8 New Travel Apps You Need Right Now

Roomlia

Download Roomlia, a new app that allows you to book a hotel seven days in advance of your stay at steeply discounted rates, if you're traveling at the last minute and worried about being left without a hotel room. This clutter-free app offers seamless booking: Simply swipe and tap your way to a super-cheap rate in dozens of U.S cities. We tested the app and found serious savings, including great rooms in Las Vegas from just $32 per night. Consider this one a must-have.

Available on Apple devices for free; Android app is currently being developed.

FareScout

We love apps that are simple and straightforward, without ads, links, and pop-ups cluttering the screen. So we're gaga about FareScout and its seamless functionality. The app monitors airfare trends over 13 months and, with the click of a button, tells you the likelihood of your flight price increasing or decreasing in the next seven days. FareScout is currently in beta form and international flight data is not yet available, but the developers say it will expand soon.

Available on Apple devices for free.

PackPoint

Packing apps are a dime a dozen these days, but PackPoint offers some new and novel features that make installation worth it. The app creates customizable packing lists based on your trip length, expected activity level, and even laundry facilities. It also generates built-in weather data to guide your clothing choices. You can share your packing list with friends and fellow travelers and save default lists for repeat trips. Say good-bye to paper and pencil.

Available on Android and Apple devices for free.

Flight Tonight

What the Flight Tonight app lacks in scope for the general traveler, it makes up in usefulness for the spur-of-the-moment flyer. You'll have to be willing to fly somewhere at the drop of a hat to take advantage of listed fares, but if you've got the money (and the vacation days) for such a flight of fancy, simply turn on location services, tap a nearby airport name, and you'll get a list of round-trip flights with seats available.

Available on Apple devices for free.

Hotel Quickly

Like the much-lauded Hotel Tonight app, Hotel Quickly lists cut-rate rooms for same-day booking. But this app focuses on South Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, making it a must-have for backpackers and adventure travelers on the road. With discounts of 20 percent and a handpicked list of 3,000-plus properties (all with three- to five-star ratings), Hotel Quickly capitalizes on the last-minute-hotel-booking trend on the other side of the world.

Available for free on Android, Apple, and BlackBerry devices.

Day One

This app isn't free, but it may be the most elegant on our list. A travel journal that seamlessly incorporates data from your phone, Day One allows you to keep track of your treks and capture all of your memories the digital way. As you write and code diary entries, the app imports photos, location and weather data, and even inspirational messages. You can sync your journal with Dropbox or other devices and publish entries to a beautifully designed website. You can see why Apple gave this classy app a design award.

Available for $4.99 on Apple devices.

United Passport Feature

In August, techie travelers rejoiced when United announced that it had enabled passport scanning in its app. Flyers can now scan their passports via their smartphones upon check-in and receive a mobile boarding pass—without needing to brandish physical passports. Add this feature to already robust offerings (including booking, check-in, flight updates, and a currency converter) and this airline app is a standout. (Although we imagine other airlines will quickly follow suit.)

Available for free on Android, Apple, and Windows devices.

Groupon Getaway Tonight

Riding that last-minute-travel train, Groupon announced in June a critical update to its app: Groupon Getaway Tonight. App users can now access mobile-exclusive last-minute deals direct from hoteliers, many good for that very night. The app rounds up deals and prices via an extranet that only hoteliers can access, which means that vacation deals here may not be found elsewhere. And with savings of 50 to 70 percent off rack rates, the app is well worth a peek.

Available for free on Android, Apple, and Windows devices.

More From Smartertravel:

• 10 Indispensable Apps for Last-Minute Travel
• Best Apps to Prevent Travel Disasters
• 10 Ways to Prepare Your Cell Phone for a Trip