Tripbase.com's Top 10 Travel Apps
Technology has inarguably made the world a smaller place. While some would say this has made travel a little more sterile than it was ten or fifty years ago, it also opens new doors and prevents our trips from going awry. There is, as they say, an app for everything, and travel apps are as varied as they are numerous.
Here we present ten of our favourite travel apps for both the iPhone and iPad.
Rather than rehash other top apps lists (which seems to be common practice), we've personally tried and tested every one of the apps below and had heaps of fun doing so. To boot, they are all enjoying acclaim from users in the app store so head on over and download with confidence.
World Explorer
- Cost: Free
- iPhone version available: Yes
What is it?
"With over 350,000 articles, it's just like travelling around the world from your sofa," reads the official description, and they're not wrong. If you're the type of person who gets lost on Wikipedia, you'll love this app which is essentially an enhanced version of the popular research (and procrastination) aid.
Pros: Gorgeous interface, and the GPS feature tells you the history of your area and what's around you. Cons: It is, basically, Wikipedia.
TRVL Magazine
- Cost: Free
- iPhone version available: No
What is it?
TRVL Magazine deserves all the praise it gets, including the five-star average rating in the app store. Sumptuous photography, great writing and excellent layout for the iPad come together to make this an absolute winner of a travel publication. Highly recommended.
Pros: Awesome content at absolutely no cost. Cons: It's a rare one in that we're struggling to think of any negatives... nope, nothing.
1,000 Ultimate Experiences
- Cost: $2.49 (currently half-price)
- iPhone version available: No
What is it?
Another iPad exclusive, this time from the talented folk at Lonely Planet. It's of the kind of quality you'd expect from such a travel authority, and we know of at least two people in the Tripbase.com office who have used it to gain direct inspiration for their next adventure holiday.
Pros: Great fun to flick through, mainly due to it being packed with gorgeous photography. Cons: The 'stack of cards' interface takes a while to get used to.
National Geographic World Atlas HD
- Cost: $0.99
- iPhone version available: No
What is it?
An app designed for people who feel wistful when looking at an old-school globe. National Geographic's atlases are award-winning for their quality and have been replicated here in the highest quality along with encyclopaedia-style information throughout. You're never going to use one to plan a trip, but they do bring out the adventurer side of you.
Pros: When they put 'HD' in the title, they meant it. Cons: The less imaginative will wonder what the point is.
Kayak HD
- Cost: Free
- iPhone version available: No
What is it?
Kayak HD is powerful enough to plan entire holidays with very little effort, from the flights to the hotel and what you can do when you get there. Filtering by budget is a neat feature which lets you filter by budget, making this a very smart app for the vast majority of travellers who like to ensure they're getting a good deal.
Pros: Incredible amount of features. Cons: Despite the number of customising options, it misses some basic ones.
