Summer is a great time to travel. Before you book your flight and pack your bags do some research on your destination to ensure you are making the most of your trip and not wasting precious time or money.
TripAdvisor is a popular travel site for those looking to find great things to do and see while on vacation. I have used the website several times when planning trips. It is usually the first place I go to when figuring out what I would like to do and see on vacation.
This free app, available for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone, can become your best friend before you book and once you are traveling.
Using this app, users are able to see what other people have rated as the best attractions, restaurants and hotels in a city. Users can filter, much like on the website, which part of the city or venue they would like to visit, and where to stay and eat by type or price.
If you’re looking for flights, TripAdvisor gives users the opportunity to search for flights and deals and book online through online travel sites such as Expedia.
In addition to this information, users can write reviews and use the “Near Me Now” feature to find the most immediate hotels, restaurants and attractions to where you are located.
The forum option gives users the option to see most recent and relevant threads pertaining to a number of different topics about any given city, and the chance to respond and give other users up-to-date information.
Where users might encounter issues with this app is the limited ability to use it in other countries. Most Canadian mobile providers charge an exorbitant amount for downloading very little data while traveling.
Short of replacing your sim card, buying an expensive data add-on or going with a new mobile provider that piggybacks on other networks, it can be expensive to use all of the features of this app at once while on vacation, unless you can find Wi-Fi options. Keep this in mind while traveling to avoid dreaded overcharges on your monthly bill.
If you are looking to do some traveling this summer, whether it is in Canada or abroad, this app is great to help research and plan your trip. And, once you have arrived at your destination, it can double up as a travel guide to help navigate and find the best spots and make the most of your time. Safe travels!
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Rob Kirsic writes the App of the Week column for Toronto Standard. Follow him @robertkirsic.
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