Google Maps: You may be stranded and looking for directions to a new place you plan to visit with your friends. Google Maps is the most preferred option. It has been recently voted the most frequently used app by smartphone users as well. It provides high-resolution satellite images and covers most urban areas all over the world. You can browse through street maps and a route planner that gives the best alternatives for those wanting to travel by foot, car, bike or bus. It has proved useful for many youngsters, not just for travel within the country but also abroad.
“I used the Google Maps app to locate new places in San Francisco when on a work trip. The accuracy of directions makes this app my first choice,” says Vinay Ravindran, an entrepreneur who needs to travel on work.
Zomato: This app allows you to locate top restaurants from around the country and abroad, gives you a list of highly-recommended cafes and restaurants and gives you a look at their menus, pictures and maps. Search for restaurants by their name, location or cuisines offered, and follow personalised recommendations given by other foodies.
“I use this app as it addresses specific needs at new travel locations. This app comes in handy when I need to check for restaurants at the last minute,” says M. Narendran, a keen traveller.
TripAdvisor: An app that lets you book flight, hotel and bus tickets while on the move. Surf through millions of user reviews to plan the perfect trip. Select the lowest flight fares, best hotels and restaurants and do other fun things with this app. For those with no clear agenda when travelling, this app does the planning.
“I prefer TripAdvisor for its clean and easy-to-use interface, extensive data classification, user reviews and pictures which add credibility to claims made by hotels and restaurants,” says Preethi Anirudh, director of an animation studio.
FourSquare: This is another app that gives information on the newest hangouts and locations. Get instant suggestions on the best spots for breakfast, dinner or a movie, see where friends are going and receive notifications if they’re nearby, make open table reservations within the app and get tips from friends on the places they like.
“Since I travel without a fixed agenda, this app comes in handy as I get to know about interesting places close to the area I’m in,” says Sahil Chopra, a corporate communications specialist.
