Travel App Review Series by Jon—the Roaming Husband
Does Duolingo work? The answer to this question is more complex than it seems. The Duolingo app helps you learn a language through quick little sessions where you practice vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Currently, Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps boasting more than 300 million Android, iOS, and Windows users.
The creators of Duolingo have made it very easy to set up an account and customize daily goals. This language app is designed like a game with a reward system in place to give your brain that much needed hit of dopamine to keep you coming back for more! Every day you hit your goal, you are rewarded with gems, which you can use to purchase different items from the application. Gems offer the ability to unlock bonus skills and purchase things like the very important ‘Streak Freeze.’ This is insurance in case you forget to complete a lesson for a day.
Duolingo, like many other language apps, offers a paid version. For a price, you can have an ad-free learning experience and also the ability to download lessons for offline use. Personally, the paid version of Duolingo doesn’t make sense for me because I am rarely without internet.
I using Duolingo to learn Italian…and have a 415-day streak! When I went to Italy last year I was surprised at how much the app had helped me. By no means was I fluent, but I could read signs and menus with a little more ease. I found that this actually gave me a bit more confidence, and in turn, lowered my language barrier anxiety level. Another positive result I noticed was that most locals appreciate tourists who try to learn the native language and are more helpful to those individuals.
Verdict: So, is Duolingo worth space on your phone? In my experience, Duolingo does work. It will give the user a basic understanding of vocabulary and sentence structure. However, if you are looking to have conversational skills you will need to supplement Duolingo with an online or face-to-face language class. After everything is said and done, I have to say that this is one on the most useful travel apps that I have on my phone!
**This blog was brought to you by Jon, the Roaming Husband, as part of his new series on travel apps & other travel tips.
Amy French, Ph.D., is the voice behind Roaming Historian. A professional historian and seasoned traveler, she shares stories that blend history and travel to give readers a deeper understanding of the places they explore.
My Favorite Tour Companies
After more than a decade of traveling to Europe and months at a time spent there, I’ve learned that the right tours and accommodations can completely shape your experience. These are the companies I personally use when I travel—and the ones I recommend to readers.
LivTours
If you want a more personal, in-depth experience, this is my top recommendation. Their semi-private tours (max 6 people) are ideal if you actually want to engage with the history rather than just follow a crowd. I’ve used LivTours multiple times in Italy and consistently had excellent guides and experiences. They’ll break the language barrier for you and create an amazing time.
Book here: https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61
Save 10% with code AMYRH10 (on 2+ tours)
The Tour Guy
A great option for first-time visitors who want engaging, story-driven tours of major highlights like the Colosseum or Vatican. Their guides are knowledgeable and make complex history easy to follow. Browse tours: https://tidd.ly/3J78sNi
Viator
Perfect if you want to compare a wide range of tours, read reviews, or find unique experiences and day trips…often at affordable prices. Make sure you pick a highly-rated option (or one with their “badge of excellence). Third party travel sites offer great options and exposure to local travel experiences that you might never know about, but each experience needs to be evaluated for its own ratings. Explore options: https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector
GetYourGuide
Best for flexible planning and last-minute bookings, with lots of free cancellation options. Great for keeping your itinerary flexible. Make sure you pick a highly-rated option. Third party travel sites offer great options and exposure to local travel experiences that you might never know about, but each experience needs to be evaluated for its own ratings. Check availability: https://www.getyourguide.com/?partner_id=CMSFGKK&utm_medium=online_publisher
Don’t Skip Travel Insurance
It’s easy to overlook, but I always recommend having travel insurance—especially for international trips. You can compare options through my travelinsurance.com affiliate link before your trip. https://www.travelinsurance.com/?utm_source=pap&a_aid=65590b3a60c44
Going on a Cruise? Try Shore Excursions Group
If you’re visiting ports during a cruise, Shore Excursions Group is a reliable alternative to booking excursions through the cruise line. Their tours are often smaller, more affordable (sometimes up to 40% less than ship excursions), and led by knowledgeable local guides. They offer carefully designed shore excursions in ports around the world. Even better, they provide a guaranteed on-time return to the ship, giving cruisers peace of mind when exploring independently. Just plug in your cruise ship and sail date and your ports will automatically populate, so you can browse excursions for your cruise ports here:
https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1634209&data=roaminghistorian@gmail.com
Traveling Soon? Trusted Tour & Travel Partners
Planning your trip? Here are our trusted travel partners — thoughtfully chosen for quality, reliability, and exceptional experiences.
- LivTours (high-quality semi-private and private European tours led by expert guides)
Save 10% with code AMYRH10 (valid on two or more tours).
https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61 - The Tour Guy (engaging small group & private European tours)
https://tidd.ly/3J78sNi - Viator (compare thousands of tours, day trips, and experiences worldwide)
https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector - GetYourGuide (flexible booking options for tours, attractions, and local experiences)
https://www.getyourguide.com/?partner_id=CMSFGKK&utm_medium=online_publisher - Shore Excursions Group (high-quality shore excursions with lower prices and return-to-ship guarantees.)
https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1634209&data=roaminghistorian@gmail.com - Expedia (flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages)
https://expedia.com/affiliate/p7ZcFsz - Hotels.com (book hotels globally and earn free nights through their rewards program)
https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/rdDAFaG - VRBO (private homes and unique stays ideal for families and longer trips)
https://vrbo.com/affiliate/KvF3nms - Travel Insurance.com (compare policies side-by-side to protect your trip at no extra cost)
https://www.travelinsurance.com/?utm_source=pap&a_aid=65590b3a60c44
Affiliate Disclosure
Roaming Historian may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support the research and storytelling that go into every article. All opinions are always our own.