Since I am doing a lot of traveling lately I have searched for iPhone apps to help make my travels easier. Here are a few that I have found.
First up, I usually travel to a large city so there is a lot of walking. I love the Maps app that is pre-loaded in the iPhones. I add my destination and find directions from my current location. Then I get walking, driving or public transportation directions. I love it.
I also love the yelp app. This app makes it a snap to find restaraunts and other locations. You can be as specific as looking in an area of a city. When we visited Chicago, we were hungry at 2am. We easily found a restraint close by and knew what to expect when visiting. The Yelp app also gives you the hours of the restaurant so you don’t get to a location and then find out it is closed.
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yelp/id284910350?mt=8&uo=4" title="Yelp iPhone App"]
Another app to help me find restaurants is Urban Spoon. I know this app comes for the Blackberry too, but it does not have all the features of the iPhone app. You select your area, price, and type of meal. Then you give your phone a little shake. The spinner will find you a random restaurant. You can read reviews and get directions on the map.
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/urbanspoon/id284708449?mt=8&uo=4" title="Urbanspoon iPhone App"]
If you want to know your flight status Flight Update Live Status is what you need. Keep track of all the flights, if they are on time and what gate you need to go to. This is a very handy app when you have trouble reading the flight screens at the airports like I do.
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flight-update-live-status/id295446978?mt=8&uo=4" title="Flight Updates iPhone App"]
Expense Tracker helps you do just that, keep track of your expenses. You can keep track of everything you spend on your trip. Meals, travel, and gas. You can even get a desktop app and transfer all the information including pictures of your receipts right to your desktop. This is a must have for all expensed trips.
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/expense-tracker/id357274200?mt=8&uo=4" title="Expense Tracker iPhone App" text="Expense Tracker Pro"]
I get lost at airports. This nifty app called Airport Maps gives you a map of the airport, where the restaurants and all the shops are at. Almost every major airport in the US is included and even some of the airports in Canada. More airports are added with each update.
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/airport-maps/id321013850?mt=8&uo=4" title="Airport Maps iPhone App"]
I go nowhere without checking my Weather Channel app. I love that I can see regional videos of whatever place I select. I can also see the current weather and forecasts for hourly, 36 hour, and 10 days. You can check the radar for instant information and also keep up with alerts for severe weather. You never want to be caught in the rain when you are away from home.
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-weather-channel/id295646461?mt=8&uo=4" title="The Weather Channel iPhone app"]
I haven’t used this one yet, but Whizzer helps you find restrooms. Who doesn’t ever need to find a restroom while you are in the middle of traveling?
[itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whizzer/id333208063?mt=8&uo=4" title="Whizzer iPhone App"]
About Jessica Benton
These apps are helful! Also, listing down what to buy, what to bring and attending to the activities during the trip are sometimes forgotten so I’m using Intution (www.iconapps.com) to help me with the reminders and alerts and the listing.
I’d add TripIt to the top of the list. Great for tracking and sharing itineraries which I love, with family and friends. Free App and can be upgraded to TripItPro for gate change notification and instant notification when you are due a refund cause your flight cost was lowered.