This post is sponsored by Visa Small Business, but the opinions are all mine, and any comments are all yours.
Sometimes Skype or Google Hangouts aren’t enough. You need to press the flesh and look right into your customers’ eyes.
For times like that, you need to leave your office and meet face to face. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, there are plenty of apps to make your next business trip as effective and affordable as possible.
Here are 30 essential travel apps to maximize the ROI of your next business trip.
BOOKING TRAVEL PLANS
Hipmunk
Hipmunk is the fastest, easiest way to plan travel. They compare all the top travel sites so you don’t have to. Plus, you can save up to 60% off hotels with their Tonight Deals.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Kayak
The smart travel search engine. This popular app provides you with hotel, flight, and car search and booking, flight tracker and itinerary management.
Great for finding affordable trips anywhere.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Window
Cost: Free
TripIt
This one app seems to do it all.
Organize your travel plans in one place with TripIt® from Concur. Simply forward your travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt automagically creates a detailed daily itinerary for every trip. Forward hotel, airline, car rental, and restaurant confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com to create an instant itinerary (If you use Gmail or Google Apps, it happens automatically). You can access itineraries anytime, on any device (even offline). Get directions, maps and weather for each destination. Sync trip plans with your Apple Calendar, Outlook, or Google Calendar. Add or edit plans manually—from the app or on tripit.com. Share some (or all) of your trip plans via email or social.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry
Cost: Free (Pro version is $49/year)
COMMUNICATION & PRODUCTIVITY
Refresh
This app is perfect for people who freeze up at networking events.
Refresh is a free app that prepares you for every conversation in every meeting. It works seamlessly in the background to find and beautifully display relevant insights about the people you’re going to meet. Easily sidestep small talk and spark real conversations that matter.
Platforms: iOS, Android,
Cost: Free
Viber
With Viber, you can connect with everyone in the world for free. More than 300 million Viber users text, call, and send photo and video messages worldwide over WiFi or 3G – for free. Viber Out can be used to make calls to non-Viber landlines and mobile numbers at low rates. Viber is available for many smartphones and platforms.
This is how many professionals keep in touch no matter where they go.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
Mynd
This app claims that if you replace your existing calendar(s) with Mynd Calendar, within a week you’ll see it get smarter and improve your productivity. Mynd Calendar learns where you spend your time and the people that you meet along the way, becoming increasingly smarter and more helpful the more you use it. It stays at least one step ahead of you, working behind the scenes to save you effort, prepare you for your meetings, and get from point A to B on time. It is incredibly easy to setup and syncs seamlessly with your existing calendar(s).
Coming soon: it is compatible with both the Hal 9000 and Skynet.
Platforms: iOS
Cost: Free
Skype
Chances are you’ve used Skype on your desktop, but did you know you can use it to get online at over 2 million WiFi hotspots around the world? Or pay per minute with Skype Credit. You can reduce your data roaming costs when you’re abroad: Use Skype WiFi to connect to WiFi hotspots at hotels, airports, train stations, bars and restaurants – available at over 1 million hotspots worldwide.
Only pay for the time you’re connected – there are no limits on the amount of data you can upload or download.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry
Cost: Free
TRAVEL BY AIR
FlightTrack 5
You can get push notifications with flight updates and can view terminal maps to help navigate to the gate. With FlightTrack, you can search flights by number or route in a single search field, create trips with multiple flights and travelers, and view the progression of an entire trip within a single workflow. You get real-time departure info, delays, and gate numbers at a glance. International coverage allows you to track flights worldwide. They’ll even inform you of cancellations and help you find alternate flights when you’re in a pinch.
Just hope you fellow bumped passenger doesn’t have the same app.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: $4.99
MyCityWay
If you’re traveling to a major US city, you’ll want this app in your pocket. It’s a personalized city guide covering 30+ different categories deemed essential for anyone living or traveling in major US cities.
