For many, vacations and travel are about getting away from every day life. Leaving the office and carpool behind and disappearing. Sometimes this means leaving behind the cell phones, tablets, and laptops. However, these ties to the technological world can be valuable tools while traveling. So if you don't insist upon putting your cell phone in a safe, wrapping it with a padlocked chain, and burying it in cement in the backyard while you leave town, check out some of these useful travel apps.
I have tried all of these listed apps on my Android phone. I can't attest to how they may or may not work on any other phone or operating system. I also can't promise that every app is available for every phone/os. But I'll try to list what it's available on (according to the information I find online), and try to stick to apps that are widely available. I also probably won't be listing apps that cost money, simply because I don't pay for apps.
Google Maps: This map app (everyone loves a rhyme) can be a lifesaver on your mobile phone. With turn by turn navigation, a compass mode for when you're walking, and lists of nearby places this is the best navigation app I've had. The traffic option will help you save time in the car, and street view shows you images of streets and places as if you were standing there.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products, Blackberry, Windows
Google Translate: After messing around with both this app and iTranslate, I have decided Google Translate is better. Although the layout isn't so pretty, Google Translate does offer over 50 languages, talk to text, translation read-out, and the option to favorite your most used phrases. While iTranslate claims to do all of the same, I couldn't get the voice capabilities to function at all. Not available without wi-fi, but you can access your favorited phrases without wi-fi.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products, Blackberry, Windows
Oanda Currenty Converter: Another simple but fantastic app. Convert between more than 190 currencies, updated daily. Available without wi-fi, although I'm guessing it doesn't update without wi-fi.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products, Blackberry, Windows
Urbanspoon: I find it daunting to choose a place to eat in a city I've never been. But Urbanspoon can help take the guess work out of dining. You can browse by neighborhood, food type, popularity, features (who delivers, live music, etc), or even pictures of the food. You can get a list of what's nearby, or you can load everything into a slot machine style spinner and gamble. Links to phone numbers and maps, prices and hours. Eat where you want, without the surprise.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products
HopStop: There are a lot of apps for subway maps and schedules, but this seems to be the best one I can find that encompasses all forms of transit. You enter two addresses and a method of transportation and it will give you directions, more importantly if there is a faster route using a different method of transport, HopStop will tell you. Plus, if you're walking it tells you how many calories you'll burn...important data. Includes about 50 US cities, 9 Canadian cities, and 5 cities in Europe. I haven't thoroughly tested this app by any means, and public transportation can be a beast, so uh, well, don't sue me if you end up walking ten miles out of your way.
Cost: Free
Available On: Android, Apple Products
And I'm proud to say I've stopped at Foamhenge. Wait, maybe proud isn't the word. But it did entertain me and get me out of the car just long enough.
