Every year we put together a list of the best travel gifts for adventurers, and this year is no exception. I’ve hand-picked items we’ve been using and loving long-term, plus a few products we’ve had our eye on. If you don’t find something that’s right for your loved ones here, have a look at our gift guide from last year too. I’d also love to hear your own suggestions in the comments!

21 Best Travel Gift Ideas

I’ve tried to pick different items from last year, but you’ll have to forgive me for mentioning a few repeats. Mainly because last year I had them on my wish list, and now I’ve had a full year of experience with them to share with you.

1) Wacaco Nanopresso

If you follow us on social media, you’ve surely spotted our Wacaco. It’s hands down the best thing we’ve ever received. Seriously. A portable espresso maker is an absolute must-have for any coffee addict who travels.

With this little wonder, you can make a perfect espresso anywhere you can get hold of ground coffee and hot water. In Mexico, we used it every single day because our accommodation didn’t have a coffee maker for a full five months.

2) Toiletry Bag

My quest for the perfect toiletry bag could fill an entire novel — or more accurately, a tragedy. I’ve gone through so many that it’s honestly embarrassing. In the end, I carry two: a roll-up hanging one for makeup, brushes and jewellery, and a classic one for shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser.

If you’re looking for a great travel gift for a woman, check out the high-quality waterproof toiletry bags from Cocoon. I think I desperately need one myself.

3) RFID-Blocking Document Organisers

Last year I mentioned packing organisers; this year I’d like to highlight security document organisers with RFID protection against electronic theft.

Over the past year, I’ve heard so many alarming stories that these seem like essential kit for anyone travelling to big cities. I personally like the Jack Wolfskin Boarding Pouch organiser, but there’s a great selection of travel organisers to choose from.

4) Sock Shoes – Barefoot Skinners

If you’ve ever been camping, on a long-distance cycling trip, or anywhere with a heavy backpack, you’ve probably wondered about a spare pair of shoes. That’s where the Skinners barefoot sock shoes come in. They’re not just backup shoes — they double as water shoes, running shoes, workout shoes, and they’re perfect for wearing on the plane.

I’ve been testing them since early October, and so far I’m thrilled. I was worried that walking in them would hurt (I’m a bit of a princess when it comes to my feet), but that turned out to be completely unfounded. Instead, it felt like a never-ending gentle foot massage! Another bonus is that you only need to know an approximate shoe size, making them an easy gift to buy.

5) Mementerra Travel Journal

For those of us who love all things paper, the Mementerra journal makes a lovely gift. I personally adore its design — they’ve hit my taste perfectly. The inside is divided into four sections: Dreams & Plans, Experiences & Memories, Challenges & Activities, and Summary & Reflections.

6) Head Torch – Not Just for Campers

I have no idea why we still haven’t bought a head torch, even though we talk about it every time we go camping. We could have used one three years ago in Hawaii, and this year we missed it in the Tatras and the Dolomites.

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend a specific model, but there’s a solid selection of head torches to browse online.

7) A Photogenic, Quality Rain Jacket

Having a high-quality rain jacket that actually looks good is no longer a pipe dream. The only reason I don’t have a stylish yellow one is that we bought our green ones the day after we got absolutely drenched in the Tatras. A solid quality rain jacket is always a welcome gift.

8) Collapsible Cookware Sets

For any friends and family who camp without a car, collapsible cookware is an absolute game-changer. We really wish we’d discovered this about three years earlier. We wouldn’t have had to eat out of the same pot we’d just cooked in. These days we’ve solved the problem by travelling by car, but lightweight collapsible sets are brilliant for backpackers.

9) Hydrapak

Our favourite travel water bottle — and it solves that annoying problem of trying to fill a bottle under a low tap. The Hydrapak collapses to a quarter of its full height. We use it daily, whether we’re heading into town, to the gym, or on a trip. It’s great for camping, hiking, and even casual city breaks.

10) Universal Travel Adapter

Last year I recommended the power cube we use on our trips. If that’s not your cup of tea, you could go for a universal travel adapter that’s compatible in over 220 countries worldwide. It’s one of those practical travel gifts that every frequent flyer genuinely appreciates.

11) Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Even I was surprised by how much we used a portable speaker on our travels over the past year. We got it free with a phone and it came with us everywhere. The speaker has been useful not just for music and podcasts, but also for conference calls with clients.