If you’re not traveling in one of those cities, you can still use your phone to call for help.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry
Cost: Free
Routehappy
Want to know what other people think of your flight, airline, or airport? Routehappy is the world’s flight rating system, providing Routehappy Scores & Happiness Factors for every flight worldwide. Share what you think about airports and flights and show it in pictures, and they’ll incorporate your feedback into the flyer ratings component of our rating system. You can review while you fly even without Wi-Fi. Just submit when you’re back online.
Platforms: iOS
Cost: Free
Traxo
Are you “that guy?” Do you travel with printed pages of confirmations and a wallet full of plastic loyalty cards? Who are you? George Costanza? With Traxo your travel accounts and plans stay organized, secure, and available, across all of your devices, automatically. Traxo provides an always up-to-date service to people on the move, be it for business or leisure.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
SeatGuru
This app lets you access over 700 seat maps from approximately 100 airlines. It features advice and insights drawn from tens of thousands of passenger reviews, so you can always find the best possible seat for your flight. The SeatGuru app allows you to find and compare low airfares from the major airlines, low-cost carriers, as well as the leading online travel agencies. You can also set up flight alerts that monitor your flight departure and arrival times and other related flight information.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
GateGuru
This popular app is a favorite of road warriors everywhere. You’ll get real-time flight status with push notifications along with a wealth of airport content specifically customized to your itinerary. And now, you can reserve last-minute airport rental cars at significantly discounted rates that are exclusive only through GateGuru.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
TRAVEL BY CAR/BUS
Taxi Magic
Book a ride to your location in three taps of your iPhone. Use the app to track a nearby taxi as it arrives. Register a credit card and pay for the ride straight from your phone – they’ll email a receipt once the ride is over. Download now and experience the Magic for yourself!
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Silvercar
Are you a fan of the Audi A4? Do you refuse to drive anything else? Than this is the app for you.
Simply download the app, create a reservation and profile, exit the plane, and walk directly to your silver Audi A4. Then, use your iPhone to unlock your Audi A4 and get ready to drive. Once you’re in the driver’s seat, pair your iPhone using Bluetooth and stream music from your phone. (Navigation system and wi-fi are complimentary with every rental.)
Perfect for the Audi-ophile. (groan)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Uber
Never sit in a stinky cab again, or wait in an insanely long cab line.
With Uber, you can request a ride in over 100 cities and 30 countries. You’ll get text updates about when your ride will arrive and even be able to track it on your phone. Pay with credit card including your tip. Easily set your pickup location on the map, even if you don’t know the exact address.
Sit back, relax, and go anywhere you want. They’ll email you a receipt when you arrive at your destination.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Waze
Waze is Google Maps for the social crowd, with a bit of gamification thrown in.
With millions of drivers from across the globe joining forces to outsmart traffic, save time, gas money, and improve daily commuting for all. By simply driving around with Waze open, you’re already contributing tons of real-time traffic & road info to your local driving community.
It’s great to see in advance where traffic, speed traps and even road debris may be lurking.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
HopStop
Need some public transportation information? Get detailed subway, bus, train, taxi, walking and biking directions, real-time transit information via HopStop Live!, as well as official transit maps, nearby station search, and station-to-station schedules in over 600 cities throughout the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Russia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Netherland, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.
Platforms: iOS
Cost: Free
TRAVEL BY TRAIN/SUBWAY
Amtrak
The free Amtrak mobile app allows you to book one-way and round-trip tickets, search for station information, check train status, board using your eTicket, update Amtrak.com reservations, and connect to your Amtrak Guest Rewards account. Plus the convenience to save tickets to your phone calendar, Apple Passbook™ or Samsung Wallet™.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
NAVIGATION
City Maps 2Go
Your reliable and easy-to-use global travel companion. When you can’t get reception this app offers detailed offline maps, in-depth travel content, popular places, and insider tips.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Google Translate
There’s more to travel than “donde es el baño?”
