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Increasingly, tech can help you make the most of any trip. Tech can make trips go more smoothly by providing you with information, resources, and entertainment. Whether you’re traveling on business or pleasure, tech tools can make the trip easier and more enjoyable!
Sure, you could travel without tech, but why would you want to?
These tech tools can help you plan your trip, make the journey more enjoyable, and help you make the most of your destination.
Apps
Apps can help you with planning your trip, getting you to your destination and helping you discover your surroundings once you’re there.
Discovery
Use apps to help you discover fun and interesting sites during your journey!
iExit
If your travel involves a road trip, be sure to check out iExit, an app that tells you what’s ahead on your route. If you want to know what to expect at the next exit, iExit can let you know whether it’s worth getting off at the next exit and or waiting until the next one.
This app was updated recently and now includes information on amenities such as ATM, pet-friendly and other features, as well as restaurants and lodging.
iExit is available for:
- iPhone, iPad and iPod Touchon sale for a limited time for $0.99
- Android devices, also for $0.99
A Windows Phone version is promised soon.
My full review of iExit can be found here: Road Trip? iExit Is Your Must-Have App!
Mom Maps
When you’re in a new area, finding kid-friendly restaurants, attractions, parks and playgrounds can be challenging. Mom Maps solves that problem by providing you with that information instantly. Let Mom Maps find your location, then you can see by category:
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Indoor Play Areas
You can see the points of interest in a list or on a map. The app covers locations in the US and Europe and can give you directions using Google Maps from within the app.
The app is available in a free and a paid version. Check out the free version first to make sure your area is covered. The free app can be downloaded for:
Geocaching
Treasures are buried around the world, all for you to find. Discover the joy of geocaching when you’re on your next trip. If you’re looking for a fun diversion for the family, grab the geocaching app to discover caches hidden near you. You can even plan ahead to see what treasures await you at your destination.
I’ve been geocaching on vacation with kids ages 5-85 and all were entertained by hunting for caches. We discovered new places even though we’ve been going to the same town for years. Over a 1,600,000 are available all over the world so you probably have a cache near you!
The official Geocaching app is available for $9.99 for:
and free for Windows Phone, though a membership to geocaching.com is required. (Basic membership is free, but caches are limited to three per day via the app. Premium membership, $30/year, gives you unlimited caches.)
Be sure to check out Geocaching: Your Real Life Treasure Hunt! by guest author Carol Biederman, that convinced me to give Geocaching a try!
Roadside America
If you’re looking to discover interesting sites along your trip, check out Roadside America, an app that helps you discover unique attractions along US and Canadian highways. If you’re the type of traveler who likes visiting “The World’s Biggest (fill in the blank),” this app is for you!
You can search by what’s near you or by themes such as:
- Animals
- Atomic
- Celebrities
- Crime
- Dinosaurs
- Freaky Hoo-Ha
- Irrational Geographics
- Miracles
- Monsters
- Tech
- Zombie Army
The app is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch for $2.99 which buys you one geographic area. You can purchase other areas or the entire US and Canadian coverage for $5.99/year.
Field Trip
Discover interesting and quirky places of interest near you with the free Field Trip app from Google. Open the app and see restaurants, historic places, deals and fun night spots on a map or in a list. You can filter your search according to your interests, showing only restaurants, for example.
Field Trip is available for Android devices and iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
Quad2Quad
If your summer travels include college tours, be sure to download the free Quad2Quad app for helpful information about 85 different universities. Since I reviewed the app in March, the app has been updated and is now free.
Quad2Quad is available free for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
Place Book
While you’re discovering fun and quirky places, you’ll want to remember them later to visit again or recommend to others. Whether you’re visiting your favorite city or discovering a new one, remember your favorite spots by saving them in Place Book. Like a contacts list for places, Place Book saves your favorite spots in one convenient app. You can organize your favorite spots in lists such as “most romantic restaurants,” “best views of the sunset” or “family-friendly museums.”
Place Book works with Yelp, Foursquare and Google Places to help you discover new favorite places. You can also use Google Maps within the app to navigate to your favorite places.
Place Book is a free app available for Android devices. You can pay $1.50 to remove the ads from the app.
Utilities
These apps make getting from Point A to Point B much easier.
