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Home Video World U.S. Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East Business World S
EDITION: INTERNATIONAL U.S. MXICO ARABIC
TV: CNNi CNN en Espaol
50 ultimate travel apps ... so farIt's hard to keep up with all the travel apps being released -- which is why we've pulled out the best50 to date
By Rick Martin(/author/rick-martin) 4 September, 2012
9
There is of course one smartphone app no true traveler could ever do without. This one
(http://www.cnngo.com/mobile) .
But once you've downloaded that, why not browse these too?
We're going to skip over obvious ones like Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Gowalla, Foursquare,
Instagram, Google Earth/Maps, as worthy as they are, for ones you may have overlooked, but
shouldn't.
Also on CNNGo: 20 most iconic skyscrapers(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/20-most-iconic-skyscrapers-343149%20)
1. Kayak -- Flight search
More than a few trips begin with Kayak, one of the web's most popular travel services. Its mobile
apps are great as well, allowing you to search flight details with ease on a mobile device.
I especially like the "explore" function, which presents you with a map of the world and the prices
that it would cost to travel to various locations. For those who dream about traveling as much as
they actually travel, the Kayak app is for you.
I mean seriously, who knew about these little Mariana Islands?
Like Send 5 people like this. Sign Upto see what your friends like. 8
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The world in the palm of your hand.
The magazine, condensed.
A Lonely Planet book store on your phone.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kayak-flight-hotel-
search/id305204535?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?
id=com.kayak.android&feature=search_result)
Also on CNNGo: New 7 wonders of nature(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/10-finalists-7-new-wonders-
nature-158878%20)
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.kayak.android&feature=search_result)
2. Time Out -- Location guide
Time Out has an assortment of apps for big cities New
York, Paris, and London as well as for pacific hubs like
Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, and Melbourne.
While it would be better if more cities were available, the
ones that do have guides are well served with lots of
information about entertainment, nightlife, and the best
places to eat near you.
The apps I tried were location-aware (if you allow it) and
will then show you points of interest nearby.
Visit Time Out Digital on iTunes
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/time-out-digital-ltd/id345010379)
3. Lonely Planet Travel Guides
As you might expect, Lonely Planet has a lot of guides
and phrasebook apps available in Apple's App Store. And
just as you likely have more than one Lonely Planet book
on your bookshelf, it's very possible that you're going to
buy more than one Lonely Planet guide.
In order to manage your Lonely Planet purchases, you
can add a sort of Lonely Planet catch-all app, which lets
you access its entire catalog, including stored titles you've
bought already.
Download for iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lonely-planet-travel-guides/id317165182?mt=8)
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Less thinking means more time for doing.
World's best destinations, digitalized.
4. TripIt -- Travel planner
All those confirmation mails that you get from hotels and
airlines, you can simply forward along to
[email protected], which will then magically generate a
digital itinerary that you can refer to on your mobile
device.
You can add multiple trips to TripIt if you're a frequenttraveler, or just use it for a single vacation. TripIt was
awarded Best Travel Mobile App for 2011 at the Webby
Awards. It's not hard to see why.
Download: iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tripit-travel-
organizer/id311035142?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tripit&feature=search_result)
5. Evernote -- Organizer
This popular digital note-taking app makes for a very helpful travel companion as well. I've notused it on trips myself, but Brett Terpstra recently pointed out that the app can really shine when
you're on the road.
Take pictures of receipts and other important paperwork, and let Evernote's OCR help with the
cataloguing. While I'm not a big fan of the Evernote desktop app (Brett's Notational Velocity
(http://notational.net/) wins out there), I think Evernote definitely wins when note-taking on the go.
Also on CNNGo: Classes to take around the world (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/play/10-inspiring-courses-take-around-world-302104%20)
6. UNESCO World Heritage -- Locationguide
For travelers who would like a bucket list of amazing
places to visit in their lifetime, the World Heritage app will
do the trick.
