Travel Tip: Travel Apps

Thanks to Travel Weekly magazine for this extensive list of a variety of travel apps and their functions:

Duolingo: This app is designed to teach the basics of a wide variety of languages in the format of a computer game. You must answer questions correctly before proceeding to the next step. This is a perfect download for first-time visitors to virtually anywhere on our planet.

EatSmartGuides: This app for travelers helps you identify local foods and beverages so you can decipher menus like a local. Akin to having your own menu translator sharing your chopsticks.

Eventseeker: Shows you key art exhibits, foodie events and festivals happening in the cities you visit.

TheFork: Another valuable app for Europe-bound travelers. TheFork points out the best restaurants and offers maps, reviews, sample menu items and even discount coupons for many featured restaurants.

Foursquare: Download this one just to see what all the buzz is about. Just tell the app what your family’s favorite foods are and it will show you only places that meet your profile. You can choose to follow those with similar tastes worldwide.

GateGuru: While not quite as good as having your travel personally monitored by one of the better flight tracking services, Gateguru is a great guide to local airport food along your route, amenities in your terminal, weather and the latest gate and departure information. It also shows you nearest alternate airports, just in case.

Google Translate: This is a rather obvious inclusion. The app enables you to simply speak into your phone and have their words instantly translated to the local language. But what is really cool is that this app no longer requires phone service.

ICE (In Case of Emergency): ICE records details about your personal medical conditions along with your doctor’s contact and insurance information, which it stores for translation in 10 languages. Best of all, it can be accessed in an emergency even if your phone is locked.

LiveTrekker: Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve, but this app can create an entire digital journal of one’s travels using a red line to trace the exact route. It monitors speed and altitude, and users can add photos, videos and audio en route, returning home with a multimedia journal that can be shared with friends.

Seat Alerts: This valuable app monitors the available seats on a flight up until its departure from the gate. It is particularly valuable for last-minute cancellations or when no-shows open up better seat availability.

Spotted by Locals: This site offers guides to 55 European cities and 11 in North America curated by locals with the latest information on what is cool and trendy. The best spots for music, shopping, coffee and bars are included. The price of the app includes free updates for life.

TimeOut: Insanely popular with those under 40, TimeOut is a comprehensive repository of things to do and see in cities around the world. It features everything from restaurants and bars to major attractions and events, Travelers to any city will be able to monitor everything going on around them. The app can even book restaurants and concerts.

Wolframsunexposure: You enter your skin type, and the app tells you how long you can safely stay in the sun before getting burned. It is based on where you are and the time of day, even taking into account the type of skin cream you are using.