Between long lines, overzealous airport security guards and overpriced airport food, travelling for business can be a grueling experience. Luckily, new waves of smartphone apps have been designed to make business trips almost as relaxing as a vacation. The following five apps alleviate specific issues business travelers face.
Spend a lot of time in airports? Then you need these apps! Image by hugh llewelyn via Flickr.
Organization
You've boarded the dog for the week, arranged rides to and from soccer practice for the kids and left the babysitter detailed notes on what to make for dinner and how to put the kids to bed. But while you've been making massive efforts to keep your home organized, the details surrounding your business trip have all but fallen apart. Cue TripIt to pull things back together.
TripIt is your pocket-size personal assistant for all your travel organization needs. You simply forward your flight details, hotel reservations and other travel information to the app, and TripIt handles the rest. This app which is free for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows phones will compile a comprehensive itinerary you can send to family and co-workers. It will alert you if your flight is delayed or has a gate change, and if you need to switch flights for any reason, TripIt will help you find another quickly and easily. Even frequent flyer miles and airline refunds can be processed through the Pro version of this app.
The Horror of Airport Food
From the chefs to the servers, everyone who works at an airport restaurant knows that the chances of seeing their patrons more than once is relatively slim. For that reason (and because the restaurant's staff knows most people are in a hurry), most airport food is slapped together quickly, and the quality suffers. This can be a real bummer for the business traveler who needs to munch on airport fare on a regular basis. All's not lost though! GateGuru can help you find great grub.
Regardless of the airport you're flying into or out of, GateGuru has the information you need on their restaurants and other services. The app is also perfect for anytime you need to pick up a quick gift. Instead of grabbing an issue of Cosmo for your four-year-old niece or a cheap souvenir for your husband out of slim pickin's nearby, you can turn to GateGuru for helping finding the shops you want with the products you need. The app which is available for iOS, Android and Windows can also send you notifications about crowds near your gate and let you explore reviews on airport restaurants from other travelers.
Dude, Where's My Car?
Forgetting where your car is parked may be funny if you're in a movie, but in real life, it's just irritating and time consuming. With the ICarPark app, you can store details about where you've parked up to five different vehicles. This app memorizes the exact location of your vehicle down to the inch. If your car is at a meter, ICarPark sends alerts to let you know when your time is almost up.
Dead Spots
Whether you're using a 4G device from a provider like T-Mobile or relying on free airport Wi-Fi, all business travelers occasionally face a dead spot. JWire works in 140 countries around the world, and ensures you'll never get stuck in a dead spot. Its list of Wi-Fi hotspots is simple to download, and you can set it up so your device connects automatically regardless of where you are.
Tracking Expenses
The best part of traveling for business may be that your boss has to pick up the bill, but if you overlook handing in a receipt or itemizing your expenses, you may never get your repayment. Concur makes sure you're never left holding the bill. Compatible with iOS, Android and Blackberry, Concur organizes, saves and even submits all of your travel expenses.
