23 Oct 2009, Posted by Peter in Lifestyle, Little Bits, Travel, Travel 2.0, 3 Comments

Useful iPhone Apps for F.I.T travelers

While the web has been revolutionising the trip planning process of travelers and added some unreal dimension to the detail in which these travelers can customize their holidays, it is becoming more and more useful to those already on the road. This means that there is a shift from pre-trip relevance of the Internet to a complete process of planning and customising, to decision making during the trip, and finally post-trip feedback and sharing.

While this is completely revolutionary, and developing at such a pace that many tourism businesses are becoming terrified of it (rather than inspired), it should be kept in mind that not all destinations offer speedy Internet access to travelers during their stay. Over the last 4 months I have spoken to a handful of tour operators in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, all sharing a common concern: The demand for Internet access by foreign tourists, and the inability of local accommodations providers to hook these junkies up with their online fix.

The Solution: Mobile Technology and Innovation, combined with an understanding of traveler trends and decision-making.

It is unarguable that the iPhone has changed the way people travel. For good. Folks, it is not about surfing the web. It’s about having powerful web-based tools at your fingertips, wherever you go.

Recently I have read quite a number of blog posts on useful iPhone Apps travelers – I also came across a few really good destination specific traveling Apps.

Below are my recommendations for the Fully Independent Traveler. Enjoy.

Convert Everything

Not only does this app allow you to easily convert between currencies, but also converts units and languages.

Damage: NONE

Developer: Cristian Bica

Around Me

Around me is not the only of its kind, but is definitely at the top of the list for me. This useful App allows you to quickly find out information about your surroundings – whether it is the nearest Bank, Bar, Gas Station, Hospital, Hotel, Movie Theater, or Taxi.

Damage: NONE

Developer: Tweaksoft

UrbanSpoon

Having trouble deciding where to eat? This part magic 8-ball, part slot machine makes up your mind for you, and even uses the element of chance. Nice one.

Damage: NONE

Developer: UrbanSpoon

Yelp!

Yelp! adds a flare of user-generated content to your mobile by giving you the ability to add a rating, as well as a 140 character review about restaurants, bars, banks, and so on, in a particular area. Perfect for the traveler who likes to share, and those who trust the opinions of fellow travelers more than the guidebooks..

Damage: NONE

Developer: Yelp!

Anti Mosquito 2.0

This baby keeps the Mozzies at bay, by producing sound in the range of 16 000Hz to 20 000 Hz, which is beyond the audible range of humans. . With 350-500 annual cases of malaria, this application is definitely something to consider (especially for those not keen on the scent  of Bug repellent). Another thing that makes it pretty cool is that it operates in sleep mode, therefor not killing your battery.

Damage: $ 0.99

Developer: Dong-Wook Kim

Lonely Planet Phrasebook

• 31 different language combinations including products for native Japanese, German, Italian and French speakers
• over 600 phrases covering everything from sightseeing to greetings to health and more
• translations including local text, phonetic pronunciation, and audio translation

Nuff said.

Damage: $ 9.99

Developer: Lonely Planet

Spend

A great personal budgeting Apps for keeping track of your expenses while on the road. If Caipirinhas or Tequila is the last thing you remember before waking up in your hostel with an empty wallet, at least now you’ll know how much you pissed away. That is if you can find your iPhone

Damage: $ 0.99

Developer: Adam Williams

Tetris

Traveling independently can also mean traveling alone. Remember how bored you were waiting for that connecting flight? There are plenty of time-killing iPhone games available, some of them for free. I simply picked Tetris because I like it, and you can’t ‘clock’ it. Have fun.

Damage: $ 4,99

Developer: Electronic Arts

Photo Credit: maakke on Deviant Art