Summer’s 10 Hottest Free Travel Apps

HipGeo

Create a digital scrapbook in real time to document your trip. HipGeo has just announced some great new features to help users share their travel memories. The app takes your photos, videos, and text shared on social networks and transforms them into a journal (which in turn can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or email). You can upload pictures and videos as you go, or (if you want to avoid data charges) the app will automatically save your journals and post them when you have access to Wi-Fi. If your travel buddies have HipGeo as well, you can combine your separate experiences into one shared journal. We love that the app automatically tags your pictures with your location, so you don’t have to try and remember where exactly each shot was taken once you get home.

Free; available on Apple and Android

Imo.im

Tired of paying crazy charges for calling home when you’re traveling abroad? Download imo.im and combine 11 communication and social media platforms into one app. Use Wi-Fi for voice calling (on Android), instant messaging, and sharing pictures, all without paying international data rates. It’s like Skype, AIM, and Flickr, all rolled into one.

Free; available on Apple, Android, Blackberry, and Nokia

Poynt

Be in the know about what’s going on in the cities you’re visiting with Poynt. Use the app to look up local attractions and get turn-by-turn directions, or use the restaurant search feature to dine on exactly what you’re craving. After dinner, use the events search feature to find out what’s going on around town, or the offers feature that can connect you with deals from businesses nearby.

Free; available on Apple, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and Nokia

Waze

Road tripping this summer? Save time and money with the Waze app, which can help you avoid traffic jams and find the cheapest spots to fill up on your route. Keep the app open while you drive (don’t worry, it’s hands-free and voice activated) and it will give you turn-by-turn GPS instructions, as well as live traffic information and alternative routes (in case there’s a backup or construction ahead). Real-time gas prices are also incorporated into the app, so you’ll always know where to stop for fuel.

Free; available on Apple and Android

Smartive Hotels

For spontaneous travelers (or the traveler with the unexpected flight cancellation), the Smartive Hotels app features more than 140,000 hotels in numerous countries that can be booked at the last minute. Search for hotels near your current location (or around the world) and see TripAdvisor-powered reviews and special rates. If anything goes wrong, customer service agents are available 24/7 to help with booking.

Free; available on Android

Springpad

Are your trips a giant disorganized mess of printed reservations, directions, and earmarked guidebooks? Save everything (from restaurant picks to directions) on Springpad. This handy app organizes everything on your smartphone or tablet. Plus, if you’re in need of travel inspiration, you can "follow" other notebooks and see what other people planned for their vacations. See a sample NYC notebook here.

Free; available on Apple and Android

Tagwhat

Turn your smartphone into your personal tour guide as you travel. The Tagwhat app uses your location to give you interesting information about famous (or not-so-famous) places nearby. For example, stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and you’ll have the option to watch Martin Luther King, Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" speech, listen to a recording of Janis Joplin singing while outside the Austin club where she got her start, or learn about all the nearby animal life while in Central Park.

Free; available on Apple and Android

Stay.com

Do you find guidebooks rather cold and impersonal? Get recommendations from the people you trust—your friends and family—as well as from travel experts with the Stay.com app. Download guides and maps for 116 cities, and then customize them with input from other travelers, friends, and your own research. If you have a Wi-Fi connection, the app will sync with the latest information, but the guides and maps can also be used offline so you don’t have to worry about roaming and data charges.

Free; available on Apple and Android

Lookout

All these apps are great, but let’s face it—having your flashy smartphone or tablet out while traveling can make you vulnerable to pickpockets or digital identity thieves. Protect yourself with the Lookout app. Lookout offers protection from viruses and spyware (crucial when you’re using unsecured networks while traveling). You can also set up automatic data backups so you won’t lose all your information (and photos) if your phone is lost or damaged. Finally, in the event that your phone is lost or stolen, you can use Lookout to locate your missing phone on a map, remotely lock or wipe your data, or sound an alarm on your phone (even if it’s on silent).

Free; available on Apple and Android

App in the Air

Save time and money at the airport with App in the Air. This app will help you find free wireless Internet at the gate and the best food options around the terminal. The app also helps out before your flight with packing and to-do lists, online check-in, and flight notifications. Share your flight details on social media and keep a log of the miles you’ve flown and destinations you’ve covered.

Free; available on Apple

TripList 2

Bonus app: This one's not free, but we like it so much we couldn't leave it out. Stop making packing and to-do lists on Post-it Notes to prepare for trips. Instead, download TripList 2, which lets you organize all of your trip information and create your own lists. The app supports multiple users (perfect for families traveling together), has templates for recurring trips, and integrates TripIt and Dropbox for maximum organization.

$2.99; available on Apple

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