For iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android, the free app “Rick Steves’ Audio Europe” (www.ricksteves.com/audioeurope) contains hundreds of hours of content organized into geographic-specific playlists.
There are 25 self-guided audio tours that include museums, historic walks and city tours. Maps, diagrams of buildings and extensive details on each sight can be accessed by touchscreens. Once files are downloaded, they are saved to the device and can be viewed offline.
The Canadian Tourism Commission (#1400-1055 Dunsmuir St., Box 49230, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1L2, Canada) has unveiled its new website, and the app “Explore Canada Like a Local.”
With the free “Ludwig II” app, smartphone users can access info about 140 locations in Bavaria and the rest of Europe related to the king’s life (1845-1886), plus 400 photographs, a calendar of historical events and video interviews and audio quotes regarding the architecture, politics, music and technology of Ludwig’s era. The “augmented reality” features include a simulation of Ludwig’s Winter Garden in Munich (which no longer exists). If you hold your smartphone in front of a site, the app recognizes the building and tells its history.
A new offline app, “Singapore: The Savvy Guide,” offers recommendations on Singapore sights, dining and off-the-beaten-path experiences plus photos, YouTube links (Internet access required) and GPS tracking. Available for download for $3.99 in the App Store, it is iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch compatible.
The “Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2012” (Berlitz. 688 pp. $24.99 paperback) has route maps, details on 285 cruise ships and info on cruise trends, specialized cruises and getting the best cruise bargains. The ship data is also available for $9.99 as an app for Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch; look for “Berlitz Cruise Ships” in the app store.
MapsWithMe, a free app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, allows you to download maps of destinations worldwide for offline use, avoiding costly data-roaming fees. Some countries, like Germany and France, have maps broken down by state.
The maps used by the application are from community-created OpenStreetMap data, which may be less accurate in rural areas than commercial maps. Download MapsWithMe from the App Store.
For independent travelers who drive, Japan and Russia would seem to offer some obstacles, but I would dismiss these, as there are great benefits to driving in both countries. The independence factor is what applied in our experience.
With an Apple or Android smartphone, you can access weather-related applications. Using search words such as “hurricane” or “weather,” check your mobile device’s app store for products like these.
iPhone users can load over 2,000 walking tours of more than 180 cities worldwide with GPSmyCity applications.
For iPhone and Android smartphone users, a free “Visit Korea” app provides Korea travel info, recommended itineraries and travel tools (including exchange rates and local weather). It is gps-integrated, so users can find the nearest tourist information center. By linking to the “1330 call center” feature, travelers can reach information and interpretation services. Download at the Apple App Store or the Google Android Market by searching for “Visit Korea.”