It costs US$4.99, but that's a pretty good deal for a
complete list of over 900 sites with 650 photographs as
well. You can browse sites according to country or by
classification, and favorite the ones you'd like to revisit
later.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unesco-world-heritage/id412183802?mt=8)
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No math? No problem.
Not as good as a human, but cheaper.
7. XE currency exchange
If you plan to hit multiple countries during your travels, it's
always useful to have a currency conversion app handy.
XE.com is one of the best known and most reliable
currency-related sites on the net, and as you might
expect, its app is no exception.
Just set your default currency and you can keep tabs on anumber of others. Perhaps the best thing about it is that it
remembers the most recently updated rate, so you can
still convert with reasonable accuracy even when you
don't have a connection.
Download: iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/xe-
currency/id315241195?mt=8) | Android Marketplace
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.xe.android)
8. Google Translate
Few companies bust language barriers better than
Google, and the Google Translate app does this
exceptionally well. Like the Google Translate
(http://translate.google.com/) web service, you can translate
pieces of text with ease.
Of course the accuracy is not always perfect, but it's
about as good as it gets. But where the app excels is in
voice recognition. It allows you to speak in English (or
another language) and it will translate what you said into
the language of your choice.
If you've ever had difficulty making yourself understood to
a speaker of a foreign language, then this free app will
certainly help. Check out a video demo here(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0f7TVV7TOM) .
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8) | Android Market Place
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&hl=en)
9. Trip Journal -- Trip documenter
Currently on sale for US$0.99, Trip Journal(http://www.trip-journal.com/) is an award-winning travel appthat lets you digitally document your trip on your iOS, Android, Bada or Symbian device.
With Google Maps/Earth integration, you get to map places that you've visited, geo-tag your
photos and videos, or write blog entries too. Once you're finished you can export trips to
Facebook where your friends can follow along on your path.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trip-journal/id341585937?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.iqapps.mobile.tripjournalfull&hl=en)
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Home from phone.
10. Airbnb -- Accommodation
Airbnb is an essential app for the tech-savvy backpacker,
listing affordable accommodation around the globe --
ranging "from a private apartment to a private island."
In addition to searching for places to stay, you can also
offer your own room for rent, if you'd like to make a little
extra money. So far there are 150,000 places listed in190 countries. In-app messaging to guests/hosts make
communication frictionless, keeping all activity on your
mobile.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/airbnb/id401626263?
mt=8) | Android Market(https://market.android.com/details?
id=com.airbnb.android&feature=search_result#?
t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5haXJibmIuYW5kcm9pZCJd)
Also on CNNGo: 10 of the world's ultimate sights (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/10-cool-
sights-world-111739%20)
11. Dropbox -- File sharing/storage
In the past, if you needed important documents while traveling that often meant scanning and
emailing them to yourself. But now there's Dropbox.
Perhaps the best consumer cloud storage service out there, Dropbox gives you two gigabytes of
free storage with paid options if you need more.
Having Dropbox on your laptop or phone is also a great way to protect yourself against theft,
because even if your device is stolen, you still have your key information.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.dropbox.android&hl=en)
Also on CNNGo: Thrill seeker's bucket list -- 50 crazy things(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/play/50-thrilling-experiences-116798%20)
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.dropbox.android&hl=en)
12. Dropphox -- Photo sharing/storage
Dropphox is an application that sends your iPhone photos to the above-mentioned Dropbox,giving you a cloud backup only seconds after you snap off the picture.
If you share a Dropbox folder with friends or family, then they'll be notified of any photos you take
in real time. The new version 1.1 supports geo-tagging of photos, although you'll need an Internet
connection for this function to work.
Foreign correspondents would do well to install this one. It costs US$1.99.
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The death of the SD card?
A tour guide that won't beg you for a tip after.
Cheaper way to access Wi-Fi spots.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropphox-snap-send-to-dropbox/id411118930?mt=8)
13. Wikitude -- Location guide
This is a very handy application that draws a plethora of
useful info about your surroundings from Wikitravel (a
Wiki for travelers).
