Fun Games and Reward Apps for Travelers

Travel is about the big moments, the view from the cliffs of Sintra, the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, the history of the Tower of London, or the sheer nature of the Canadian Rockies.

But let’s be honest: travel is also full of waiting.

Waiting for your flight at JFK, sipping a Sagres in a quiet café in Lisbon, riding the Eurostar from London to Brussels, or cooling your heels in a Toronto hotel lobby, all these moments are prime time for boredom.

That’s where the savvy traveller’s secret weapon comes in: a handful of fun games for travellers and clever travel reward apps. Not only can they keep you entertained, but some can actually help you earn real perks, like free coffee, discounts, or gift cards, a nice little bonus while you’re exploring the world.

Ready to turn your downtime into power-up time? In this guide, we'll explore the best digital and local games and reward apps for travellers, with examples tailored for your trips across Portugal, the US, UK, and Canada.

Location-Based Games That Turn Sightseeing into a Quest

Some games don't just entertain you; they are designed to encourage you to get up, walk around, and explore new places, making them the ultimate games for travellers.

Pokémon Go (The Sightseeing Incentive)

This classic AR game is still huge, and it's built entirely around real-world exploration.

• How it Works for Travellers: Every Pokéstops and Gym is tied to a real-world landmark, memorial, or piece of public art. Imagine catching a rare Pokémon while walking around Lisbon’s beautiful Praça do Comércio, hitting a Gym at Central Park in New York, or filling up on items near the Tower Bridge in London. It's an instant layer of gamification over your sightseeing walk.

• Local Tip: In busy urban hubs like Toronto, New York, or London, there are often Community Day events. Joining a local group for a day can be a fun, immediate way to meet people.

Geocaching (The Global Treasure Hunt)

Think of this as a global treasure hunt you play with your smartphone. You navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then search for a hidden container (the "geocache").

• How it Works for Travellers: It gets you off the main tourist path. Geocaches are often hidden in beautiful, slightly less-visited spots, like a quiet park in Vancouver, a historical marker in the Scottish Highlands, or a scenic lookout along Portugal’s coastal cliffs. It turns a casual stroll into a compelling mission.

 Did You Know? The first cache in Portugal was hidden in 2001! You can literally be part of the country's geocaching history.

Ingress Prime (The Strategy Tour)

From the same creators as Pokémon Go, this AR strategy game involves capturing "Portals", which, like Pokéstops, are tied to public art and landmarks.

• How it Works for Travellers: It encourages strategic movement around a city. You and your team (Resistance or Enlightened) battle for control of local landmarks. If you want a great excuse to visit every unique monument in a new city, this is it.

These location-based games for travellers make sightseeing far more engaging, especially if you’re travelling solo and need a subtle focus or goal to keep you moving. They also drain your battery. Always carry a power bank!

Reward Apps That Let You Earn While You Travel

Why just play when you can also earn rewards? These are the best travel reward apps that work across multiple countries, allowing you to exchange time for tangible perks.

Mistplay

Mistplay is an Android-only platform that pays you to play games. It's perfect for those long-haul bus rides or airport delays.

• The Earning System: Points → Gift Cards. You download and play new mobile games through the Mistplay app. As you play, you earn Units (the in-app currency) based on how long you play and how quickly you reach specific in-game levels. Once you accumulate enough Units, you redeem them for real-world gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Starbucks, Visa Prepaid, or Google Play.

• The Travel Perk: You’re earning gift cards you can use in the US, Canada, or the UK while waiting in a café in Porto. It won’t cover your flight, but it can cover your next few travel coffees or snacks.

CashWalk

This one is brilliantly simple: it rewards you for doing what you’re already doing, walking!

• The Earning System: Steps → Points. The app passively tracks your steps (up to a daily limit) and converts them into "Gems." These Gems can be exchanged for gift cards to various popular retailers.

• The Travel Perk: You’re exploring Lisbon’s cobbled streets, hiking a trail in British Columbia, or pounding the pavements in Manhattan. Why not get a little reward for those 15,000 steps? It’s pure passive income from your travel itinerary.

Google Opinion Rewards

Quick, easy, and incredibly simple.

• The Earning System: Surveys → Credit. Google sends you short, anonymous surveys, often asking about places you've recently visited (tracked via your phone's location history). Each survey takes less than 30 seconds and awards you credit.

• The Travel Perk: For Android users, this is a Google Play credit that can be used to purchase apps, games, or pay for in-app purchases on other travel-related apps. For iPhone users, the rewards are typically paid out via PayPal cash. A few dollars here and there can easily cover your next museum audio guide or a cheap souvenir.

Set a reminder to check these apps during your downtime (layovers, train travel). Consistency is how you stack up enough points to get a meaningful reward.

Coffee & Café Programs: The Digital Nomad’s Best Friend

One of the best parts of travel is the café culture. Combining your gaming downtime with a well-earned reward makes for a perfect travel moment.

