It is all about travel apps!
By Rita Cardenas, VP of Trips
I extensively use these apps when planning a trip and on site at my destination:
Hopper: The Hopper app has helped over 100 million travelers find and secure the best price on flights, hotels, homes and car rentals - each and every time they book their trips. Book Flights, Hotels, Homes & Rental Cars. Find millions of flights, hotels, homes, rental cars (and cute bunnies) – all in one app. With all, I only use Hopper to monitor when to book airfare. You can set up your future travel dates and filter by airline, etc. Hopper will send notifications when it’s time to book based on prices or to wait for lower fares. It is a great app.
Rome2Rio: Rome2Rio searches any city, town, landmark, attraction, or address across the globe with thousands of multi-modal routes to easily get you from A to B. I absolutely love this app, it was extremely helpful when I was in Spain, Portugal,and New York. When I recently flew into Marid and miss my connecting flight to Santiago, I used the app to figure out the best way to make to Santiago in the same day. The app not only provides the trains schedule but estimate cost and what line and what subway to take to the train station. I also used when I was in New York, to find the correct subway line to take to Tribeca and Little Italy. This is my go-to app when I travel anywhere!
Hotel Tonight: Hotel Tonight offers heavily discounted room rates, especially for travelers with flexible schedules or looking to book at the last minute. I used this for a friend that was traveling to Paris and needed a hotel room at the last minute near the Paris airport.
SpotHero Parking:Search for the best parking deals near the airport, compare prices and book a reservation ahead of time. Search for long-term parking, valet service, and more. When I fly out of IAH, I usually reserve parking at theSheraton on JFK Blvd. Recently, I flew to New York and only paid $5.00 per day. The Sheraton and Doubletree share a shuttle to and from the airport and leaves every 30 minutes. Once you return you simply call the Sheraton and let them know your terminal. I usually do not have to wait long for a pickup. The app allows you to reschedule during your trip, i.e. push out your stay if your flight is delayed. I like the Sheraton because they have good security, but the parking is an open lot not covered.
MPC: Mobile Passport Control (MPC) allows eligible travelers to submit their travel document, photo, and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device. The use of MPC streamlines the traveler’s entry process into the United States by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time. Use of MPC does not require pre-approval. Travelers who successfully use the MPC app will no longer have to complete a paper form and may be provided a designated queue. As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion and efficient processing. I tried this app recently when coming back from Spain and it worked like a charm, no long wait lines!
WhatsApp: More than 2 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp1 to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere. WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world. Space City TC’s use WhatsApp while on international trips to communicate with members, it’s convenient and free. I use it while at home to stay in touch with my friend in Scotland.
Telegram: Telegram is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app with a focus on security and speed. Much like whats app.
My hope is that you find at least one of these apps to add to your travel planning.