The Top Ten Free Smartphone Travel Apps

Just because a smartphone app is free, doesn’t mean it’s a good value.  We all know a smart phone only holds so many apps. From the most popular to the best rated, Cully Schneider rounds out the top 10 most useful free travel apps.

Last-minute flight changes, hotel reservations and gate changes can wreak havoc on your travel plans, bur these free smartphone apps keep you prepared for the unexpected.

TripIt
A great app for the frequent flier, TripIt allows you to keep all of your travel itineraries in one place on your phone.  Keep up with multiple airline, hotel, car reservations and more.  Just forward your confirmation emails to the app and your reservations will be combined into one itinerary. The app provides an easy way to share your itinerary with colleagues and family.  It even syncs with your iPhone or iPad calendar to help keep you on schedule.  An added bonus: it’s a great way to be green by going paperless.

GateGuru
GateGuru provides status updates for your booked flights and estimated wait times for security lines all in real-time.  The app also helps you find reviews on the airport’s restaurants, gate information and travel tips. The app provides a complete list of airport amenities and lets users share airport experiences with friends on Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, and Gowalla.

AirportZoom  
Made exclusively for the iPad, AirportZoom displays detailed flight status updates, weather forecasts for departure and arrival airports, and terminal maps including up to date gate locations.  Users can also receive weather alerts, security warnings as well as traffic and parking updates.

Priceline Hotel Negotiator
Looking for last-minute hotels rooms for cheap rates is made easy with the Priceline Negotiator app.  Now available on the iPhone and iPad, the Priceline app gives users a place to bid on desired rooms up to 11 pm ET and read hotel reviews from hotel guests.  The app’s hotel radar helps discover nearby deals while another feature allows you to browse various airport rental car options.  Great for those travelers searching for deals while on the go.

Kayak
Voted the “People’s Voice Winner” at the 2011 Webby Awards, the Kayak travel app compares prices on hundreds of travel websites so that you can find the best prices for hotels, flights and car rentals.  The application’s user friendly design makes finding the best travel deals a snap!

more>>