Whatever your vacation destination is for the summer, these apps will help you get there.
Hipmunk (Free: Android, iOS)
Great for: The business traveler or frequent flyer.
Hipmunk is just one in a long line of search engine travel apps that compares travel sites to find you the best deal. I’m keen on its simple design that doesn’t over-complicate the process or confuse with its results. (Plus, the Hipmunk chipmunk does an adorable dance while your results are loading—who could resist?)
In addition to the usual filtered results by price, departure time, and flight length, Hipmunk recently beefed up the app with new calendar integration. Now, you can sync your calendar of choice (Apple iCal, Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar) and pan through results that fit into your schedule, genius!
GateGuru (Free: iOS, Android, Windows Phone)
Great for: Any airport-navigating traveler, but especially those who need a point in the right direction.
Disclaimer: I can get lost just about everywhere but my own house. So, airports to me are a terrifying maze of wrong-turns and endless terminals space. The last thing you want to do is be searching through the opposite end of the terminal when you hear your flight boarding.
GateGuru breaks down airports by terminal and then categorizes what eateries are available, as well as shops and services. The app also lets you know which are available pre-security, which is particularly helpful if you are visiting the airport for a reason other than flying out. GateGuru is kind of the Swiss army knife of travel apps. I love it for the airport maps and easy to find food amenities, but it’s a lot more versatile than that. It has everything from updated flight delays to car rentals right from the app. Great through-and-through.
Road Trip 66 (iOS $0.99)
Great for: Anyone who loves kitschy American roadside attractions.
This is a must-have if you’re planning a road trip and love the oddest and most eclectic sights the U.S. has to offer. If you’re more of a “drive way over the speed limit and get there as fast as possible” person, this is probably not a good app for you. It uses GPS to pinpoint what attractions are nearest to you so you can plan your stops accordingly.
GasBuddy (Free: iOS, Android)
Great for: Anyone who doesn’t enjoy paying more for gas!
Using GPS, this app pinpoints all the nearest gas stations and their up-to-date pricing per gallon. This app is a must-have to conserve on gas prices that always soar in the summer months. You won’t want to delete GasBuddy after your travels; it’s a must-use every single time you have to fill up.
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Half of the battle with traveling is the actual travel time. Sure, the first hour or two might be full of adventure and wanderlust, but a few hours in, you’re probably going to be looking for something to save your sanity. If you’ve got a flight delay or a long car ride ahead of you, here are some excellent time-wasting apps that will blissfully suck you into oblivion.
Candy Crush (Free: Android, iOS)
If you’ve somehow avoided this app and its addictive allure, I applaud your self-control. It mixes the classic board game Candyland with Bejeweled-like qualities. The hilariously seductive voice cheering you on will keep you coming back for more—“Delicious”.
Pocket (formerly Read It Later) (Free: iOS, Android)
Pocket is a genius app that simply saves articles or videos for later reading/watching. This is perfect if you’ve ever had a, “Where did I see that again?” moment. It also comes in handy when you have some spare time to catch up on something that caught your eye.
No internet? No problem. Pocket doesn’t require a connection to go back and read on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Its clean design organizes all your articles neatly so they’re easy to find later.