The 5 best vacation planning apps

If you've got dreams of a big vacation this summer, now's the time to start planning. Things can certainly be overwhelming, especially when you're starting from scratch. Don't be intimidated, though. Once you get started, things will start to fall into place. That's made all the easier by a bunch of helpful apps that truly streamline the process. 

We've picked out five of the best apps to help you plan your next trip. Let's get to it. 

TripAdvisor may be an obvious source for all things travel, but their mobile app offers even more planning functionality. As you look up hotels and attractions in the app, you can favorite them and add them to individual trips. It's great for those early steps when you're comparing hotels and tour companies. 

Booking flights can oftentimes be a frustrating experience. Prices tend to change at the slightest whim, and can vary drastically from airline to airline. Skyscanner saves you from all of that trouble by comparing prices for flights and notifying you of price drops. Not sure where you're going just yet? You can choose "anywhere" as a destination and Skyscanner will provide you with some inspiration. 

If your travel plans see you staying firmly planted on terra firma, Roadtrippers will do the trick. It's the perfect app for planning cross-country roadtrips (USA-only at the moment) or even shorter weekend jaunts. It will pinpoint the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions for your route. 

TripIt is the best app for organizing all of your travel details in one place. The app compiles your confirmation e-mails automatically, creating custom travel itineraries for your trip. 

Google Trips gives TripIt some healthy competition. If you rely on your Google accounts, Google Trips might be a good choice. Like TripIt, it automatically gathers your travel e-mails to create travel itineraries. The app also pinpoints nearby locations of interest and provides suggested day plans for added inspiration.