Google Maps
Be sure to download the Google Maps app before you leave home. This app gives you street views in addition to 2D maps. Google Maps also transforms your mobile device into a GPS/Sat Nav by giving you turn-by-turn voice directions. You can Show Traffic to avoid congestion.
Google Maps is available free for!
Google Maps is a must have app on your mobile device. Don’t wait until you travel to grab this app!
TripIt
Keep all your travel information in one spot with TripIt. This app is like having a personal assistant help organize your trip. See your itinerary in one spot and have it handy wherever you are. No more fumbling with papers, just open the app and view your itinerary.
Sign up for a TripIt account to have this free service prepare your itinerary and have it available for you at their website or on their app. When you plan a trip, forward all of your email confirmations to [email protected] and TripIt will do the rest.
Your TripIt itinerary includes your flight information, confirmation numbers, hotel check-in and check-out times, local maps and weather information. The itinerary also shows the cost of the travel and the site you used to book your trip.
TripIt integrates with other apps, including Google calendar and Flight Update Pro so you don’t have to enter the same information multiple times.
If you travel frequently, you may want to check out the Pro version, which you can sample for free for 30 days and has extra features such as alerts about flight delays. After the 30 day trial period TripIt Pro costs $49 per year.
The app for TripIt is available free for:
- iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch at the iTunes App Store
- Android phones at Google Play
- Windows Phones at Windows Marketplace
My full review of TripIt can be found TripIt – Your Personal Travel Assistant!
Flight Update
Whether you’re flying or picking up someone at the airport, Flight Update can save you time and hassle. This app is packed with vital flight information, such as the arrival and departure times, terminal and gate information, and more. The app even has a map feature showing you where the plane is in real time.
You can enter all the flight information for a trip manually or upgrade to the pro version of Flight Update to connect the app to your TripIt account and have your flight information appear automatically within the app.
My full review of Flight Update: Flight Update – A “Must Have” App for Travelers
Flight Update is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch at the iTunes App Store for $4.99. Flight Update Pro is available for $8.99 that adds TripIt integration.
Gas Buddy
Find out where to find the cheapest gas prices with Gas Buddy. This free app shows you the prices at local fuel stations, so you don’t have to waste gas hunting for the lowest prices. You can also see which gas stations are the closest, in case you’re running low on fuel.
GasBuddy shows you gas stations by distance or price, on a map or on a list. You can access GasBuddy information using the app or website.
GasBuddy is free for:
My full review: 6 Reasons to Love Gasbuddy, Your Friend for Lower Gas Prices!
Entertainment
Your trip will be much more enjoyable if you keep yourself and others entertained along the way. Tech can help.
Tales2Go
Keeping entertained on a trip can be expensive. Tales2Go lets you stream unlimited audiobooks for a single monthly price. The whole family can be entertained for the duration of your trip while soaking in the scenery passing by the windows. The books are mostly children’s and young adult books but many are suitable for adult listening as well.
Tales2Go provides access to over 2000 audiobooks for $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Tales2Go offers a 30 day free trial so you can try before you buy. Check out classics like Goosebumps, Curious George, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Junie B. Jones. You can see a full list of available audiobooks at the Tales2Go website.
You can download the free Tales2Go app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
My full review of Tales2Go can be found here: Tales2Go – Are We There Already?
Rental Videos
If you’re stuck on a plane, train or automobile trip without access to the Internet, you may want to bring your own entertainment. Without the Internet, streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu won’t be much use. If you want entertainment on the go, check out renting videos from iTunes, Amazon Video and Google Play. You can download a rental video for a small fraction of the cost of buying it.
Be sure before you rent that you can download the video and it’s not available for streaming only. Also make sure to check the terms and conditions of your rental. You generally have 30 days to watch the video and, once you start playing it, you have 24-48 hours to finish watching it. Also check where you can watch your video to make sure you can watch them on your mobile device, computer, Roku and/or Apple TV.
When you rent your video, you need to be connected to the Internet to download the video, but you don’t need an Internet connection to watch the movie. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the size of the file (depending on the length of the video and whether it’s HD or SD), you may need to leave a few hours to complete the download. Be sure to start the download the night before you leave on your trip.
Tech Accessories
These tech accessories can keep the peace and keep you organized.
