Traveling can be a chaotic time, especially when it’s last minute or for an extended journey, but there’s no reason to give in to the frenzy. Sit back, take a deep breath and let these five travel apps do the hard work for you.
1) TripIt
For easy tracking of all the pieces of your travel itinerary, including confirmation numbers, flight times and other bookings, just send the details to TripIt. It stores it all in one place, syncs with your calendar, and is free for iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone 7.
2) FlightTrack
FlightTrack eases a worried mind with last minute updates on everything about your flight. It tracks gate changes, seat availability, baggage claim locations and delay times, all for $5 - $10 depending on the package you choose. You can also sync FlightTrack with TripIt, and it’s available for iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone 7.
3) Hotel Tonight
This is the free app for those with flight delays, or last minute travelers without lodging. Whether your flight came in late or you never booked a room to begin with, Hotel Tonight saves the day. Available for 35 North American cities and near 11 airports, it finds available and discounted rooms for same-day bookings only, and you can't book until noon.
4) PocketGuide by GPS City Guide
Using PocketGuide means you can turn your iPhone or Android into a personal city tour guide. It leads you with audio, turn by turn, through 78 cities around the globe. What’s unique is that PocketGuide operates without roaming charges or a WiFi connection.
5) Sit or Squat
Just in case things go disastrously wrong while sampling local cuisine while on vacation, locating the nearest bathroom can be a lifesaver. Using an interactive GPS map, Sit or Squat leads you to the closest of over 100,000 bathrooms in its database, complete with pictures.
There’s no need to get overwhelmed when things don’t go as planned. With these travel apps, you’ll have smooth travels every time.
