With the recent release of The 2009 Luckie Fifty, my agency's compilation of the best travel sites on the Web, I wanted to dedicate a little time to an area we don't (yet) include in the roster: iPhone apps.
The iPhone has become an invaluable tool for travelers, especially thanks to the ingenuity of application developers. Here are just a few of the many travel apps that can help make travel just a bit less taxing:
FlightTrack Pro
What it does: Serves as a "personal air travel assistant," tracking your itineraries and keeping you updated on any changes. Lets you monitor flights, delays, gates, baggage carousels, etc. — and sync your flight plan with the social network TripIt.com.
What it costs: $9.99 (or $4.99 for the non-pro version, which includes most everything except the TripIt sync.)
What reviewers say: Average rating of 3.5 stars. Repeat users generally rank the app highly and say the TripIt sync is worth the extra few bucks.
Yelp
What it does: Helps you find reviews and directions for restaurants, hotels or almost any other business nearby. The GPS-based search has made this an invaluable tool on any trip of mine.
What it costs: Free.
What reviewers say: Average rating of 3 stars. The big beef is that you can't actually post reviews from your phone, which I admit would be nice. However, last month, the service added a "Quick Tips" option that lets you post mini-reviews of sorts. That might appease the mob a bit.
Google Mobile
What it does: This is the app that should have come with the iPhone. Lets you say your search terms right into the phone. Click on a business address, and you'll get directions loaded into your map. Click on a phone number, and you can call it.
What it costs: Free
What reviewers say: Average rating 3.5 stars. Most complaints seem based on the voice recognition, which I've found to be almost always accurate, though I have no real accent to speak of.
Lonely Planet Audio Phrasebooks
What it does: Sold by language, each phrasebook includes about $600 spoken and phonetically written phrases, saving you the hassle (and embarrassment) of carrying around a dictionary.
What it costs: $9.99 per language, with 10 languages available so far, including Cantonese, Czech and Turkish.
What reviewers say:
Average rating of 3.5 stars. Most reviewers generally feel the app works well but that the price point is too steep for what you get.
Cheap Gas
What it does: Finds the cheapest gas in your area.
What it costs: Free.
What reviewers say: Average rating 2.5 stars. Prices can be a bit out of date, and a lot of stations simply aren't listed, but it's definitely better than just stopping somewhere randomly.
Wi-Fi Finder
What it does: Finds the nearest Wi-Fi hotspots (free or paid) near you. Finding wireless access in new cities can be a lot harder than you might think, so there's definitely a value here.
What it costs: Free
What reviewers say: Average rating 2.5 stars. iPod Touch users don't seem to like it, because they have to be ON a wireless network to use this site, which kinda defeats the purpose. But iPhone users are all around quite happy with it.
Sit or Squat
What it does: Lets you browse reviews of toilets located nearby.
What it costs: Free
What reviewers say: Average rating 2.5 stars. Most critics complain about the app not having enough toilets on record, but the developers count on users to supply the data. So next time you end up in a public restroom, be sure to do your duty.
I know a lot of you are veteran travelers, so please be sure to share your suggestions in the comments. Oh, and in case you're wondering why I omitted the widely beloved Urban Spoon app, I just find it to be more of a toy than a truly useful tool. That said, it's the first app I show to iPhone newbies, who just love shakin' that thing.
