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Top 10 Useful Travel Apps [Updated 2018]

Top 10 Useful Travel Apps

Travel in the electronic age has many advantages, but there are also some disadvantages. While exploring a new city may be exciting, it can also be frustrating to find yourself lost with no idea where you are or how to get back to your hotel. That is why we believe one of the most important digital trends for travelers are travel apps.

These are programs on your phone, tablet, or computer that can help you navigate your way along your journey.

Quick Navigation
How We Reviewed Travel Apps
Top 10 Useful Travel Apps
Citimapper Transit Navigation
UBER
Google Translate
Airbnb
XE Currency travel apps
Mobile Passport
WiFi Finder
RunGO
Prey Anti Theft
GetMyBoat
Travel Apps: Product FAQs
What Is an App?
Why Are Travel Apps Free?
Can User Reviews Be Trusted?
Overall Price Range of This Product
The Verdict

How We Reviewed Travel Apps

We understand you live a busy life that may not include spending long hours sorting through available travel apps. That is why we have compiled this list for you to help you begin your search. In relaying the information, we have tried to be accurate and honest in our review of each product.

We have looked for quality apps that can benefit your travels in a positive way, that are easy to navigate, and that offer regular updates. Additionally, we studied current user reviews to make sure our list included travel apps that commuters and tourists around the world found useful.

Item

Description

Link

Citymapper Transit Navigation

City Mapper Travel Apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: 35

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.5

Apple Rating: 4.3

CHECK APP

Uber 

uber travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: 500

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.2

Apple Rating: 4.5

CHECK APP

Google Translate

Google Translate travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of languages: 103

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.4

Apple Rating: 4.5

CHECK APP

Airbnb

Airbnb travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: A million plus

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.4

Apple Rating: 4.8

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XE Currency

XE Currency travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: A million plus

Add-on Features Available: Yes, for $1.99

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.4

Apple Rating: 4.7

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Mobile Passport

Mobile Passport travel apps

Worldwide Availability: No

Number of Airports : 24

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.7

Apple Rating: 4.7

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Wi-Fi Finder

WiFi Finder travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: A million plus

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.3

Apple Rating: 4.5

CHECK APP

RunGo

RunGO travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes
Number of Cities: 100,000 routes, number of cities unknown
Add-on Features Available: Yes, with subscription
Cost: Free
Google Rating: 3.9
Apple Rating: 4.7

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Prey Anti Theft

Prey Anti Theft

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: A million plus

Add-on Features Available: Yes, for between $5 and $10

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 4.2

Apple Rating: 4.6

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     GETMYBOAT

GetMyBoat travel apps

Worldwide Availability: Yes

Number of Cities: N/A

Add-on Features Available: No

Cost: Free

Google Rating: 3.6

Apple Rating: 4.6

CHECK APP

Top 10 Useful Travel Apps

Here is our list of the 10 best apps for 2018. They are listed in no particular rank or order.

Citymapper Transit Navigation

City Mapper Travel Apps

Key Features

Citimapper is basically a mapping system for various cities that includes public transportation. It is listed as an Editor’s Choice on Google Play and has received other recent awards.

Highly rated by consumers, this app checks close departure points, finds the quickest route via all forms of transport, and sends alerts when your normal modes of transportation are disrupted. Citimapper is currently active in over 35 major metropolitan areas around the world. If you are looking to use public transportation, then this app is for you.

Pros

CONS

  • Available in 13 languages.
  • Navigate through more than 35 major cities worldwide.
  • Decrease battery life by seeking your location while closed.
  • The sheer number of transports available may make navigation of the area difficult.
  • Pricing

    Free

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    Warranty information is unknown; however, there are regular updates offered. Also, information is provided that allows contact with sellers.

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP

    UBER

    uber travel apps

    Key Features

    The Uber app can be a lifesaver when you are in a foreign town. Dial up where you’d like to go, and a driver will be on his or her way to pick you up in minutes. Uber is especially useful in foreign towns where you don’t speak the regional dialect. No need to communicate your destination to the driver since it should be listed in their GPS already. Uber is one of the most important apps to have in your arsenal, even if it’s only as a backup method of transportation.

    Pros

    CONS

    • Available in over 500 cities.
    • No need to carry cash; simply use your credit card.
    • •Also compatible with Apple Watch.

    •Not available for older iOS systems.
    •May drain battery with consistent location updates.
    •Seeks information from your contact card and stored personal data.


    Pricing

    Free

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    No warranty information is available, but there is a customer service contact number listed.

    Coupons/Deals

    At the time of this review, coupons for $20 off your first ride are available.

    CHECK APP

    Google Translate

    Google Translate travel apps

    Key Features

    If you are visiting a foreign country and you don’t speak the language fluently, this is the app for you. Able to translate over 100 languages, this multilingual translation app can help you understand what is going on around you. Whether you speak the words, type out sentences, or write letters on the screen, Google Translate can make your vacation flow much more smoothly.

    Pros

    CONS


  • 103 languages are available.
  • No internet connection is needed.
  • Translate conversations on the go.


  • Translation is not perfect.
  • Requires an internet connection to work.
  • Information translated is not confidential.
  • ​

    Pricing

    Free

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    No warranty information is available, but there is a customer service contact number available.

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP

    Airbnb

    Airbnb travel apps

    Key Features

    Airbnb is an online program that allows people all over the world to rent out rooms, buildings, and homes to guests. This allows hosts to earn money on spare bedrooms, rental homes, and empty cabanas. Because the program had a network of over 6 million active participants last year, guests can find exactly what they are looking for in hundreds of countries.

    Pros

    CONS

    •Easy to book rooms.
    •Rooms feel more “homey” than a hotel.
    •Peer-review system allows guests to rate hosts, and vice versa.
  • Translation is not perfect.
  • Requires an internet connection to work.
  • Information translated is not confidential.
  • ​

    Pricing

    Nightly room rates can range from $24 for a single room to well over $2,500 for a personal island.

    Where To Buy

    Reservations are taken on www.airbnb.com after guests have set up an account.

    Warranty

    Lloyd’s of London backs European reservations, and Airbnb has an insurance policy against loss due to vandalism or theft.

    Coupons/Deals

    Depending on your travel area, coupons and deals can sometimes be found, but they are often offered only by the host, not Airbnb.

    CHECK APP

    XE Currency travel apps

    XE Currency travel apps

    Key Features

    XE Currency is a currency converter and monitor. It updates all currencies and precious metals every minute and can be used offline in case the internet goes down. It can also be set to actively monitor 10 currencies at once with rate alerts that clue you in when a price matches your target. For $1.99, you can upgrade to XE Currency Pro, which allows for setting rate alerts for a greater number of currencies. This app might seem a bit obscure, but if you are traveling internationally, it can be quite handy for figuring out costs in a pinch.

    Pros

    CONS

    •40 currency conversions available.
    •No minimum amount required.



    •Not regulated by the FCA.
    •Uses secondary companies for currency transfers.


    ​

    Pricing

    Free, but does offer an expanded app for a fee.

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    The product is not sold with a warranty, but there is a customer service number available.

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP


    Mobile Passport

    Mobile Passport travel apps

    Key Features

    Mobile Passport is a program that is officially authorized by United States Customs and Border Protection. If you don’t have Global Entry, then this app is for you. Upon landing, you fill out the appropriate customs information in the program.

