Best iPhone Travel Applications
A world of useful applications is now available to travelers on their iPhones (and other smartphones). Have you enjoyed using any particular apps to enhance your travels? And, since we're designing apps of our own: What features do you think the ideal travel app should have?
Also, check out Rick's new iPhone apps! What do you think of them?
fCards postcard App
The fCards App is by far the coolest, easiest to use postcard-related App I've used: www.itunes.com/apps/fcards
Frank Millstone
Brooklyn, NY USA 03/10/2010
GoodReader
GoodReader costs 99 cents and is a fairly robust document reader. It supports PDF, Excel, MS Word, txt and a few other formats, including image files. It also enables you to create folders on the iPod/iPhone and transfer files from your PC over WiFi.
I've found this particularly useful for transit maps, particularly those that are PDF, which don't go fuzzy when you zoom in on them. It's also a good way to look at ordinary images (instead of through the normal iTunes photo folder transfer, which compresses most maps beyond legibility).
Here are some links to some transit maps:
Prague metro and trams: http://www.dpp.cz/download-file/2947-MAPA_1_denn%C3%AD_provoz.pdf
Krakow trams: http://www.mpk.krakow.pl/image_popup.aspx?img=/mapki/tramwaje/www_duza_rem.gif
Budapest (not great resolution, but readable): http://www.bkv.hu/downloads/terkepek/volanos_vonalhalozati_20100101.jpg
Salzburg: http://www.stadtbus.at/media/pdf/pdf168.pdf
Munich: http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/web4archiv/objects/download/4/innenraum09.pdf
James
Durham, NC USA 02/27/2010
website dedicated to iPhone travel apps
I used to travel with Rick's guides. So good. Now I travel with my iPhone and listen to his podcasts! http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/travel-with-rick-steves/id79063354
Currently, I blog about iPhone travel apps and give tips on how to travel with your iphone. I think you'll like it.
http://azitravel.com/blog
taige <email>
london , USA 02/18/2010
London Underground
For navigating the London Underground, I suggest "iTrans Tube". It works well for planning, and tells you about any delays and closures.
Alistair Cunningham
London, UK 01/25/2010
evernote.com
Evernote is a great "app" for travelers. You can store and tag all the documents and information you need for your trip before you leave, including PDF's, Photo's, even hand written documents scanned into the computer. It's stored and sync'd with your desktop/laptop, smartphone and online (so you always have a back up). Great for those of us who have the Touch and no online access.
It'll even read the text in photo's so you can just take a quick photo of a document when your in a hurry.
Jonathan
Glendora, CA USA 01/13/2010
Evernote.. Opps i forgot
I forgot to mention that the Evernote app also allows you to take written or audio notes and photo's as you travel and, as with all evernote notes, they can be sync'd with the online back up and your desktop/laptop if you want to refer to them in the future.
Evernote is free with a $40.00 premium version. The only difference is a higher monthly upload quota for the premium version.
Jonathan
Glendora, CA USA 01/13/2010
Send a real postcard from iPhone
I just started using the Postcard Star App to send real postcards made with the pictures taken by my iPhone camera. I no longer go to the local post office while traveling to buy stamps since this cool iPhone App prints, stamps and mails the postcards for me! You should take this App with you when you travel and give it a try- why not, the first postcard is included free!
Bob Green
Sacramento, CA USA 01/06/2010
LocoTrivia - - Location Based Trivia Game
LocoTrivia is the first Location based Trivia game for the iPhone. LocoTrivia is a great way to learn about the world aroud you. When you launch Locotrivia, you will be asked Trivia Questions about the world nearby. Impress the world with your knowledge and add your own trivia questions to LocoTrivia.
Tom Lasater
San Francisco, Ca USA 12/28/2009
Fun Game App
This is not an iphone app, but a fun travel word game Facebook App- called Last Letter- you can find it at apps.facebook.com/lastletter
It's a fast-paced version of the car-trip game- where you pick locations that start with the last letter of the location the other player chooses.
Steve C
Boston , MA USA 12/22/2009
Kindle App for the iPhone
You can get most of Rick's books on the free Amazon Kindle App for the iPhone/iPod touch. No more carrying around a blue book, just download the books you want for $9.95 each to your portable device and travel around Europe as a Rickster incognito. Also fits easier in your pocket.
Steve Dickey <email>
Pacific Palisades, CA USA 10/06/2009
iPhone app - Snapshot
Yes! I loved the SnapShot app. Cheaper than sending a card from Italy back to Kansas, and it was a picture of me!
