Each month we will bring you reviews of several new Apps you will want to download to your IPad, Android or Windows Tablet. We will also let you know what systems the App is currently available on and the cost, if any. Do you have a favorite App that makes life as a nonrev easier? Email us and let us know about it so we might include it in a future edition on NonRevTraveler! Just email us at apps@nonrevtraveler.com
Hotel Tonight
The hot new app, perfect for airline employees. This app is designed for same-day bookings and promises savings up to 70 percent off. So how well does it work? Well for one you can’t search for rooms until noon eastern time, so at noon precisely, I searched with the goal of finding the best available rate at a hotel in New York City and got nine options for Manhattan (I wanted to say downtown New York) — three downtown, three midtown and three uptown. Then I compared the rates this App provided with Expedia’s App. in the case of these 9 hotels, Hotel Tonight beat Expedia 8 out of the 9 hotels and tied on the 9th hotel. Savings was as much as $290 in one case vs Expedia and as much as $170 in one case vs the hotel price. There was one case where the hotel’s price on their website was $10 less than Hotel Tonight.
So the downside – You have to wait until Noon the day of arrival to book or even look and that’s noon Eastern Time. It is only good on domestic USA hotels and if you are hoping to score a deal on a specific hotel you might be out of luck. But if weather or full flights suddenly leave you stranded at the airport for a night, this is the App you need to pull out to find you hotel room tonight!
Apple – FREE – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hotel-tonight/id407690035?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9ux
Android – FREE – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hoteltonight.android.prod
Uber App
I am sure you have heard of Uber but may have wondered what the heck is Uber? Uber is a special-purpose app that does one thing: it allows you to book car service from your iPhone. Before you say “Oh that is too expensive,” check it out. It is often much cheaper than a rental car. You land in a city, and before getting off the plane, you load the app and book a car. From your phone’s GPS, it knows where you are. It also knows where the closest drivers are and who is available.
Once you book the car, you get an almost instant notification back with the name, photo, and phone number of the driver who has been assigned to pick you up. It also has his five-star rating and by the time you get to the curb, the driver is there.
It’s strictly on-demand sp you can’t schedule a car. It also not yet in every city. The current list is:
9 cities in Asia and Pacific. Those include – Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, New Delhi, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei.
15 cities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Those include – Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Berlin, Cape Town, Dubai, Durban, Johannesburg, London, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, Stockholm and Zurich.
33 cities in the America’s. Those include – Atlanta, Baltimore, Bogota, Boston, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hamptons, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis, Montreal, New Jersey, New York City, Oklahoma City, Orange Country, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Toronto, Tucson and Washington DC
More cities are added every month so check before you travel to a city not on this list.
Apple – FREE – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uber/id368677368?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9ux
Android – FREE – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubercab
Google Maps
I have used GPS in my car for years. Never took a trip without my Garmin. It eliminated the stress of having to figure out how to get to where I need to go and it served me well.
Then I discovered I could use an iPhone app, not have to haul around my Garmin or rent a Tom Tom while saving myself money! I got the Google Maps a few months ago and have been very pleased with it. The app is easy to use, beautiful, and best of all ACCURATE!!!
Apple – FREE – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-maps/id585027354?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9ux
Android – FREE – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps
TripAdvisor Offline City Guides App
Traveling somewhere? Get this FREE city guide with the restaurants, attractions, hotels and reviews you love from TripAdvisor, stored in the app — no data roaming charges! You should download offline maps for your cities of choice, too. The app does not automatically install the maps locally (to save space on your iPhone), so just remember to download what you need before you leave an area with a Wi-Fi connection.
Apple – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tripadvisor-offline-city-guides/id480066121?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9ux
Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tripadvisor.android.apps.cityguide.catalog&hl=en
Packing Pro
If you’re the type of person who always forgets something at home, this is the perfect solution. Create lists of what to pack from scratch or from a set template (male, female, family, business, camping and more) and have a preset collection of reminders—with adjustable quantities—to buy travel insurance, lock up valuables, include socks and, of course, to remember the oft-left-behind phone charger.
Apple – $2.99 – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/packing-pro/id312266675?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9ux
Android – Not Currently Available.
Sit or squat Restroom Finder
If you have kids you need this app when you are traveling or if you find yourself finding the nearest bathroom quickly….. This aptly named app means never having to worry about finding a nearby restroom again. With almost 95,000 bathrooms listed worldwide, this service tells users whether a toilet is open, closed or has unknown hours at the time of viewing. Listings often include miscellaneous data like whether bathrooms have hand dryers, stalls or single rooms, as well as handicap access. The service is also available on the web. Also got any idea on who would develop such as APP……. how about Charmin as in the toilet paper!!
Apple – FREE – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sitorsquat-restroom-finder/id511855507?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9ux
Android – FREE – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.charmin.sitorsquat&hl=en