    This data will be submitted to US CBP over Wi-Fi, and if all is clear, you receive a receipt that is good for four hours. As you depart the aircraft, look for the Mobile Passport signs which will lead to another line, which is most likely many times shorter than the regular line. The CBP official will scan the barcode from your phone receipt and will review your passport, then – voila – you are through in record time!

    Pros

    CONS

    ​•Can cut airport waiting time
    •Authorized by United States Customs and Border Protection.



    ​
    •Only available for use in 24 airports.



    ​

    Pricing

    Free

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    Contact and customer support information is provided, but no warranties are offered.

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP


    WiFi Finder

    WiFi Finder travel apps

    Key Features

    Wi-Fi Finder is an app that consolidates Wi-Fi hotspots from around the globe and presents them in an easy-to-understand manner. It will look for Wi-Fi locations in your vicinity, find fast speeds, give you the type of venue (store, restaurant, bar, hotel, cafe and more), test for signal strength, and give you the login information. Much of the data is gleaned from the SpeedSpot community, which has over 10 million users. The Wi-Fi Finder is a great tool for the electronic traveler as it makes finding an elusive signal that much easier.

    Pros

    CONS

    ​•Claims to locate more than 2 million hotspots per continent.
    •Saves money on roaming costs – only requires a Wi-Fi connection.



    •Battery life is decreased because GPS runs in the background.
    •Users report some bugs with the system.
    .





    Pricing

    Free

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    No warranty information is available, but there is a customer service contact number listed.

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP


    RunGO

    RunGO travel apps

    Key Features

    If you are trying to stay fit while traveling, you know it can be difficult. RunGo has over 100,000 pre-set routes worldwide but also lets you establish your own route. In addition, you can listen to your music while still getting directions from the RunGo navigator about the course.

    Pros

    CONS

    •Create your own route and store it.
    •Share your route with others.
    •Turn-by-turn vocal navigation is

    ​
    •No Spotify or Apple Music connection available.
    •Available running routes are limited to listed cities.
    •Limited running data stored.


    Pricing

    Free, but offers additional in-app purchases. Premium features are also available with subscription services.

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    No warranty information available and contact is made only through a form on the RunGo web page.

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP


    Prey Anti Theft

    Prey Anti Theft

    Key Features

    Unfortunately, electronics are easy grabs for thieves. Should your devices be taken, what can you do? The Prey Anti-Theft app allows you to track your phone, laptop, or tablet. The onboard camera lets you take silent pictures of who is using your device, helping police identify the culprit. Prey can even delete sensitive data on your system or retrieve precious photos from your lost device. You can also lock your electronics even while they are in the hands of the thief to prevent unauthorized access. Prey Anti-Theft allows you to get back some of your dignity, protect your privacy, and maybe even retrieve your items.

    Pros

    CONS

    •Easy to install and set up.
    •Sends notifications about the missing or lost phone every 10 minutes.
    •The alarm is a high-pitched shrieking noise.
    •Can retrieve personal information from the device and then erase it.
    ​•You must have access to the internet to lock your device down.
    •Your phone must have a connection to the internet and be “on” to lock it down.

    Pricing

    Initial app is free. However, there are personal and home protection plans that cost between $5 and $10.

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    N/A

    Coupons/Deals

    N/A

    CHECK APP


    GetMyBoat

    GetMyBoat travel apps

    Key Features

    Have you been hankering for a water adventure? Try GetMyBoat, a booking app that covers boats, kayaks, sailing, surfing lessons, dive tours, rafting adventures, snorkeling and paddle boarding.

    Whether it be a lesson, tour, or rental, your water adventure starts here. This app covers over 100,000 trips from all over the world.

    What if you already own a boat? List it on GetMyBoat to make that extra revenue. GetMyBoat allows communication from the renter to the owner and makes the adventure happen much more smoothly.

    Pros

    CONS

    •Filters allow the search for a boat to be specific and narrow.
    •Owners and renters can communicate through the app.
    •Anyone with a boat can earn extra money.
    ​•Renters must register before using the app.

    Pricing

    Free

    Where To Buy

    Purchase at the App Store for IOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

    Warranty

    N/A

    Coupons/Deals

    Coupons and deals are dependent on the location of the boat and the length of the trip.

    CHECK APP

    Travel Apps: Product FAQs

    Whether you own a smartphone, tablet, or computer, you have probably downloaded an app to improve the performance of your device or to experience a new form of entertainment. Games, books, travel directions, and weather are only a few of the different types of applications available for download.

    What Is an App?

    Each app is a software program you download to your device that allows you access to the information compiled by that one program.

    Why Are Travel Apps Free?

    Very few things are free in life, and apps are certainly a case in point. Apps are technically not free, even if you do not pay for them. The marketers and developers make money off information they collect when they access your device. Also, they often sell ads to generate interest in other items the company is selling. Sometimes versions of an app are free, but a second updated option must be purchased. Another ploy marketers use is to limit available features on the free version of their app, and then require a cash expenditure of any add-ons that are not only necessary but essential for continuing use of their app.

    Can User Reviews Be Trusted?

    There is no yes or no answer to this question. Most app developers and marketers include reviews that are honest appraisals of how users feel about the app. However, there have been consumer comments that were found to be false, and those companies are sued by the Federal Trade Commission for false advertising. If an app has been downloaded thousands of times and has mostly positive reviews, it is probably safe to download and enjoy.

    Overall Price Range of This Product

    The apps on our list are all free. However, there are several that add premium deals for an additional monthly or yearly charge.

    The Verdict

    Travel apps offer a myriad of uses. In this technological world, apps can bring us knowledge and help alleviate the tension that is often present when we travel to new and challenging locations. They can broaden our perspective by giving us more choices, and they help us identify locations that we want to visit.

    When you are looking for a travel app, begin with the top 10 travel apps we have reviewed here. You won’t be disappointed.

    Useful Apps for Travelers

    Useful Apps for Travelers

    The basic applications that you might need on your trip are: calculator, alarm clock, weather app, and compass. Luckily most smartphones come with most of these, if not all, installed. But, depending on your journey, you might find yourself in need of additional apps. A public transpiration app or a translator can save your trip, or at least, it can improve it. When traveling to a county for the first time you can also download a restaurants or sightseeing guide.

    Internet is required for most travel apps and your mobile data bill can get rather high, so you must keep that in mind. Ideally it is to find a Wi-Fi hot spot. In Europe, for example, you can find hot spots usually at McDonalds or KFC, as well as in different restaurants and bars.

    Now I’ll share with you some of the apps I found to be very useful in my travels. They all work on iOS as well as other platforms (Windows, Android or BlackBerry).  This is not a thorough list and I recommend that you check the Store on your iPhone or the Google Play Store for Android (the “Travel” section) for the latest apps and versions.

    Like most things in life planning ahead pays off. Before you get to your destination you must book a flight and reserve a hotel room. Here is our list of useful apps for travelers.

    Expedia (free app)

    You can either use their website, Expedia.com, or download their app on your device. You will find it to be very useful, providing you with information about hotels, flights, leasing cars and much more. I suggest you use the mobile app, for you may find unique offers and discounts on last minute booking.

