Ten Best Android Travel Apps

My daughter and I are doing some "travel research" this week, so my friend, Brian, has graciously agreed to write today's post. Read on, especially all you wonderful android users! (Ahem... that includes my husband who better read every post!)

TripAdvisor app for android

I like apps, lots of apps, and there are a LOT of apps for travel on Google Play. So many, that it can be a little overwhelming if you don't know what you REALLY need. This is a short list of 10 Android apps that I consider essentials if you take a trip to Africa, or just a trip to the supermarket. No matter what your experience traveling, there are at least a few that everyone can find beneficial.

Must have android apps

1.  Google Maps - (Free) This one is at the top of the list for a reason. It is the fall back when I cannot find IT anywhere else. Google maps is probably the one app that I cannot imagine being without while traveling. With it's local search integration it is a priceless tool for finding just about anything. It's street view are unmatched, and it's ease of use if what every other mapping software strives to achieve. If I would only have travel app on my Android, this would be it, hands down.

 2.  Trip journal -(free, $2.99) This is a great app if you which to share your travels with your friends, or if
you just want to chronicle your travels while you are on the road. It does allow 1 free map, but it is paid after that. However, at 2.99 it's a heck of a deal.

 3.  TripIt - (free,$3.99) This is one of the most popular android travel apps, and for a good reason. This will keep track of flight times, directions to and from the airport and it let's you easily share it to facebook and twitter so your family knows when you arrive at your destination. If you travel, even occasionally, it is worth having on your android device.

 4.  Tripadvisor - (free) This list could also include Yelp, but I prefer Tripadvisor. Seems easier touse to me, and I like to contribute to the reviews as often as I can. When I have reached my travel destination, one of the first things that I do is reach for one of my "food" apps. More times than not, that is Tripadvisor. If you are looking for a particular joint, or just a general type of food (Italian, Asian, Mexican or a late night Coffee), this app finds it for your and does it in a hurry.

 5.  TV Foodmaps - (free) This is more of a "cool" app than anything. I REALLY like the food shows, so when we travel I am always in search of the local hot spots. This app indexes 25 shows and over 2600 restaurants. Great stuff if you want to find a small pub, restaurant or dive that is famous for it's somethingoranother.

6.  Hotels Tonight - (free) This is another great app. Many times when we travel as a family we are flying by the seat of our pants. We leave and don't have a particular destination in mind, and we most certainly don't have a place to stay for the night. If you are in one of the larger cities then this is a great travel app for finding a last minute discount on a hotel. If you are not in a large city, then I recommend Tripadvisor from above. It is also a very valuable locator of all things "Hotel".

 7.  TuneIn Radio - (free) As far as I am concerned, like would be extremely boring without music. No matter where you are (assuming you have a mobile data connection), you can listen to your favorite streaming radio stations on demand. Save favorites, look for particular shows on talk radio, or just browse what is local to your area. Whatever is your flavor, you can find it with this app.

 8.  Gas Buddy - (free) Unless you are utilizing some sort of mass transit, then you must buy gas to get from point A to point B. I haven't found a better app for the job than Gas Buddy. It is constantly.. as in hourly, being updated with latest gas prices in most areas throughout the US and Canada.

 9.  Expensify - (free) This is a great app to keep track of how much you REALLY spent on that last trip. One feature that I especially find handy is being able to scan in (take a photo of) your receipts and the app automatically imports them in. Great app for the business traveler.

10.  Dropbox - (free) This is an app that I would recommend to anyone, even independent of the travel aspect of things. Dropbox allow you to have a folder on your android device or devices that will then sync to your computer (or computers). I use this thing constantly, and next to google maps, it is the other "must have" on the list. Very simple, just upload a photo, video, or other file, and it will almost instantly appear on all of the other devices. I use my dropbox to backup my photos from my android phone. It works great also to share photos and files with other family members while you travel. It's really tough to pick 10 android apps that are the "BEST" in a particular category. There are a lot of choices. What are some of yours? Please feel free to comment, we would love yo hear from you.   

Today's guest author, Brian, writes for Android Travel and Outdoors. If you are a techie person who likes to travel you can stay connected with Brian on twitter.