1, Trip It
Your mobile trip planner, Trip It shows all your trip details at a glance: flights, hotels, car, map, directions—all in one place. You can sync your travel plans with your online or mobile calendar, share itineraries and post travel plans on your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
(Cost: free; for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone/iPad and Windows Phone 7)
2, Google Maps
Taking Google Maps with you is one of the best options to explore new places. Traffic updates, public transit, city tours with 360-degree street views, plus a voice-guided, turn-by-turn GPS navigation are merely some of the features this mobile app offers so you can navigate like a pro.
(Cost: free; for iPhone and Android)
3, Google Translate
You won’t feel completely lost at your destination if you have access to Google Translate. You can either type into a word box or use the speaking option to translate a phrase. You can translate 58 languages in text and hear 23 languages worth of converted phrases.
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone/iPad)
4, Pack Point
This app comes in clutch for overzealous list-makers. When you’re ready to pack for a trip, input the dates and activities you might do (like working out, attending business meetings, or swimming) and Pack Point checks the weather and creates a packing list. All you have to do is dig through the laundry.
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone/iPad)
5, Mint
With Mint, you can easily organize your finances, keep an eye on your travel budget and track your expenses during your trip. It’s absolutely safe and secure. That because it’s a “read-only” service, which means that you can’t move funds between accounts, and neither can anybody else.
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone/iPad)
6, WhatsApp Messenger
Stay in touch with your friends and family is really important while you’re on the road. Whatsapp helps to exchange real-time messages without paying for SMS. All you need is a Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection.
(Cost: free; for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows phone)
7, Mobile Passport
As international traveler’s dream, the Mobile Passport app lets you breeze through U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 25 airports and one cruise port. Simply fill out your flight information on your phone when you land and answer the usual customs questions, and you’ll be allowed to stand in a special line that will help you speed through the pesky process.
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone)
8, Hotels Tonight
This slick purple app makes it almost too easy to book a great hotel for a discounted price, whether you’re looking to stay next week, tomorrow, or in ten minutes. When hotels approved by Hotel Tonight have unsold rooms, they load them on the app and into your hands, with savings likely not available elsewhere. The app also comes with its own loyalty program, totaling up your spending to reach levels that bestow even greater discounts, as well as perks like late check-out or a room upgrade.
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone)
9, Hitlist
The world is so vast and the options so many that organize your “must visit” list can be a daunting task. Hitlist is here to help. Not only does it organize your ever-expanding destinations and allow you to share your picks with friends, but it constantly scans airfares to let you know when ticket prices to the locations on your list drop to levels that’ll have you saying, “I can’t not go at this price.”
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone)
10, XE Currency
XE is the go-to site for currency conversions on the web, so it’s no surprise that its app is so popular: with over 20 million downloads since launch. It has lots of business-oriented features, such as rates for precious metals and historic currency charts, but for the traveler it is most useful for the simple fact that it’s able to convert every world currency. It also functions offline by saving the last updated rates, which is great if you’re in a place with limited connectivity or trying to save on data.
(Cost: free; for Android and iPhone)