Travel apps: Tools that streamline travel

I love to track and recommend travel apps, especially those that streamline (as much as that’s possible) the frustrations of business travel. Of course, these can be handy for vacation travel too. Check them out!

FlightView has issued a new version 2.2 of its popular app for frequent flyers, available for iPhone and Android platforms. It now allows users to create personal profiles in the app, specifying a home airport and preferred airline for a customized view of day-of-travel information, including current delay status and weather at the airport as well as links to arrival and departure flight boards (in the app’s Elite version). The app is available in free, 99 cent and Elite versions. Look for more info here.

Embark NYC, free on iPhone and Android, offers an interactive subway map and other services for New York City and a long list of other destinations. You’ll find more here.

The Emergency Medical Center Locator (EMCL) iPhone app will direct you to the closest medical center best qualified to take care of your specific emergency anywhere in the world. The app offers recommendations in six specialty areas that tend to require immediate care—trauma, stroke, eye, pediatric, cardiac and burn. Find this handy resource here.

If you travel with the usual collection of electronic devices, you need Power Flask. It charges three devices at the same time and is powered by a 13000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The total package includes two 30-pin iPad-iPhone connectors, a USB-to-Micro-USB charging cable, a USB-to-Dual-Micro-USB charging cable, and a USB power adaptor. It also features two ultra-bright, built-in flashlight LEDs. Right now, it’s retailing on Amazon.com for about $82. Check it out here.

FlightStats.com is a multi-purpose resource for iPhone, Android and iPad, offering excellent tools for tracking airline on-time performance, delays and cancellations—including globally and by airport—as well as detailed airport layouts and services and flight-specific delays, gate changes, and anticipated arrival times. Look for more information at www.flightstats.com

Federal Per Diem Hotel Rates are handy for both government and private-sector travelers. The US General Services Administration (GSA) has an app (available for iPhones, Android devices and BlackBerrys if you have BlackBerry App World installed) that lets you look up Federal per diem rates by city/state and Zip in locations throughout the US and its territories. Look for more information here

My TSA Mobile gives you the tools you need to check general airport status for delays; research items that permitted and prohibited on US airlines, share information with other travelers (security checkpoint wait times, etc.) and more. Look for information here

Smart Traveler, a U.S. State Department app available in the iTunes store, is currently compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad (requires iOS 4.0 or later) and Android devices. The official State Department app for U.S. travelers provides access to frequently updated official country information, travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more. For more information including compatibility with mobile devices, look here

Trip Lingo for Foreign Travel is an innovative language app that helps travelers become more productive, knowledgeable and safer when traveling abroad. TripLingo’s culture “Crash Course” provides immediate access to essential etiquette, customs, and local norms, helping to avoid critical “faux pas” as well as proactively preparing for interactions that might happen during travel. Some of the app content can be downloaded for free, and some is fee-based. Look for more information here

GoHow for Airport Information is available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices, giving travelers a bonanza of details about a wide range of airports: flight updates, gate information and maps, security wait times, ground transportation options, restaurants and shops, baggage claim location and local weather information. Look for more information here

You say you can’t sleep on a plane? Obviously you need advanced brainwave technology. Check out Airsleep, a travel sleep system now available at iTunes. Night-night….