Tess
Tess
Lawrence, KS USA 09/16/2009
iPhone apps
A few apps came in very handy on a recent trip:
o SnapShot Postcard - perfect for personalized postcards and much easier than trying to buy stamps in another country.
o PhotoGenie - for touching up photos, adding labels, for the SnapShot Postcard app.
o Camera Genius - I didn't take a camera, just used my iPhone 3GS. Camera Genius's antishake mode made good indoor photos possible. The timer mode and a nearby rock made photos with everyone in them easy.
o Kindle - books to read whenever you want.
o Skype - just in case.
mbrowntn <email>
Knoxville, TN USA 09/15/2009
Top 10 Paris
I'm already loving the DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Paris ... and our trip isn't until next month. It's $7.99 but that's about half the price of the book and the iPhone is a lot easier to carry.
Elizabeth
Indialantic, FL USA 08/18/2009
Why not try Igoshi for iPhone?
It's very simple - but will work for anyone anywhere when your language skills let you down.
http://www.standardease.co.uk/igoshi/ or straight from the Apple Appstore:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=323677270&mt=8
Stuart Johnston
Newbury, Berkshire UK 08/07/2009
iPhone; the ideal travel tool
I'm quite obsessed with being prepared in order to be efficient and see more on trips. The iPhone really comes through in many ways and the following list compiles some of my favorite applications and tools:
1. All-in-Notes, 99 cents. This is a much better version of the notepad that comes with your iPhone and allows you to store endless information. Consider it a visual scrapbook that keeps all of your interest points in individual entries that can also be color coded to separate subjects. I separate notes for each city I'm visiting by color which allows me to keep them apart, yet organized. It also allows you to attach a photo for each entry so you can visualize some of the places of interest and add a voice message. I highly recommend!!
2. Metro apps, 99 cents. I have both a Paris and Barcelona Metro map that work offline and provide timetables and visual guidance. Input your starting location which can be an address or metro stop and the end location, and voila! I believe it can also locate the nearest Metro station from where you are in the event that you're lost(if you're near wifi).
3. Translator, free. Rather than carry a thick book around, why not download the translator app that works just like babelfish? Input a confusing word and get the desired translation in seconds!
4. Currency Converter, Free. This lets you see up-to-the-minute rates and can help you see the difference between the various currencies.
5. Social sites: Tumblr, Facebook, Myspace, all free. In certain cities wifi is free and easy to access (paris) and let's face it...you're dying to show your friends what you're experiencing. Using the various social sites can allow you to upload photos instantly and leave updated commentary for family and friends to see.
6. Flashlight, free. This is a great utility for anytime use but if you're staying in a hotel or hostel with shared bathrooms or shared bedrooms, you'll need a light to maneuver through some "dark" situations. They come handy in trains too when you're in a sleepcar and don't want to wake others.
7. Language tools. The one I use is French Audio flashcards which I bought for $10. That's a steal compared to the expensive flashcards that are sold bookstores. Better yet, it comes with audio examples and requires that you complete four "tests" of each word before you can pass onto the next, like proper spelling and spoken recognition. Consider it a language "bootcamp" in the palm of your hands!
8. Games for the road/train/plane. There are many free games offered that can be used offline like Trivia or Ski-ball for those times when you need to cure long hours of "in-between" time.
9. Podcasts, free. These aren't exactly apps but there are a great source of information that you can have with you at all times. Rick Steves has many audio museum guides, city guides and general discussions that can provide great insight into trips. I download a bunch of them to listen to at home or even for the long flight overseas. Some of them come with videos..consider it great in-flight entertainment that's free!
I'm always on the hunt for more interesting apps...I hope others continue to post more suggestions!
Millie
Los Angeles, CA USA 07/25/2009
MetrO
I've used MetrO on 3 different devices - old Palm Handspring, a WinMo phone, and now my Blackberry 8830 World Edition (unlocked free by Verizon, waiting for my Virgin Mobile SIM card). This app works really slick, and has loads of cities to be added to it.
Andrea
Laramie, WY USA 07/25/2009
Tripit-- Great iPhone App
tripit.com is a great website that has an integrated iphone app. you simply forward email confirmations from airlines, hotels, rental cars, etc from your registered email, and it builds an itinerary. viewing on your iphone is sleek and clear, very useful for having flight times and train numbers without carrying around a big folder. it's free too-- there's a "pro" version that charges a fee for tracking itinerary changes
Colette <email>
Cambrridge, MA USA 07/05/2009
Bed and Breakfast App
I like the bed and breakfast app InnTouch -- you can find and book bed and breakfasts across North America. Check out the video on their site http://www.inntouch.com
David
Mission Viejo, CA USA 06/25/2009
IPHONE TRAVEL APPLICATIONS
Currency Exchange App.