    Skyscanner (free app)

    This is a very useful app for trips with a strict budget. You can view a bunch of European airlines and their offers in order to find the lowest priced flight connecting any two airports.

    Kayak (free app), FlightTrack (paid app)

    It lets you track the progress of your flight in order to see if it will be on time or not. With this program your friends and family at home can see your plane’s advancement online.

    Almost every airline has their very own app, where you can book flights, check in, or view their flights status.

    Once you booked your flight and reserved a hotel room, you can start thinking about your activities.

    One of the first things you may want to consider is local transportation. MetrO (free app) is a program that allows you to plan your route in many cities from all around Europe. Although it comes without maps I found it to be very useful. There are a number of different map apps such as London Tube, Berlin subway route network, Paris Métro, Metro de Madrid Official, Metro Barcelona, Brussels Metro Map and various others.

    Citymapper (free app)

    It is by far my favorite travel app. They advertise it as “the ultimate transit app” and they are not wrong. You can use it in Europe as well as in America.  It utilizes real time data for all transport modes (subway, bus, cab, train, tram, ferry, cycle or walk) and has some key features like: status info, notifications, next bus, live subway disruptions, time tables, metro maps, weather, etc. It even lets you see how many calories you have burned.  It is fast, reliable and on many occasions a life saver.

    Rick Steves Audio Europe (free app)

    This app contains a large number of audio tours for Europe’s top attractions, as well as radio interviews. You can simply download the playlist that is most interesting to you and play it offline.

    TripAdvisor (free app)

    Never leave home without it. Instantly lets you see user ratings for different restaurants, hotels, sights, museums or landmarks. You can also use Yelp but keep in mind that it is not as utilized in Europe as it is in the US and that most reviews come from tourists.

    Currency, XE Currency, Oanda Currency Convertor (free apps)

    It lets you know the exact exchange rate for the current day.

    Measures (paid app)

    It can convert different types of measurements to the metric system and vice-versa.  It is useful for buying clothes, shoes or even to figure out the speed of your rental car.

    Google Translate (free app)

    Very simple to use, it can translate foreign languages into English. Useful for when you don’t speak the local tongue. This app also has a computerized voice that will pronounce the translated phrase for you.

    Lonely Planet Audio Phrasebooks (paid app)

    It is a digital phrase book that will let you hear the correct pronunciation of a sentence or phrase. If locals are having trouble understanding you then I strongly recommend it.

    Word Lens (paid app)

    This app lets you use your phone’s camera to translate a sign. Simply point the camera at the sign and it will translate it. Be aware that it is only available for the fallowing languages: German, Italian, Spanish and French.

    Gogobot (free app)

    It helps you find interesting activities during your trip. It has tips and recommendations for a wide bunch of things to do. From more family friendly activities to sports, eating or visiting, Gogobot has it all.

    Tripomatic (free app)

    This is a very good app for planning your trip in advance. You can set up routes, schedule what to see or do, and at what time. The application is synced with Tripomatic.com, so you can use your laptop or tablet too. It is not ideal for when you are already on the road because it does not save your schedules offline.

    It is good to try and stay in touch with the folks at home. You can talk to them, text them, send them photos or videos using different apps on your smartphone.

    Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (free apps)

    These days almost everyone that owns a smartphone has installed one of the apps mentioned above, if not all of them. They are great for posting pictures and experiences from your trip and chatting with your family of friends. Imagine you enjoying a cup of coffee at Le Moulin de la Galette on Rue Lepic in Paris, while, at the same time talking and sharing pictures with your brother in Seattle.

    Skype, Fring (free apps)

    It enables you to make free calls, or video calls to anybody with a computer or with a smartphone. For a nominal fee you can call phone numbers too.

    What’s App, Viber, Textfree, Text Plus (free apps)

    Just like Skype or Fring but for text messaging. You can also use your phone camera to take pictures and send them to your loved ones in real time.

    Dropbox (free app)

    Many times you will find yourself needing to delete pictures or videos because of your hard drive or the low storage capacity of your memory sticks/cards. Dropbox allows you to store your information online and then retrieve it at any time using a smartphone or a PC.

    NPR News, ESPN, The New York Times (free apps)

    These apps help you keep in touch with the news at home while you are taking a trip. Almost every newspaper, magazine or news show has such an app, so be sure to download your favorite before you embark on your journey.

    SnapShot Postcard (paid app)

    This app lets you turn any of the photos you took with your mobile’s camera into a genuine postcard that you can print and send to whomever you want.

    Image source: Photo 1

    25 Essential Android Apps for Overseas Travel

    Traveling represents one of the most liberating and fulfilling experiences for any person. We were born to explore and learn new things, but we cannot do so unprepared. Technology has made it very easy for us to organize checklists, book flights, write down itineraries, take photos and communicate with our loved ones back home. If you have a smart-phone or tablet we recommend you to install some of the following apps.

    The most important thing that they have in common is the fact that they solve problems you might not have realized you had. Some of these apps are innovative and quirky, others are just plain useful. Instead of wasting your time in the App store, install these apps. You can take our word for it, they are the best.

    Offline Map & Exploration Apps

    1. GoogleMaps

    If you are looking for a good maps app for offline and online, you should definitely choose Google Maps. It is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive maps applications for Android and iPhone. If you want to use the app in offline mode all you have to do is access the inbuilt support for offline maps.

    With this feature you can download a map area to your Android device, and view it later (without connection). Keep in mind that only map tiles may be downloaded, so you should save a larger portion of a map as well as several smaller areas of interest. You can still use the GPS, even if you are offline, to check where you are.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    Essential Android Apps for Overseas Travel2. Smart Compass

    Smart Compass uses built-in magnetic sensors to find bearings (azimuth). Regardless of the position of your device (landscape or portrait), it will still point in the right direction. Its most important features include the Camera view, used for reality, the metal detector which verifies magnetic sensors, and GPS capabilities.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    3. OsmAnd

    This is another excellent offline map app that you should consider using during your trip. It is a full GPS application which can give you turn-by-turn directions as well as offline databases for points of interest. Other features include spoken directions, downloading map files to your device (limited to 10 free maps) etc. OsmAnd isn’t designed only for driving: pedestrians, bikers and public transportation users can also take advantage of its features.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    Communication


    4. Skype

    25 Essential Android Apps for Overseas Travel
    Alexander Supertramp / Shutterstock.com

    This communication app is without a doubt one of the best communication apps out there. Millions of worldwide users stand testimony to this app’s capability. There are too many features to list so we will stick with the basics: free video & voice chat with friends, text messages worldwide, low cost calls for mobiles & landlines with paid lands, ability to share screens and photos etc. If you want to stay in touch with family and friends you should install this app.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    5. Google Translate

    Visiting a foreign country without a translation app is like walking naked through the snow. Google Translate is the ultimate app for taking down language barriers because it has 80 supported languages and an ever-evolving database for terms & sentences. You can even converse naturally with the app and let it translate stuff for you. Another feature worth mentioning is the offline one: you do not require internet connection for translations. For more information and features check out the link below.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    6. WhatsApp

    Here’s another app that you might want to install before embarking on your trip. WhatApp Messenger is similar to Skype in that it allows you to keep in touch with your loved ones at home. The first year of WhatsApp is free, and plans for the second year start at 0.99$ USD. Oh, we almost forgot, you can also send multimedia items like videos and images if you want to share moments from your trip and offline messages.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    General Travel Sites

