Travel Apps to Transform Your Smartphone

Travel can be hilariously complicated. Airplanes get delayed, car rental agencies run out of vehicles and weather comes out of seemingly nowhere. That’s where your smartphone can turn into your personal travel agent, giving you up-to-the-minute updates and helping make your travel smoother — especially when you’re in a bind.

Tripit

Tired of carrying around a folder full of papers, printouts and dates? Or maybe you have an inbox full of travel emails. This organizational app pulls all of your flight, hotel and travel confirmations out of your emails and into one sleek planner. Now you don’t have to go searching for your travel information at the ticket counter.

FlightTrack

There are hundreds of airline and flight tracking websites out there. FlightTrack, however, aggregates all of your information into a sleek interface with color-coded flight status updates and gorgeous tracking maps You can also sync your travel updates with other relatives flying on the same day for up-to-the-minute information for those looking out for you.

WeatherPro

If you’re tired of the generic weather updates on your iPhone, it’s time to step up and get WeatherPro. This paid-for app gives you detailed weather information on more than 2 million locations worldwide, including atmospheric pressure, cloud formations and wind speed. You’ll never be surprised by a rainstorm while you travel again.

Hailo

Getting a cab can be competitive and tricky in a new location. Hailo activates your phone’s GPS so licensed and legitimate cab services will get a ping and come pick you up. This app is ideal when you land at the airport or if you’re in a new neighborhood.

Wi-Fi Finder

This free app can pinpoint the closest WiFi spots near you. You can even download a map of a neighborhood you know you’ll be enjoying for use in the offline mode. Once you’re there, just look at the map to find the closest WiFi spot to connect to the world. This tool is especially helpful internationally.