12) Online Language Course

I’d always been sceptical about online language courses, but trying one completely changed my mind. After just six weeks, my partner and I could get by in Spanish during our time in Mexico. The lessons are interactive, there’s both a phone app and a desktop version, and you learn grammar as well as vocabulary. Just 20 minutes a day is enough for effective language learning.

There are some brilliant options out there for English speakers — platforms like Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone all make excellent gifts for travellers. An annual subscription to a language app is a thoughtful, unique gift for any travel lover.

13) Photo Keepsakes

One of the most popular gifts I’ve ever given was a calendar made from photos of our travels together. Calendars are also appreciated by people who didn’t come along on the trip — mums and grandmothers especially. In our family, custom photo calendars are always the biggest hit with the grandparents.

Services like Photobox, Shutterfly, or Snapfish make it incredibly easy to create beautiful custom photo calendars, canvas prints, and photo books from your travel snaps. They’re personal, unique, and always bring back wonderful memories.

TIP: You can also commission a custom painting based on a favourite travel photo — a truly unique travel gift!

14) Performance Outdoor Clothing

You can never have too much quality outdoor performance clothing if you travel to the mountains regularly. Just like last year, I wholeheartedly recommend Kari Traa for women. I still haven’t found a better brand that flatters the female figure while also being genuinely functional gear.

I’ve stayed loyal to it all year and haven’t looked at anything else. For men, we don’t have a particular favourite brand, but Norwegian outdoor brands are well worth exploring.

15) Beautiful Books for Travellers

I only read fiction electronically on my Kindle (also an excellent travel gift for bookworms, by the way), but I love collecting colourful cookbooks and beautiful coffee-table travel books. If you’ve got someone like that in your life, here are my picks.

The Travel Book by Lonely Planet

The most beautiful travel book I’ve ever held in my hands. Absolutely stunning photography and a treasure to browse through.

1000 Wonders of Czechia

Lots of you asked about this book when we were browsing through it on Instagram. We started using it to explore the Czech Republic and its hidden gems — a great gift for anyone interested in Central European travel.

Atlas Obscura

An atlas of the world’s most bizarre and mysterious places. I love flipping through it — it never fails to amaze me.

History of Castles and Fortresses in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia

Probably the best book you can find about Czech castles and fortresses — perfect for history buffs. We have a companion volume on châteaux by the same author at home, and Lukáš has his nose buried in it every weekend.

Travel Gifts for Photographers

I’m a passionate amateur photographer. It’s one of the things I love investing in, and any photography-related gift makes me incredibly happy. These are some of the best unique travel gifts for photography enthusiasts.

16) Gorillapod by Joby – A Tripod You Can Mount Anywhere

This is my absolute favourite piece of travel gear. Luky got it for me a year ago before our road trip to Iceland, and I can’t imagine any trip without it now. You can mount it virtually anywhere — on a chunk of ice (yes, we tried), a railing, a tree branch — it’s compact and incredibly easy to handle.

17) Peak Design Capture – Safe, Easy Camera Carrying

If anyone reading this wants to make me happy — this is the piece of gear I somehow still don’t own but desperately need (Santa, are you taking notes?).

The Capture is the safest, most comfortable, and most accessible way to carry your camera on hikes. You clip your camera onto your backpack or rucksack strap using the Capture, keeping it secure and always within reach.

18) LaCie External Hard Drive

For MacBook users, there’s no better choice than the LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt. It’s no wonder it’s so popular among bloggers and content creators. I already have two at home. If your loved ones use Windows, Seagate and Western Digital also make excellent rugged options.

Travel Gifts for Cyclists

After our cycling trip from the Czech Republic to Greece, I thought I’d never get on a bike again. I was wrong — I missed it within about a month. I think I can officially call myself a cyclist now; the only remaining challenge is figuring out how to cycle with our dog.

19) Livall Smart Helmet

This is a pricier gift, but if you’ve got a cyclist-gadget-lover at home — like my husband — it’ll go down a treat. The Livall helmet is ideal for long-distance cycling, letting you listen to music or podcasts while riding.

You can also use the helmet to communicate with other cyclists who have one, though you need a phone connected to Wi-Fi, which is a bit impractical — we didn’t use that feature much.

What we did use a lot was the flashing light feature at night. It’s far better than standard reflectors because you light up like a Christmas tree and there’s no way anyone can miss you.

