Enhance your travel experience with these great FREE smartphone apps, some of which are handy to have even at home. Sit or squat – Sometimes, you just gotta go, but don’t know where. This app guides you to the nearest free public toilets, in stores, parks and other locations, in the United States and internationally. Wi-fi Finder – As its name implies, this app helps you find a hotspot, and even shows you where to find the strongest signal. To save data costs when you are traveling overseas, download the database in the United States and browse wi-fi locations offline. For iPhone and Android. My Language Translator – Break language barriers with this app, which translates short phrases into 52 languages, to help you read menus, road signs and such. For Apple devices. For Android users, there’s a similar translator, iTranslate. XE Currency Converter – Just how much is a Euro, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Singapore dollar, Mexican peso, Indian rupee or Israeli shekel worth? How will you know if it’s a bargain unless you know how much that souvenir or meal costs? This app converts dozens of currencies. TextPlus – This app lets you send and receive texts for free anywhere in the world. It gives you a free phone number to give to give to friends and family. For iPhone, iTouch, iPod, iPad, Android and Windows Phone 7 devices. Skype – The app is free, and it allows free call anywhere in the world to another Skype user. If your phone friend or relative doesn’t have Skype, their international rates are a good bit lower than what your smartphone provider charges. GasBuddy – Find the cheapest gas nearest you, via the GPS setting on your phone. For use in North America only, via GPS on your smartphone, and also by zipcode on the GasBuddy website. PocketRanger — Put a park ranger in the palm of your hand, with these guides to state parks, including everything from hiking trails and campsites, to history and the wildlife, flowers and trees you will find. Not every state is represented — yet. TripAdvisor City Guides – There are 30 national and international city guides, ranging from popular destinations like New Orleans to “bucket list” cities like Rio de Janiero and Marrakech. The apps offer opinion and reviews by the public with some additional information by professional travel journalists. For iPhone and Android. Other city guides – A growing number of cities, including Austin, Santa Barbara and Denver, are now publishing their own apps for visitors. These are generally published by that city’s chamber of commerce or the conference/visitor’s bureau, and feature dues-paying members of that chamber or association. These tips and more come from our sister site, Living on the Cheap.
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