As a frequent traveler, I consider myself pretty well-versed in all things airlines, hotels and agencies. I know who, what, where, and when to call in just about any situation. If you need a good travel deal, you can be sure I’ll find one for you.
But like most things in life, things happen. And if they happen when you’re traveling on vacation, or even out of the country, it’s important to know what to do and where to go.
– Do you know your rights if you are arrested during a protest in Tangier?
– Do you know who to call if your passport or wallet is stolen while traveling through South America?
– What are you going to do if you missed the last bus on your tour group, and you’re stranded in a ghost town in Mexico?
– How will you get from Amsterdam to Brussels on a pre-paid train ticket for a train that left three hours ago?
– When nature calls, where is the nearest bathroom?
These are real questions from real travelers in real situations. Thankfully, we live in a digital age where technology is endless and evolving.
Just last month I upgraded and today I am the proud owner of an iPhone 3G. Before the iPhone, I had a basic cell phone that went with me around the world. It worked fine when I needed to make calls, but if I needed to find a restaurant, order something in Spanish, or find the closest subway stop in New York City, I was lost. Now, I have a computer at my fingertips, which makes traveling easier.
For those iPhone travelers, or those who are considering joining the tribe, I’ve listed out a few of my must-have travel apps that will make your travels a little simpler from anywhere in the world.
Weather Channel: Your iPhone comes with a pre-programmed weather channel, but I’ve found that it’s not always accurate and it can’t always detect your current position. The Weather Channel offers a free download through iTunes complete with a GPS locator so you can get current weather updates no matter where you are in the world. In addition, you can pre-program destinations with this app, which makes upcoming trips a little easier to prepare for.
Currency: You might as well know what you’re getting for the U.S. dollar before you make that big purchase abroad. The currency calculator is a free app that automatically calculates the currency exchange based on today’s exchange rate. You can also use one of XE Currency’s apps.
Translator: There’s nothing worse than being lost in a foreign country and not speaking the language. Learn a few simple phrases on your flight and if you’re stuck in a not-so-super situation, bust out an online translator for help. What I like most about this app is that there aren’t any frills or fuss to the translation. You likely don’t care about conjugating verbs or perfectly positioning your accent when you’re trying to get yourself out of a sticky situation. This app just translates and gives you the phonetics. Simple and easy. Google Translate is another good option.
Airport Status: Get information on ground delays and gate changes at U.S. airports with this free travel app. A quick log in to the system and you’ll know immediately what airports around the nation are delayed, why they are delayed, and how it affects your flight.
Hotels.com: This is a no-brainer app for any iPhone. Hotels.com’s iPhone app will offer you hotel options based on search preferences or your current location. If you’re stuck overnight thanks to a missed flight, or you’re driving and need to grab a hotel a few hours down the road, you can find the nearest hotel and book a room directly with this app.
AroundMe: There are a few free applications that offer you ‘things to do’ based on your location. I like this one the best for a few reasons. First, it’s not cluttered with advertisements, which makes uploading the app a lot quicker. Secondly, I find it easier to use and operate. AroundMe lets you find the nearest ATM or bank, gas station, hospitals or restaurants. You can filter your results by distance or alphabetically by business name. A Google map will appear to give you street-by-street directions to your destination.
Taxi!: This free app will put you in touch with taxi services around the United States, based on your location. Find the taxi you want to call based on your current location, or your upcoming destination, and the iPhone dials the number for you. You can also find out which taxis accept credit cards.
WalkJogRun: Finding a time to fit in fitness when you’re traveling isn’t always easy, but this app makes it a little less complicated. WalkJogRun features user-submitted paths around the U.S. You can search for 1 mile, 5k or 10k runs, or find half-marathon routes in some of the more popular cities. You’ll get a detailed street map with directions that show your completed route, and there’s the option for you to rate the route.
SitorSquat: When you gotta go, you gotta go, but when you’re in a new city and you don’t know where to go, well, bad things can happen. So, the toilet Gods listened and yes, there’s an app for that. A favorite among the travel crowd, especially the family travel crowd, SitorSquat will locate all the public restrooms based on your location. The best part? It’s a worldwide database, so if you want a public restroom in China, you can find one.
Your Rights: I actually hope you don’t ever have to use this app, but if you’re caught in the middle of complication involving local law enforcement it’s important to know your rights. This free app is updated daily and includes information on stop and search warrants, being questioned by an officer, ACLU information and personal rights information for non-US citizens. Your Rights is a valuable app to have in the background, just in case…
Readers: Are you an iPhone owner? What are your must-have iPhone travel apps? What types of travel apps would you like to see? Let me know and I’ll download a few new apps to try out on the next trip.
© Cheapflights Ltd Melanie Nayer