The display uses Augmented Reality to display
annotations of nearby points of interest over the top of the
regular camera display. Wikitude certainly looks useful,
though it did throw an occasional 'cam view memory
warning' for me.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wikitude/id329731243?mt=8) | Android
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.wikitude)
14. Skype Wi-Fi-- Communication
An obvious addition to any travel app list would be Skype
(http://www.skype.com/) . But a less obvious addition to your
app repertoire is Skype's recently released Skype Wi-Fi
application.
If you've ever been in an airport browsing all the paid Wi-
Fi hotspots, but not willing to pay for any, then this app
might be of use. Skype Wi-Fi lets you pay using Skype
Access(http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/features/allfeatures/skype-
wifi/) , and on a per-minute basis too, so you only pay for
as much time as you need, rather than a full hour or a
day.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skype-wifi/id444529922?mt=8)
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Takes the hard work out of sightseeing.
15. AccuWeather -- Weather report
There are more than a few weather applications available to mobile users. And while I haven't
tried them all, I think you can't go wrong with AccuWeather.
The ability to add multiple locations along your trip (place of departure and destination) certainly
helps, as does the feature that lets you browse tomorrow's forecast by the hour.
If you're making plans that could be tripped up by weather, this is a wonderful app to have.
Golfers take note.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/accuweather-com/id300048137?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.accuweather.android&hl=en)
Also on CNNGo: 15 city hotel rooms with awesome views(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/best-city-hotels-view-290637%20)
16. mTrip -- Location guide/planner
mTrip travel guides are available for most of the world's
major cities including many in Asia, such as Tokyo,
Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. There
are offline maps for when you don't have an Internet
connection, as well as a fancy AR feature that lets you
browse points of interest nearby.
There's a function that lets you send virtual postcards to
friends and family, either via email or on Facebook. The
trip auto-generated itineraries are slick, mapping out the
places you plan to go in a given day according to the
types of places you enjoy (i.e. museums, parks, etc).
Check out a video demo here(http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=h_-PdN1VXTY&) .
Download: iOS(http://www.mtrip.com/iphone/) | Android Market
(http://www.mtrip.com/android/)
17. Highlights for iPad -- Hot spot finder
As someone who isn't a huge fan of Foursquare or Gowalla, I was pretty tickled to stumble upon
highlights. This clever app takes all the most popular places that people check into on thoseplatforms, and makes them browsable via a convenient map.
So if you find yourself in a strange location and you want to find the most popular places in the
area, just fire up Highlights to see where people check in the most. You can scan reviews and
photos, and add locations to your personal planner. The app isn't free, but at US$0.99 it's pretty
close.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/highlights/id428756645?mt=8)
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50 million reviews, at least some of whichare real.
Your third eye when traveling.
Essentially shows you lots of places youaren't at.
18. TripAdvisor -- Travel reviews
TripAdvisor is another wildly popular travel application
that features a number of practical uses from finding
flights to hunting hotels.
Perhaps the biggest plus is the ability to browse so many
reviews from places of interest. Like many of the travel
applications we've featured on this list, TripAdvisor alsocomes with an augmented reality function called "Live
View."
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tripadvisor-hotels-
flights/id284876795?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tripadvisor.tripadvisor&feature=search_result)
19. Google Goggles -- Imagesearch/translate
This innovative app has received much attention since it
first hit the Android Market. It lets you search on Google
by just taking a picture. So, if you're visiting a landmark,
you can take a picture which Google will then analyze
and provide results for.
More practical however is the OCR function, which will let
you take pictures of foreign text, which you can then run
through Google Translate. Google has a demo video here
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhgfz0zPmH4) if you'd like to
learn more.
Download: Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.unveil)
20. Orient -- Location finder
This is a very simple app, but it's one of my favorites.
Orient gives you a sort of compass view of a list of
locations, showing you where certain locations are in
relation to you. When you fire up the app, it shows major
world cities.
But to get the full benefit, try adding all the places you
plan to visit during your next day trip. If you're doing a
walking tour of a city, Orient show you the direction and
distance of all your destinations.
