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The 20 best smart-phone apps for travelers

Software applications for smart phones – more commonly called “apps” – have proliferated since the release of the iPhone and the Android.

The iPhone alone has more than 200,000 apps available to do just about anything you can think of. Thousands more exist for the Android. Among them are many terrific applications for travelers that we want to make you aware of.

Here’s a rundown of 20 of the most popular travel apps. Let’s start with 10 for the iPhone, as ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek.

1. Google Earth. In addition to searching global satellite and aerial images, Google Earth for the iPhone lets users look at photos and Wikipedia articles associated with particular locations.
2. Urbanspoon. This tool actually shakes up the way you look for restaurants. Shake your iPhone, and Urbanspoon will pick a good restaurant for you to try. Keep shaking until you find one you like.
3. Yelp. Yelp’s insightful reviews of restaurants, shops, cafés, and more — written by a community of locals who seem to know where to find the best of nearly everything—are now available on the iPhone.
4. Wi-Fi Finder. For travelers looking for a web connection on the go, this application is designed to unearth free and paid hot spots at nearby restaurants, cafés and hotels.
5. Trapster. This tool from Tenereillo sends iPhone alerts aimed at helping users avoid police speed traps and red light cameras.
6. Currency. This tool that lets overseas travelers get up-to-date exchange rate information for more than 90 currencies and 100 countries.
7. The Currency Converter. How much is that in zloty? Users can find out quickly with this app, which offers up current exchange rates for more than 85 commonly used currencies.
8. Cheap Gas! Nobody wants to return a rental car without a full tank. This app helps travelers in the U.S. and Canada find the least expensive gas in a given area.
9. TripIt. The application can make it easier to organize and share travel plans by automatically generating a master itinerary for your trip from travel confirmation e-mails.
10. Language Translator. Those who like to use Google’s online language translation tools can now use this software to translate words, phrases, sentences, and whole paragraphs of text into different languages right from their iPhone.

You can find more popular iPhone travel apps on this Bloomberg Businessweek web page. And you can access any of the iPhone apps at this web page.

The Android is no slouch either. Here are its most popular apps, as listed on the Android Market web page.

1. GPS Status displays your GPS and sensor data. This app shows the position, number and signal strength of GPS satellites. Check your position, GPS accuracy, speed, acceleration and bearing. A magnetic compass is included which displays both magnetic and true north.
2. Nav4All is a navigation system covering 82 countries and 56 languages. With Nav4All you can allow your friends to follow you on Google Maps worldwide.
3. StarTranslate is a voice and text translator and dictionary. Based on Google’s translation service, you can translate words and text from many languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Thai and Hindi.
4. Translator is used to translate words, phrases, sentences and whole paragraphs of text between different languages using Googles language translation service. It can even detect your source language and flip between source and translation phrases.
5. WHERE is a bundle of cool GPS apps all wrapped into one. Are you looking for the hottest restaurants? Your next coffee fix? Or do you need a cheap fill-up? Maybe you want to know the local weather, traffic or headlines? Whatever you are after, WHERE is likely to have it.
6. Places Directory allows you to browse nearby places in categories like restaurants, movie theaters, hotels and banks. You’ll see distance and directions to the destination, and if you tap on the listing it will show ratings and photos. You can also call the business or view its location on Google Maps.
7. Wikitude might be the most the most innovative and comprehensive travel guide ever: See the world through your phone’s camera view overlaid with Wikipedia content. What you see is an annotated landscape, mountain names, landmark descriptions, and interesting stories.
8. Hotels Near Me lets users find and book hotel rooms. It lists 66,000 hotels in 71 countries and 21 languages. No fees are charged.
9. Deskbell is a fun little program that can be used to call the waiter in a restaurant or get your colleagues attention during meetings. It features four different sounds – including a long bell, a gong and a cowbell.
10. My Maps Editor creates, edits, shares and views personalized maps on your phone synchronized with the My Maps tab on Google Maps. It provides full editing functionality for markers, lines, and shapes, plus you can mark your location using GPS or attach a photo directly from your phone.

Android apps can be access by clicking here.

We hope these apps will make your travels more efficient, relaxing and enjoyable.

Do you have any favorite travel apps we didn’t’ mention? Please share them with us in the comments box.

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