From application to application and from destination to destination
KAYAK, TO FIND THE BEST PRICES
Yes, like the web you probably already knew. With 25 million downloads it is probably the best app to find the cheapest flights, hotels or cars. But it also has other integrated utilities: it allows you to follow the status of your flight, thanks to the combination with ** GateGuru ** it tells you where to find a bar, an ATM or whatever you are looking for in the airport where you have to spend more hours than you expected; helps you make your list ‘Things I need for my romantic/business/family trip’ and has a directory of airlines with their phone numbers and baggage fees, food on board. It's free and available for iOS, Windows 7, Kindle Fire, and Android.
TRIPIT, TO HAVE EVERYTHING CONTROLLED
Your mobile travel assistant . everyone's dream control freak and of any crazy of lack of control. You make a reservation, they send you the confirmation, you forward the email to **Tripit** and automatically you have all the itinerary, dates, etc. in the app. You won't have to print a piece of paper . It will also notify you if the flight is delayed or cancelled, proposes alternatives... Did you know that if the price of your ticket drops you can ask for the difference? Tripit does know, it notifies you and explains how to ask for it. It's free and available for iOS, Windows 7, Blackberry and Android.
Apps to have everything under control
WI-FI FINDER, TO BE ABLE TO USE MOST OF YOUR APPS AT YOUR DESTINATION
Fundamental. Most of these apps require a data or WiFi connection. Since paying for data abroad can be more expensive than the entire trip, the easiest thing is to search for places with WiFi , and since, believe it or not, there's not always a Starbucks in sight, this app allows you to find places with free or paid connection , either by downloading its directory (for when you are offline) or by tracking other nearby sites when you are already connected. It's free and available for iOS and Android.
Wi-fi Finder: not without my Internet
HOTEL TONIGHT OR WEHOSTELS, LUXURY HOTELS AND HOSTELS AT THE LAST MINUTE
Applications for hunters and short-sighted. That we know you are. Hotel Tonight get discounts from up to 70% for the same night where you look for it. It guarantees you the best price and if you get it cheaper, it will pay you the difference in credit for future reservations. The difference of WeHostels is that you will find hostels, hostels, pensions... An app more designed for low-budget trips , juveniles, that's why it has a section called 'Hot Trips' (‘Fashion trips’), including music festivals, sporting events or La Tomatina de Buñol. true story . Both are free, available for iOS and Hotel Tonight also for Android.
Apps for you to sleep well at any time
STRAY BOOTS, TO VISIT A CITY PLAYING
No need to lug around the back-breaking guide billet anymore, there are plenty available for mobile. Among the best rated would be TripWolf , ** Minube **, ** Triposo **, ** EveryTrail **, the audio guides PocketGuide either Pal Tour . Almost all include maps, information, points of interest and opinions of other travelers. But we propose a more fun one: Stray Boots , currently only available for US cities, it is a guide-game , a kind of gymkhana that offers you tests while teaching you curious things. There are tours/games for one, two or as many people as you want. It is free, but the tours are paid. Available for iOS.
StrayBoots - don't visit, PLAY
POSTAGRAM, TO SEND YOUR OWN POSTCARDS
WhatsApp, Viber, Skype… all apps that you should download to communicate for free or cheaper with your friends and family when you go on a trip. All of us, guilty of forgetting the beautiful act of sending and receiving postcards that postgram claims: you take a photo, write a text, add the address and the application takes care that it reaches the recipient . Yes, yes, to your real mailbox. You don't even have to look for pretty postcards or buy stamps. For only 99 cents You can send your Instagram photos to whoever you want who lives in the US, Canada or Europe, yes. Free for iOS and Android.
Postagram: send a physical postcard but at no additional cost
TRIPADVISOR, WHERE I EAT, WHAT I DO
Another star app for travel. It solves those moments of 'and now what do we do', looking for you nearby restaurants, bars or places of interest , sorted by price and opinions that you can read to even know what to eat in that restaurant you have chosen. The social network ** FourSquare ** has a similar purpose, with the advantage that sometimes to do ' Check-in' on that site you have a gift (a free drink, a discount on your purchase...) . Free for Android, iOS and Windows.
HOPSTOP, TO GET WHERE YOU WANT
How do I get from here to here? If you don't clarify with the classic maps, technology comes to your aid . We recommend that before going to the destination city you look for specific applications such as the metro map, bus map and there is also HopStop if you go to some of the places on their list. Not only does it give you the best routes in different ways (on foot, metro, bus, taxi, boat...) it also tells you c how much will it cost you and, of course, how long will it take . almost as addictive as Google Maps , but somewhat more complete. Free and available for iOS and Android.
TripAdvisor and Hopstop
EXTRA: SOME USEFUL APPS?
Of course whenever you travel it is useful download the typical currency converter application ( XE Currency , for example), of measures in general ( Converter+ ), a translator ( ** Google Translate ** ) and why not one of these curious apps: the Tipulator to calculate the exact tip you should leave if you don't want to be followed to the street to ask for more; trip splitter , for trips of friends, control the expenses of each one, l to version 2.0 of the 'Put boat' of a lifetime ; Sit or Squat (to sit or crouch), a public restroom finder , with opinions and photos from previous users, if you discover the new worst bathroom in Scotland, please register it; Convert Clothes , the definitive converter to know what size you wear in any country; Y StopJetLag , you tell it your trip and the application recommends when and how much to sleep, when and how much to eat, whether to drink caffeine... Forget the damn jet lag going or coming back.
*** You may also be interested in...**
- How to make photographic maps of your trips
- Mobile applications: the best companions for your trip
- Update your mobile with these twelve travel applications
- All articles by Irene Crespo
Tripsplitter, Sitor and Tipulator