Smart phones are becoming fine tuned to help travelers travel smarter. The iPhone app store is full of countless apps, both for free and for a price, that will contribute to every aspect of your travels– before, during, and after.
Kayak is a helpful online tool for trip planning, with an equally useful iPhone app. A free application, the Kayak app can help you plan a trip from hotel reservations, flights, car rentals, and airport information–all from the convenience of your phone. The app also organizes the details of your travels with a packing list, reservations you’ve made, and a currency converter. Having trouble making a reservation or need to change your flight? The Kayak app also provides an airline directory so you have the contact information for different airlines conveniently at your disposal.
To make the most of the apps that are offered, you’ll need to be connected to the internet. The free Wi-Fi Finder app uses the built-in GPS network in order to find free wi-fi connections for you to use. With new locations and connections being added daily, getting connected to the internet should not be difficult with this app. The app provides you with a map, list of wi-fi locations, and gives you the option of filtering the types of places you want to visit for internet use. If you don’t mind paying for an internet connection, the paid version of this app searches for paid wi-fi connections in addition to free ones.
Once you find a wireless internet connection, you can stay connected to loved ones while on the road with the Skype app for iPhone and iPod touch. While the newest iPhones allow video calls with Skype, even the most basic chat and voice conversations are made easier with Skype. The app is free, calling other Skype users is free, and calling land lines is fairly cheap with Skype credit. The app for iPhone and iPod touch works the same as the program on your computer, and you can use the same user ID and password for both.
iTranslate is a free app that offers accurate translations of simple words and phrases you may need while in a foreign country. Translating to over 50 languages, keep in mind that this app requires an internet connection to translate. The app now offers voice recognition as well as the option to hear the word or phrase you have translated in the foreign language.
The Airbnb app is an interesting and new way of finding accommodations that may be off the beaten path and more affordable. The app provides a platform for people to post spaces they have up for rent, and allows those interested in renting to get in direct contact with vendors from their phone or iPod touch with an internet connection. With push notifications you can be in instant contact with the owner of the place you are interested in, and making last minute reservations is also possible. Airbnb also provides directions to your rental space.
Finally, another good alternative to finding accommodations is the Expedia app which can help you find anything from rooms in Mexico to room reservations Berlin.
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