    7. TripAdvisor

    TripAdvisor is the go-to source for all sensible travelers out there. It has all the information you need about cities, hotels, restaurants materialized in reviews, descriptions, images, map directions and more. There are several TripAdvisor Apps worth considering, including TripAdvisor Hotels, City Guides Catalog, TripAdvisor apps for specific cities (example: Paris, Rome etc.) and more. With the free TripAdvisor app you can plan your perfect trip. Here are some of the most important features:

    • Millions of opinions, videos, photos and reviews
    • Starring system for hotels and other locations
    • Restaurant exploration by price range, rating and food type
    • Access to airfares and edals
    • Near Me Now: discover interesting locations near your location
    • Downloadable Maps for over 300 cities

    Available on Google Play: TripAdvisor and City Guides Catalog

    8. TripWolf

    Tripwolf is extremely similar to TripAdvisor: it offers reviews for the most popular destinations in the world, offline data, trip planner & itineraries, information about different hotels, restaurants, pubs and more. TripWolf is currently available in English, Italian, Spanish and German. This app also has separate apps for cities such as Vienna, Warsaw and more.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    9. World Travel Guide by Triposo

    Are you looking for one travel guide that contains information for the entire globe? Look no further, the World Travel Guide by Triposo is the most extensive resource for avid globe trotters. The app comes equipped with maps, weather data, offline guides, phrasebooks for non-English destinations, events and information about wildlife & festivals, among other things. It will also make suggestions for your itinerary.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    Weather Apps:

    10. Weather

    Over 500.000 Android users have unanimously voted “Weather” as the best app for weather forecasts and conditions. This tool is simple, efficient and it has a user-friendly interface. Some of its features include weather supports geo-positioning, tracking for multiple locations, widgets, weekly/hourly forecasts, animated weather conditions and more.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    11. Weather & Clock Widget for Android

    Still looking for a good weather app? To be honest, this is my favorite Android Weather app because it has a stunning interface and great features. The best thing about it is the fact that it is completely free. Among its many features we will mention five-day weather forecasts, 10-day & hourly precipitation information, sunrise/sunset time, temperature status bar, widgets for the home screen, auto location detection, moon phase and more.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    Organization:

    12. Evernote

    We have been frantically searching for an app that includes voice memos, notes and reminders. We found Evernote. So many people praised this app and declared that it helped them organize their life better. To tell you the truth, I am a non-believer, but after installing it I was convinced. It is so easy to keep yourself organized with this nifty tool. Here are a few features that you will definitely need during your trip: notes, notebooks with tags, creative workspaces, To-do lists, agendas & itinerary creation, business travel planning, voice, video & image notes, reminders etc.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    13. Adobe Reader

    This is a must-have app for interacting with PDFs such as documents, travel papers etc.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    14. KAYAK Flights, Hotels & Cars

    With KAYAK you can plan your flights, hotel reservations, car rentals, manage prices etc. The clean and intuitive interface will make it easy for you to organize your trip and find the best deals. For flights, you will see airlines on the left, and prices & additional information on the right. We also recommend you to install specific airline apps (example: Salk ATG), for more specific information on flights and itineraries.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    15. TripIt Travel Organizer

    Although this app is not the most popular out there, it is very useful for organizing all travel plans in one place. All you have to do is forward your travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and the app will create a detailed itinerary for you.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    16. TurboScan

    Are you afraid of losing your documents? That can never happen if you keep them all in one place, on your Android Device. With TurboScan you can scan documents, notes, receipts, whiteboards and more. It is also a great tool for tracking your travel payments and activities.

    Available on Google Play: click here / also available on iTunes

    Essential Android Apps for Overseas Travel
    Photo Credit: Johan Larsson via flickr

    17. Dropbox

    Where are you going to store all the photos and videos that you’re taking on your trip? On Dropbox, of course. Dropbox is definitely one of the best cloud storage apps out there, with a super-friendly interface and quick syncing. You can also upgrade your storage by completing several actions and inviting friends.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    Getting Around:

    18. Hotel Tonight

    This app is as simple as it gets: what it basically does is help you book hotels for your upcoming trip. The app’s motto is ‘Plan less. Live more”. With every booking you make you will earn HT credits which can be used for your next Hotel Tonight booking.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    19. SkyScanner – Car Hire

    SkyScanner is an award-winning flights app (you can find the link for it below), but it is also a great app for finding rental cars. Although the app isn’t extremely popular, it has a super clean & crisp interface and easy functions that will help you secure a car within minutes.

    Available on Google Play: Car Hire & SkyScanner Flights

    20. MasterCard ATM Hunter

    Are you running out of money but have no idea where to find ATMs? This app will come in handy. As the name stats, it is a Mastercard ATM hunter. It will locate nearby ATMs with the help of your phone’s GPS or by entering your address.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    21. Zomato – Restaurant finder

    If you’re trying to find nice places to dine, but prefer to use something other than TripAdvisor, you should definitely check out Zomato. It is a simple app that helps users discover new locations with the help of pictures, menus and user reviews.

    Currency & Units

    22.. Easy Currency Converter

    This app is easy, fast and efficient. It contains over 180 world currencies, updated with live exchange rates. You can use it while offline and you can also check out graphs and favorites. Interestingly enough, this app can convert 22 currencies simultaneously. Every traveler should use a currency converter to avoid getting ripped off.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    23. Mint

    Mint is perfect for organizing finances and keeping the budget in check while traveling. We all know how easy it is to spend too much. Mint will help you use your money more efficiently. The app is absolutely safe & secure. It uses a read-only service (you can’t move money between accounts).

    Available on Google Play: click here

    Camera Apps

    24. Instagram

    Everybody knows about Instagram, so we don’t need to tell you very much about it. It’s the hippest social network for people who enjoy sharing images. The editing program, itself, is pretty basic but it has some cool filters that you can apply. Join the over 300 million users community and share your travel photography.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    25. Wondershare Panorama

    If you want to take panoramas of the places that you are visiting, this app will come in handy. Wondershare Panorama for Android is the simplest panorama app out there. It’s extremely user friendly, all you have to do is move your camera from left to right, or right to left, and it will record the full image.

    Available on Google Play: click here

    This concludes our list of must-have travelling apps. If you install all of them you will be all set and prepared for your next adventure. Do you have any favorite travelling apps that you couldn’t find on this list? We would love to hear your opinion!

    The 27 Best International Travel Apps

    The 27 Best  Travel Apps to Travel Internationally

    These days, any company who’s serious about its online presence knows that it needs an app in order to make it and this is especially true about travel companies. As the saying goes, if you need it, there’s an app for that – from language translation apps to international messaging apps. Some of the biggest flight and tourism companies in the world, such as United Airlines and Booking.com have got apps, but smaller competitors have them too. You can run through every aspect of your trip with a dedicated app, from planning and booking to exploring, photographing, and socializing. Apps can call you a cab, translate for you, find a nearby WiFi hotspot or help you get in touch with your family and friends back home.

