Travel iphone Apps :: National Geographic World Atlas

National Geographic World Atlas has joined the App parade.  A great tool for those times you're lost in the streets of Buenos Aires sans map book, find wireless and voila, gps your current location.   I imagine this app being used by the technology saavy and distinguished traveller who will appreciate using their iPhone/Touch to preform a map 'tri-search' using antique, classic view or satellite view (similar to Google earth enabling you to zoom to street levels).

According to the World Atlas App, their point of difference is "utilizing our highest resolution, “press-ready” images, providing you the same rich detail, accuracy, and artistic beauty found in our award-winning wall maps and bound atlases."

Nat'l Geo World Atlas Travel App Details

• $1.99
• browse search and zoom detailed maps of the globe
• search the globe in three ways: antique, classic, satellite
• 6 million database entries with major cities preloaded for offline search
• world flag and fact database with socio-economic and geographic data
• save your fave places with the 'pin' tool
• map your current position with gps

Other Travel iphone Apps we've Reviewed

• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

Travel Apps :: Hostel World

Launching last week, the newest travel industry giant to join the app world is hostelworld.com. The Irish-owned, market leader in online reservations to the budget traveller has now made 'on-the-go' booking that much more accessible. Now students and travel aficionados seeking an authentic, no-frills stay can search for hostels from the comfort of their own iPhone or iPod Touch's wi-fi while globetrotting. According to the budget booking engine, the launch of the free Hostelworld.com app is being celebrated with no booking fees on any bookings made on iPhones until January, 29th.

HostelWorld.com Travel App Details

• free
• map view of hostels, showing users current location
• search 23,000 hostels in 6,000 destinations worldwide
• view photos
• read over 2,000,000  reviews
• store preferences for later review in offline mode
• ability to book multiple room types simultaneously

Other Travel iphone Apps we've Reviewed

• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

*Although hostel-ing may not be your preferred trip style, don't rule it out. I've stayed in my share of hostels in my university backpacking days, but as I got older, opted for hotels. However, when I was in Cusco, Peru, our friends booked a hostel for us. At first I wondered what the accommodations might be like, but once we arrived, I was elated. The Llipimpic hostel had an adorable central courtyard, amazing staff, separate rooms---each with their own washroom, an amazing breakfast every morning as well as free computer/internet.  For $39/night, the place was a steel.

Travel iphone Apps :: Kayak First Class Flight Search

[trip style = luxury] iPhone apps are revolutionizing travel.  If only hotels would rise to the challenge and make wireless free. I get that it's a cost center, but if I have two hotel options and one has wireless, I'd for sure book the property offering free wireless.

The most recent iPhone/iTouch travel app to make drool is Kayak First Class Flight (now called Kayak Pro) Search! It used to be $3.99 and now it's been reduced to $1.99, which Kayak is hoping won't be a barrier to entry if the individual can afford the first-class fare anyway. Either way, it's nice to have all the functionality of their free app, plus the added benefit of searching only business or first-class fares.

Details

• you can exclusively search business and first-class airfare
• has all the same functionality as the FREE Kayak App (in kayak's words "it can also search for economy fares when you feel like mingling with us commoners.")
• book online with hotel or airline site you wish to reserve
• OR, call and talk to a human
• the app will even show you hotels that you can't book online