| New apps changing how we take trips These days, it's easier to name companies without a travel app than the ones with one. "Apps are in the early stage," said Milton Pedraza, chief executive of the Luxury Institute, which looks at consumer habits of the well-off. But as the quality gets better, we'll see many more people using them. Sample: "Crystal Cruises has created an iPhone app to help travelers literally and figuratively share custom postcard images of their journeys via social media, email and even snail mail. A PhoCusWright study from January, for example, found that more than a quarter of almost 1,950 travelers had purchased a travel product on a mobile website or app. travel editor of Lonely Planet, recently perused his iPhone, he stumbled over a couple of "strays," including a Vancouver street food app from an October trip and a Pittsburgh walking tour from two years ago. Not all travelers, however, are hitching their stars to this rocket. And, yes, he liked it. "If you're standing on the corner, you can find a dozen places to eat," he said. During the past two years, the number of travel apps has surged. Applications touch on every element of travel: planning, booking, exploring, idling, photographing, filming, socializing and sharing. He purchased a smartphone in the fall and recently tried AroundMe during a trip to Washington. Niche apps, such as local public transportation schedules and museum tours, peak in relevance; once the trip is over, they're as worthless as a subway token. "Get the basic utilities - aggregate apps, currency changers, time zones," said Keith Bellows, editor of National Geographic Traveler. Despite the glut, some of the more utilitarian apps have broken through the crowded marketplace, creating a more efficient and better-informed traveler. But he's not abandoning his old-dog tricks of travel. |
Monday, 4 June 2012
New apps changing how we take trips
