I know that some may feel you’re no one without an iPhone these days. And I’m sure the folks involved with Android certainly don’t agree. Up to this point I have been drooling over the thought of purchasing my first iPhone, but I haven’t succumbed to making that purchase.
But now that I hear people, important people, singing the praises of Android smartphones, I’m really considering jumping off the iPhone bandwagon and onto the Android one.
My own Verizon contract is up next month, and I have been considering an Android phone. This means, I’ve also been researching (read drooling over) all the cool apps available. And that got me remembering last month’s post 10 Free iPhone Travel Apps on which Andi commented and asked me to do a post about Android travel apps.
Seems the universe is trying to tell me something. I guess now might be a good time to list some cool travel apps for the Android. And because I like traveling on a budget, I’ve picked freebies. {Clicking on the links below will bring you to the download screen for each app.}
1. One of my favorite travel online search engines, Kayak, has a free android app. Perform many of the same functions like searches for flights, hotels, cars, deals and flight tracker. It even has an airlines directory, which is great for getting in touch with an airline quickly if you need too.
2. Though I can’t promise the conversion appearing in larger than life numbers on the screen will make you happy, I can promise that it will at least be accurate. My favorite currency converter Xe.com is available for free on the Android. The shake to refresh is a cool bonus.
3. Trip Journal is a cool way to track your vacation. The sleek and easy to use app tracks your movements with the GPS chip in the phone and any photos you take along the way. You can also insert photos, video and notes. The lite version is free, but for 2.99€ you can get the full app which allows integration with Picasa, Flickr and YouTube. I don’t know that it will take the place of a hand-written journal, but I’d be willing to bet it will for some.
4. Better than a phrase book and cheaper than a personal translator is the free Android app Talk to Me. It makes traveling to a foreign country easier. This app allows you to speak your word or phrase in English, and the translator will say the words back in whichever language you choose. Now you’ll have no excuse for not conversing with the locals!
5. The lightning fast Geodelic app allows you to effortlessly browse your location and surroundings to instantly find the nearest restaurant, bank, theater, shop and more. Restaurants come loaded with menus, even a tip calculator. Travel options include tracking of flight departures and even luggage restrictions. The best part is the learning feature, which offers an exclusive personalized experience; the more you use, the smarter it becomes – it becomes more you, without any effort.
And of course, I’ll keep you updated with new travel apps I discover if I do end up getting that Android based Smartphone.
Now it’s your turn to share your favorite Android travel apps in the comments!
