The 6 best blogs for learning about the latest travel apps
You don't have to spend much time scrolling through the App Store to know that there apps for almost everything now, especially when it comes to travel. Whether you need help planning your itinerary, want to make a comprehensive packing list or just hope to coast through the airport customs line, your smartphone can be your best friend on the road. And if you want to stay up-to-date on the apps that are worthy of being added to your phone's home screen, these six blogs can be a big help.
1. Treehugger: For those who are interested in responsible travel and sustainable living, Treehugger highlights the latest apps (and other technologies) that help people live more consciously. Some recent apps that the site has highlighted include one that can help you identify the plants and animals around you and one that can help you locate a restaurant that serves local, ethically sourced or sustainable foods.
2. Skift: Focused largely on travel trends, news and data, the site's mobile section shares the latest smartphone-related developments, as well as features on app-related topics, like a travel agency that operates only through the messaging app Viber or the reluctance of airlines to embrace Apple Pay.
3. Engadget: While Engadget covers all things tech, much of its content is focused on apps that would be of interest to travelers, with reviews, news and sale alerts (although you'll need to follow Engadget on your favorite social media apps in order to take full advantage of those potential money-saving updates).
4. My Itchy Travel Feet: This blog – which is targeted toward those in the Baby Boomer generation – has a Travel App Review section that caters to several different categories of travelers, including road trippers, the health conscious and photographers. There are even sections for seasonally appropriate apps (winter travel, for example) and for specific destinations, in the United States and abroad.
5. Lifehacker: This site is great for discovering tips, tricks and apps that can be used to better (and often more creatively) manage life's tasks, at home and on the road. Lifehacker (which is part of the Gawker Media empire) has covered everything from getting the best views at popular U.S. attractions to using Google's Inbox app to track your travel plans.
6. 148Apps.com: This blog covers everything app-related, with reviews, pricing information and a section for just-released apps. If you search for "Travel Apps," you'll get a massive list of apps with full descriptions, screenshots and a timeline of versions and updates. The search feature provides a nice mix of popular apps like TripIt, Jetsetter and Concur and lesser known downloads that are more specific to regions, destinations or interests.
What's your favorite blog for discovering the latest travel apps?
Jessica Festa is the founder on the solo and offbeat travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture. She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.