Top 3 Must Have Travel Apps For Smartphones

By Anu Passary | Oct 23, 2012 12:03 PM EDT

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Smartphones are quickly becoming an indispensable aspect of our day-to-day lives, an on-the-go companion who is at hand to answer our queries with the simple click of a button.

Both Android and iOs devices are packed with innumerable applications like maps, weather updates, restaurant searches etc. that make looking for things a breeze. The apps especially come in handy when one is traveling and is in unfamiliar terrain. The push of a button is all it takes to resolve a user's queries.

Here's a look at the top 3 must have apps for smartphone that will assist users in their travels.

1.Roamz

One of the most sought after queries whilst traveling is looking for restaurants that offer authentic local cuisine. Roamz is the perfect app that users can consult. This app sifts through the masses of social media content to aid travelers in uncovering the little nuggets tucked away in a corner, joints that are popular with locals, niche bars, and popular cafes in the area.

The Roamz app extracts data from social platforms like Twitter, facebook, Foursquare, and Instagram to give users reliable and up-to-date information on places and events that are happening in the vicinity. It also has an easy-to-read interface.

This app is free and is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

2.Google Goggles

One of the joys of traveling is exploring the unfamiliar and uncharted. However, often a traveler may chance upon a landmark or monument and not have any inkling of its history or significance, but would like to know the same.

The Google Goggles app is perfect for such scenarios. The Google Goggles enables travelers to use images to search the Internet as opposed to typing or through voice.

All a user needs to do is hold their smartphone camera in front of the unidentified monument and submit it to their Google Goggles. The app uses the GPS and compass in the device to recognize the particular place and display it on the camera's viewfinder. This app covers pretty much everything from famous landmarks, books, wine, logos, to artworks.

What's more the app can read text in "English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish, and translate it into other languages."

It is free and available for both Android and iOS smartphones.

3.GateGuru

Navigating through foreign airports can be tricky and annoying if one has to look for snack bars, coffee shops, gift shops et al by wandering around aimlessly, especially when tired.

GateGuru is the solution to this problem. Next time at an airport, users can consult GateGuru and within a jiffy would have found themselves a nice coffee shop where they can sit back and unwind with a good book. The app aims to "transform the chaotic and

unfamiliar airport environment into a more satisfying experience before and after flights, and during layovers."

With the GateGuru app in tow, travelers can easily locate the best food, shopping, and service options within any airport.

The app costs $2 and is available for both iPhone and Android devices.