Top 5 Travel Apps for the iPhone

Gone are the days when we have to buy a map, or ask directions from a local in order to arrive at our sought after destination. Since the birth of the internet, communications and research are easier and faster. This has transformed the travel industry and the way we plan trips. The advances in mobile technology have now taken our ability to travel smarter to a whole new level.

Mobile technology has berthed numerous travel apps that will help any gallivanting tourist conduct a self guided tour without getting lost or miss the flight! Among the leaders in mobile phone innovation is Apple and its household product—the iPhone.

The iPhone offers thousands of travel apps and many of them are crap. But for a smart traveler, using the best travel apps can be extremely beneficial to the success of a trip.

We’ve narrowed down the five top travel apps of 2012.

Next Flight

Departing early? Got stalled? Next Flight keeps an eye on more than 1,100 airlines and 4,200 flight terminals. This travel app allows you to specify the flight details—arrival/departure time, flight carrier, flight delays—so that you can stay updated in close to real time. Cost- $2.99

HearPlanet

Not to be confused with “Lonely Planet,” HearPlanet is like having a tour guide with you at all times. The app presents points of interest located near you’re hotel and the destination you’re exploring and it literally talks to you about the highlights of each place—just like a personal tour guide, except on your phone. Cost- $5.99

UrbanSpoon

Food and travel go hand in hand. This half guide, half restaurant review app is a ‘must download’ especially for those with an adventurous appetite. UrbanSpoon is popular in the cities across the US,  Australia , UK, and more. All you have to do is tap the app icon, shake your phone, and you’ll see dials spin to reveal the best suggestions to local restaurants. Best of all, it’s FREE.

Air Sharing

We recommend Air Sharing for the detailed travel planner. You know who you are: You itemize every hour of your days abroad with docs, spreadsheets, etc and spend hours and hours researching your next trip down to every little detail. This clever app permits storage of HTML websites, text files, PDFs, JPEGs, and a whole lot more for on-the-go offline usage. It’s like turning your iPhone into an external hard drive and allows easy access to all your travel planning documents. Cost- $4.99

XE Currency

For any wanderluster out there you know how important it is to have a currency converter at hand while traveling internationally. The #1 website for real time currency conversion now has an app to boot. XE currency is simple and fast. We love using it right on the spot when bartering for souvenirs, clothes, & art in the streets, shops, & markets throughout the world! Cost- FREE

All of the above apps are also available on Android phones as well!

Love another mobile app for travel? Share them with us in the comments below!