Starbucks Rewards

A global behemoth, the app is a must-have for consistent perks.

• How it Works: You earn Stars for every dollar/pound/euro spent. These Stars are redeemed for free drinks, food, or specific modifications.

• The Travel Perk: Perfect for digital nomads or travellers who appreciate a familiar caffeine hit. You can earn Stars in London and redeem a free drink in New York (or vice-versa), offering a little slice of predictable value in a new place. Though chains are less dominant, select locations in Portugal's major cities, like Lisbon, sometimes participate.

Costa Coffee Club (UK)

The primary rival to Starbucks, essential if you're spending time in the UK.

• How it Works: Earn points (Caffè Nero also has a loyalty scheme) that translate directly into free drinks.

• The Travel Perk: If your London, Manchester, or Glasgow itinerary is packed, a free flat white in the middle of a busy sightseeing day is a glorious, cost-saving treat.

Tim Hortons Tims Rewards (Canada)

An absolute necessity for any Canadian trip.

• How it Works: Earn points on almost every purchase and redeem them for coffee, doughnuts, or other menu items.

• The Travel Perk: When crossing Canadian cities like Toronto or Vancouver, redeeming a free coffee and a famous "Timbits" doughnut is a budget-friendly way to feel like a local.

Did You Know? In Portugal, the local café scene is unmatched. Skip the chain rewards for an hour and pair your mobile gaming session with a delicious pastel de nata and an espresso for under €2. Sometimes, the best reward is the culture itself!

Offline & Social Game Experiences (Go Local!)

Not every great travel game is digital. Some of the most memorable travel moments come from engaging with local culture and people.

The Great Indoors: Cafés and Pubs

• Board Game Cafés: Cities like Porto (Arena Lisboa), London (Draughts Café), and Toronto (Snakes & Lattes) have thriving board game café scenes. It’s a guaranteed fun evening and a great way to socialise.

• Escape Rooms: They're everywhere! Lisbon, New York, London, and Toronto all have incredible, high-quality escape rooms. A perfect group activity for a rainy afternoon.

Traditional & Local Games

• Portugal: Look out for locals playing Sueca (a traditional card game) in bars and local tascas. You might even find a friendly local willing to teach you the basics.

• UK: The Pub Quiz is a British nightlife staple. Find a local pub, join a team, and show off your trivia knowledge. It's a fantastic, low-pressure way to interact with locals.

• US/Canada: Look for Trivia Nights, Darts, or even Shuffleboard in local craft beer bars. It gives you a reason to hang out longer and soak up the atmosphere.

The Best Moments to Pull Out Your App

The right time and place are key to maximising the fun and rewards of these apps.

• Airport Layover Relief: Whether it’s Lisbon Airport (LIS), JFK in New York, Heathrow in London (LHR), or Pearson in Toronto (YYZ), these are your reward-app goldmines. Plenty of waiting, decent WiFi, and often a nearby Starbucks!

• Scenic Train Journeys: Long-distance travel, like the Eurostar (London to Paris), Amtrak in the US, or VIA Rail in Canada, is perfect for deep-dive gaming on Mistplay or an immersive AR game (once you’re out of the tunnel!).

• Public Transit Commutes: The Tube in London, the Subway in New York, or the Metro in Toronto. When you can’t look at landmarks, a quick game or a survey on Google Opinion Rewards is ideal.

• Quiet Café Mornings: Perfect downtime for rewarding yourself with a redeemed coffee and a casual round of Pokémon Go while you plan the rest of your day.

Smart & Safe Traveller Tips

A little common sense goes a long way when mixing digital fun with real-world travel.

• Stay Situationally Aware: When playing AR games like Pokémon Go or Geocaching, don't walk into traffic or block busy sidewalks. Keep your volume low and remember you're in a busy public space.

• Prioritise Power: Location-based games and reward apps that track location (CashWalk, Pokémon Go) will devour your battery. Carry a power bank, or your game (and your map!) will die at a critical moment.

• WiFi vs. Data: Always use hotel or café WiFi when downloading new games or updates to avoid massive roaming charges. Switch off data for gaming when you don't need location services.

• Check App Availability: Not all reward apps work in every country. Download and set up your travel reward apps and games for travellers before you leave home to ensure they are available in your region’s app store.

Play Smarter, Not Harder

Travel is about experiences, and incorporating a few smart games for travellers can make those experiences more fun, interactive, and even slightly rewarding.

From catching virtual creatures in Portugal to earning free Starbucks in the US, or joining a witty pub quiz in the UK, these apps let you enjoy downtime in a more meaningful way.

Just remember the golden rule: these reward apps won’t replace a salary, but they can certainly add a fantastic layer of fun and sometimes cover a free snack or coffee on the road. So next time you're on the road, don’t just scroll aimlessly, mix travel, fun, and perks, and game your way around the world!