    This industry segment is on the rise and there’s little doubt about it. According to the latest data in the field, some 17,000 travel apps were released between 2011 and 2013 alone. A market study on high-end consumers found that travel apps are the third most downloaded category, after weather and news. And it’s not just the well-to-do that use apps when traveling these days, either. A PhoCusWright survey showed that almost 25 per cent of nearly 2,000 travelers had used an app or mobile website to buy something travel related. Hotel bookings came in first, followed by car rentals and airport transfer shuttle tickets. Industry experts are also looking at the quantity and quality of these apps, though. They acknowledge that many of them are poor quality and there’s plenty of room for development (pun intended). They advise developers to focus on “the granularity of travel”, such as navigation, itinerary organization, weather forecasts, currency exchange and time zones.

    Apps are essentially transforming travel as we know it, by rendering it far more efficient. Google Translate, top rank among language translation apps, for instance, will allow you to communicate with far improved efficiency, irrespective of where in the world your journey may take you to. However, the trend, as the experts see it, is going to be toward a move away from fragmented one-trick-pony apps such as public transport map apps and the like. Task managers that allow travelers to book, sort, plan, and photograph are the future, rumor has it – and one expert has even predicted the incoming popularity of voice activated apps, in which Siri, shall we say, is able to book an entire trip with a few taps and swipes, plus a couple of voice commands.

    For the time being, though, here’s what we recommend in terms of excellent travel apps, suited both for local, as well as international trips. They will keep you entertained, connected, and organized and make your trips all the more pleasant and memorable.

    Flight & Accommodation booking

    Priority Pass

    If you travel a lot, then you’re surely no stranger to the experience of searching for a free airport lounge – and you also know how frustrating it can be. In comes Priority Pass, a well-reviewed app available for free for most mobile devices, which basically aggregates a massive list of airport lounges the world over. As of the date this article was written, Priority Pass’s list included well over 600 airport lounges, which can be searched for by typing in the city or airport name. The easiest way to find a lounge is via GPS and the cool thing is that, unlike many other apps, you don’t have to depend on Internet access for this one. You can save and store the data for offline use and then updated when you’re next connected. So now you know what to do, next time you’re on a long layover and simply dying for a spot to nap, catch up on work, or simply stretch your legs as you wait for your connecting flight to depart.  You can join Priority Pass for a yearly fee which gives you access to all these lounges, but most will allow you to pay for that particular visit.
    Free for iOS and Android

    American Airlines

    American AirlinesAirports can turn into the setting for a stressful experience, even for the most experienced traveler out there. You need to check in, look for the gate you’re departing from with terminal maps, be on the lookout for the status of your flight, and then eventually board it. So, what if you could do all of that online, off your Android or iOS-operated device? That’s what the good folks at American Airlines wondered, too, and then they came up with this app, which allows you to check out all the details of your American Airlines flight (and plenty more, too) at a glance. Swipe, tap, customize, play an built-in game of Sudoku, and even set a parking reminder. Check out the commercial for the new, iOS 7 redesigned app, then set your mind at ease. Flying American has never been easier.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Fly Delta

    This is one of the best apps for international travel out there, for booking flights from the U.S., thanks to its impeccable Search and Compare features. Not only does it find you the best deals on both domestic and international flights, but it also comes with a great deal of added bonuses. You can share booked trips via Facebook, purchase extras, such as Wi-Fi, Priority Boarding, or Preferred Seats. The profile you create within the app is a fly deltaone-stop shop for managing your trips, from rebooking to transaction status verifications, to SkyMile progress. The app also allows you to check in online at selected airports around the world, as well as to track the location of your luggage (too cool!). Other features include lounge location, picture taking for parking spots, maps for airports and public transport, flight trackers, weather information and parking reminders. It’s the kind of traveling app that makes you wonder why you would ever use any other ones.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Booking.com

    There’s no beating Booking.com in terms of planning ahead for accommodation, either locally or internationally. The website’s booking.comimpressive database of properties has got over 430,000 worldwide properties stored, plus 64,000 travel destinations. It’s also customized to help you find good pricing deals, book a specific hotel, or even change your mind, plans, and stay dates. The app’s developers have also managed to smoothly transfer the site’s seamless filtering search function to mobile devices. You can find out if your hotel of choice has got a parking lot, Wi-Fi, and any other feature you simply can’t go without. You also get access to reviews by actual guests and real life pictures from the properties. You can call customer support 24/7 right from the app, check out property names and addresses in over 40 languages, and have a complete list of both your future and past bookings.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Hotel Tonight

    Ideally, when you’re in a new town, it’s a good idea to have accommodation for the evening booked in advance. But as anyone who hotel tonighttravels a lot can tell you, this ideal situation doesn’t always happen in real life. Sometimes, you simply find yourself out of a room to sleep in – but that’s not an issue anymore, thanks to Hotel Tonight, one of the best apps for international travel. You can search for last-minute deals from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. with this app, which promises to negotiate the best deals on your behalf. You can book on the very same day and even choose to stay for multiple nights. The list of countries in which the app is available now includes the Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and all parts of the United States, and the developers promise to keep expanding it in the future.

    Free for iOS and Android

    Traveling & Dining

    uPacking List

    Hate packing? Good. That makes a billion of us. Packing becomes especially hectic and complicated when you’re in one day and out the next, with laundry waiting to be done and all the minutiae and paraphernalia of your daily existence waiting to be stuffed into your luggage. Luckily, packing just became easier with this app that provides customized and customizable checklists for making sure you take along everything you need. There are several preset lists included in the free version of the app: business trips, fishing trips, trips to DisneyLand, and so on. The app’s catalog includes about 300 items which you can simply add to a list with one tap, and you can also add to, or edit the catalog as you see fit. Aside from items, you can also include actions on your checklist, such as arranging for someone to pick you up, or getting your luggage weighed. Nifty, huh?  And don’t forget to have at least 2 lists:  one for before you leave home, but I prepare a second list for stuff I sometimes forget in hotel rooms, and before I check out, I do a final check of my list of often forgotten, or particularly valuable items.
    Free for iOS and Android, $1.99 for full iOS version

    Trip Journal

    What’s the point of traveling, if not creating amazing memories, the kind that last you a lifetime? If you’re a fan of keeping travelogues, Trip Journal is just what you need. If you’re not, you might want to consider becoming a fan, after you’ve checked out this app. The award winning app, holder of the first prize within the Android Development Challenge, is one of the top travel apps for Android because it makes it incredibly easy to record, document, and share memories from your trips either directly with your loved ones, or on social media. Here’s what the app does: it helps you create an itinerary of your route, with the aid of Waypoints/Places. You can then add media notes, in the form of text entries, photos or videos to each Place. You can also track your route via GPS, if you want to Record Your Trip. The app is also integrated with all the major social networks, including YouTube, Picasa, Flickr, and Twiter. To boot, you can also share your trip on Google Earth, to keep your friends up to speed on your whereabouts.
    Free for iOS and Android sponsored by Virgin Atlantic; full versions cost $2.99 for iOS and Android