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Ninety-nine yards to a bar -- that'll work up athirst.
Also comes with a buy 10 room nights getone free perk.
Orient Lite is a free application, but there is a US$0.99 version
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/orient/id362987455?mt=8) with slick AR functionality.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/orient/id362987455)
Also on CNNGo: World's 15 most spectacular swimming pools(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/worlds-15-most-spectacular-swimming-pools-242465%20)
21. AroundMe -- Location finderThis aptly named app tells you all the points of interest
that are located near you. It detects your current location,
and lets you select from categories like bars, cafs,
hospitals, and hotels to filter though the results.
You can review the places on a map, or try the AR
feature with markers overlaid on your phone' camera
viewfinder. It's undoubtedly a quality app, but its mileage
may vary as some locations do not have as many results
as others (I tried Tokyo, and the results were not sohelpful).
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aroundme/id290051590) | Android
Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tweakersoft.aroundme&hl=en)
Also on CNNGo: The travel mates you meet in hell(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/10-hostel-mates-you-meet-hell-425328%20)
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tweakersoft.aroundme&hl=en)
22. Hotels.com -- AccommodationYou've probably already figured out what this app does.
The Hotels.com app lets you search and book hotels all
from your mobile phone. The location-aware function
makes it possible to find the closest hotel where you are
currently.
Users can also access their reservation information even
without an Internet connection. Even if you aren't a
member of Hotels.com, the app is still extremely useful if
you're in a new city looking for a place to stay.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-hotels-hotel-
booking/id284971959?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.hcom.android&feature=search_result)
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Communicating without talking.
A fun way to find flights.
23. Converse -- Translate
This iPad application is a very innovative one, but it isn't
without flaws. Much like the Google Translate app,
Converse aims to solve travelers' language woes with a
real-time mobile solution.
With keyboards on opposite sides of your iPad, two
people can face each other and communicate by typingon the iPad. So far, messages can be translated into
English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian,
and Dutch.
But the biggest issue is that it requires an internet
connection to work, so travelers on the road might be left
to their pocket phrasebooks more often than not. However for someone like a hotel concierge with
constant access to a connection, it could be a very snazzy work tool.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/app/converse/id454500959?ls=1&mt=8)
24. Hipmunk Flight Search
Here's another flight search app that wins points for style.
Flight options on Hipmunk are presented not in a list but
rather on a sort of visual timeline sorted by various
criteria.
Perhaps the most interesting sort filter is "Agony," which
shows you the least painful of your options. You can sort
by conventional filters like price, duration, and departuretime.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hipmunk-flight-search/id419950680)
25. Skyscanner -- Flight search
If you need to check flight availability and prices on the go, Skyscanner is a must for your iOS or
Android device. It's a free application that covers over 670,00 flights on more than 600 airlines.
The scroll date selection is pretty convenient, and I got a kick out of the airplane loading bar that
appeared while I was waiting for search results. For anyone who flies regularly, this is a great
app.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/skyscanner-all-flights-everywhere!/id415458524?mt=8) | Android
Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=net.skyscanner.android.main)
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Proving that somewhere there is an app foreverything.
Combining some of the single apps alreadyout there.
Bigger, bolder and better than your regularmobile app.
28. uPackingList -- Travel organizer
It's debatable whether or not you really need an app to
help you put your stuff in a suitcase. But for those who
do, uPacking List provides an assortment of common
items that you can choose from and add to your list.
In the interests of testing the app, I made up a
hypothetical list as a demonstration (pictured). The app isad-supported, but there's a paid option
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/upackinglist/id323241118?mt=8) if you
don't like the advertising.
Download: iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/upackinglist-
free/id323363997?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nixsolutions.upack&hl=en)
29. Living Earth HD -- Travel organizer
This application rolls a lot of functions into one, rangingfrom weather, to a world clock, to an alarm for when you
need a wake-up call.
