Favorite apps while on the go!

 

I have to say, staying on top of things while on the go is a must. I hate being lost, so some of my favorite apps keep us on track and take us wherever we want to go.

My favorite two apps have to be Apple Maps and Google Maps. I have tried to get with Google Maps, but as an iPhone user, I have to have the map on the rental car dashboard while driving and Google just won't play nice. (Or is it the other way around? Shame on you Apple!) Google Maps is great for doing research and figuring out distances between point A and point B. Apple Maps just won't give you the same flexibility. So I research with Google Maps and drive around with Apple Maps. UPDATE: now Apple Maps connects to new cars without a cord in Carplay! So cool...just get in the car and your phone is connected.

My lifeline app has to be Yelp. It is not very often that I come up with a dud on Yelp. That did happen on this trip: I picked a restaurant that looked great on the app and it turned out to be closed. But for the most part, I find just about anything we need in Yelp. I always read the reviews which are a great tool. Don't forget to SAVE the ones you like. You can make folders for each new city. Where was that great sandwich shop in Portland again...?

If you are booking flights, don't miss the website Seat Guru. I have my new preferences of where I like to sit on planes now (Hello free exit row seats! Thank you, Alaska MVP status!) If you don't have the fortune to sit in First Class, or even Premium, AWAYS, check the likability of your seat on Seat Guru so you have a pleasant trip.

But the most lifesaving of all apps, if you are renting a car or driving your own, has to be Spot Hero. This one was suggested to me by a tour guide we were trying to meet up with in Denver's downtown. I was like, 'Where do I park???' He told me to just put this app on my phone, tell it where you want to be near and there are plenty of garages to choose from. The crazy cool thing about this app is that it works in over 300 cities! I'm currently rocking it in Atlanta, no problems! I love this app! It will totally make your parking life super simple in any big city! UPDATE: Now Spot Hero's app works in Apple's Carplay. Open the app on your car's dashboard to park and you are done! Check HERE to see if your city has Spot Hero.

UPDATE: For those long comp days where it’s really hard to get/keep a parking spot, but you are hungry with no options around- DoorDash is the answer! I usually find a restaurant close by with no delivery fee and have them hand me my order. This is a lifesaver for those gyms with little parking (like all of them) for comp days. 

Here are some other apps to consider that make traveling fun: Window Seat (point it out of the airplane to know what you are flying over), MyTSA (Can I take this through security? and all things TSA), FareDrop (Lets you know when crazy airfare deals are going on), Travel Smart (app for Allianz Travel Insurance), Flight Aware (answers the 'Where is my plane?' question and much more, and the most helpful: Timeshifter helps you get rid of jetlag so you can arrive ready to go! This app really works!). And best of all: TripIt. This keeps all of my travel plans in one place. It’s worth every penny and I’ve now been using it for two years and expanding what I put into it. This one is a must have!

CLIMB ON!