Top 5 iPhone Travel Apps

The iPhone 4 -- Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhook/4742869256/

A decade ago you could walk into a local travel agent and tell them a holiday destination and they would find you a suitable flight and hotel package. Then came the internet where you could search for hotels and transport options yourself, cutting out the travel agent and saving yourself some money.

Well now you can access the same great deals without the need for a computer thanks to a range of innovative travel apps available for the iPhone.

In this article we look at 5 travel apps that are all free to use from your iPhone.

1) TripIt
TripIt is short for ‘travel itinerary’ and this is exactly what this application does, provide you with comprehensive itineraries for your holiday. This free to use travel management system will help you to keep track of all your holiday information including flight confirmation numbers, hotel reservations, arrival and departure times, car rental information and a wealth of other information. It is much simpler than having to log into an email account to retrieve the necessary information and avoids all those print outs which inevitably get dog eared or lost.

2) TripCase
The TripCase travel app is similar to TripIt but has slightly more functionality. As well as allowing you to view all your flight and hotel reservations in one place, TripCase also keeps you up to date with other information. It continually updates with information about your flight such as delays, the gate status or cancellations as well as being able to suggest alternative flights for you if you miss yours. This clever application can also identify differences between arrival times and booked hotel check in times and alert you to differences – even providing you with the hotel number to allow you to ring ahead to see if you can have an early or late check in as required. TripCase can also provide information on airport parking facilities and availability too, amongst other things.

3) Yelp
Yelp is a US based application that provides user reviews for a wide range of tourist attractions and destinations. It can provide you with reviews for everything from hotels to restaurants, nightlife to shopping venues. It can also provide you with reviews on local health and medical services, along with public services too. This travel app is a great way to find local places whilst on holiday.

4) Priceline Hotel & Car Negotiator
For those who have heard of the website LateRooms, Priceline Hotel Negotiator is very similar. It allows you to find and book hotels and bed and breakfasts and car rental deals at the last minute, saving you loads of money off the standard rates. Hotels would rather discount their rates than have rooms left empty so this clever app allows you to book hotel rooms up to 11pm the night you want to stay in them. Similarly car rental companies would rather book out a car at a discount than leave it on the forecourt.

5) GoogleMaps

GoogleMaps on the iPhone --Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/2255694752/

Similar to the Google Maps website on the internet, the GoogleMaps application allows you to easily plan your holiday routes, either driving, on public transport or walking. It also includes the location of millions of hotels, restaurants, car rental companies and attractions, as well as everyday things such as cash machines, petrol stations and supermarkets. It can also be used to find local police stations and medical services if required too.

With one or all of these travel apps on your iPhone, you’ll have a wealth of holiday information at your fingertips.