Throw in a beautiful interface and you have a great
addition to your travel app arsenal. Living Earth HD isn't
free, but it's currently discounted 50 percent, to US$0.99.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/living-earth-hd-world-clock/id379869627?mt=8)
30. Knapsack -- Travel organizer
While this list is practically all mobile apps, I'm going to
include one exception to the rule. Because after all, more
than a few of us bring along a laptop when we travel, so it
stands to reason that a Mac travel app could be a useful
addition.
Knapsack for Mac is a useful multi-purpose travel app
that includes map integration, itinerary and iCal functions,
as well as to-do lists. It costs US$29, but give the free
demo a try first to see if it's a good fit for you.
Download: Mac OS X(http://outerlevel.com/knapsack/)
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One expense you won't need to record -- thisapp's. It's free.
Also on CNNGo: Best travel products for 2012 (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/shop/10-holiday-gifts-every-traveler-802497?page=0,0%20)
31. World Atlas HD -- Maps
For travelers with stops in multiple countries, this app by the National Geographic Society is a
good reference. The design of the maps included with this app are a refreshing change from
normal digital maps.
But if you have an Internet connection, you can still zoom in to view small details on Microsoft
Bing maps. You can also browse interesting data and statistics regarding the countries you plan
to visit.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/world-atlas-hd/id364733950?mt=8)
Also on CNNGo: How photography has ruined travel(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/tell-me-about-it/james-durston-photography-has-ruined-travel-361992%20)
32. Expensify -- Finance organizer
This popular app is a great companion for business
travelers. Use Expensify to keep track of your purchases
and transactions by syncing with your credit cards and
bank accounts.
The app also acts as a receipt scanner, taking advantage
of your mobile phone's camera. After your trip, you're sent
a PDF report of all your spending which you can submit to
your company for reimbursement.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/expensify/id306670109?mt=8) |
Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=org.me.mobiexpensifyg&hl=en)
33. GateGuru -- Airport guide
If you're a person who spends a lot of time in airports, GateGuru will be a godsend. This app
contains a detailed list of places within 120 airports worldwide, including different terminals, cafs,
restaurants and gift shops.
There are lots of reviews available for some airports, although when I browsed Narita it was
sorely lacking. Nonetheless, having access to so many airport maps on the go is very helpful,
especially if you find yourself running late and unsure of where you need to go.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gateguru-featuring-airport/id326862399?mt=8) | Android Market
(http://bit.ly/ggandroid)
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Now you can plan your angry outbursts inadvance.
Kind of like a mobile memory.
34. FlightTrack Pro -- Flight information
This award-winning app is one of the most expensive on
our list at US$9.99, but it's also one of the most practical.
FlightTrack Pro integrates with TripIt, importing your flight
itinerary so you can track its status in real time.
Flight maps show your progress as well as the current
weather. Knowing the status of your flight allows you toshare it with people who may be waiting on the ground,
via email, Facebook, or Twitter.
One app review claimed that on occasion the app
provides even better information than the airline!
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id302325893?mt=8)
| Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mobiata.flighttrack.pro)
35. Tripline -- Travel documenterAlthough still in beta, Tripline is a really fun app to play
with while traveling. You can create a mapped timeline of
your travels by checking into a location, taking a photo or
video, or jotting down a few notes about your stop.
When you return home, you can replay the entire trip in
an interactive presentation, reviewing your notes and
collected media that documented your time on the road.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/app/tripline/id417133912?
mt=8) or access via tripline.net/mobile
(http://www.tripline.net/mobile/)
Also on CNNGo: Best fixers for super-rich travelers(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/best-fixers-super-rich-traveler-860673%20)
(http://www.tripline.net/mobile/)
36. My TSA -- U.S. travel information
For travelers passing through the United States, it certainly helps to be familiar with the rules and
regulations of the TSA. The My TSA app tells you exactly that, with a practical travelers guidetelling you what sorts of things you can and cannot take with you when you fly.
The app also provides flight delay information for airports nationwide, as well as tips for how to
prepare for security checkpoints.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-tsa/id380200364?mt=8)
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A radar always looks good, whatever it'ssearching for.
