9 great apps for international travel

I travel all the time internationally, and I am always looking for better ways to do things. I’ve talked to hundreds of friends and executives to get their tips and tricks on how to travel better. With electronics being a big part of international travel these days, what are the best apps? As soon as I write this, I know most of these apps will be out of date. However, here are some of my favorites*:

1. Language obstacles – Google translate – simply invaluable. I do more business in Brazil than I do in China, and I don’t speak Portuguese. This has helped more times than I can count.
2. For communications – Skype.  (it’s an oldie but a goodie)  If you’re in China “WeChat”  is tough to beat, and there is always WhatApp to consider.
3. For booking travel  –  Kayak.  (my friend Ira Bloom turned me onto this,  and I’ve never turned back)  Simple to use and offers the best pricing around. I love there alerts too.
4. Managing travel – Tripit.  Simple and easy way to manage your hotels, rentals, flights etc. All your travel info in one place!
5. Currency converter  –  XE currency. I like this one, but there’s dozens of others. It keeps the guesswork out of what things really cost.
6. Organization – Evernote. Great place to keep notes, clippings, ideas, and or just journal. However, I am finding my self using my iphone’s notive notes app more and more (just too easy not to use)
7. Weather  – Weather Channel. Best comprehensive weather app I found.
8. Dining – FoodSpotting. I have not used this very much, but it comes highly recommended by many domestic and international travelers.
9. Wifi — Free Wifi Finder (an ios app). Nothing worse than needing wifi and not being able to find anything, and then you have to pay those expensive overseas rates (ouch!)

I hope you find these apps helpful when you are globe-trotting. When you travel overseas you need every advantage you can get. I am confident several of these apps will work great for you! If you have any apps you simply love please let me know. Safe Travels! * FYI, I tried to choose apps that work on ALL devices (and sync with your personal computer).