The essential compendium of need-to-have apps when traveling

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Aug. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Going somewhere or looking for somewhere to go?  Next to your boarding pass or a full tank of gas, the next best thing could be packing the right apps on your phone. Beyond the obvious apps, here are several apps to help you find a destination, plan what to see, provide entertainment for the trip and making your experience better.

Most people want to travel, but if you can’t or wanting to decide where to go, Inastago - Go Anywhere On Instagram is an easy way to explore the world or your local neighborhood through the photos of others.  Connected through Foursquare and/or Instagram, Instago allows you to discover new places around the world.  You can search nearby, maps or global.  You must be an Instagram or FourSquare user. Free

I like finding local places with happy hour special and never paying full price for a drink.  Happy Hours and Happy Hour Finder are two apps that help you find the nearest food and drink specials with nationwide coverage. Happy Hours from GoTime has not been updated since October 2011 and recent user comments have not been positive.  There are similar apps that focus on a geographical area including mplsdrinker providing user with first hand information from the creator.  If you are planning a trip or visiting a new city and looking for a place to meet friends, get one of these apps… save and be happy. Free

For all the thrill junkies, those who follow and enjoy extreme sports and the connoisseurs of beach ready bodies, this is the app for you.  Action Sports Hub Channel is a across between ESPN on Red Bull, YouTube for action sports and Maxim.  ASH provides up to date news on surfing, snowboarding, BMX, Skating and MMA.  And don’t forget to glance at the Hub Honey section.  You will find videos from the most beautiful and exotic locations around the world to keep you entertained while traveling to these destinations.  Free

Bored, and what something different to do? Try Best Road Trip Ever! This app contains almost 10,000 offbeat destinations including eateries, funky art, offbeat attractions, fun gracing and other gems that are hidden or forgotten.  BRTE! is a GPS-based travel app designed for the iPhone featuring thousands of photos, lots of video and tons of stories.  For 99 cents, and a tank of gas you can be on your way to the best road trip ever. $0.99

Immerse yourself in the color and jubilation… frolic, dance, sing and laugh with the locals at the world’s best festivals.  More than just music or a party, World Festival Guide is a comprehensive interactive guide covering over 200 music, food, and art & film festivals.  This app will awaken your wanderlust with beautiful photos and amazing videos from the wildest parties on the planet.  So, watch and start planning your next celebration. $2.99

If you are backpacking across Europe or planning a quick budget minded get away, then try one of the apps focused on low cost accommodations like Hostelworld.com, WeHostels and Agoda.  These apps are for the budget-conscious travelers helping find and book value accommodations around the world.  Most are free, so try a few and compare as it could save you a lot of money.  “I found better prices than using Trip Advisor” was the comments a reviewer.  Choose from over 25,000 of the best hostels and budget hotels in over 700 cities around the world. Free

Are you going on vacation and don’t want the same old boring videos everyone else posts on YouTube?  Then 8mm is worth a try.  There is a selection of film styles to choose including 1920, Noir, 60s, 70s, Indigo and more.  With 7 lenses, you have complete control to create the nostalgic look you desire. Nexvio, the developer even added a jitter button which adds a random up and down displacement of frames for an authentic feel. $1.99

It’s on the tip of your tongue and will drive you crazy for the next 20 minutes… Shazam! Launch Shazam, hold your phone close to the speaker, and within a few seconds you will know the title, artist, and occasionally Shazam will retrieve the album art.  Once you’ve tagged something, you can purchase the song from iTunes or Amazon.  A new feature just released allows you to use maps to find what’s popular in other places. If your tastes run to indy or local artists, Shazam might not work as well for you. Free and an upgraded version for $6.99

 Going to a new country and don’t speak the language… Google Translate will translate words and phrases between 64 languages.  Enter the phrase or speak it (17 languages supported) and listen to your translation (24 languages supported).  Google Translate is one of the most remarkable programs you can download delivering impressive accuracy (most of the time).  Don’t leave home without it. Free

All jokes aside… when you gotta go, you gotta go!  Sitorsquat and iPee promise never having to worry about finding a nearby restroom again.  With almost 95,000 bathrooms listed worldwide, this service tells users whether a toilet is open, closed or has known hours at the time of viewing. Listings often include miscellaneous data like whether bathrooms have hand dryers, stalls or single rooms, as well as handicap access.  Before you rely on one of these apps, read the reviews as it doesn’t seem they always deliver as promised and you could be left looking for a laundry mat. Sitorsquat is free and iPee is $0.99, only available on the iPhone as this time

Everyone has their favorite music/radio app, and a quick check with my friends about which music service they like best, someone always mentions Slacker Radio.  The same outstanding service you'll find in Slacker Radio's online version is on the iPhone.  The interface and performance allow you to appreciate the audibility of the app.  Free

 

Whether you are going across town, a weekend road trip, a coast-to-coast journey or an International adventure, these apps enhance your experience.  Pack your apps and enjoy… I only wish I got the 64GB phone.