Break through language barriers with Google Translate. Translate 80 languages. Listen to your translations spoken aloud. Directly translate speech and handwriting. Star your favorite translations for quick access even when you’re offline. View dictionary results for single words or phrases.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Word Lens
See the world in your language. Instantly translate printed words using your built-in video camera, in real time! However, know where you’re going, because language packs are in-app purchases! Buy language pairs using in-app purchase: English ⇆ Russian, English ⇆ Portuguese, English ⇆ German, English ⇆ Italian, English ⇆ French, English ⇆ Spanish.
What’s awesome is that it works with Google Glass. What’s not so awesome is that you still look like a dork if you’re wearing Google Glass.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Google Glass
Cost: Free (in-app purchases for language packs)
The Converted
Let’s say you’re traveling in a foreign country and you have to impress the locals by making a soufflé, but all of the measurements are in metrics! Surely this has happened to you. Luckily, you have this app on your phone. Quickly convert any measurement to any other with this app.
Platforms: iOS
Cost: $2.99
RESTAURANTS
Yelp
Chances are you already have this app on your phone, but put it on your home screen when you travel and never get stuck in eating in a chain restaurant again. You can even use your camera’s built in phone to view the street you’re on and Yelp will pull up reviews of the restaurants in your view finder. That alone is worth it.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
LODGING
Hotel Tonight
Have you ever found yourself with out a hotel room for the night? Now you can book last minute hotel rooms at killer rates. They’ll make your decision super easy by showing you the day’s best hotels & values.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
Airbnb
Admit it; you’ve always wanted to crash on a stranger’s couch.
Airbnb opens the door to the world’s most interesting places to stay and is the simplest way to earn money from your extra space. With over 450,000 listings in more than 34,000 cities, Airbnb connects you with the experience that’s right for you.
I found a great apartment to rent for a few days at less than half of what a tiny hotel room cost in NYC, even after the group discounts the conference was offering.
Platforms: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
DOWNTIME
Netflix
Chances are, you already use Netflix to watch movies at home. Download the free app and you can instantly watch thousands of TV episodes & movies on your phone or tablet.
No more watching hotel movies at $9.99 a pop! $14.99 / night in-room wifi not included.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free (requires subscription to view content)
Hulu
Maybe you’re a Hulu Plus person and not a Netflix person? No worries. Download this app to enjoy unlimited instant streaming of current hit TV shows. Requires a Hulu Plus paid subscription.
Watch the full current season of popular shows including Modern Family, and The Office. Enjoy classic series including Lost and Battlestar Gallactica. Resume watching from where you left off on your TV or other supported device.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free (requires subscription to view content)
Amazon Kindle
Maybe you prefer a good book?
The Kindle app is optimized to give you the ability to read Kindle books, newspapers, magazines, textbooks and PDFs on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. You’ll have access to plenty of books, newspapers and magazines. Amazon Whispersync automatically syncs your last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices (including Kindle), so you can pick up your book where you left off on another device.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Cost: Free
New York Times Crossword
Maybe you prefer to workout your brain?
Enjoy the same puzzles printed in the daily newspaper (you remember those, right?) on the only mobile crossword app built by The New York Times. The New York Times Crossword is free to download, and all users get unlimited access to the daily puzzle and calendar archive for 7 days. After that, subscribe for full access to The Crossword in iOS or at NYTimes.com.
Platforms: iOS
Cost: Free (requires subscription)
Your turn.
Are there any travel apps that you just can’t leave home without? Let us know in the comments below!
Rich Brooks
Road Warrior
I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Visit http://facebook.com/
visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as a space where small business owners can access educational resources, read success stories from other business owners, engage with peers, and find tips to help businesses run more efficiently. Every month, the Page will introduce a new theme that will focus on a topic important to a small business owner’s success. For additional tips and advice, and information about Visa’s small business solutions, follow @VisaSmallBiz and visit http://visa.com/business.
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