Skip to main content

How to replace your paper travel guide with some help from apps and the Internet

Rest in peace, paper Frommer's.
Frommer’s Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google was poised to put an end to the legendary travel guide Frommer’s printed version, marking a brilliant new frontier of electronically-abetted travel. Plenty of apps making friendly locals more accessible sound like every traveler’s dream. The Internet has tools on how to get the most of your vacation itinerary, taking you far beyond the paper tour guide. 

Recommended Videos

Still, be warned. When you’re traveling somewhere with rampant roaming charges and spotty Wi-Fi, Internet apps can improve your experience up until, “Oh crap. Was it a right or a left at the intersection?” 

And fittingly, recent news says that Arthur Frommer, the creator of the series, seems to be buying the rights back from Google and keeping the print around (while also maintaining a website and selling eBooks). 

While no tool is a cure-all for travel pains, plenty of apps offer access to locals and customizability not available in the standard paper guide. All it takes is a little planning ahead.

Plan your activities   

Plnnr generates itineraries based on how many days your trip is and what your interests are
Plnnr generates itineraries based on how many days your trip is and what your interests are Image used with permission by copyright holder

Instantly generate itineraries based on your interests, the length of the trip, and desired activity-level with Plnnr. It’s like a more personalized version of the itineraries travelers turn to Frommer’s and Lonely Planet for. While the attractions err toward typical tourist-favorites, it’s a good place to start and then supplement with food and drink picks from the likes of Spotted by Locals (mostly useful for trips to Europe, but there is some availability in the states), or local tips from Time Outs for cities globally. 

Sidetour connects local historians and other experts with visitors or just the curious. It’s currently only available in New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Chicago but is expanding quickly around the U.S. With one-of-a-kind experiences like a fish fry accompanied by jazz in a Brooklyn brownstone and making pizza with the food editor of the Washington Post, these are worth waiting for. 

How to meet locals is a pretty ubiquitous travel question. Old standbys like Couchsurfing (which organizes events for travelers as well as finding them a place to stay) and Meetup are as great as ever, if a little overwhelming to peruse the options at times, but great food-oriented alternatives are Grubwithus and Dishcrawl. With organized, pre-fixed meals around a variety of themes like meals for vegans, runners, 90s wrestling fans, and even recent transplants, Grubwithus makes it easy to find a table and a delicious meal with people you’ll have a lot in common with too. And Dishcrawl offers a lot of excitement for the palette. Like a pub crawl but with food, it’s the perfect answer for when you’re in a great culinary city like San Francisco and just can decide what to eat. 

How to meet locals? Grubwithus makes it easy to eat with them too.
How to meet locals? Grubwithus makes it easy to eat with them too. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mind the details 

You’ve planned the trip, now it’s time for the details. Packing Pro is an app that make it easy to create a packing list based on the the length of the trip, kind of trip you’ll be going on (family, business, camping), the expected temperature, whether the trip is domestic or international, and who you’re packing for. Plus, Packing Pro syncs with iCloud to make your information easily accessible anywhere.

And to make sure your trip there and back is as pleasant as can be, SeatGuru is still the go-to when it comes to finding out if your airline seat won’t recline because of its proximity to the emergency exit before you sit down … or you know, other seating details.

If you found tipping to be hard with four people on one bill at the bar around the corner, imagine having to do it in a foreign country with its own currency and customs. Tipping Guide offers all the advice Rick Steves’ tour books would have about Europe at your fingertips. And all translated into the local currency. 

Keep it all together 

TripAdvisor offers a variety of offline-accessible city guides.
TripAdvisor offers a variety of offline-accessible city guides. Image used with permission by copyright holder

When roaming charges are an issue, a little early planning is necessary. While TripAdvisor, Afar, and Stay.com all offer recommendations as to what to do and where to eat, these apps are also often short on details like what kind of food is served and what prices may be. Those details are easy enough to find when you have Internet access, but if not, things can get a little haphazard. Definitely have one of these on hand if only just for the offline-accessible maps, but do know that when you’re desperate to impress and without a clue, these apps are not the cure-all. 

If you don’t want to live off scraps of paper tied together, TripIt makes it easy to keep everything together from flight information to dinner reservations. Plus, everything is stored in the cloud, so it’s easily accessible. 

Bon voyage!

Jenny An
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jenny writes about technology, food, travel, and culture. She lives in Brooklyn with a MacBook that is like a pet. She has…
If you have pets, but hate vacuuming, this Shark robot vacuum is 49% off
The Shark AV2501S vacuum bot.

Nobody really likes vacuuming. Even with manually washing dishes you get to hear the pleasant sounds of water running, but vacuuming is overall just loud and time consuming. That's why we love robot vacuums so much. What we don't like about robot vacuums, however, is the price, which is why scouring through robot vacuum deals is so critical. Take this one, an early Prime Day deal, that saves you $270 on the Shark AV2501S, dropping its price to $280 from $550. Putting this all into perspective, when we covered the Shark AV2501S's 2024 Prime Day deal, it was still $412—things are looking a lot better for you this time around. To lock in this great price, simply tap the button below and make your purchase. Otherwise, keep reading to see why we like this vacuum, and what made it special enough for us to recommend it in the past.

Buy Now

Read more
xTool’s F2 Ultra: A smarter take on creative production
xtool f2 ultra on display on a table

This July, xTool isn’t just opening a new office in Mountain View, California, it’s setting up shop with purpose. Their U.S. Brand Launch Experience, timed with the debut of xTool’s first American headquarters, is more than a launch party. It’s a look at how the company is thinking long-term about tools, creators, and community.

At the center of the event is the F2 Ultra, xTool’s new flagship dual-laser system designed for small businesses and serious makers. Why does this machine matter? It helps to zoom out first. xTool’s U.S. expansion is borne of the necessity to show up for the people who use their products every day.
A Local Anchor for a Growing Brand
Mountain View now hosts xTool’s first U.S. demo center and office. That means faster customer support, more hands-on service, and a clearer bridge to the U.S. creative scene. One standout piece of the rollout is the xTool Squad, a national support team offering real human help with setup, training, and troubleshooting.

Read more
Samsung’s AI-powered refrigerator is down $1,870 for July 4th sale
Here, you can see the screen of the Samsung Bespoke 4-Flex with AI Family Hub refrigerator.

It's that time of the year where we see the most strain on our refrigeration and freezing elements, and when waiting extra minutes for a fresh batch of ice just doesn't seem worth it anymore. Luckily, a great Samsung deal has emerged as part of the company's ongoing July 4th sale. Their Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerators (the smart refrigerators with AI vision into the fridge's interior and an AI family board on the front) are down to $3,299. That's a savings of $1,870 for the counter depth version (originally $5,099) and a savings of $1,200 for the full depth version (originally $4,999). Tap the button below to see the refrigerators for yourself or keep on reading to see why these are the best smart home pickups for the summer.

BUY NOW

Read more