Move over guide books – smartphone apps are the new way to discover a destination. Caroline Adam profiles some of the latest and greatest travel apps around
ROAMZ
Imagine this: You've arrived at your destination and want to sample some authentic cuisine, but have no idea which restaurant to go to.
Solution: You consult Roamz and find out about a hole in the wall eatery that's popular with the locals and is right near your hotel.
About this app: Roamz trawls through the masses of social media content to help travellers uncover all the hidden venues, niche bars and popular cafes in the area around them. This free app pulls live information from social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Instagram to give users the most up to date information about places and events around them. It ships the relevant information to an easy-read interface on the user's iPhone or Android device.
GOOGLE GOGGLES
Imagine this: Wandering around a city, you stumble upon an awe-inspiring monument and haven't a clue what it is.
Solution: Using Google Goggles, you hold up your camera phone in front of the landmark and learn the name of this magnificent structure.
About this app: Google Goggles allows travellers to use pictures to search the internet, rather than by text or voice. When a user holds their camera phone in front of the object and submits this to Google Goggles, it uses the GPS and compass from their mobile phone to recognise the particular place and display its name on the camera viewfinder. From famous landmarks to artworks, this app has got it covered. It's free and is available on iPhones and Android phones.
HEARPLANET
Imagine this: You like learning all about the key tourist sights in a destination but you're not really into reading up on them.Solution: You use HearPlanet as your audio guide during your next trip and feel like you have your own personal tour guide.About this app: HearPlanet partners with publishers, organisations and everyone else with something to say about places, to bring the user a highly comprehensive audio guide to the world around them. Users can create their own tours and store offline collections to avoid data charges, and the app also features geo-location for instant information on what's nearby. It's available on both iPhones and Android devices and costs $US2.99.
GATE GURU
Imagine this: Navigating your way around foreign airports is the bane of your existence. You just want to know where everything is without having to wander around aimlessly, feeling frustrated.
Solution: The next time you're in an airport you consult GateGuru and within minutes have found yourself a nice place for coffee and a good book to read.
About this app: GateGuru seeks to transform the chaotic and unfamiliar airport environment into a more satisfying experience for travellers before and after flights. Travellers can easily locate the best food, shopping and service options within any airport at the touch of a button. It's available on iPhone and Android devices, and costs $US2.
SIMPLY DECLARE
Imagine this: Each time you go on holiday you spend far more than you should, and also forget to collate the receipts of your purchases for when you go through duty free.Solution: On your next trip you use Simply Declare to help you stick to a maximum spending limit, plus there are no more duty free dramas.About this app: Simply Declare allows users to add, update and manage their travel purchases. With a few taps, users can set a total amount and based on that track the purchases they need to declare to their home country for duty free purposes and more. The app is available on iPhones and costs $US1.99.
