Top 10 Best and Coolest Travel Apps
Ever find yourself searching through old emails looking for a flight confirmation? Or en route to the airport and in need of a hotel room asap? Anything can come up on the road €" the good news for mobile-equipped business travelers is the myriad travel apps on the market that make life easier, more efficient, and less stressful.
But which apps are the best? Executive Travel magazine did some research and announced their Best in Tech 2013 awards. Here's a summary of their top 10 must-download travel apps for 2013, and beyond.
Executive Travel's top 10 apps
CloudOn
CloudOn became the number one app on iTunes just one day after its January 5, 2012 debut, according to CloudOn CEO, Milink Gadekar. Its popularity isn't surprising, as it is the first app to run virtual versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the iPad or Android tablet.
With CloudOn, you can edit Microsoft Office files stored on Google Drive, Dropbox or Box.net accounts. It's still free. But since CloudOn is paying software-as-a-service licensing fees to Microsoft, it may not be free for much longer.
Free for iPad, Android
Find My iPhone
Ever lost your phone €" and it has really important information on it? No worries. Find My iPhone will your locate phone from any other device you can log into, including Web browsers. Find My iPhone works on iOS devices and requires an iCloud account and a valid Apple ID.
Simply start the Find My iPhone app and enter the Apple ID login and password. The screen will show a map with the last reported location of the devices attached to that account. If necessary, you can lock the device remotely using a four-digit code as well as display a phone number on the device's screen, or wipe the device clean to protect its contents.
Free for iOS
Hotel Tonight
Stranded at the airport by bad weather? Need to make an unplanned overnight stop for a meeting? Last minute bookings are more common than you think, and Hotel Tonight can save the day.
Hotel Tonight offers deep discounts on absolute-last-minute hotel rooms, but you have to invest a bit of time to find the best deals. Keep in mind, you can't shop until noon, and HotelTonight is only good for domestic hotel bookings.
Free for iOS
LogMeIn
LogMeIn (log me in) is your go-to app for remote access to your computer when you're away from the office. Control your PC or Mac directly from your mobile device wherever you have Wi-Fi or 3G as if you were sitting right in front of it. Note: The LogMeIn app for the Android is called Ignition.
Free for iOS and Android
Smart Ride
In addition to making Executive Travel's short list, the Smart Ride app was also named One of TIME Magazine's "50 Best iPhone Apps" for 2012.
Smart Ride is another addition to €muni€ apps, short for municipal transportation. The app, free from iTunes, asks for permission to locate your current location, and then brings up a page of nearby stops and their next arrival predictions. Smart Ride also displays the approximate distance (in feet) to each bus stop, features a live map and a directory of different public transportation agencies. Dozens of cities are supported.
Free for iOS
Snapguide
Snapguide, a spin-off of the popular website, gives you the ability to share and view step-by-step how to guides. Learn what to wear, cook, and say, no matter where you are in the world. Create your own guides and share what you like on Twitter, Facebook and more. Discuss your interests with other people who share your passions.
Free for iOS
TripIt
TripIt is a great app for keeping your flight information accessible and organized. Just download the free app, and forward your confirmation emails, regardless of airline, to plans@tripit.com. Then, you receive an easy-to-access and navigate itinerary that you can print, sync to your calendar and share with others. TripIt has a cool new upgrade €" it now alerts you to fare reductions on your flights.
Free for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone
Uber
According to the Uber app site, Uber is Everyone's Private Driver„. Use it to request a private car in any city the service is available. The app lets your driver know exactly where to pick you up, and lets you know exactly how long until they arrive. At the end of your ride, the fare is charged to your credit card on file €" no need to tip €" and you receive a detailed receipt in-app and via email.
Free for iOS, Android, mobile web
Waze
This very cool and increasingly popular community-based traffic and navigation app offers real-time rerouting based on how fast other Waze users nearby are going, as well as turn-by-turn GPS navigation and cheapest gas on your route.
By joining forces with other Waze drivers nearby (about 30,000 million total), you can outsmart traffic, save time, gas, money, and contribute to the common good by improving everyone's commute and reporting accidents, hazards, police and other events you see on the road.
Now, you can also meet up and coordinate with friends on the road, meet up, pick up friends, share your drive and ETA, and see who's headed to your destination.
Free for iOS, Android
Yahoo! Time Traveler
With Yahoo! Time Traveler, explore the city you're in from your Smartphone. Just set your start and end points, the time you have available and Yahoo! TimeTraveler will create a custom itinerary to guide you through the city. 29 cities are supported.
