status.

Create "Trips" with your flight details for tailored lounge recommendations at every airport. Get detailed info: hours, amenities, photos, maps, costs, and access methods (status, day passes, or in-app purchases). User reviews reveal the truth on food quality, outlets, staff, and value.

Ensure your layover investment pays off with LoungeBuddy's insights.

Download LoungeBuddy at Apple’s App Store.

Mobile Passport

Shh—Mobile Passport is our secret weapon for seamless U.S. re-entry. This app digitizes your passport and customs forms, skipping the crowds.

Enter passport details and a selfie once; reuse forever. On arrival, submit digital declarations for a QR code receipt. Use dedicated Mobile Passport lanes at major airports like JFK, LAX, SFO, MIA, and more—often faster than Global Entry.

Ideal for families: store multiple passports in one app. Available at 30+ ports—check compatibility first.

Just don't tell anyone.

Download Mobile Passport at Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store.

Opinions from Travelzoo’s editorial team. Travelzoo may receive compensation from partners via site links.

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