Headphone Splitters
Unless you’re traveling alone, throw a set of headphone splitters in your bag. You know the drill: no matter what you’re watching, playing or listening to, the stuff your travel buddy is watching, playing or listening to is so much more much more interesting. This steadfast rule applies to kids and adults equally, there’s no getting around it!
The Monoprice headphone splitters provide stereo sound and have dual volume controls so both listeners can enjoy listening comfort. If your goal is to avoid arguments, then having separate volume controls will move you further towards that goal.
Monoprice headphone splitters are available from Amazon for $7.88. Hey, even if you’re traveling solo you may want them in case you meet someone who is screen share-worthy along your journey!
Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube
While this item isn’t technically tech, it does help keep your tech organized. Use this case when you travel to organize your charge cords and keep your phone handy. The small case it the perfect size to hold your charge cord, phone, credit card, keys and money. The case even has a handle so you can hold it securely.
The case isn’t waterproof, so be sure to cover your phone in a ziplock bag if you’ll be near water or sand. Eagle Creek Pack-It Half Cube is available from Amazon for $7.88 or you can get the Quarter Cube from Eagle Creek for $8.50.
Your Thoughts
Do you use tech when you travel? What are your favorite tech tools? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Downloading google maps for the place I am going to visit is something I always do when I am out touristing. It is great to save on the cost for roaming and google maps is really great to help guide you around new places.
The headphone splitter is actually something I have been looking for lately since when travelling with the wife and watching movies or tv series on the tab it would be great to have a headphone splitter. Going to check out the one you recommend at Amazon.
Hi Johan, Yes, that’s a handy feature, being able to download Google Maps to use offline. That’s a feature only available on Android phones.
I hope you and your wife enjoy some wonderful movies with that headphone splitter!
Hi Carolyn,
I’m almost tempted to buy a phone just for Google maps and Streetview! I’ve spent enough money this month. I went clothes shopping yesterday! Google maps is great for finding out of the way places to photograph.
Hi Mike, I’m thinking that once you get a smartphone you will like the camera feature the best. While it won’t be as good as your new camera, it will be with you wherever you go! :-bd
Wonderful, Carolyn, thank you, this post went right into my memory board on Pinterest.
I use tech tools for travels such as google maps, booking.com, zagat and any local apps (which remind me of Time Out in London many years ago). I have recently joined Foursquare and look forward checking out other towns and friends’ tips.
Hi Barbara, I’m so glad you found this post helpful! Foursquare is a great resource. I love the Tips section that can direct you to a new favorite on a restaurant menu.
That’s great you use tech so much when you travel, Barbara. Enjoy your trips!
Hi Carolyn,
Awesome informative post indeed 🙂
I think this is such a timely post in a way as I’m travelling currently with my family on vacation to my Dad’s and then visiting a few hill stations around. I loved going through this post, especially the Google Maps as they really are a big help to see your exact location when you are travelling. My hubby’s really good with those.
Speaking of myself, as you already know, I’m hardly a tech kind of a person, but my daughters sure are. I guess they would love going through all these tech travel tools, while I sit back and enjoy the beauty in nature 🙂
Thanks for sharing these with us. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena, How wonderful you’re enjoying your vacation right now! I hope you’re having a blissful time, with or without tech.
Your daughters may enjoy going Geocaching. Mine love going on their treasure hunts and we’ve discovered new places in a vacation town we’ve been visiting since I was a young girl.
Enjoy your trip, Harleena! Best wishes for much fun and relaxation for you and your family!
I like the idea of headphone splitters! My sister always want to share music when we travel by getting my wireless headset. This would solve the issue! Thanks!
Hi Manny, Yes, headphone splitters are a great way to solve disputes between travelers. Enjoy your travels with your sister, Manny!
Sounds like you have covered all the bases; iExit sounds pretty interesting.
Hope your summer is going well, been pretty toasty down here in the FLA, but I think it’s like that all over.
My son the prosecutor is up for promotion to handle only felony cases, and my insurance agent son is starting to figure this crazy business out.
My wife is ornery as ever….just kidding….and I’m really enjoying my golf AND tennis. My volunteer board activity is keeping my busy too and somehow it appears I will be chair of two at the same time….hmmmm….
I still see you out and about; I miss it, but still in lurking mode for now.
