Travel Apps & Gear You'll Love
Best Apps & Gear for the Ultimate Beach Getaway
There's nothing quite like a hammock and a margarita to swiftly erase the stress of adult responsibility. Add the beach to the mix, and you may even find yourself dreaming up ways to turn your vacation life into your everyday life (you've always wanted to run your own bed & breakfast, right?)
In January, members of the iPhone Life team took an unofficial company trip to the charming beach town of Tulum, Mexico, to unwind after a crazy year. Pillowy sand beaches, aquamarine water, and rustic cabanas on the water's edge set the perfect scene for our work rehab.
As you might imagine, our crew came prepared with an assortment of iPhone apps and accessories to put to the test during our beach adventures. Through trial and error, we discovered the best picks for navigating travel days, handling finances, taking photos, and listening to music during our week in paradise. We thought you could benefit from our “research” when planning your own summer excursion. Whether you're planning a staycation in your hometown or an international holiday, you'll find these apps and accessories the perfect addition for a fun, relaxing getaway.
Going on vacation is a blast, but travel days can be so grueling that you almost wish you could turn back (almost). Having a few travel apps on hand helped make our trek more manageable. First off, I recommend downloading TripIt (free). This app imports all of your travel bookings into one itinerary; and if you have a Pro account, it will also send alerts, so you're the first to hear about delays. If your flight is canceled, you can even use the app to find alternate routes so you can swiftly make a plan B. We had a couple layovers on our way to Tulum, and we used GateGuru (free) to help us bide our time in the airport. GateGuru's interface looks old school, but its airport maps are awesome for finding restaurants or even a spa in your terminal.
Before departing for Mexico, I attended CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas with some of the team. We used the ride-sharing app Lyft (free) not only to get around the city during the tradeshow, but also to get to the airport once it was time for us to leave. Thanks to Lyft, we bypassed long bus lines at the Las Vegas convention center all at rates competitive with cabs. But if you're planning to drive a lot, you may want to rent a car instead. While we used Priceline in Mexico, you should see if Turo (free) serves the area. Turo is the Airbnb of car rentals, allowing you to rent a vehicle directly from a local. I tried Turo in Florida and got to drive around in a custom Mustang convertible for a cheaper daily rate than any other agency offered in the area.