    Taxi Magic

    The fact that Taxi Magic’s developers call it the world’s #1 taxi app is not a stretch. It’s the naked truth. All you need to book a cab with your smartphone is this app, a credit card (registered on your device) and three taps of the screen. You can pay through your card directly and will receive the receipt via email when the fare is done. The app also allows you to track nearby cars and it’s available in quite a lot of locations: select cities in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, as well as over 60 cities across the United States, including New York. The app’s devs guarantee they only work with the best and most experienced drivers in those respective cities – and judging by the app’s reviews, they’re probably right.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Intellicast

    intellicastYou will never need another weather app after you’ve used Intellicast, and that’s a promise that seasoned travelers can confirm for you time and again. It allows you to track the most severe of storms, or to simply check out the daily or 10 day forecasts, as per your needs. The visualizations of wind motion are spectacular, and if you’re traveling in North America, the app’s HD radar will allow you to be up to speed on the location of major storms at all times. The app covers more than 50,000 locations around the world and it also comes equipped with a predictive radar that will tell you whether it’s time to break out the sunscreen, or take shelter from incoming rainfall. The coverage provided is satellite-enabled and the app even promises to plot earthquakes in real time!
    Free for iOS and Android

    Urbanspoon

    Deciding where to eat out can turn into quite a drag, can’t it? Especially if you’re in a new place, where you can’t exactly ask people UrbanSpoonfor recommendations – or are exploring the tourist area of an exciting city, but wouldn’t want to stumble into a tourist trap. Urbanspoon makes life easier for you, if you’re traveling in the U.S., across Canada, Australia, the UK or Ireland. Simply shake your smartphone and the app will generate a list of recommended nearby restaurants. You can discover places, see what’s in your immediate vicinity, or browse through lists including la crème de la crème. You can filter your searches by neighborhood, cuisine or price range, make online reservations, compare restaurants, and base your selections on the reviews provided by bloggers, food critics, as well as simple users like yourself.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Maps

    iOS Maps

    Back a couple of iOS generations ago, the iOS Maps app was the laughingstock of the smartphone using population. Just about ios mapseveryone knew the maps provided by Apple are unreliable and to be avoided. Of course, Apple couldn’t just allow that situation to perpetuate itself, which is why they completely redesigned the app. The results are stunning and highly recommendable. The app now includes turn-by-turn directions, interactive 3D views, a Flyover feature that can keep you entertained for hours, accurate traffic information, provided in real time, as well as a Local Search feature, with integrated business reviews from Yelp users. You can even sync your search history and save your discoveries into iCloud, so that you never miss a relevant bit of information.
    Built-in for iOS

    Google Maps

    google mapsWhile some smartphone users swear by the iOS Maps app, others would never give up on Google Maps. We believe it’s useful to have both installed, for particularly complex navigation situations. Like the iOS app, this one also offers turn-by-turn GPS navigation, for driving, walking, and public transport. It estimates traffic and arrival times, displays nearby businesses and reviews for them and can even tell you if there’s a special offer in the area – like a special price for the lunch menu at a nearby café in Barcelona, during your stay there. One extra feature of Google Maps is its use of indoor maps, available for major building complexes. It also features 3D views, Street View and allows you to save frequent searches, when using the app signed in with your Google account. Also, if you’re signed in and have people in your G+ Circles, the map will point you to nearby places they’ve recommended.
    Free for iOS and Android

    CityMaps2Go

    Ever found yourself in a new city or foreign country, with no data roaming services, no access to a Wi-Fi connection, and no map incitymaps2go tow? What did you do? We’re going to assume you sprung for the first city map you came across, which is often not the best map available either. Wise up, then: join the over 10 million users who’ve rightfully opted for CityMaps2Go. While we recommend the Pro (paid) version, the free one is also extremely useful when traveling, since it brings you offline maps, travel content, tips from people who’ve explored the areas you’re interested in, and recommendations for popular and interesting sights to experience. In the free version you can only choose five destinations, while the Pro one offers limitless access to thousands of places around the world. The maps even show your current position, despite the fact that they require no Internet access. The app can be backed-up and synced across devices and it also tells you when there is a more up-to-date map available.  For many large cities, they also include a Wiki-Guides.
    Free for iOS and Android; full iOS version costs $2.99

    Utilities & Productivity

    Runtastic Pedometer PRO GPS+

    runtastic pedometer pro gps+The Runtastic Pedometer PRO GPS+ app is one of the most popular fitness apps around and with good reason, given how comprehensive it is. It records every single step you take, works in your bag, on your arm or anywhere else, counts calories, calculates your speed frequency and can be set to beep every other 1,000 steps. So, what does that have to do with traveling? Quite a lot, actually, if you consider the fact that people tend to walk more when they’re away on a trip, than they do at home. The cool thing is that you can also use it with your iPhone, for a morning jog even when away on a voyage. All in all, it’s a niftily designed handy little tool for keeping fit while away, which is likely to encourage you to explore new, exciting destinations on foot.
    $1.99 for iOS and Android

    Adobe Reader

    Hotel booking confirmations, online plane tickets, and a whole lot of other documents (including job documents, too) come in .pdf adobe readerformat these days. Now, if you own an iPhone or iPad, this can cause some problems – unless, of course, you get the Adobe Reader app installed. This free, lightweight app makes it possible to quickly open .pdfs from your mail address or from around the web, search documents, annotate them, zoom in or out, read in the dark in Night Mode, or read longer passages with Brightness Lock. The app allows you to save documents in this format with any app that supports the ‘Open In…’ function and also defines words for you, with the enabled iOS Dictionary feature. Basically, this app will work as your on-the-go office, since with it you can create, export, store, and open .pdf files. You can also make several in-app subscription purchases, like the Adobe ExportPDF, $2/month for converting PDF’s to Work or Excel files; or the Adobe PDF Pack, $9.99/month which goes the other way, converting Office or image files to PDF. As it stands, however, the free version is perfect for doing some light reading, as well as for keeping up with menial work tasks, such as report reading.  I use it for smartphone storage of documents I find on my computer, when printing the document I select Save as PDF, then take that document and add it to my phone PDF’s.  I can create an itinerary for the day, detail on points of interest, copies of hotel reservations, etc., etc.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Skype app

    When you’re abroad and missing your friends and family, who’re you going to call? With the Skype App, the answer to that question can be “anybody, anywhere”. That’s because the same Skype you use on your computer can be used on your phone with WiFi to make affordable calls long distance, no matter where they are. You don’t need to pay as much as a dime – all you need is a Wi-Fi connection (see below, if you don’t have a WiFi connection).  Your Skype account on your computer is the same as the one on your phone.  So Skype-to-Skype calls are free.  But you can also use it to call your grandmother on her landline from anywhere for very small costs (depending on where your grandmother lives, calls start around $.02/minute into the US going all the way up to $1.44/minute to East Timor, but most places are less than $.10/minute.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Skype WiFi