Take care.
Hi Bill, So delighted to see you back here at The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you and your family are doing so well and are happily busy. We certainly do miss you in the blogosphere, but life does get in the way sometimes. I’m glad you haven’t left the building yet.
Have a wonderful summer and best wishes for much continued happiness to you and your family, Bill!
Wow Carolyn!
Some very cool stuff here! Not all of it relevant outside the USA (I’m in the UK) however, your point is well made. A simple search can bring up some really amazing stuff that is relevant and helpful in your part of the world.
Thanks!
~Robin~
Hi Robin, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, some of these tech tools will work in the UK, such as Geocaching, Flight Update, TripIt, Google Maps, Mom Maps, Place Book, and Field Trip. I lived in the UK for about four years and moved back to the US three years ago. You’re right, you may be able to find other comparable tech tools in the UK with a simple search.
Thanks so much for visiting The Wonder of Tech and sharing your thoughts with us, Robin!
I think ,Google maps is the most important application that a person should always have it in their smartphones while traveling . You may never know when you’ll need it to find it..It discovered its importance when i had to visit some other city for an interview …As i didn’t know the location of the office whee i had to appear for the interview …Google maps guided me to the exact location without much headaches .
Regards,
Pramod
Hi Pramod, That’s a great story of how Google Maps really made a big difference in your life. You’re right, sometimes it’s vitally important to be able to find a location and learn how to get there by a certain time. Google Maps can certainly help you with that!
Thanks for stopping by to share your experience with us, Pramod. 🙂
I like the app FlightAware – for the aviation geek, it provides a lot of air traffic control info for any flight in the world. Plus it’s great for checking on ETA and ETD timing.
Hi Jay, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thanks for letting us know about Flight Aware. I hadn’t heard of that app before but it sounds like a very handy one to have!
Hi Carolyn,
I am always interested in software that can help me when I travel. I want to know where I am, what road should I take from point A to point B, what help can I get on the road: hotels, restaurants, parks, touristic objectives, gas etc.
So my list of apps would be: Mom Maps, Field Trip, Plan book, Google maps.
Thank you for this lovely post.
Have a nice day.
Hi Silviu, I’m so glad you found so many apps that will be helpful to you. Happy travels!
I swear you come up with the coolest stuff Carolyn.
Now since my Mom is usually with me when we’re traveling I’m going to have to teach her how to use some of these great apps on my iPhone. The typing is hard for her because she’s always hitting stuff she shouldn’t because everything is so sensitive. I’m just going to try my best to get her use to this since she’s my side kick on most trips these days.
Google Maps was a bust, she freaked out with that one but I’ll train her properly.
Thanks girl for all your awesome help when it comes to neat things we all need.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Sorry, I responded sooner but my comment disappeared into the blogosphere somewhere.
Yes, it’s helpful to have a co-pilot when you travel, especially one who can help you use the apps. It’s easier to try to learn them before you head out on the road. Perhaps if you show your mom Google Maps on the computer and then show the Google Maps app to her, she could familiarize herself with the tech before you head out. You could also show her familiar places on the app such as your local grocery store so she could see how it works.
Happy 4th, Adrienne!
Oh I have Carolyn, my is on the computer everyday but she doesn’t get in some programs enough to remember how to use them. Then I tell her but she doesn’t remember exactly what I just said, it’s too confusing for her. Oh heck, she’s 88 so she gets some slack! 😉
Happy 4th to you too girl. Have a great day!
~Adrienne
Yes, Adrienne. Your mom deserves plenty of slack. I give her lots of credit for trying!
I wonder if Apple Maps would be easier for her to use?
I love Geocaching, and I will certainly do a lot of it during the summer, and maybe even when I travel to Italy in September. I’ll probably be using Google Maps as well, I did the last time I was in Italy and it’s great for finding the streets and places I’m looking for. I’ll need to check out some of your other apps as well.
Hi Jens, It’s great to hear from another Geocaching fan. I love that you can Geocache anywhere in the world. Who knows what treasures you’ll find?
Enjoy your trip, Jens!
Smartphones these days are a great tool when you travel. I am using Samsung S4, not only it has Google maps, but it also has a feature that S Translator that could help me communicate to the people that uses other language.
