WASHINGTON — Before you pack your bags for your summer vacation, you should consider loading your smartphone with free apps which can save you time and money on your trip.
Hopper
Fliers who have a destination in mind, but are flexible about when it comes to a departure date, will find the app Hopper helpful. You can type in a destination, and Hopper will predict what days will be best for getting the cheapest airfare.
Gate Guru
For travelers with long layovers, GateGuru aims to lead travelers to the best restaurant and stores in airport terminals, with user reviews from others who have found themselves camped out in the airport.
GasBuddy
GasBuddy uses a phone’s GPS to lead drivers to the cheapest gas. This can be a money-saver for rental-car drivers who discover the gas station closest to the airport is considerably more expensive compared to other stations only a few extra minutes away.
Waze by Google
Waze is a popular app for people trying to navigate the roads. The app uses information from other Waze users to warn of hazards, accidents and other incidents and routes drivers around the tie-ups.
Google Maps
Google Maps will report current traffic conditions and accidents which may come up during a drive. The app is also useful for people who want to download maps to their device and navigate an area while their phone is offline.
Yelp and Trip Advisor
Both Yelp and Trip Advisor help people decide where to go and what to do, with user reviews and ratings of everything from restaurants to nightclubs.
Hotel Tonight
For last-minute hotel reservations, Hotel Tonight monitors hotel vacancies with the goal of finding deals for same-day bookings.
