The History Channel’s History Here travel app, free through iTunes, offers interactive guides on points of interest around the United States, with new sites added regularly.

A little confession: I tend to avoid tour groups when I travel. I prefer to blend into the crowd, assimilate among the locals, and see the sights at my own pace.

This does have a disadvantage, though, in that I often miss the historic stories, anecdotes, and overall background that a tour guide can provide. But a happy medium can be found in a host of new travel apps, where a guide (in a variety of forms) comes right to you via a smartphone app – so you won’t miss out on what’s around you, while still curating your own tour and setting your own schedule.

Let’s start with the History Channel’s History Here app:

The Pros

• The travel app is useful if you need a little inspiration on what to do or see on a given trip. Use the location-targeting services or plug in a city or zip code, and an interactive map with flagged points of interest shows you what’s of interest nearby. You can zoom in or out on the map to accommodate sites along a leisurely stroll, on a day trip covering more mileage, or farther-flung excursions (up to 100 miles away from a given location). I used the travel app for an upcoming family beach vacation and now have a list of several sites I’d like to visit with my relatives, including a fort, a sports hall of fame, and a castle, all within a half-hour’s drive of our vacation rental.
• It’s also good for tracking down the off-the-beaten path sites, especially in your own backyard. On checking it near my hometown of Boston, I discovered a tree descending from the famous Newton’s Apple Tree can be found on the campus of Babson College, not too far from my office – an easy excursion for lunch or a weekend afternoon picnic. I also learned about the site of Brook Farm, a former Transcendental utopian community in nearby West Roxbury. Without consulting the travel app, I would never have known about these places of interest right around the corner.
• It’s great for the traveler on a budget (who doesn’t love free?), and with everything presented right on your smartphone, it’s a great way to see the sites without having to carry a bulky guidebook.

The Cons

• If you’re looking for a point-by-point walking guide, this isn’t the app for you – it’s much more of a get inspired/see what’s around type of guide. (Stay tuned, though – I’ll be covering those types of travel apps in future columns!)
• Recommendations are currently only offered for U.S. locations. I had hoped the app would have robust international offerings, as I often wish for the expertise of a guide during travels where I don’t speak the local language. After all, a historic plaque on a self-guided tour is only useful if it can be understood, and I had hoped this app would help bridge that gap. As of press time, it doesn’t.
• In places where there are lots of historic sites, there naturally will be gaps in coverage, or places History Here doesn’t (yet) include. I would recommend using this app to supplement a few other guides, and not as the only guide used.

Which travel apps are your favorites? Is there an app you’d like me to review? Submit your suggestions by leaving a comment below!

Image: Gracey Stinson

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Mobile devices are our constant companions, especially when traveling far from home. But smartphones and tablets can do more than entertain us on long flights. Here are five must-download apps to help you save money, time and energy while on the road.

Traveling is stressful, which is funny, because we’re often trying to get away from the everyday obligations that stress us out! Whether it’s a solo business trip or a spontaneous road trip, traveling requires the seamless coordination of many variables. Between flight times, packing lists, hotel reservations, rental cars and that nagging need to check our email, it’s no wonder we often dread travel rather than looking forward to it.

This doesn’t have to be the case, though. Assembling a low-stress, efficient trip can be as easy as picking up your smartphone. We’re surrounded by gadgets that are supposed to make our lives easier, but sometimes they need a little help. Here are five free or low-cost mobile apps that will help you plan and execute your next adventure with just the touch of a button.

Airbnb – a peer-to-peer marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone.  Available for both iPhones and Androids, this app puts unique properties in 33,000+ cities and 192+ countries at your fingertips. From guest bedrooms to entire homes, use this app to browse Airbnb’s curated collections showcasing exceptional Airbnb properties, communicate with prospective hosts and guests from your Airbnb inbox, access your itinerary and host details, and get one-click directions to your destination. Free.

PackingPro – The best way to avoid forgetting your underwear or a warm sweater is to make a list. PackingPro is an app for the iPhone and iPad that offers  recommended packing lists for all sorts of trips. Just select the list that’s right for your destination, and tick off items (including extra items for babies, kids, pets, sports/activities, cooking, etc.) as they go into your luggage. You can also save lists from previous itineraries and schedule reminders, like watering the plants before you leave. $2.99.

TripIt – Losing the hotel address or forgetting a vehicle reservation number is a traveler’s nightmare. Instead of trying to keep track of five different confirmation numbers, addresses or contact numbers, TripIt can help you organize all pertinent information into one master itinerary. Available for nearly any mobile device, this app makes it easy to organize maps and directions, travel notes, photos, recommendations, and share details with relatives or coworkers. Free.

Wi-Fi Finder – Unless you’re traveling with your own mobile hotspot, or really like spending money on coffee, available Wi-Fi networks can be hard to come by. Wi-Fi Finder puts close to 500,000 free and paid Wi-Fi hotspots in over 144 countries right at your fingertips. Available for iPhone and Androids, this app delivers Wi-Fi hotspot details and makes it easy to call the location, get directions to it or add it to your favorites. Free.

Spotcycle – Looking for an alternative to rental cars and taxi cabs? Major cities around the world are launching bike-sharing programs, temporary rental services that make it possible to reduce your carbon footprint while getting a unique view of your destination. Available for just about any mobile device, Spotcycle makes it easy to search for and sort bike stations near you that have bikes available for rent. It also displays bikes paths and lanes in select cities. Free.

Image: Katerha

The post 5 Useful Mobile Apps To Help You Travel More Efficiently appeared first on EcoSalon.