Preparing for the fall conference season can be a daunting task—there are hotel rooms to book, flights to schedule, and meetings to arrange. Here are a few services that will provide some relief from the stresses of traveling. Along the Way
Available from: Apple App Store
Price: $2.99
Along the Way is an app for iOS devices that helps travelers discover stops on the way to their destination. It’s ideal for road trips because it allows users to search the route ahead instead of the immediate area, and it works anywhere in the world. Its categories include Nightlife, Food, Coffee, Recreation, Sights, Shopping, and Gas. Users can also type in any destination they have in mind. The app’s entries for the stopping points show ratings and tips from Foursquare, as well as photos, coupons, driving directions, and other details.
FlightAware
Available from: Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Windows Phone Store, Windows Store
Price: Free
FlightAware is a flight-tracking service for private and commercial air traffic in 45-plus countries in North America, Europe, and Oceania. The mobile app, available for iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, Android, and Windows 8 devices, allows users to see live flight data such as flight statuses, gate and terminal changes, delays, cancellations, and flight connection statuses. They can also get cancellation, delay, and other alerts on their mobile devices and search by airline, flight number, route, or aircraft registration to track flights.
PackPoint
Available from: Apple App Store, Google Play Store
Price: Free
With the PackPoint packing app, users can list the items they need to remember for their trip based on the length of their stay, the predicted weather at their destination, and the activities they plan to do. PackPoint builds a custom packing list based on this data, which asks whether users will be hiking, traveling internationally, swimming, traveling with a baby, and other specifications. Users can add their own additional items and then share their list via an individual website link (e.g., this list for a trip to Katmandu, Nepal).
TripCase
Available from: Apple App Store, Google Play Store, TripCase (non-iOS and non-Android device users can click here for the app)
Price: Free
Users of TripCase can manage their trips by accessing information from about 45,000 technology and travel companies that partner with the service to guide them through every stage of travel. Users email their flight details, dinner reservations, hotel confirmations, meetings, and other information to TripCase, and the items will be added to their TripCase itinerary. This allows for combined bookings (from travel agents, hotels, etc.) in a single itinerary. Users can then edit their itinerary, access messages and flight alerts, add notes and reminders, and share their travel plans. The app also displays destination details such as weather reports, driving directions, and phone numbers.
Stay
Available from: Apple App Store, Google Play Store
Price: Free
Stay offers 1,000 curated travel guides for 150 national and international destinations, including Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Brussels; Mexico City; New Orleans; St. Louis; and Zagreb, Croatia. The guides are created by local experts who weigh in on where to find the best restaurants, free Wi-Fi hotspots, nightlife, famous attractions, and more. With the mobile app, users can build their own travel guides, collaborate with family and friends, add places as they travel, as well as access the curated guides. Maps and personalized guides can be downloaded for use offline so users won’t incur mobile charges.