20) Book – Epic Bike Rides of the World

Every book by Lonely Planet is a treasure you want on your shelf, and this one is no exception. When I saw it in a bookshop, I almost bought it on the spot — even though we weren’t planning any such trip. It’s a stunning coffee-table book showcasing the world’s most incredible cycling routes.

21) Cyclist Mug – A Fun Little Gift

A fun little stocking filler for passionate cyclists. There are plenty of cycling-themed mugs and enamel cups out there — browse the options and pick your favourite.

That’s it for this year’s list! I hope at least something caught your eye and made your Christmas shopping a little easier. If you’re hungry for more inspiration and this roundup wasn’t enough, be sure to check out our gift guide from last year too.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, a long-term traveller, or just planning an extended trip, the right annual travel insurance is an absolute must-have before you set off.

Insuring your health while abroad is a non-negotiable necessity. But there are countless insurance companies out there, and comparing them is far from straightforward.

On top of that, once you start looking into your options, a whole flood of questions hits you. Should I get health insurance only? Or should I also cover my phone and laptop? What about luggage? Or flight cancellations?

Best annual travel insurance for long trips

Don’t want to read further and just want to buy the best? Here are our two top recommendations:

1) Safety Wing – top travel insurance for long-term trips

Safety Wing is travel insurance tailor-made for digital nomads and frequent travellers. You can be continuously insured and pay monthly (you can cancel anytime). The basic plan without US coverage starts at $56.28 per month, and you can travel anywhere in the world.

You can purchase the insurance even from abroad, and after 90 days you can return home for up to 30 days while still being covered. This eliminates the hassle of calculating when it’s worth cancelling your domestic health insurance and when it’s not.

Another great advantage of Safety Wing insurance is that you don’t have to return home at all – unlike many traditional insurers that limit you to 45 or 90 days abroad before requiring a trip back.

The Essential plan for individuals aged 10–39 starts at $56.28 per month (you can add extended US coverage or adventure sports), and coverage includes medical treatment, hospitalisation, hospital transfer, lost luggage, trip interruption, and flight delays. The overall coverage is capped at $250,000 per incident.

More comprehensive coverage is offered by the Complete plan. The main advantage of this plan is its high overall coverage limit of $1,500,000. It covers not only unexpected medical issues but also ongoing healthcare and preventive check-ups. Additional covered services include:

• Transfer to a better-equipped hospital.
• Lost luggage coverage.
• Mental health support.
• Theft protection.
• Coverage for trip delay or interruption due to family reasons.
• Repatriation or funeral costs in case of death.

The price for individuals aged 18–39 starts at $150.50 per month, with the option to add extended US coverage or adventure sports.

Why don’t we recommend a mainstream UK insurer right away? Because they come with too many limitations. They impose limits on the number of days abroad, credit card-linked policies often require you to pay medical expenses with that specific card, and they frequently limit how many times you can return home.

2) True Traveller – ideal for backpackers, gap year, and frequent travellers

True Traveller is the most flexible and comprehensive long-term travel insurance you can find – especially for its price. For around €450 per year, you get worldwide travel insurance (USA and Canada available as an add-on). Coverage limits are generous (up to €6 million), and you can add various travel packages, including extreme sports and skiing. Non-manual work is included in the basic plan, and manual work can be added for an extra fee.

True Traveller offers three main plans: True Value, Traveller, and Traveller Plus. Each plan offers a different level of coverage. The cheapest True Value plan includes medical expenses up to £2.5 million, but coverage is more limited than the other two plans. The Traveller plan offers higher limits for medical costs, as well as trip cancellation and delay coverage, while Traveller Plus has the highest limits and also includes higher amounts for legal expenses.

Another advantage of True Traveller insurance is that you can choose whether to add coverage for specific activities or winter sports, allowing you to tailor the insurance to your specific needs and reduce costs.

When it comes to flexibility, True Traveller allows home visits during your trip – insurance is paused while you’re home and resumes when you head back out. The insurance can also be easily renewed while travelling, in case you forget to renew your contract on time.

Just like Safety Wing, the insurance can be purchased while you’re already on the road, and you can be covered without a return ticket.

Is it worth insuring your belongings?

While insurance for accidents, evacuation, and natural disasters is standard for long-term travelling, you should think twice about whether you really need to insure anything else.

Just because an insurer offers gadget cover doesn’t mean it’s worth it. As you’ll discover from their price lists, insuring a MacBook or iPhone is quite expensive.

