Blog — Trip Styler

Travel Apps

Travel Apps :: Frommer's Travel Tools

frommers travel tools appI love all-in-one apps like Kayak that seem to do it all. Another all-in-oner is Frommer's Travel Tools app---of Frommer's Travel Guide Book Fame---combining a multi-function converter, flashlight, self-populated packing list, travel trivia, city guides and postcard sharing. But perhaps this intelligent app's piece de resistance is the tipping calculator allowing you to calculate a tip on any amount up to 25%, as well as split the tip up to 10 ways.  I love how the tipping guide goes a step beyond the math of tipping and provides info about each country's different practices, so you can travel (and tip) intelligently versus commit a foreign faux pas. Frommer's Travel Tools App Details

  • free
  • works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad; no word on Blackberry or Android platforms

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Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

Travel Apps :: Live Flight Tracker

flight trackerI've known about flight tracking apps for awhile, but never bothered to download one---why I don't know---because they can be extremely helpful. These apps are valuable planning and tracking tools, and definitely something the travel app-obsessed should have in their toolkits! Recently flight status apps came back on my radar when my mom asked about options as she filled her iTouch with apps the night before she set off for a multi-city, multi-segment trip to China. There are a few flight status apps on the market. The highest priced, FlightTrack ($9.99 Pro/$4.99 Regular) is the most robust and a frequent international traveller's dream come true. Casual jauntsetters will like the free FlightAware app.

FlightAware App Details

  • free
  • works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad; Blackberry and Android apps in the works
  • real-time flight status and tracking map for any flight in the United States, Canada or UK
  • tracks private, charter  or commercial airline flights
  • search by aircraft registration, route, airline, flight number, city pair, or airport code

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Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

Travel Apps :: Kayak

updated kayak app with first classThe Kayak app is where it's at. Although I downloaded this app awhile ago, they've recently made some significant enhancements that make it a virtual buffet of travel tools, and in my humble opinion, one of the most valuable travel apps currently available. Features Featuring most of the options they offer online and then some, this full-featured app combines the ability to: - book flights, hotels and cars - view and organize your trip itinerary - get gate and airport info (due to integration with GateGuru) - track your flight status - look up baggage fees - plan what you'll bring with packing lists - send an email or text to someone who is picking you up with your exact location on a map

First Class As of last week, the most recent update to the app included the ability to search and book business and first class flights. This enhancement is significant because until now, Kayak had a separate app for this purpose called Kayak First Class, which used to cost upwards of $3.99.

Kayak App Details - free - works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Blackberry and Android

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Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

Travel Apps :: SkyMall

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Don't lie, I know you look forward to flipping through the weird and wonderful pages of the SkyMall catalogue each time you fly. Even if you've just read it on the way there, it's still just as interesting a few days later on the way home. Oh SkyMall, your gadgets and gizmos not only provide incredible reading entertainment, but some are not half-bad: like the swirl 'n go smoothie maker or telescoping gutter cleaning tool!  On the other hand, some items are just plain weird, like this zombie head that sticks out of your garden (26 people have even reviewed it, wow) or this great white shark sculpture.

Now you can get access to all these things, at 0 versus 35,000 feet with SkyMall's mobile app!

SkyMall App Details

  • free
  • works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad and blackberry
  • you don't need an internet connection to browse, you just put items in your 'cart' and checkout next time you have a wifi connection
  • entire catalogue available
    • search by product name or catalog number
    • category list helps you browse through thousands of items
    • creative gift finder makes shopping fun
    • read detailed product descriptions
    • view product star ratings

PS - if you want to read a REALLY funny weekly column about SkyMall products, find it each Monday on Gadling.

Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

Travel Apps :: OnTheFly

on the fly iphone app—Get more travel tips and updates like this by subscribing to RSS or email. —

Last week I talked about the wonders of ITA Software---an MIT grad's brainchild and the power behind KAYAK, Orbitz, Bing Travel and mulitple airlines. Even though the software is used by these major players in travel search, it's also available for the public to use as a flight research tool. Many industry insiders swear by ITA's search capabilities, and recently the company launched an app, aptly named OnTheFly.

Savvy raod warriers and semi-techy geeks, this apps's for you. Offering an advanced and comprehensive way to search for any flight itinerary, the app displays each flight option in what can only be described as a 'dreamy' format---one of the best I've seen---comparing options across airlines, dates, and alternate cites/airports.

OnTheFly App Details

  • free
  • works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad (android and blackberry apps planned later in 2010)
  • like the website, this is a research-based tool, so once you find the flight you want, you must book with the provider by phone, email or online
  • the flexible airport selection suggests additional airports and allows multiple airports to be selected
  • search flight(s) by one way, round trip or multi-departure/arrival
  • choose your cabin of choice: coach, business, first
  • granular control over search parameters allows you to specify number and type of passengers (such as adult or child), departure and arrival times, number of permitted stops, etc...

Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed