10 Helpful Apps for Holiday Family Travel

The holiday season is almost here and if you are planning to travel during that time, these apps can help make your adventure more organized and less stressed.

TRIPADVISOR

This app is extremely helpful. If you are visiting a new place during the holiday season and you want to get a better idea of what to see, do, where to stay and eat. TripAdvisor is information posted from fellow travelers who have visited your location of interest. There are posted photos and reviews to help you make more informed travel choices. Like with anything, the reviews are a reflection of that persons own experience so it should be read with that in mind but also can provide extremely helpful insight. You can also find additional travel information through this app relating to travel guides, forums and much more. Highly recommended you use this app when doing research while creating your travel plans.

TRIPIT

This is a great app for holiday travel. It basically organizes all of the travel information you normally receive in multiple emails or documents and has them all in one location on or offline. It contains maps of destinations and airport maps which is very helpful to have especially during family travel. A more advanced version, TripIt Pro also acts as a travel assistant by keeping you updated with alerts and notifications relating to travel changes, which can be very helpful if there are weather delays.

PACK & GO DELUXE

During the holidays there are so many things to keep organized and this app will help you with your packing process. It provides packing lists for all members of the family and even has an alert setting to remind you to do laundry before your trip.

WAZE

This app is the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Join other drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and road info, saving everyone time and gas money on their daily commute.

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

If you are traveling to another country or part of the world where there is a language barrier Google Translate is very helpful. All you do is type in what you would like to have translated such as a question and you select the language you would like it translated into and then it does it for you. In fact you can either share your translation in the written form or your can press a button for your phone to speak the translation. This is very helpful if you are trying to overcome a language barrier and need to communicate your thoughts immediately.

MOM MAPS

This app was created specifically for family travel road trip breaks. It contains the location of nearby playgrounds, parks, family friendly restaurants and reviews by parents. It is free and can be helpful for any family outing not just bigger adventures.

MY TSA

In today’s world, travel security requirements often change and it important to be up to date. This app provides you with the most recent airport security information. This app is available 24/7 and answers many commonly asked questions to help you be more prepared. It even provides real time information for security wait times, airport delays status, informational videos that address family travel questions and a contact center for questions. This is a great app that can save you time and money by being properly informed before heading to the airport.

SKYPE

No matter where you are traveling to for the holidays you are only a video call away with Skype. This app is great because you can use it on your smartphone or tablet and you can video chat with your loved ones for free. If you know you will be spending the holidays physically away from members of your family, be sure to ask them to register for Skype now, this way once you want to wish them happy holidays face to face, all you have to do is turn on your phone.

IEXIT

This app can be very helpful if you are planning a road trip with your family this holiday season. It outlines places of interest located at each exit on the road you are traveling. If you suddenly need to find a gas station, place to eat or sleep while driving you can use this app and it will tell you where the closest one is located.

HOTEL TONIGHT

If you find yourself on a long road trip driving to visit family for the holidays and you feel tired, open Hotel Tonight and find available hotel rooms near you at great rates. You can book your room for that night directly from your phone. There are representatives ready to assist with any questions through phone or email. This app provides lists of excellent hotels that meet different needs and budgets.

All of the apps listed below are very helpful to use both during the holiday season and throughout the year. Technology has provided great tools to assist with your family travel and these apps can help you meet any challenge that arises.

 

Photo via Flickr User Highways Agency