Must-Have Travel Apps
Summer vacation is approaching (well, it’s close enough). Whether you’re planning to travel alone, or with family and friends, download these apps for a stress-free journey. You’ll have everything you need, including amazing memories, on your mobile.
Trip It
The crème de la crème of travel app is TripIt. No more fumbling through papers to get to that flight or hotel confirmations, this free app lets you e-mail your reservations to them and they will send back the data and organize it. You can add maps, photos and schedules, then share your itinerary with whomever you want. If you give TripIt Pro a go, its features include flight status alerts, alternate flight info, open flight seats, and a one-year membership to Hertz Car Rental.
Free
Platform : iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows.
Packing Pro
Never again forget to bring the essentials on your long awaited vacation (Did I pack the toiletries? Yikes!). The award-winning Packing Pro lets you customize your packing list, edit their master list catalog (which has over 800 items) and even gives you suggestions. The app’s Expert List is a great features that lets you input the number and gender of the people traveling with you, length of trip, weather conditions, everything down to how you want to wash your dirty laundry during travel, then it gives you a list of how much and what kind of clothing you should bring. Brilliant!
US $2.99 (free version available)
Platform : iOS
Hipstamatic
Lugging a big camera around with extra lenses is so last century. If your phone is geared with a good built-in lens, Hipstamatic is the answer to your travel-documenting needs. With multiple ‘film’ styles, a handful of lenses, and variety of flashes in different colors, you can mix and match to find the right unique shots of your travels. It’s anything goes with Hipstamatic – the only rule is the photos come in a square shape.
US $1.99
Platform : iOS
Public Domain Image
Kayak
Hands down, Kayak is the best travel-search app out there with its easy to use interface. With Kayak you can compare hotels, flights, and car rental deals with ease. You can also get baggage fees and airport info. And for bargain hunters, the app will even alert you about price changes so you can relax and wait for them to get you the best deals.
Free
Platform : iOS, Android, Kindle, Windows
City Maps 2 Go
Don’t you hate getting lost and asking for directions in a foreign city? We know we do. With City Maps 2 Go, you can prepare for your journey by adding personalized pins to one of their many maps. Know where to go, even if you’re offline. There are 6,700 city maps you can download and save on your mobile. The app is enhanced with Wikipedia travel guides for even more convenience.
Free
Platform : iOS and Android
Trail Wallet
Nobody wants to run out of money before the trip ends. Trail Wallet is a great travel expense tracker that lets you input in your spending in five different currencies per trip. It then converts the amounts back to your preferred currency using current exchange rate. A quick add and go, no calculator necessary!
Free
Platform : iOS
Wikitude, Open Table
Wikitude
Hold your phone up and the Wikitude app will have places and events popping up all around you in no time. No more flipping through brochures and city guides! Get information inside museums and at national monuments just by pressing the scan button – it’s like having a personal tour guide. You can finally leave those bulky audio guides behind!
Free
Platform : iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows
Open Table
Can you really trust the recommendations from your hotel concierge? How often do you forget to make dinner reservations before you leave the hotel room, only to regret it later when you’re hungry and wandering around new streets? Never again! Open Table lets you browse nearby restaurants no matter where you are. Making a reservation is only a tap away!
Free
Platform : iOS, Android, Blackberry, Kindle, and Windows
Bill Pin
How many times have you heard your travel partner say “Can you spot me a 20?” When you’re traveling in a group, it is inevitable that keeping track of split expenses (or borrowed cash) can be a headache. But with Bill Pin, you can keep the Tylenol in your toiletries bag and your split tabs in order.
Free
Platform : iOS and Android
Top Image: Hipstamatic
