TRAVEL experts have revealed the tech tools that can help make your holiday experience even better, including websites that help you choose your airline seat and others that let you look up the on-time record of the airline or view hotel reviews.
While applications for Apple’s iPhone and iPad were high on most lists, there are plenty of great tools out there for other smartphone users and even those with regular mobile phones.
Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, retired US Airways pilot: “Some helpful websites when booking travel include SeatGuru.com, TripAdvisor.com, Kayak.com, Yapta.com, and Bing.com. INRIX Traffic helps get you to the airport on time by showing traffic speeds and delays, and can even predict traffic speeds at certain times.
“When travelling, Weather.com is always a great help and the AirWX app is a tool that pilots use to get detailed aviation weather reports and forecasts, but it’s also useful for the general public to check weather at departure and arrival airports because the reports are decoded into plain language.
Pauline Frommer, travel guidebook writer: “When I get out of New York City I like to do something I can’t do at home: look at the stars.
“I really enjoy the app Star Walk as it allows me to recognise constellations, even if I’m on the other side of the world and the night sky looks quite different. Sounds silly, but it really enhances my travels, especially when I’m in a nature destination and there’s not much to look at but the night sky.”
Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO Hilton Worldwide: “I never leave for a trip without my iPad. Not only do I keep connected to the office on it via email and other applications, but I also keep current with the news, such as reading the Wall Street Journal online.
“When I’m travelling with my kids, it has also come in handy to have some games loaded on my iPad to keep them busy.”
Samantha Brown, Travel Channel host: “I spent all last year traveling to Asia and after weeks of being fed a TV diet of only the BBC I could hum their theme music with absolute perfection and imitate up to four distinct British accents.
“So for me Slingbox is one of the most ingenious ideas I had ever heard for the international traveller. Essentially through a box and a program, my laptop becomes my home TV so no matter where I am in the world I can watch my favourite DVRed shows from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to 30 Rock to Meet the Press.
“Only problem? Even 10,000 miles away my husband and I can still fight over the remote.”
Ray LaHood, US Secretary of Transportation: “When I fly for work or to visit my family, I want a flight that will be on time. That’s why I’m glad passengers can now check the websites of the larger airlines to find the on-time record of each of the flights they are considering before they purchase a ticket.
“You can learn how often that flight arrives on time – within 15 minutes of schedule – as well as how often it arrives more than 30 minutes late. You also can find out if a flight has been cancelled 5 percent or more of the time.”
Nina Zagat, co-founder of Zagat Survey: “When Tim and I are travelling in our car, we love having our in-car navigation system to guide us and our Bluetooth to make our calls. I rely on my BlackBerry for my contacts, itineraries and packing lists as well as to keep up with my emails and to have a handy nightlight.”
Thomas Stuker, frequent flier with 9.75 million miles: “My two favourites, especially with all the international travel is Skype – both on my computer and now on my phone – to stay connected with friends and business associates around the world for just pennies and my second one is Slingbox – again on both my computer and my phone.”
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