If you’re travelling with a professional camera and several devices, such add-on coverage can easily cost you more than €600 per year, while insurers typically only cover individual items up to around €600–800.

I understand that the thought of buying a new laptop for €2,000 fills you with dread (similar to our experience when we drowned a nearly new MacBook Pro in a tent). But is it really worth paying the insurer an extra €600 every year “just in case”?

Luggage insurance is practically pointless because insurers typically exclude electronics from it. I don’t know about you, but for us, most of the value in our luggage is the tech we’re carrying.

What type of travel insurance to choose

Travel insurance can be divided into three categories, each covering something completely different.

Travel health insurance

Standard health insurance from your home country usually doesn’t apply when you’re abroad.

💡 The exception is travel within the European Union and certain EEA countries, where your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will give you access to basic necessary medical care in case of a health issue. However, you’ll be treated under the same rules as locals – if healthcare is expensive for residents, it’ll be expensive for you too. More info here.

So it’s crucial to get properly insured. Because what will you do if you catch an illness or have an accident somewhere in New Zealand, Uganda, or anywhere else that requires immediate local treatment?

Local treatment can cost a fortune, and without proper insurance you’ll be paying thousands of pounds for care that you’re used to getting for free through your national health service.

Keep in mind that almost no insurer will allow you to receive long-term treatment abroad. As soon as it’s feasible, they’ll repatriate you to your home country, where your ongoing treatment will be covered by the national health system.

Medical evacuation insurance

When signing an insurance contract, you’ll often come across the term “emergency medical transportation.” It’s either included in your policy (with most insurers) or available as a standalone product. What is evacuation insurance for?

This type of insurance is most commonly used when the hospital where you end up isn’t equipped to handle the treatment you need. A typical example is when the hospital doesn’t perform the type of surgery you require.

Your attending doctor may request a transfer to a better-equipped facility. And it’s precisely this additional transfer that’s covered by the special insurance package. We strongly recommend getting evacuation coverage as part of your main insurance, not as a standalone service. With a standalone service, only the transfer itself is covered – not the subsequent treatment!

What type of travel is evacuation insurance most useful for? Primarily if you’re heading on long hikes into the wilderness, or travelling through less developed countries with inadequate healthcare infrastructure. In larger cities and developed countries, you generally won’t need evacuations. Transfer insurance can also be arranged for individual trips.

Coverage limits range from around €20,000 to millions (including unlimited limits). It might not seem obvious at first, but a helicopter evacuation with a search and rescue operation from remote mountains can rack up an astronomical bill, so we recommend a minimum limit of around €120,000.

Travel insurance for belongings

A separate category is insurance for third-party liability, loss and theft, or flight delays. These are often included with credit cards, but you need to carefully read the terms and conditions.

This type of insurance is often the most expensive item, especially if you want to cover photography equipment and electronics you’re travelling with. Many travel health insurance plans already include this type of coverage to a limited extent, or offer it as an add-on.

If you don’t get a good deal bundled with your health insurance, or if you don’t have bonus coverage through a credit card, this type of insurance is often not worth purchasing at all. Why?

• There’s a very small chance something like this will actually happen
• When something does happen (e.g., your hire car gets broken into), the insurer will likely find an exclusion in the contract to avoid paying out
• When something does happen, replacing stolen equipment or buying a new flight out of pocket may be cheaper than the insurance itself
• In many cases, you’re entitled to compensation from a third party even without insurance (e.g., for delayed flights)

As an example, let’s look at the popular product missed connection insurance. Most insurers require a minimum of two to four hours between flights as a baseline condition, or they won’t consider your claim at all.

You only need delay insurance if you’re travelling on two separate tickets. If you have a connecting flight on a single booking (one airline), the plane will either wait, or you’ll get an alternative flight/compensation. And how many connecting flights are actually missed? It’s 0.1% to 1.5%. And how many times a year do you fly? 🙂 Missed connection insurance simply doesn’t pay off.

Tips for choosing the right insurance

When choosing long-term insurance, you should focus mainly on specialised providers, most of which are international. Why? Because mainstream domestic insurers typically have significant limitations for “long-term” coverage:

• They impose limits on travel days. You’ll encounter 30, 60, or 90-day limits after which you must return to your home country, even if just for a quick airport turnaround.
• If the insurance is tied to a credit card, they may require you to pay 50%–100% of your travel costs with that specific credit card.
• If you do find annual insurance, the number of home visits is often limited. Often, your second return home in a given year will invalidate your policy, with no refund.

