As they have in pretty well every other aspect of our lives, clever geeks have come up with smart-phone apps to smooth the path of our journeys when we travel. There are loads of travel apps out there for both iPhones and androids and these are just a few that I, or those whose judgment I trust, have found useful.
Red Spotted Hanky
The name of this little gem seemed somewhat obscure to me until I saw the logo, but it has been highly recommended for finding best-price, best-seat train travel in the UK, anywhere and at any time. Red Spotted Hanky has also partnered with various other suppliers to offer great deals on accommodation, car hire and theatre tickets, again in the UK.
Tripit
This little magic gem is ideal for the terminally disorganised or the terminally anal. You forward emails about your hotel, flight, accommodation, car rental, etc, and it pulls them all together in a master itinerary which is viewable on any of your devices – even offline. If you opt to upgrade to the paid version, you have access to flight status updates and text message alerts. Tripit also offers sightseeing suggestions based on your itinerary, as well as weather updates. Handy doesn’t even begin to describe this app for frequent travellers.
WiFi Finder
I don’t know about you, but I get just a little twitchy if I’m offline for too long, so this app is imperative. It’s available for both android and iPhone. Just crank it up and when you find the location you want to use, you’ll be given a phone number and directions on how to get there. It works in more than 100 countries and has an offline mode so you can download maps before you go, saving precious $s.
Entrain
Developed by the University of Michigan, Entrain promises to help you get over jet-lag more quickly by setting up a light input schedule based on your proposed travel. Light exposure is what drives our Circadian rhythms, so the aim of Entrain is to ready your body for a different time zone by gradually adjusting the light stimulus you get before you go, according to individual schedules put together by the app. I can’t argue with science!
LoungeBuddy
Put your hands up if you’ve ever been stuck for hours in an unfamiliar airport. LoungeBuddy displays airport lounges in more than 500 airports. Once you’ve planned your trip, it tells you about the lounges available, which ones are free or require an access fee, and what amenities are available within. It also provides hours, locations, ratings, and user reviews and images. Perfect for that long lay-over.
South Australian writer Amanda McInerney writes about travel and food on her Lambs’ Ears & Honey blog.
