Travel apps for Boston and abroad

By Legacy User

7 minutes to read

  • Between packing, planning, and organizing, traveling always seems to be a huge hassle. Luckily, there are some great smartphone applications available to help make your life on the road a little less hectic. Whether you’re booking a flight to Belize or looking for the best spot to chow down in Chinatown, we’ve got the travel app for you.

  • CheapOAir Flight Search

    Finding the right flight at the right price is always a challenge. CheapOAir Flight Search makes things a bit easier for users by organzing flights as mini itineraries, including details about the airlines and possible layovers. It also lets you book multiple city trips and offers promotional codes for additional discounts.

    The app is free and is available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices.

  • Packing Pro

    Always forgetting to pack your phone charger or an extra pair of socks? This app takes the pain out of packing by allowing users to create lists and set reminders. Packing Pro also offers a collection of preset reminders and list templates that are customizable to your travel needs.

    The app costs $2.99 and is available for the iPhone and iPad.

  • Urbanspoon

    Fickle foodies struggling to find the right place to eat are in luck with the Urbanspoon app. Factoring in neighborhoods, prices, and types of cuisine, this app will suggest a random restaurant that suits your dining desires.

  • Hipmunk

    Hipmunk offers most of the same features found in your typical travel booking app, however its agony filter, which aggregates factors such as flight duration and layovers, is a useful tool for the choosy traveler. The app can also sync with your online calendar to reveal possible scheduling conflicts.

    The Hipmunk app is free and available for iOS and Android devices.

  • Hailo

    Wish you could hail and pay for a cab with just a tap of your phone? Well, now you can with Hailo. The U.K. based app was first introduced stateside in Boston last year and has now spread to Chicago and New York. Hailo is also available in Toronto, Tokyo, and select European cities.

    The app is free and is available for iOS and Android devices, with Blackberry and Windows versions coming soon.

  • Alfred

    Adults and kids alike will find Alfred an amusing companion for their domestic travels. This mobile concierge offers restaurant recomendations based off your personal preferences. The more you use the app, the better it gets at finding places for you and your whole family to enjoy.

    Alfred is free and is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

  • Kayak

    Access Kayak’s complete listings of hotel, flight, and rental car deals with this mobile app. It can even turn your confirmation e-mails into detailed itineraries and allows you to set up alerts for when fares drop.

    The app is free and is available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices as well as the Kindle Fire.

  • Boston With Kids

    Looking for local attractions and activities your young one can enjoy? The Boston With Kids app can help you plan out a trip around the town that is sure to engage and entertain your child.

    The app costs $3.99 and is available for the iPhone and iPad.

  • Triposo

    This mobile travel guide contains information on over 8,000 destinations and has a hosts of features that can come in handy on a trip abroad. Triposo, which does not need an Internet connection to use, also makes suggestions for attractions to check out, depending upon the weather, date, and hours of operation.

    The app is free and is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

  • TripIt

    This app takes the hassle out of planning a trip by organizing all your travel details into a neat, complete breakdown. Just forward all your flight, hotel, and even dinner reservation confirmation e-mails to a TripIt address and the app will provide you with a day-by-day itinerary that includes driving directions, airport information, and more.

    The app is free and is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices.

  • Boston Travel Essentials

    Looking to explore new sites in the city? The Boston Travel Essentials app lets you search by picture or category to help guide you on your trip around town. The paid app includes a global content search as well as offline maps.

    The cost is $2.99 and it’s available for iOS and Android devices.

  • Foodspotting

    This social networking app is especially useful for foodies who want a deeper look at the delicacies they want to dine on during their travels. Users post pictures and reviews of specific dishes, allowing members to bookmark their favorite meals and scan the area for nearby reccomendations.

    Foodspotting is free and is available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices.

  • FlightAware

    FlightAware makes the airport experience a bit more tolerable by allowing users to look up flight, terminal, and even baggage claim information as well as sending out alerts about cancelations and delays.  By using your position, the app can also tell you which planes are flying overhead.

    FlightAware is free and is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices.

  • Mad Libs

    Remember creating fun and wacky stories as a kid with Mad Libs? Well the zany word game has upgraded for the 21st century and is the perfect mobile pastime for restless children and aspiring wordsmiths alike during an extended trip.

    The app is free and is available for the iPhone and iPad.

  • GateGuru

    Often referred to as the “Yelp for airports,’’ GateGuru offers user generated reviews on all sorts of airport ammenities. The app also features up-to-date security wait times and in-depth flight information, both of which automatically links to your travel itinerary.

    The app is free and is available for the iPhone as well as Android and Windows devices.

  • HotelTonight

    As the name suggests, HotelTonight offers last minute travelers discounted deals for day of bookings. While you can’t check out what’s being offered until noon of that day, this app will come in handy if you ever get stranded at an airport or are in need of a spontaneous getaway.

    HotelTonight is free and is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

  • XE Currency

    Struggling to figure out how many euros you’ll need for that trip to Europe? XE Currency will easily calculate just how much you’re money is worth abroad with its up to the minute exchange rates. The app also offers historical charts detailing the fluctuation of value for the different types of currency.

    The XE Currency app is free and is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices.

  • Star Walk

    Unless you’re an experienced astronomer, navigating the night sky can be a challenge. The Star Walk app aids traveling star gazers of all ages by plotting out and labeling each of the various celestial bodies hovering overhead.

    The app costs $2.99 and is available for the iPhone and iPad.

  • Jetsetter

    The app for this invitation only travel deals website features luxury flash sales aimed at the impulsive globetrotter. Members can search by location or collection and every package is vetted by the Jetsetter team.

    The app is free and is available for the iPhone and iPad.

  • Transit Spy Mobile MBTA

    Native Bostonians know all too well how hard it can be figuring out the MBTA transit schedule. But with Transit Spy Mobile MBTA, locals and visitors alike can travel through the city with ease thanks to the app’s live maps and up to the minute schedules. There is also a countdown feature that will tell you how long it will take for your next ride to come.

    The app costs $3.99 and is available for iOS, Android, and Blackberry devices.

  • Trover

    Looking for a more photo driven, travel app experience? Trover lets you plug right into the surrounding scene by using your phone’s GPS to reveal what others have photographed nearby. You can also search through photos based on location, what’s trending, and more.

    The app is free and is available for iOS and Android devices.

  • Stack the States

    Who said geography can’t be fun? Give your young ones an entertaining, yet educational game to play with during your next lengthy trip across country with the Stack the States app.

    The app costs 99 cents and is available for iOS and Windows devices.

  • Postagram

    Where postcards meet Instagram, the Postagram app lets you turn your digital photos into tangible momentos of your travels abroad. For less than a dollar, you can send real life, personalized postcards right from your mobile device.

    The app is free with each postcard costing 99 cents. Available for the iPhone and Android devices.

  • Yelp

    The widely popular site’s app allows you to view its entire collection of reviews and ratings right from your mobile device. Whether you are in Boston or abroad, check out Yelp’s listings of top restaurants, cafes, and more.

    The app is free and is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices.

  • Google Maps/Translate

    Finally returning to the iPhone this past December, Google’s highly praised maps app was one of the most used apps of 2012 thanks to its user friendly interface and myriad of other features. If you are going abroad though, make sure to download Google’s translate app as well to help avoid any language barriers you may encounter.

    Both apps are free and available for iOS and Android devices.

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