Also watch out for excess (deductible) payments. Either the excess is charged every time you make a claim, or just once for the entire insurance period. The second option is obviously better, because if you claim multiple times in one period, you only pay the excess once.

When renewing your policy, keep in mind that if you made a claim during the previous period (say, for emergency dental treatment), they may exclude dental cover in the new year (or charge extra for it).

Overview of the best annual travel insurance

Below is an overview of insurers that specialise in long-term travel and digital nomads. We’re assuming you have standard health insurance in your home country.

All the insurers mentioned allow you to take out a policy even when you’re already travelling and don’t restrict the time you spend abroad. This means you don’t need to repeatedly return home during the insurance period.

SafetyWing

SafetyWing is our number one pick. SafetyWing is a startup that brought the subscription model (think Netflix or Spotify) to the insurance world.

Don’t be put off by the word “startup.” Although the idea was born from digital nomads like us, their underwriting partner is one of the best insurance companies in the world – Tokio Marine.

SafetyWing is a worldwide, location-independent safety net for all freelancers and digital nomads. That’s why they already offer a whole range of features that other companies lack.

What’s really great about SafetyWing?

• Monthly subscription. You pay monthly and, just like Netflix, you’re not committed to any fixed term. You can cancel the next payment at any time.
• Affordable price. Actually one of the lowest when you compare like-for-like coverage from other providers.
• Annual cap on excess. No matter how many times you claim in a year, you’ll pay a maximum of $250 in total excess.
• Zero excess for many claims, such as emergency dental treatment, hospital transfer, trip interruption, lost luggage, travel delay, third-party liability, and more.
• Covers treatment at private facilities. You don’t need to seek out public hospitals and doctors. Especially in developing countries, private doctors are often far superior.
• Pays hospitals directly. Unless you specifically insist on a different facility, SafetyWing settles bills directly. That means you won’t have to pay invoices yourself (and then wait for reimbursement).
• Home country coverage. Even if you don’t have health insurance in your home country (e.g., if you went to work in Canada for a year), SafetyWing covers you at home too – for up to 30 days per 90 days of insurance. That’s a total of 120 days per year of insurance.
• Same price whether monthly or annual. With most insurers, the shorter the policy, the more you pay per day. With SafetyWing, you always pay the same rate. This makes it a great option even for shorter trips.

What to watch out for with Safety Wing

Insurance for trips to the USA is more expensive, so we recommend only activating the US add-on for the period you’re actually there. Once you leave, switch back to the cheaper plan.

After 364 days of insurance, the contract deactivates – unless you confirm the renewal via email. Make sure you don’t miss this.

Insurance longer than 28 days is billed every 4 weeks. So you don’t have to pay a large sum upfront, unlike with most other insurers. You can find the full policy wording here.

SafetyWing also offers special plans for startups and online businesses with employees around the world. Through a single subscription, you can provide medical care for your team anywhere on the globe. The product is called Remote Health.

SafetyWing insurance calculator

True Traveller

True Traveller is a British insurer particularly popular among residents of the European Economic Area, as it’s only available to EEA residents.

The cheaper plans from True Traveller offer good value, at least if you commit to a minimum of one year. Unlike SafetyWing, they offer a whole range of add-on coverages (which SafetyWing includes as standard) that can add up.

What’s really great about True Traveller?

• Coverage up to £10 million, which many competitors can’t match.
• Policies can be taken out for up to 18 months. Plus, you can extend them. The downside is that you pay the premium upfront in full.
• The basic plan covers over 90 sports and activities.
• You can return home as often as you like. However, the insurer won’t cover you while you’re in your home country.
• Medical expenses over £500 are paid directly. Lower amounts must be paid out of pocket and then claimed back.
• Adding USA and Canada coverage is cheap. On an annual contract, the add-on costs around $90.
• 97% of Trustpilot reviews rate the insurer as excellent.

What to watch out for:

• Add-ons cost a lot. Extending an annual policy (costing around $500) by just one week costs an incredible $50.
• If there’s a contracted public hospital or doctor nearby, they won’t cover treatment at a private facility.
• High excess. When ordering, tick the option for zero excess. It’ll cost you roughly $50 per year and pays for itself with even a single claim. The default excess ranges from $42 to $150 per event.
• Working abroad isn’t covered by default. You’ll need to purchase the Adventure Pack add-on, which covers manual labour and volunteering.

