Tech Tips For Holiday Travels

With the stressful holiday travel season approaching, remember to use your smartphone to make it less of a headache.

Of course you can use your smartphone to book flights and get directions; but sometimes delays and cancellations can throw a wrench into all those plans.

There’s an app for that.

Several holiday apps available right now can make fixing travel problems as easy as pushing a button.

First, the “Around Me” app for iPhone can help you if you miss a connection. It can help you find nearby restaurants, hotels, and other necessities you may need while you wait for your next flight.

The “On the Fly” app can be a big help if your flight gets canceled. Avoid the rush to the counter and do your research on your smartphone. You can use the app to search multiple airlines and airports for your best option on a new flight.

Rental cars may sell out during the busy holiday rush. But some big cities offer car-sharing programs such as Zipcar. The “Zipcar” app will point you towards their nearest cars and can even lock and unlock the vehicle.

Finally, sometimes nature calls when you’re on the go. The “Sit or Squat” app for iPhone and Blackberry has a database of over 100,000 restrooms to help you find the closest one. Some restrooms in the database even have reviews and photos to help you pick one that suits you.

And a last travel tip: invest in a battery-operated charger. You never know when a minor delay will turn into a major one. Keeping your phone powered up will help you use these apps and others to make an unexpected delay a quick fix.