My 10 Favorite iPhone Apps for Travel

Suffice it to say, I never, ever, leave the house without my iPhone, so it comes as no surprise that I rely on it heavily throughout my day. This also holds true when I travel. With over 25,000 apps available so far, it can be a daunting task to choose just a few. But for travel, I think the 10 most useful apps, at least for me, would have to be the following:

1. Tripit - This one is relatively new. The Tripit website has been one of my favorite sites this year. The site, which requires a free registration, allows you to collect all your trip information in one place. Now, with the Tripit for iPhone app, you can carry all of your valuable trip info on your iPhone.

2. The Weather Channel - This one speaks for itself. Knowing in advance what the weather forecast is allows you to pack the right stuff. Free version, as well as a $3.99 ad-free version with some enhancements.

3. Google Earth - All the power of Google Earth for your desktop, now in the palm of your hand. And did I mention it's free?

4. Around Me - Another free App, this one allows you to find out what is in your vicinity. Very handy when you're looking for a gas station!

5. AirMe - Snap a few pics with your iPhone, then upload to sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, all for free.

6. Packing Pro - A great App that allows you to create custom packing lists and export them (via email). Available for $3.99.

7. Flight Status - Check any flight status by route number, flight number or airport. Also check the weather, and terminal, gate and baggage claim info for any flight. Available for $4.99.

8. Currency - Another great free App, Currency provides up-to-date exchange rate information for over 90 currencies.

9. WYWH Postcards - Send real postcards from this free App. For a low cost (~$1.30) you can snap a picture with your iPhone and send a real postcard to anyone in the US!

10. Wi-Fi Finder - A free App that uses your GPS function to determine the closest free and paid wifi hotspots. It also gives you the ability to sort by provider or paid vs. free.

So there you have it. Some of the most important Apps I travel with. There are many more that I find of use (especially games for killing all that airport wait time!), but these have a permanent spot on my iPhone.

Make a List and Check it Twice!

Ah, packing lists. Some people swear by them, others just wing it. Me? A list is a must, but then again, I make a list for just about everything I need to do. If you're not sure where to start, I suggest this article on Wikitravel.org. I've tried in the past to create a generic list to modify for each trip, but that hasn't worked out. For example, about a third of the time, my travel plans revolve around scuba diving. Since this is really a specialized form of travel, I have created a list for just this type of trip. I also have created a business travel list, Florida travel list (frequent trips to visit family and Disney World), and a weekend travel list. The key is to determine what list works for you, then stick to it!