World Nomads

For the more conservative travellers, World Nomads is still on the market – an insurer with a long track record. Their main selling point is the ability to purchase insurance even when you’re already travelling. How innovative! Today, almost every competitor offers this too, so you can certainly do better.

This insurer is quite expensive and has different terms (and prices) for each country, but they still maintain their client base, largely thanks to their reputation and excellent extreme sports coverage in the most expensive package. That’s why it’s insurance for adrenaline junkies and extreme athletes who need a no-compromise service.

Advantages of World Nomads

• They can pay hospitals directly, but it doesn’t always get arranged in time. In that case, you’ll have to pay out of pocket and wait 3–6 weeks for reimbursement.
• Excellent extreme sports coverage in the most expensive package.

What to watch out for:

• World Nomads works with multiple underwriters, so every policyholder has different terms (depending on their home country). Prices, conditions, limits, and benefits all vary.
• Policy extensions are expensive. One extra week beyond your contracted period costs around $80.
• You’re only allowed to return home once during your trip. Nomads who frequently return home will need to buy shorter policies at higher prices.

TIP: Travel insurance is definitely worth it because you never know what might happen, so don’t forget about it when planning your trip.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Tips to make your travels easier

• Regularly scan all documents you collect on the road. Especially medical records, receipts for clothing, electronics, expensive items, and travel gear. Keep documentation for everything you buy and pack into your luggage, and scan all receipts immediately after your luggage is delayed. Store everything in cloud storage.
• Keep all travel documents in digital form. Especially your passport, driving licence, visas, and passport entry stamps.
• Travel with payment cards that are designed for travellers. Leave a backup card with a family member and just write down its numbers. It could come in handy for online payments if your wallet gets stolen.
• Always carry a physical copy of your insurance contract and passport on your person at all times. If you have an accident, first responders need to be able to identify you without your help (e.g., if you’re unconscious).
• Check what global emergencies your insurance covers. For example, during the coronavirus pandemic, you only had 10 days to leave countries for which the US CDC issued a Warning Level 3. Within a week, that essentially covered all of Europe. If you stayed in affected countries, any claims related to COVID (hospitalisation, cancelled flights, etc.) were not covered.

How to find cheap flights: 15 proven and lesser-known tips

Travelling isn’t expensive, but flights usually are. They’re often the single biggest expense of any trip. We’ll teach you how to find cheap flights.

How to find cheap accommodation

Cheap accommodation is available all over the world. Beyond hotels, there are plenty of options you can get for a fraction of the price, […]

Finding the right app for working out took me a really long time. I tried dozens of them, so which are the best fitness apps in my experience?

How I Got Into Working Out With Apps

I’ve loved being active since I was 16, and I used to spend every day at the gym. I went to pretty much every class you can think of. Yep, that’s right — I danced Zumba, Latin Dance, and Step Aerobic, sweated through spinning and kickboxing, and tried every Les Mills class available. Body Pump was my absolute favourite, along with Power Yoga. But then I started travelling.

I Started Working Out at Home in Canada

In Canada, gym classes were too expensive and, more importantly, way too far from where I lived, so I started flirting with home workouts — and fell in love with them. I began exercising at home and only went to classes for my beloved aerial yoga once or twice a week. I even kept working out during our road trip across the USA, doing jumping jacks at campsites, on beaches, and in forests.

Not every day, of course, since we spent most of our time climbing in the mountains. But on days when we’d been driving all day, I’d work out in the evening under the midnight sun in Alaska. When we got back home, I realised that going to the gym was eating up about three hours of my day (by the time you get there, change, work out for an hour, shower…)! So I went back to just attending aerial yoga and doing everything else at home.

Benefits of Working Out With Apps

• You save time
• You save money on classes and gym memberships
• You can work out whenever you want (though I wouldn’t recommend exercising late at night — it messes with your sleep!)

Drawbacks of Working Out With Apps

• You miss out on social interaction (that’s why I still go to a yoga class once a week when I can)
• It’s a bit easier to slack off

1) The Jillian Michaels Fitness App

This was the first app that really clicked for me, and I used it for a year and a half. I already knew Jillian Michaels from before and knew that her programmes genuinely deliver results.

One great thing about this app is that you can set what equipment you have. If all you’ve got is a mat, that’s perfectly fine. There are 11 programmes in total, and they vary in length — some run for 6 weeks, others up to 12 weeks. You don’t work out every day, but 3 to 6 times a week depending on the programme.

