More Than Just Hotels, Flights & Restaurants

The longtime travel review site and online community has several apps offerings useful for any traveler. These apps provide some of the typical features found in most travel apps, but can also help you with things like navigating the local transit, learning which sights are worth your time and money, and discovering off-the-beaten-path secret spots.

The main TripAdvisor app offers search and book features similar to Kayak and TripIt, but the strength of the app is the community with reviews, photos and access to forums. A feature I really like is “Point Me There!” -a GPS guided compass and directions for places you browse on the app and want to visit.

TripAdvisor also offers over 70 individual City Guides apps for major cities around the world. From Seattle Washington to Cape Town South Africa, the list of City Guide apps is impressive.

The City Guide apps have basic travel information, restaurants, attractions, which the main TripAdvisor app also has. The CityGuide apps acts more like an electronic version of a travel pocket guide, providing background information and sample itineraries. Plus, since you have a dedicated app for the city you’re visiting, you have quick access to attractions and amenities.

The biggest feature of the CityGuide apps is that they work offline. You don’t need an Internet or cell signal to use these apps. Where ever you are, whether it’s a remote area with no mobile service, or if you’re trying to avoid roaming charges, the CityGuide apps will continue providing local information and directions.

I enjoy the self-guided tours of the CityGuides. You can also search for nearby food or attractions using your current GPS location and get directions, like the main TripAdvisor app.

There is also a City Guide Catalog app that allows you to browse all city apps available and select which you’d like to download. Why 70-plus separate apps and not have all cities in a single app? Because these apps work offline, the information for each city is saved to your phone or tablet. It works without a data connection because the information is on your device. To save guide information for all cities would needlessly take up too much space on your phone or tablet.

All TripAdvisor and City Guide apps are free for Apple iOS devices. (The link below is to main TravelAdvisor app, CityGuide apps are downloadable for each city).

Tripadvisor: Plan & Book TripsTripadvisorTravelFreeDownload