Free for iOS
But which apps are the best? Executive Travel magazine did some research and announced their Best in Tech 2013 awards. Here's a summary of their top 10 must-download travel apps for 2013, and beyond.
Executive Travel's top 10 apps
CloudOn
CloudOn became the number one app on iTunes just one day after its January 5, 2012 debut, according to CloudOn CEO, Milink Gadekar. Its popularity isn't surprising, as it is the first app to run virtual versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the iPad or Android tablet.
With CloudOn, you can edit Microsoft Office files stored on Google Drive, Dropbox or Box.net accounts. It's still free. But since CloudOn is paying software-as-a-service licensing fees to Microsoft, it may not be free for much longer.
Free for iPad, Android
Find My iPhone
Ever lost your phone €" and it has really important information on it? No worries. Find My iPhone will your locate phone from any other device you can log into, including Web browsers. Find My iPhone works on iOS devices and requires an iCloud account and a valid Apple ID.
Simply start the Find My iPhone app and enter the Apple ID login and password. The screen will show a map with the last reported location of the devices attached to that account. If necessary, you can lock the device remotely using a four-digit code as well as display a phone number on the device's screen, or wipe the device clean to protect its contents.
Free for iOS
Hotel Tonight
Stranded at the airport by bad weather? Need to make an unplanned overnight stop for a meeting? Last minute bookings are more common than you think, and Hotel Tonight can save the day.
Hotel Tonight offers deep discounts on absolute-last-minute hotel rooms, but you have to invest a bit of time to find the best deals. Keep in mind, you can't shop until noon, and HotelTonight is only good for domestic hotel bookings.
Free for iOS
LogMeIn
LogMeIn (log me in) is your go-to app for remote access to your computer when you're away from the office. Control your PC or Mac directly from your mobile device wherever you have Wi-Fi or 3G as if you were sitting right in front of it. Note: The LogMeIn app for the Android is called Ignition.
Free for iOS and Android
Smart Ride
In addition to making Executive Travel's short list, the Smart Ride app was also named One of TIME Magazine's "50 Best iPhone Apps" for 2012.
Smart Ride is another addition to €muni€ apps, short for municipal transportation. The app, free from iTunes, asks for permission to locate your current location, and then brings up a page of nearby stops and their next arrival predictions. Smart Ride also displays the approximate distance (in feet) to each bus stop, features a live map and a directory of different public transportation agencies. Dozens of cities are supported.
Free for iOS
Snapguide
Snapguide, a spin-off of the popular website, gives you the ability to share and view step-by-step how to guides. Learn what to wear, cook, and say, no matter where you are in the world. Create your own guides and share what you like on Twitter, Facebook and more. Discuss your interests with other people who share your passions.
Free for iOS
TripIt
TripIt is a great app for keeping your flight information accessible and organized. Just download the free app, and forward your confirmation emails, regardless of airline, to plans@tripit.com. Then, you receive an easy-to-access and navigate itinerary that you can print, sync to your calendar and share with others. TripIt has a cool new upgrade €" it now alerts you to fare reductions on your flights.
Free for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone
Uber
According to the Uber app site, Uber is Everyone's Private Driver„. Use it to request a private car in any city the service is available. The app lets your driver know exactly where to pick you up, and lets you know exactly how long until they arrive. At the end of your ride, the fare is charged to your credit card on file €" no need to tip €" and you receive a detailed receipt in-app and via email.
Free for iOS, Android, mobile web
Waze
This very cool and increasingly popular community-based traffic and navigation app offers real-time rerouting based on how fast other Waze users nearby are going, as well as turn-by-turn GPS navigation and cheapest gas on your route.
By joining forces with other Waze drivers nearby (about 30,000 million total), you can outsmart traffic, save time, gas, money, and contribute to the common good by improving everyone's commute and reporting accidents, hazards, police and other events you see on the road.
Now, you can also meet up and coordinate with friends on the road, meet up, pick up friends, share your drive and ETA, and see who's headed to your destination.
Free for iOS, Android
Yahoo! Time Traveler
With Yahoo! Time Traveler, explore the city you're in from your Smartphone. Just set your start and end points, the time you have available and Yahoo! TimeTraveler will create a custom itinerary to guide you through the city. 29 cities are supported.
Free for iOS
