Travelling has become much simpler ever since the introduction
of smart phones and the apps that they run. But finding apps that suit your
travel needs can become a huge pain because frankly, there a lot of them out
there. Some are pure junk while others are gems. Below are 5 apps that I
believe to be of value to any traveler. The beauty of these apps is that they are
cross platform to iPhone, Android and Blackberry (some side loading required).
Duolingo
– Free language education for the
world
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
Duolingo is an app that you would use weeks prior to going
on a trip. It is a language learning app that teaches the user in a fun “levelling
up” fashion. You can’t move forward until you pass your current level and
obtain certain milestones. What makes this app so engaging is that it applies
many techniques to learn from. You will write words, select words, listen to
words and speak words in each lesson. It is not an overnight magic teacher
though, it will take effort and time on the end users part to actually learn a
language. But it will be fun and engaging as you progress and ultimately learn
a new language.
Languages offered:
Spanish
French
Italian
German
Portuguese
Cost: $5.99
MapsWithMe
is in my opinion a great navigation app for a traveler. I know what you are
thinking as you read this, “why not Google maps?” Well truth be told I chose
this map app because it is completely offline. Being offline means that you do not need a data connection
through either your carrier or Wi-Fi to use this app. You simply download the
map(s) of your country of choice and then it just works. It will also use your
devices GPS to locate where you are. Why I like this one compared to free
versions of similar apps is that it has that clean Google Maps look to it and
plots restaurants, diners, gas stations, metro stations etc.
There are
some downsides to the app though, for example there is no directions feature.
It would be nice to plot point A and then B and get directions to it. Hopefully
that will be an update in the near future. In the meantime though not having to
hunt down Wi-Fi hotspots or use any data whatsoever is a huge money saver when traveling.
And you can have it all for a small initial price of $5.99.
Cost:
Free
TripAdvisor is my go to website for conducting any research
on a hotel that I may be booking. Lately it has also turned into my tool for
scoping out restaurants. The app repeats what the website offers but presents
you with all that information to your current location. Using your phones GPS
the app gives you information on nearby hotels and restaurants. This makes
decisions a lot easier on where to eat or sleep for the night when you are on
the go. The app isn’t just limited to your current location though. You can
search globally the same way you would on the actual website before you book a
trip. You can also access the forums and post your own reviews. Overall it is a
great information source with real reviews from real people.
Cost: Free
Managing how much you spend when traveling is just as
important as managing the cost of when you booked your trip. XE Currency
Converter is the perfect tool for doing just that. With its simplistic layout
you choose your currency origin by either name or flag, then you select the
currencies you wish to see the values be converted to. Afterwards you input a
value for your home currency and the app displays the converted rates based on
the currencies you chose to view. Simple and effective to make sure you don’t
overpay for items while adventuring around the globe.
Cost: Free
I may be slightly biased with this app, but since 2008
Blackberry Messenger (BBM) has been a money saver for me when I travel over and
over again. Now that the app is cross platform, Android and iOS users can benefit
as well.
Communicating instantly to your loved ones or friends while
you travel can be expensive, especially if you text message or make a phone
call. Roaming rates around the globe are astronomical, especially data! This is
where BBM saves you money by being able to be used with just a Wi-Fi connection.
You can send and receive messages that show if they have been delivered and
read. As well you can initiate a BBM voice chat (similar to a phone call) or
you can have a BBM video chat which is a similar experience to Skype or Face
Time (currently limited to Blackberry devices only) but you have the option to
share screens and see what is happening on the other end. Perfect if you are a
business traveler and need to see a document on the go. If using a Wi-Fi
connection all of this can be done for FREE.
There we go, 5 travel apps that you will actually use. I
hope that you all find value in these apps like I have and benefit from their
features. Do you think I missed an important app that travelers must have? Feel
free to let me know in the comment section below.
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