Cool Travel Apps for Your iPhone

iPhones and other cell phones with internet access are definitely mainstream.  People now use their phones for everything from checking email and playing games to shopping online.  While researching this article, I even found an iPhone application (usually called an “app”, for short) that allows you to remotely drive a car from your phone.

I thought there must be many useful apps for travelers, and after a bit of research I realized I was right.  There are scads of them.  Here are some of the many cool travel apps for you tech-geeks that also happen to be beach bums:

CURRENCY CONVERSION

One of the main things you need to do when visiting a foreign country is convert currency.  Whether you are at a bank or exchange house, simply exchanging Dollars for the local currency, or trying to figure out how much a nifty souvenir is going to cost you in your own currency, you will definitely be faced with the currency conversion issue.  Here are some currency conversion apps that will make exchanging money an easy task:

Currency Converter HD Money, is a very popular app and costs only 99¢.

XE.com and Oanda.com are both well-known websites that do foreign exchange.  They also have online currency converters.  Both companies have created iPhone apps so you can always have their currency converters at your fingertips.  The apps from XE and Oanda are free.

Currency an app, by Jeffrey Grossman, that is highly rated and available for free.

All of the currency conversion applications listed allow you to convert over 100 currencies

LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS

When traveling, another major hurdle many people face is the dreaded language barrier.  In Cancun, this isn’t such a big deal for English-speaking visitors, as many people here are bi-lingual.  These phrasebook and translation apps are pretty handy to have, nonetheless.

Jibbigo Voice Translation app is very cool.  All you do is speak into your phone, saying the phrase you wish to translate, and the app translates the phrase and speaks back to you, in a different language (hopefully, in the language in which you are trying to converse.).  This application is a bit pricey, at $24.99, but it’s certainly inovative.

Coolgorilla Spanish to English Phrasebook application translates Spanish into spoken English.  The app has over 500 translated words and phrases.  The price is only 99¢.

Lonely Planet also has a phrasebook application, similar to that of Coolgorilla, but the Lonely Planet version has about 100 more words and phrases, and a higher price tag.  The cost of the Lonely Planet app is $9.99.  In their defense, they have some of the best & most useful phrasebooks on the market.

CITY GUIDES & MAPS

Cool Cancun & Isla Mujeres was written by a Cancun “local”.  It lists all of the hot spots in Cancun & on Isla Mujeres, and even shares some of the area’s hidden gems, too.  This app is available for $1.99.

Cancun NOW has many cool features.  Not only will you be able to pick the right bar, restaurant, or sightseeing tour with this app, but it also give you coupons for free drinks or a discounts on a some tours.  There is even a button for contacting local emergency services.  The cost of this app ranges from 99¢-$2.99.

MISCELLANEOUS TRAVEL APPS

The Weather Channel has a great app that not only gives you the current temperature, but also gives you extended weather forecasts and has full-screen maps.  This app is free.

Packing (+ TO DO!) is a wildly popular, highly-rated app for making packing lists for upcoming trips. You can also save packing lists so you only have them for future use.  You’ll never forget to pack anything ever again.  The cost of this application is either 99¢, or $1.99, depending on which version you purchase.

Jiwire’s Free Wi-Fi Finder is a free app that allows you to find free Wi-Fi internet hotspots near you, wherever you are in the world.

Alarm Clock Free transforms your iPhone into a digital alarm clock.  This app is also free.

The Flashlight app fills your iPhone screen with white light to illuminate your surroundings in the event of a power outage, or while walking outside.  This free application has other lighting options, like strobe light, or holiday lights too.

The Compass application turns your iPhone into a working compass, should you ever need to navigate your way out of the jungles in Riviera Maya.