Gone are the days when travellers would make sure they carry a guide book and a route map, call up hotels and travel agencies at the last minute to double check their bookings and reservations. Technology certainly has made life a lot easier for travellers. With numerous free-to-download travel apps available, planning a holiday and making the most of a vacation has become a cakewalk. Sunday POST suggests a few apps that are a must-have for all travellers this festive season.
TripAdvisor
One of the most popular apps, TripAdvisor, is a great service to surf through thousands of countries, hotels and restaurants. From looking for luxury hotels to budget accommodations, users can filter their search, read reviews and decide on which hotel to check in. Users can read reviews based on services provided by the hotels and their location. The app also allows you to book hotels and flights based on reviews.
Booking.com
This app is somewhat similar to TripAdvisor but also allows users to review and book apartments, villas and guesthouses. Users can choose the country and the respective cities they are travelling to and select their accommodation accordingly from a wide range of high, moderate to low-range properties.
Where is my Train
This app has become a hit with not only vacationers but even professionals who have to travel extensively. Given that trains in India often run behind schedule, this app is perfect to keep track of your train. This app can be used inside the train one is travelling in to figure out if it is running on time or is delayed. The best thing about the app is that it allows travellers to track the train on a minute-to-minute basis along with the travel route and the number of halts the train has in its journey.
Flight Track 5
One of the best designed travel apps, it allows users to track the schedule and details about a flight. Moreover, the app is fast and users have granular control over trips and flights along with notification support and detailed information.
Google Maps and Google Now
Google certainly has been a boon to jittery travellers for the last few years. Google Maps has almost erased travellers’ fears of getting lost. Although the app has a few flaws, it does the job better than any other service in terms of interface and utility. Google Now on the other hand is a great service app. Google Now identifies new locations and displays relevant cards. If you are in a new country, it will greet you with weather updates, currency conversion cards and a host of interesting and important things to check nearby.
XE Currency
This is a very useful app if you are in a new country. This currency converting app refreshes quickly with the latest rates. The best thing is it also works with the last updated or fetched rates. Moreover, if you are on a budget, this app can be really useful in keeping track of how much you are spending.
Weather Pro
This is a must-have app, more so if you are travelling in India. Its diverse regions are situated at different heights and air pressure, with humidity varying a lot from one place to the other. You never know that when it’s scorching summer in one part, another might be experiencing soaking rainfall.
India Travel Guide
This app has almost made guide books obsolete. Developed by Triposo, this app gives you every detail about all major cities in India. The app gives you access to almost everything from suggestions on where and what to dine, or where to shop and get the best spas. More importantly, the app can be used offline too.
Ritujaay Ghosh, OP