Fantastic when you are traveling. You can add any country you want and it is right there Instant conversion
Fatima Reep <email>
Long Beach, CA USA 06/18/2009
paris,france
the iphone app was useful for the tour at versille , the louvre in paris,
aashima
birmingham, USA 06/09/2009
iRail
This app seems like it will be very useful on my upcoming trip. It allows you to put in your starting city and destination and gives you the train schedules between the locations.
K. Greenfield
Memphis, TN USA 05/30/2009
Metro Paris
I downloaded a 99-cent application called Metro Paris for my iPhone (it will also run on the iPod Touch). All I need to do is pick my starting and ending Metro stations and it will plot my route, tell me the trains I need to take, where I need to get off, the trains I need to transfer into, and the approximate time the whole trip will take. It was worth its weight in gold.
Amar Madineni <email>
Lansdale, PA USA 05/29/2009
Skype
I tried Skype on my iPhone in Paris. Maybe the wifi was weak but I did not have a good experience. Of the four times I tried, I could get through only once. There was a lot of static and the call got cut off.
Amar Madineni <email>
Lansdal, PA USA 05/29/2009
Skype on your ipod
With an Ipod touch or Iphone, an Iphone headset w/mic (this works with both and is available from Apple for $29.00) a wifi connection and the skype application you can call home(or anywhere else) for pennies. I'll take that over $1.50 plus per minute with a cell or the hassle of calling cards any day.
Kathy <email>
Anaheim, Ca USA 05/22/2009
Just came back from Paris and found the Paris Tube app. for the iTouch & phone to be invaluable and easy to use. It is a ten star app. as far as I am concerned. It is also available for the London Tube, Berlin and others. Only problem was when they closed a Metro stop for renovations so check for updates before you travel.
Louis Galanos <email>
Gainesville, FL USA 05/19/2009
TripIT for iPhone
I use TripIt it is so neat. You create your account online, create a Trip, then forward all you flight, hotel, train confirmations to the website.
And the you download the app. You have it all neatly organized. And it is free!
Jorge
Miami Beach, FL USA 05/13/2009
Tube apps
Check out the interactive maps for metro systems in the major cities, like Tube Berlin. I wish I had this thing when I got lost in the Parisian Metro.
Patrick
Birmingham, AL USA 05/06/2009
Central Europe guidebook apps?
What are the specific apps for guidebook info on Central Europe?
Barbara <email>
North Hollywood, CA USA 05/05/2009
Useful Applications
For iPod Touch Users- we don't have instant internet access all over like you iPhone'rs :) and while I'm in Europe I find printing ticket confirmations annoying and a hassel. When it is not absolutely necessary to have the print-out in hand (like it is for Ryan-Air flights if you check in online) I simply click the "save as pdf" option on my print screen and put the file on my ipod. Then I can open it and show the confirmation to anyone!
For iPhone and iPod: the unit converter is great for shopping (sizes, currency) as well as using it to convert random things like weight, speed, and distance.
You can also buy apps of some of the metro systems in major european cities.
Nicole <email>
Bologna, MI IT 04/29/2009
Currency Converter and Guidebooks
Try fxcurrency. You can enter multiple currencies if you're traveling to more than one country. If you're in a wifi area, it updates the exchange rate but you can also use it off-line to convert specific amounts to dolloars. Also, I've found some guidebook apps for Slovenia and Croatia and City guides for Split and Dubrovnik for an upcoming trip to the Adriatic.
Sue <email>
Fairfax, CA USA 04/29/2009
Language apps
I've found some great language apps on Itunes. They actually say the words for you. A bit limited, but there are categories for Essentials, Travel, Accommodation, Food and Drink, etc. There is the phrase in English, then French, Spanish, German. all the major languages. Very helpful to let locals understand what you are asking.
These are FREE apps. Check out lastminute.com too.
I also use a couple of translators that were free apps. Great for finding a meaning of a word on a menu, or a street sign.
Take some time and explore on Itunes for free apps before your next trip.
Ellen <email>
USA 04/27/2009
app suggestion
a RS app would be awesome!!!!
I would suggest making the content downloadable so that it can be accessed on the device without depending on an internet / wifi connection.
I took my iPhone to amsterdam and used it for everything (except calls....prepaid sim for that!). While there was plenty of free wifi, having an app that features off-line content is a plus.
james
Lake Stevens, wa USA 04/22/2009
Incredible new iphone app for vacationers...
I use a new iphone app that I think is just the neatest thing! It's called the Snapshot Postcard and you can either use snapshots taken with your iphone or snap one at the time and send a real postcard directly from your phone. The mailing time is just a few days no matter where you're sending from. Cheaper than paying for international postage, easier than finding a way to get it sent, besides being way more personal than a stock photo postcard... Highly recommended!
Jennifer
Boise, ID USA 04/21/2009