TRAVEL + LEISURE

48 Best Apps and Websites for Travelers  includes

Get the First Word on Delays: Flight+

The ultimate flight-tracking app puts all the info you need—routes, departure and arrival times, seat maps, and more—in an easy-to-navigate tabbed layout. It covers more than 16,000 airports and every major carrier around the globe—plus, you can sync your itinerary with your personal calendar and share details on social media. flight-plus.com
Runs On: iOS
Honorable Mention: FlightTrack

Stay in Touch: Skype

 

 

Unlike most of its rivals, video- and phone-calling service Skype is available in stunning HD quality on every platform—and even on many new TV’s. This means it’s easy to reach your loved ones via Wi-Fi from anywhere in the world, no matter what kind of smartphone or computer they have, for free. skype.com Runs On: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone
Honorable Mention: Google Hangouts

Manage Your Reservations: TripIt

Keeping track of your flights, hotel reservations, car rentals, and more is free with TripIt, but at $49 per year, the Pro version is worth it: the service helps you rebook a flight in the event of a cancellation, tells you if you’re eligible for a fare refund, and includes a great loyalty-program point tracker (a caveat: American, Delta, and United were not participating at press time). tripit.com
Runs On: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone
T+L Tip: TripIt Pro’s new Seat Tracker feature will scan for blocks of adjacent seats so that families can maximize their chances of sitting together.

Get a Second Opinion: TripAdvisor

More than 100 million user-submitted reviews for hotels, restaurants, and local attractions make this the only public forum you’ll need to query. Connect your Facebook account to the site to see your friends’ critiques and recommendations. tripadvisor.com
Runs On: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone
T+L Tip: Wary of your carbon footprint? TripAdvisor’s new GreenLeaders filter lets you find sustainable hotels from coast to coast.

Get to the Places Your Friends Love: TomTom Navigation

In addition to providing reliable traffic updates every two minutes, mapping giant TomTom allows you to search for points of interest that your friends have recommended on Facebook and Foursquare—all without leaving the app. Looking for the scenic spot your college roommate posted about? The latest update will get you there based on a (geo-tagged) picture alone. tomtom.com
Runs On: Android, iOS; $49.99
Honorable Mention: Magellan RoadMate On-the-Go

The Traveler’s Take: White Noise

“I can’t sleep without White Noise ($1.99; Android, iOS) anymore. It blocks out street noise in city hotels, and the ‘crickets’ track reminds me of the rain forest.” —Philippe Cousteau Jr., Explorer and president, EarthEcho International

Share Your Travels with the Push of a Button: Instagram

The most popular photo-sharing app now lets you shoot and edit 15-second video clips. As with photographs, there’s a range of fun, vintage-style filters to apply to your reels, and thanks to the app’s integration with Facebook, you can also tag friends, family, or even the destinations featured in your footage. instagram.com
Runs On: Android, iOS
T+L Tip: Although there’s no Instagram app for Windows Phone or BlackBerry 10 users, the program can be accessed via third-party apps such as Instagraph for Windows Phone and Instago for BlackBerry.
Honorable Mentions: Vine, Cinemagram

Check it out: there are another 42 Travel Apps not included here.