With winter break and a new semester right on the horizon, students are gearing up to jet off to Christmas vacations, internships and study abroad programs.
It’s no secret that smartphones have made many of life’s tasks much easier, travel included. These days, student travelers can ditch the bulky tourist books and maps — there are apps for that.
Airbnb
Available for: iPhone, Android
Eve Smith, an advertising major from Puyallup, Wash., recommends Airbnb, an app that allows users to browse unique places to stay in over 34,000 cities and 192 countries. When planning side trips to new areas, travelers can choose to stay in anything from boats to tree houses.
HopStop
Available for: iPhone
HopStop makes it easy to find directions, transit maps, schedules, nearby stations and city guides all over the world. HopStop is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Israel.
“Hopstop is super useful for Transit directions,” said Anna Wendt, a journalism major from Cedarburg, Wis., who used HopStop during her internship.
Viber
Available for: desktop computers, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Bada, Nokia
Viber allows users to send free text and picture messages and make free voice and video calls to other Viber users on any network and device, anywhere in the world. Anne Capener, an illustration major from Boston, liked using Viber for talking with relatives back home without running up her phone bill with lots of international calling.
TapToTrack
Available for: iPhone
Studying abroad is expensive, and it’s easy to lose track of expenses during an adventure. This app makes it easy to track expenses and categorize spending so there will still be money left for that pastry in Paris.
Evernote
Available for: iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, WebOS, Mac, Windows Desktop, Windows 8
Evernote allows students to collect all of their notes, web clips, files and photos in one place and makes it available on every device and computer you use.
“I like Evernote (because) you can take notes on field trips and add pictures,” said Matthew Bangerter, an engineering major from Highland Village, Texas.
iTranslate
Available for: iPhone
Want to know what that cute guy in the cafe was trying to tell you? Forget about Siri; type any word into iTranslate and get it translated into 60 languages.
XE Currency
Available for: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Windows 8
With more than 180 currencies, this app quickly allows users to view international exchange rates, making it easier to see how much that hand-made rug really costs in terms of American dollars.
Triposo
Available for: iPhone, Android
Triposo was created by travelers for travelers to make acquainting oneself with a new city easier. This app gives users information on the history, culture, exchange rates, recommended restaurants and sightseeing opportunities in any city imaginable.
Armed with these travel apps, student travelers can be prepared to make their semester abroad, internships or weekend travels the best yet.