What Programmes Does It Offer?

You can choose a programme focused on legs, arms, abs, or full body. Jillian also has several programmes for pregnant women (divided into first, second, and third trimester), including a post-partum programme. After each workout, you rate how hard (or easy) it was, and the app adjusts accordingly.

There are also short 7-minute programmes for abs, arms, legs, cardio, and full body.

Another brilliant feature is the workout generator, where you can create a custom workout to suit your needs. You choose whether you want 10, 20, 30, or 45 minutes, how intense you want it (easy, medium, or hard), and then pick the focus area (glutes and thighs, abs, arms, chest, back, full body, cardio, or stretching).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsmc36dbL2E

The app tracks your progress — you can add progress photos and log your weight, and it calculates how many workouts you’ve completed and how many calories you’ve burned in total.

How Much Does It Cost?

• You can try it free for 7 days, after which it costs between €2 and €3.50 per week (less than a single gym entry), depending on the plan you choose.
• On a month-to-month plan, 30 days costs about €14 ($14.90)
• If you buy it for 3 months (€29), it works out to around €10 per month
• With an annual subscription ($99), you’ll pay roughly €8 per month

Recipes Included in the Price

Your subscription also includes daily meal plans, and you can choose whether you’re vegetarian or vegan. The recipes automatically generate a shopping list. The catch is that the recipes are designed for the US market, so some ingredients may be harder to find or pricier in the UK — but they’re great for inspiration.

Do I Need to Know Another Language?

The app is entirely in English, so if you’re reading this, you’re good to go. The interface is intuitive and the exercises are demonstrated visually, so it’s easy to follow along.

TIP: If you want to support your weight loss with nutrition too, check out a keto diet approach — it pairs really well with regular workouts.

2) Sweat by Kayla Itsines

Probably the biggest hit among workout apps, because it delivers some of the fastest and most dramatic results. If you search “BBG progress” (BBG is the programme name), you’ll see incredible transformations after just 12 weeks. When I decided to get back into working out while in Thailand, I went for this app — and I was blown away.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqHnOcoAaQ3/

Unlike the Jillian Michaels app, Sweat only has four programmes:

• Body and Mind
• PWR
• BBG Stronger
• Post Pregnancy

I went with the famous BBG Stronger. From the very first session, it’s an absolute beast — I was dripping with sweat within minutes, and the next day my muscles were screaming as if they wanted to grow overnight.

How Does the BBG Programme Work?

The BBG programme was originally developed as a personal trainer programme for the gym, but most people have adapted it for home use.

You do 28-minute strength sessions 3 times a week — targeting abs and arms, full body, and legs. The other 3 days are lighter cardio; Kayla recommends a brisk 35-minute walk. You could walk to work instead of driving, or take the dog for a proper walk (but you really need to keep up a fast pace). One day features a challenge — a series of exercises you need to complete in the shortest time possible.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpA8oaXAcel/

You can schedule your workouts however you like, or follow the pre-made calendar that’s set up for you.

Just like the Jillian Michaels app, Sweat also includes meal plans with recipes and a place to log your progress. The app can also connect to Apple Health via iOS, so if you track your steps with a Fitbit, for example, you’ll see them in the app’s calendar.

What Are the Downsides?

I’d say the main drawback is that you need dumbbells and occasionally other equipment, which isn’t exactly practical when you’re travelling. Fortunately, it’s usually only for a couple of exercises — I substitute dumbbells with water bottles and use an imaginary skipping rope. I’ve also managed to replace other equipment with a chair or whatever happens to be nearby.

Note: The Body And Mind programme doesn’t require any equipment, but it focuses on stretching, bodyweight work, balance, and core strengthening.

I also find it slightly less user-friendly than the Jillian Michaels app.

How Much Does It Cost?

You can either pay monthly at $29, which works out to about €4.50 per week, or go for the annual membership at $119, bringing it down to roughly €2 per week.

Is It Easy to Navigate?

The app is entirely in English and very straightforward to use. The “Community” tab also has interesting discussions, articles, and recipes. Just knowing how the BBG programme works (see above) is enough to get started.

3) Freeletics

Freeletics is right up there with Sweat as one of the biggest hits among fitness apps, thanks to the incredible results people achieve (check out the video below — it shows a 15-week transformation, and YouTube is full of similar ones). My partner Lukáš uses this one, so I asked him to share his review.

What Is Freeletics?