    Back at home, you know your favorite haunts and their Wi-Fi network passwords. But when you’re out on the road, getting Wi-Fiskype wifi access can turn into a complicated chore. That is, of course, if you don’t have Skype WiFi installed. This little app will literally save you money on data roaming, by locating and enabling you to connect to over 2 million WiFi hotspots online. You can connect at hotels, airports, bars, train stations and anywhere else. You connect in one tap and only pay per minute, for the time you spend connected – not for the amount of data you download or upload. All you need is a mobile device and a Skype username and password, as well as Skype Credit to pay for the online time. The app will also only allow you to spend 30 minutes per session online (and reconnect if you want to), so you don’t end up spending far too much time online, without even realizing it.
    Free for iOS and Android

    iOS Compass

    ios compassWhat’s so cool about the iOS Compass, you ask? Quite a lot – provided you’re running the latest version of the OS, the iOS 7. The app has been massively redesigned and now looks and feels quite awesome. The compass can still be customized to point to the true north or the magnetic north, as it did in the iOS 6. It now comes with geolocation integration, which means the compass reading always shows your current city and state, plus the full coordinates. You can effectively never get lost with this app, no matter what remote corners of the world you’re wandering across – provided, of course, you have GPS access. You can set a bearing to follow and you can play at will with the compass recalibration tool, which is actually quite fun. As an added bonus, iOS7 users also get access to a level tool that can tell you when you achieve perfect level – particularly useful after you have had too much to drink.
    Built-in for iOS

    iOS Clock

    Oh, come on – how can the built-in Clock app for the iOS be that good for traveling? Right? Wrong. In fact, we’re willing to bet ios clockthere are plenty of things you didn’t know you Clock app can do. For instance, adding a city to the World Clock section is achieved by simply tapping the + in the upper right corner of the screen. The number of supported cities is limited, but since all you need is the time zone, you can safely use a closer big city or the country you’re in. The Alarm section is also amazingly customizable: you can set one Alarm for certain days and another one for others, which makes it easy for you to set it. you don’t have to remember to do this every night. You can also disable the Snooze function and label your alarms individually. You can also set the Timer to lull you to sleep with your music of choice and switch between digital and analog times with one tap of the screen in World Clock.  And with a variety of sounds to use for each alarm, you can be gentle or use the Bell Tower to get you up at 4am to make that 7am flight.

    Built-in for iOS

    iOS Notes

    ios notesWe’re also willing to wager that you don’t know how handy the iOS’s in-built Notes app can be when traveling. Also, we’re pretty sure you don’t know that you can customize and tweak this otherwise very simple text editor. Of course, you can always choose to use a more complex app like Evernote, but, for most text editing purposes on the go, the iOS Notes will do more than fine, and free. Here’s how to tweak the app. In the Settings menu of your mobile Apple device you can choose between three fonts and you can also change the display size of the font face. But the absolute best way to use the iOS Notes when traveling is reserved for those who also own a Mac desktop or laptop. That’s because the iCloud allows you to sync notes across devices, making your on-the-go jottings and travelogue far more easily available than before. Bonus: if you own a Mac and can zoom into the app’s icon, you will notice there’s a bit of an in-joke on display there. The hand-written scribbling on the manila-like background is a tribute to the old and iconic Apple TV add (“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels(…)”.

    Built-in for iOS

    iOS Reminders

    If your time as a Mac device user spans back to before the iOS 5, you might not be fully aware of all the useful functions of the ios remindersReminders app. Sure, no one’s stopping you from using a more complex task management utility app from the App Store. However, if you travel a lot and want a simple, readily available tool to help you with lists and reminders on the go (that integrates with Siri), then the iOS Reminders is perfect. The app comes with simple functions like list-making for packing or shopping, as well as with lists for tasks, which you can check off when done. But by far the coolest feature is the scheduled, time and/or location based reminders. With their aid, your phone can effectively tell you to call a person in your phone’s Contacts list at any given time, or even at a certain place. You can even have Siri speaking at you with that information. And you can also sync reminders across devices with the iCloud, which is great for those of you travelers whose lives tend to get a bit hectic while out on the road.
    Built-in for iOS

    Photography & Video

    iPhoto for iOS

    iphoto for iosThere is an absolute plethora of photo editing, storing, organizing, and sharing apps out there on the App Store. However, the iPhoto is also a pretty serious contender for the title of Best Photo App to use when traveling. Not only is the interface gorgeously designed, but the entire user experience is straightforward and streamlined. It’s also integrated with sharing functions, either via email or social media, and the app’s editing capabilities are comparable to those of some of the best other similar apps out there. It’s a particularly good idea to use iPhotos for organizing your image collections when traveling, since this Apple-developed app takes full advantage of the iOS’s computing capabilities, making it faster than other similar apps. You can Favorite photos, search through your collections, or even print souvenirs from your journeys for family and friends.
    Free

    postagram

    Whatever happened to sending wonderful, memories-filled postcards to your loved ones back home from your travels? Well, postagramsmartphones and the Internet happened: nowadays, people would rather upload their visual keepsakes to their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts, rather than take the time and trouble to mail them via snail mail. However, if you’re a nostalgic, who believes there’s nothing quite like receiving a personal, printed postcard, or more to the point, you have a grandmother that won’t touch electronic devices, then postagram is the app and service for you. It will print and mail images from your iPhone, Android smartphone, Facebook or Dropbox accounts to anyone in the world. It costs $.99 to send one in the U.S. (and $1.99 outside the U.S.) and the first five ones are free. You can personalize them as much as you want – they will reach their destination in 2-5 business days locally and up to 2-3 weeks internationally. The developing company also offers a money back guarantee to clients whose postcards get lost or damaged in the mail.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Pano

    panoIf you’re the outdoorsy type, who also likes to take pictures, then you’ve definitely had to deal with that situation, in which you’re overcome by the natural beauty of a particular landscape and would like to take it all in and photograph it panoramically. However, almost in spite of all the improvements for panoramic picture taking that both Apple and Android have made, taking panoramic pictures still isn’t all that easy. Luckily, there’s Pano, an app that can help you capture beautiful panoramas through a very simple process. The interface is simple, easy to learn, and the finished results are nothing short of amazing. The final resolution of the image, as photographed with an iPhone, stands at a whopping 24 megapixels (14994 x 1632). You can even take 360-degree panoramas, with up to 16 photos lined up. The app also comes with alignment, blending and color correction algorithms that make your final photos absolutely seamless.  And now it is super simple to post your Pano to Facebook or Twitter, all from within the app.
    $1.97 for Android and $1.99 for iOS

    Ptch

    Photos? Forget all about photos – they’re just dull, still images. What if you could create a dynamic, interactive fun memento of ptchyour trip in video format? Wouldn’t that be something? What if you could customize it with text, animations, overlays, and music? That’s exactly what Ptch does and it also includes several styles for the final video. Ptch is available for iOS 5 and above devices and, while the developers had planned to bring an Android version to the market as well, they eventually abandoned that plan as they were acquired by Yahoo in late 2013. The short videos created with this app can either be made private or shared publicly on social media.
    Free for iOS

    Media & Entertainment

    Verizon FiOS Mobile

    Given the impressive number of great TV shows these days, it’s not that much of a stretch to think of someone going abroad and then missing their favorite shows there. Luckily, Verizon’s FiOS Mobile app allows you to watch any sort of broadcast content from anywhere around the globe. The app allows you to access both free and Subscription On Demand Content and its already impressive catalog of movies and TV shows is being constantly updated. What you need is an FiOS TV subscription and FiOS Internet service at home, in order to watch select live channels. You can also remotely manage DVR recordings, schedule new ones and check to see if previous recordings cleared.
    Free for iOS