The redeye should now be called thebrighteye.
Never get lost again. Shame.
37. Wi-Fi Finder
Many of the apps on this list are dependent on an Internet
connection. This application helps ensure that you have
one by helping you find one of over 500,000 locations
listed worldwide.
You can filter according to whether a hot spot is free or
paid, although in some countries, the results are less thanideal. I explored some of the regions for Asia, and many
places didn't show a lot of results.
The app is free though, so there's no harm in trying it out.
Download: iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wi-fi-
finder/id300708497?mt=8) | Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jiwire.android.finder&feature=search_result)
38. JetLag Genie -- Health
If your trip is going to include a long flight, you might want
to invest a couple of bucks into JetLag Genie.
Once you specify all your flight information and sleep
patterns, the application tells you what course of action
you should take -- before, during and after your flight -- to
minimize jet lag.
For international travelers, this is a great app.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jetlag-genie/id426988420?mt=8&ls=1)
39. tripwolf -- Location guide
The tripwolf app provides access to travel guides for most
of the world's major cities. And while the main app is free,
if you want an in-depth city guide, you can purchase it in-
app for about US$5.
There's an augmented reality viewer, and those are
always fun for looking at points of interest nearby. But
perhaps the most useful feature is having maps available
when offline.
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Best way to get itchy feet.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/tripwolf-your-worldwide-travel-guide/id318062323?mt=8) | Android
Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tripwolf)
40. Fotopedia Heritage -- Image-basedlocation guide
Another great way to browse UNESCO World Heritage
sites is by using the award-winning Fotopedia Heritageapp. You can browse all world heritage sites on a single
map, and click through to view information about them as
well as stunning photography.
It's available for both iPhone and iPad, although if you
want to experience the full benefit of the application, try it
on the iPad.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id383327395&mt=8)
Also on CNNGo: 7 sci-fi innovations that will changetravel (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/7-futuristic-innovations-will-change-travel-893079%20)
41. aMetro -- Transport information
Most of the major world cities will have applications for navigating city trains or subways. For
bigger cities like Tokyo, there are more robust options available(http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/play/3-
applications-navigating-iphone-japan-965697) .
But if you'd like a single app that gives you access to transit systems all over the world (in 180
cities to be exact) then aMetro(http://www.ametro.org/) is the way to go. There's a video demo of the
app in action available on YouTube(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZAxArpLFdw) if you'd like apreview.
Download: Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=org.ametro&feature=search_result)
Also on CNNGo: Met on a plane? Website reconnects mid-air tristes(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/website-reconnects-fliers-who-forgot-swap-numbers-658337%20)
42. Convert Clothes -- Clothing size converter
While shopping abroad, travelers often run into the dilemma of figuring out foreign sizes.
Thankfully the Convert Clothes app for iPhone has you covered.
Whether you're shopping for shoes, pants, a shirt, or even a bra, the app converts sizes for a
number of different countries (Britain, Japan, Korea, France, for to name a few). It's a simple app
that performs a simple task, and best of all it's free.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/convert-clothes/id395653120?mt=8)
:?subject=50 ultimate travel apps ...
://travel.cnn.com/explorations/shop/50
l-apps-so-far-353352)
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For YouTubers on the go.
No more angry waiters/hairdressers/cab
drivers.
Even nature lovers need to get on the gridoccasionally.
43. iMovie -- Video
I nearly overlooked this one, but if you decide to shoot
any video on your trip using an Apple mobile device, then
you're probably going to want to drop US$5 on iMovie.
Choose a theme and edit your video and add music or
sound effects, and share with your friends online when
you're finished (publish to YouTube, Facebook, orVimeo). Once you get the hang of video editing on a
mobile device, you'll have one less reason to bring along
your laptop.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imovie/id377298193?mt=8)
44. Tipping Bird -- Tipping information
Tipping is a practice that can vary from one country to the
next. Indeed in many cultures, they might not even tip at
all.