Freeletics is a suite of fitness apps for mobile phones that creates personalised workout and nutrition plans. They also have apps for running and gym workouts, though I don’t have experience with those.

The workouts are HIIT-based — that’s High-Intensity Interval Training. Sessions typically last between 5 and 30 minutes.

Freeletics isn’t for everyone — at least not at first. From day one, it pushes you hard, and during those first few days I finished every session feeling like I was truly at my limit.

Freeletics Coach = Artificial Intelligence

The app coaches you, meaning it adjusts your workout plan based on your performance. You rate every session immediately afterwards. The app always asks the same things: how the workout felt, how tired you are, whether you managed to maintain proper form throughout, and which exercises gave you the most trouble.

Based on this feedback, it does a remarkable job of estimating your muscle condition and adjusts the following week’s workouts so you build strength evenly. Over time, the app introduces new and more complex exercises.

Gamified Rewards to Keep You Motivated

The app works with personal records. It features signature workouts named after Greek gods, which you do once a week. What matters is how quickly you can complete the routine. The goal is to be at least a little bit faster each time while still maintaining proper form.

Of course, you could cheat — the app only knows what you tell it. But if you log everything honestly, the results can be truly remarkable.

How Much Does Freeletics Cost?

An annual membership comes to roughly $80 (about €75) per year, which is pretty good value. Especially when you consider that a gym membership in a major city can easily run €40–60 per month. With our link, you’ll get a 20% discount to start. 😉

They also offer a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Do You Need Any Special Language Skills?

The app is available in multiple languages including English, so you’ll have no issues navigating it. The key phrases repeat throughout, making it very easy to follow.

4) DownDog

Lukáš and I both love yoga — when we were living in one place, we used to go together regularly. We fell in love with this app because it lets us practise yoga with guidance even while travelling. All we need is a phone or a tablet.

The app offers four basic modes:

Full Practice – A complete session including a warm-up, a series of standing and seated poses, and a cool-down. You can set it anywhere from 20 to 100 minutes.

Short Practice – A condensed version of Full Practice that still includes all the key elements. It can be shortened to just 10 minutes, so we mainly use this mode for quick sessions during the day.

Quick Flow – A solution for a really fast workout that skips the warm-up.

Restorative – A mode focused on stretching and relaxation, ideal for the evening when you don’t want to get too energised before bed.

You can also set five difficulty levels, so there’s something for everyone regardless of experience.

The app works like a clever “mixer.” It contains a huge library of individual poses that get combined into tailor-made sessions based on the settings you choose.

How Much Does It Cost?

The app is largely free — you don’t need to pay to use it. Paying unlocks additional settings, but you can easily get by without them. The premium version costs a few dozen dollars per year, and the price seems to change constantly as they’re always running promotions. 🙂 We got our annual membership for $30.

5) Fitbit Coach

If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably know we’ve been loyal to our Fitbit fitness watches for years — they travel with us everywhere around the world. They track our steps, calories burned, and sleep. You can download the Fitbit Coach app, which gives you access to a personalised fitness trainer.

The App Tests Your Fitness Level

First, you take a Fit Test where the app assesses your current fitness level. Then it asks you to rate how challenging the workout was, and uses that information to tailor future workouts for you.

Programmes

Fitbit currently offers four programmes:

• Get Moving (for beginners)
• Get Lean (for weight loss)
• Get Strong (for toning and strength training)
• Daily Dose (perfect for anyone with a busy schedule)

Beyond that, there’s a range of individual workouts to choose from. I was particularly impressed that you can go for coached outdoor runs or stair workouts with your Fitbit Coach. There are even coached power walks (brisk walking sessions). Your Fitbit Coach gives you real-time audio cues during walks or runs, telling you when to speed up or slow down for optimal results.

The Perfect App for Tech Lovers

What I love about this app is that it’s seamlessly connected with your Fitbit and suggests workouts based on how active you’ve been throughout the day. For all you tech enthusiasts out there, this is absolute perfection!

How Much Does It Cost?

On a monthly plan, it comes to about €8 per month. With the annual plan (roughly €40/year), it works out to just over €3 per month.

Is It Easy to Use?

The app is in English and quite intuitive. To get the most out of features like audio coaching during runs and walks, you’ll want to be comfortable with spoken English.

Don’t fancy paying for apps? You can always work out at home using free resources online! YouTube is packed with fantastic free workout videos for every fitness level.