    Kindle

    kindleGot a Kinde? Great. Don’t have one? That’s ok, you can still use the Kindle app off your Android or iOS mobile device. The app brings all the functions of the device to your iPhone, iPad, or other brand of smartphone or tablet (or laptop). The interface looks great, it’s easy to use, and the app also grants you access to the Kindle Store, complete with its catalog of 1,000,000 titles. You can also automatically sync the last page you read, your bookmarks, notes, and highlights across all the devices you use. In other words, you can alternatively use your smartphone and Kindle, if you’re so inclined. There are also plenty of perks to using the Kindle app, such as special offers, exclusive titles, free book samples, and the Kindle X-Ray feature, which tells you all you need to know about a particular book. Kindle also makes it easy to look up words in its reference sources, as well as to organize and categorize your books, documents, and magazines.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Audible

    If audio books are more your thing, then Audible is your top choice of app for listening to great works of fiction and/or non-fiction audiblewhile traveling. The app’s store includes well over 150,000 titles which you can download to your portable player, smartphone or tablet. Listen to them while waiting to board your flight or train, transfer books over Wi-Fi, navigate from chapter to chapter, bookmark the book, set your device to sleep mode, play with the narration speed, and multitask on your device while you listen. The app also has a gamification component, which allows you to track your audiobook progress and earn badges while you evolve. You can also share your Audible activities on social media and tune in for the Newsfeed from the app’s developers, with inside info on author events and new books.
    Free for iOS and Android

    Bonus: How are Social Media and Apps changing the way we travel? [Infographic]

    The infographic below dates back to 2012, when in-app purchases for travel (as well as for other purposes, too) were relatively rare. Only 3 per cent of all accommodation bookings were made through apps, for instance. However, the Internet was already a big factor in determining people to travel: 85 per cent of travelers considered it their main source of information for planning, while 25 per cent had decided to travel following an unexpected email. 16 per cent of travelers booked their trips from their smartphones, while a significantly bigger percentage (40 per cent) used social media for sharing. Unclear as future trends always are, one thing is for sure: mobile apps are not about to go off the radar any time soon, where traveling is concerned. That’s because they take the emotionally charged experience of traveling and render it all the more efficient and socially oriented.
    Infographic source: Hotels and Other Stuff

    Click to enlarge
    Click to enlarge

    In the Loop, On the Go: 8 Great Messaging & Language Translation Apps for Travelers

    Finding the best apps for international travel is all largely a matter of traveling preference. However, we believe absolutely anyone who’s out on the road, in a foreign country, could benefit from any one of the apps on our list. Not only are they free, but some of them are also available for several platforms (Android, Windows, Blackberry, etc.). So, next time you’re feeling lost in translation abroad, there are two things you can do: use one of these chat apps to reach out to someone back home, or use one of the language translation apps that follow, to strike up a conversation with some friendly locals.

    The Best Free International Messaging Apps

    ooVoo Video Chat oovoo video chat for travelers app

    Here’s a great little app for video calls and messaging, which Android users may already be familiar with. All video calls are free, both on mobile, as well as on PCs. You can create video conferences with up to 5 participants at the same time and mobile video and voice calls are free over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi. For the time being, the app, while free, is only compatible with a selected number of device types, such as the HTC Evo, the Samsung Epic, Samsung Galaxy S GT-i9000, as well as several other smartphones and tablets, but the developers are working on a new version, which would also be compatible with devices that have built-in front facing cameras.

    Viber

    As far as iPhone apps for international travel go, there was a time when WhatsApp seemed unbeatable. It lead the market viber app for travelniche for messaging apps for the iPhone – but, then, in came Viber and stole its thunder. What does this iPhone-dedicated app do? It lets you call other iPhone users, who have the app installed, absolutely for free. The cool part is that, more often than not, the quality of the sound and the connection are far better on Viber, then when using the phone’s regular voice call function. There are no in-app purchase obligations and use of the app is completely free, so long as you’re connected to a 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi network.

    IM+im video

    Though only available for the Android OS, this great app is one of the best ever travel apps for Android, since it centralizes all your instant messaging programs, apps, and profiles. You can use IM+ to talk on Skype, AIM, MSN, Yahoo! IM, Facebook, Google Talk, and so on. The app is fully free and requires no SMS service in order to send out your messages. You can also use it for group chats and there’s a recently released video version available as well.

    fring

    Ever wanted to make one-way video calls, with friends who don’t have a camera, or don’t necessarily want to share their images with you, for any number of reasons? Here’s fring, an app that’s available both for iPhones, as well as for Android devices, and fring app which comes for free. There’s a lot this little app does – so it’s no wonder that its developers have received numerous awards for it already. You can voice call for free, IM chat, use it with your iPod Touch, and aggregate most social network profiles with it (including Skype, Twitter, Yahoo!, and MSN). It works with push notifications, too, allows you to set statuses, and works via GPRS, 3G, Wi-Fi, and even Edge.

    The Top Free Language Translation Apps

    Google Translate

    Yes, we know: it’s no longer news for anyone that Google Translate is a great app. In fact, it’s absolutely the best smartphone app for language translation that you could opt for, since it does so much more than rendering written input into other languages. Google Translate can be used for speech, handwriting, and even image-based text. True, those latter functions could still use some tweaking from the good people at Google, but the truth remains that Google’s Translate app is the most comprehensive such app you can use while traveling. It has some 70 languages available and even comes with a dedicated Conversation mode, which you can use on the go. Bear in mind that this mode may not understand all accents and that the app is probably best used on Android phones and iPhones (but doesn’t work as well on the Blackberry, or on Windows phones). It still is a solid choice, and can even be used offline, if you download the language packs you need.

    iTranslateitranslate app

    There’s a bit of a controversy among iPhone users, as to whether iTranslate is a better language translation app than Google Translate. It certainly works better on iOS-powered phones than on the Android, thanks to its clean, sleek interface – but this doesn’t mean it’s not usable with great results by Android owners, too. This app also includes some 70 language packs and it’s entirely free, save for those interested in using the voice recognition feature, too. This function will cost you an extra $3. Otherwise, there’s plenty this little app can do: it comes with a dictionary, a text-to-speech function, as well as non-Romanic character Romanization.

    Navita Translator

    Are you one of those select few who are adamant about still using a Blackberry in 2014? Very well, then – if you do and you also travel a lot, you could probably benefit from downloading and installing the Navita Translator app. It’s completely free and has navita translator app for blackberrybeen repeatedly dubbed one of the best ever apps for the BB. It’s able to translate from and into 60 different languages and works both with typed-in text, as well as with voice recognition. It provides translations in writing, but can also utter the out loud. It somewhat lacks in terms of design and interface, but given its functionality, as well as the fact that it’s also compatible with older devices, it’s not half bad as far as language translation apps go.

    Bing Translatorbing translator app

    If you’re on Facebook a lot, there’s no way you haven’t noticed how Bing tends to be on the receiving end of numerous translation-related jokes. True, the translate function implemented on the social network has often produced hilarious results, but the app is rather decent, if you own a Windows phone and require quick access to translation services and dictionaries. The bad parts: it only includes 40 languages, far behind Google’s impressive 70. On the upside, though, aside from voice recognition and written text translation, the app can also be used together with your phone’s camera – say, for when you want to understand what a sign or menu means. It works in offline mode, too, and also provides spoken word translations.

    The North Face App

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu Northfacefeugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.

    Instagram

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu Instagramfeugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.

    Jetsetter

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea JetSettercommodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.

    PhotoSynth

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu PhotoSynthfeugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.

    FlightAware

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat FlightAwarefacer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum.

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