Hi Aurident, Sounds as if you are using your S4 to help you travel. Well done! :-bd
You so absolutely amaze me…look at you! I admire your knowledge and discovery of these tools all the time, Carolyn! You are my favorite blogger.
Wow, Jayme, thank you so much! I am honored by your comments, they’re especially meaningful coming from you.
Good Grief I have never seen such a wonderful collection of travel apps. I plan to bookmark this page. I was recently told about another one Called Waze which is traffic and navigation app. What I love is using my iPHONE to find where I am going when just walking around a town. Now I don’t have to carry maps around.
Hi Arleen, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m thrilled that you found this so useful. Yes, Waze is a fabulous app to help alert you to traffic congestion. Google Maps can also show you traffic jams. No need to carry maps around any more!
Hi Carolyn,
Awesome stuff here! How in the world you know about all these technical tools. You really amaze me Carolyn. I haven’t heard about most of them and I just feel ignorant.
I will definitely download the Google Maps App as they really are a big help to see your exact location when you are travelling or even when in town. I also liked TripIt and Flight Update. All are good stuff with your explanation to everyone of them.
Thanks for sharing Carolyn. Have a nice week ahead!!
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Hi Neamat, Thanks, I’m so pleased that you found these apps useful. Most of them I’ve been using for years, others were suggested to me by Wonder of Tech readers.
Flight Update is a fantastic app that is helpful whether you’re traveling or picking up someone from the airport. Last week my daughter’s flight was canceled and Flight Update alerted me to the status before the airline did. Very handy!
Happy travels, Neamat!
Great post!
We always use the Eagle Creek packing cubes. Those things are indispensable! I also love the app for finding exits! I always miss them, that would be a great one to have.
Cheers for the post!
Hi Dariece, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right about those packing cubes. They are handy for items other than tech, but I find them particularly useful for charging cords and to carry my phone on the go.
Happy travels!
Great list! Some of these apps I’d never heard of before!
Thanks, Patrick. I hope you find some useful ones for your travels ahead!
I love gadgets and I try to be informed as much as possible with the latest tech treats on the market. I never go on a trip without my gps, my mini speakers or some apps on my phone to help me find the best attractions. I really enjoyed the apps you presented in your post and I am looking forward to try some!
Hi Dragos, Yes, gadgets and tech can make traveling much more convenient. You can use these apps to keep you entertained and help you navigate.
Happy travels!
Great apps out there. I have shortlisted a few and will be downloading them for my next trip.
One app that i would like to add to this list of yours is “TripAdvisor”. It is available for Android. It is really helpful for discovering hotels of a city and also remarkable places of our destination.
One suggestion that i would like to give to all travellers is that download an offline Google Map version of your destination, before going out there. As you may face signal problems or data roaming charges otherwise. 🙂
Hi Karan, Excellent suggestions. I haven’t done a review of TripAdvisor yet, but I should. tripAdvisor is a very helpful tool in planning a trip.
Downloading Google Maps for offline use is extremely useful for when you’re subject to high roaming charges or away from the Interent. That feature is only available for Android phones though. 🙂
I must say Carolyn, all the apps you mentioned are amazing. They will make travelling fun as well as convenient. Moreover, people won’t it difficult to handle menacing children on the go, ofcourse with the help of these apps. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Hi Jeo, I’m so glad you like these apps. I hope the children you travel with aren’t too menacing, lol. 🙂
Nice apps for trips. Last time I was having iPad with Google maps app only to view directions. It will be more fun experience using all apps listed here. In emergencies tech tools are life saver while we are on trips. We should also focus on this point.
Hi Narendra, Yes, the Google Maps app is very helpful to have on a trip but other apps can be helpful too. You’re right, apps can be very useful in an emergency!
For avoiding – or at least planning around – traffic snarls, I like Waze. It uses all Waze users’ phone locations as sensors to track the speed of traffic. Very helpful in potentially congested vacation spots.
Hi Ed, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I keep hearing about Waze, it seems to be a popular app. Thanks so much for sharing that here with us, Ed!
Yeah its a so informative article, If you visit anywhere and you have not more information about that place, You can get information about that places using above any app, Its also give you more tourism opportunity and better information. Nice article Keep share.
Hi Mahendra, I’m so glad you found this helpful. I will definitely keep sharing fun and useful tech!