There’s an app for almost everything, and for iPad owners in the know traveling has never been easier. Sadly there’s no app for reducing the queues at airport security (yet), but the following apps, identified by Skyscanner, are guaranteed to take some of the stress out of your journey. All apps are available via iTunes.
Click through for 10 iPad apps to help make your travels easier, as identified by Skyscanner.
When you’re traveling on a budget, exchange rates can be a pain. Is 2000 baht for one night in Bangkok good value? With the XE Currency converter app you can quickly find out (without any taxing mental arithmetic).
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Cost: Free
Savvy travelers know that before booking into a hotel or reserving a table at a restaurant, a customary look at TripAdvisor is essential. The iPad app makes it easy to find the top attractions as rated by the TripAdvisor community on the go, and best of all it’s free.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Cost: Free
Holiday reading doesn’t have to monopolize luggage space. The Kindle app turns your iPad into an e-reader, and integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s storefront. If you already happen to own a Kindle, you can leave it at home as the WhisperSync technology automatically updates your latest book.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Cost: Free
Phrase books are so last century. Google Translate means you’ll never struggle to find the words you’re looking for. What sets it apart is the ability to translate from speech and to read the translation back to you: perfect for hotel room practice.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Cost: Free
City break enthusiasts need look no further than the Hedonists Guide. Packed with local knowledge about the best bars, hotels and hot spots in each city, the guide is essential download material. Currently 41 cities are covered, including Baku in Azerbaijan (home of this year’s Eurovision).
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Cost: $16.99
Eliminate last-minute packing woes with this handy checklist app. If you have no idea what to throw in your suitcase, simply input the type of trip you’re taking and the app will make a few suggestions.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Cost: $2.99
It may not seem immediately obvious, but Twitter is the perfect place to find out the zeitgeist of a destination. To get the inside track from those in the know, follow prominent businesses and bloggers from the area, ask local foodies for restaurant suggestions and simply search for the name of the place you’re staying at — you’re bound to find out some up-to-date info on what’s happening.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Cost: Free
One for social media over-sharers, TourWrist makes it possible to create a 360-degree panorama of your travels: whether that’s the view from the top of the Empire State Building in New York or simply your hotel room. You can browse other people’s tours, too, for wanderlust inspiration.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Cost: Free
Finding a restaurant in a new city can be tough, which is where Urbanspoon comes in. Let the app choose a restaurant for you by selecting a neighborhood, a cuisine and a price range, or just shake your iPad for a randomly generated option.
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Cost: Free
Last but not least, the world’s most powerful and flexible flight search app: which just so happens to be Skyscanner’s very own free app for iPad. The official Skyscanner app makes it possible to search and book cheap flights on the go, and when you’re looking for travel inspiration, you only have to spin the globe to see which destinations are cheapest to reach.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later.
Cost: Free