The Tipping Bird app lets you select a country, and then it
tells you a recommended tip for typical situations, such as
in restaurants or taxis. You can also convert the currency
to your own, just so you have a relative idea of how big a
hole you're burning in your pocket.
Download: Android Market
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jeremydw.tippingbird)
45. EveryTrail -- Location guide
For those who especially enjoy the great outdoors,
EveryTrail is an important app to bring along. In addition
to letting you map your route via GPS, EveryTrail also
contains the shared trails of other users.
So if you find yourself in a strange land in need of arecommended route, try firing up EveryTrail to see if there
are any shared guides for your area.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/everytrail/id342467041?mt=8)
| Android Market(https://market.android.com/details?
id=com.globalmotion.everytrail.pro)
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Great pictures just a download away.
Yep, even down to the cents. Don't say we'renot for equality.
Also on CNNGo: 10 mountains for every level of climber(http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/play/10-mountains-every-kind-climber-142453%20)
(https://market.android.com/details?id=com.globalmotion.everytrail.pro)
46. Postagram -- Communication
While sharing postcards online is great for most people, it's possible that you might have a few
loved ones who have yet to join the digital world.
Postagram solves this problem by letting you create a postcard with photos on your iPhone, and
then ships it as a physical postcard to whoever you choose. There is a charge of course, but there
always is when sending mail, right?
Download: iOS (http://postagramapp.com/download/iphone) | Android Market
(http://postagramapp.com/download/android)
47. Photosynth -- Photography
If you happen to find yourself standing in awe at some
spectacular view or landscape, you'll need some way tocapture the scene to share with friends later.
Thankfully there are a number of panorama applications
out there. Pano (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id293709029?
mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4) and 360 Panorama
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/360-panorama/id377342622?mt=8&ign-
mpt=uo%3D4) are both available for US$1.99 each, but if
you'd like a free one, try out Microsoft's Photosynth.
In addition to panning horizontally, you can also pan
vertically -- even creating a full sphere panorama if youlike.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photosynth/id430065256?mt=8)
48. Trip Splitter -- Finance organizer
This app is a handy way to divy up travel costs if you're
on a trip with friends. Most of the time, whoever has the
cash readily available will pay, but quite often it can be
tricky to remember who paid for what at the end of your
travels.
Trip Splitter (for iPhone or iPad) helps you do this,
although the less-than-intuitive interface does take some
getting used to. There's a free version that supports
inputs for two travelers, but if you have more people
whose payments you want to track, you'll want the paid
version (US$1.99).
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Can't put a price on health? Actually youcan. US$0.99.
(/author/rick-martin)
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trip-splitter/id374395458?mt=8)
49. mPassport -- Health
mPassport(http://www.mpassport.com) apps give you medical
resources for a number of cities around the world,
including many in which assistance in English might be
otherwise hard to find.
The service claims to be a "mobile, medical, concierge"
with English-speaking doctors and dentists available in
many cities around the world. Apps for each city cost
US$0.99.
Download: iOS
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mpassport-tokyo/id385113776?mt=8)
50. Due -- Travel organizer
Time is always a factor when you travel, so in order to make the most of yours, you might want to
make use of a reminder or timer application.
Due(http://www.dueapp.com/) is both of those in one, and you can use it to remind you of important
tasks on your trip, or you can have it alert you when to move on to the next item on your itinerary.
For users who want something a little better than Apple's regular calendar app, Due is a great
addition, though it does cost US$4.99.
Download: iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/due/id390017969?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4)
Also on CNNGo: World's 50 best beaches (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/worlds-50-best-beaches-364981%20)
First published January 2012, updated September 2012
Rick Martin lives in Tokyo where he writes about technology in Japan,
China, and around Asia. He contributes to TechInAsia.com, The Japan
Times and a few other publications. He can be reached via his website,
1Rick.com(http://www.1Rick.com/) .
Read more about Rick Martin(/author/rick-martin)
Tags:
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DISQUS seems to be taking longer than usual. Reload(#) ?
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