Travel: 4 Best Smartphone/iPhone Apps on a Road Trip!

GasBuddy.com
The cost of gas is outrageous no matter where we go.  California is the very worst because they require a lot of anti-pollution refining and gas tax is high. That is where my iPhone app GasBuddy.com comes in handy.  I downloaded the app and turned on the location service. When I go to the app. it tells me where the lowest price for gas is near to where I am located..

This morning we were in Pomona, California having breakfast at Denny's. The young man that waited on us was nice enough to point us to the cheapest gas around. When I went to my GasBuddy app. it came up with the exact same location. I recommend you get this if you are going to travel.

AroundMe
I think I have used the AroundMe app more than any other on my iPhone.  Whether I want a drug store or a good restaurant, it has always been perfect. It shows me the possibility and is linked to the map to help me navigate to the location.

Yelp
I downloaded Yelp today on a whim.  I use it in Portland on my computer for seeking out good eats locally. When I saw that it was the most used app for finding the best restaurants in Scottsdale, I decided to give it a go.  It lists restaurants by best liked along with $$ to help decide based on your budget.  We found a place that we really enjoyed not far from the Marriot Towne Place.  It was just what we were wanting.

Google Maps

I have also installed Google Map on my new iPhone 5 and use it as our travel GPS to back up our Garmin. It works very good for us. When the motel we were looking for was not to be found, our Google map showed others nearby.

Honestly, I do not know how we would do this without the technology we use. Traveling is a bit like a wild goose chase any way...I like to make it as easy as I can.

Be well.

b+

Good Morning Viet Nam!

I don't know if this is normal but in this neighborhood everyone is jarred awake at 7:00 am.  Loud music plays over speakers that hang over the streets and alleyways so communication with the citizens is always possible...I think. My daughter-in-law says they do this in Japan too.  Music, followed by morning announcement greets each day.  Who knew!

We are staying in the Hanoi Gecko Hotel in the heart of the city near Hoan Bien Lake.  Small hotels, hostels surround the area and vendors, restaurant owners live and work on the street.  Everything you have ever seen or heard about this city is true...then multiply it by ten and you are almost there.

Hanoi at night taken from restaurant balcony where we ate.

View from our bedroom window

Hotel Gecko is down this small ally

The core of the city here feels very small.  I don't know if there are other areas like this or not.  Traffic does not adhere to any rules that I can see.  A teaming mass of humanity moves at a snails pace in a small space.  There is no center line and driving on the left or right side of the road is okay.  Everyone just takes the path of least resistance.  Did I mention that I love it!  This make me feel alive.

We arrived in Hanoi last night after dark.  It was a 3 hr 45 min flight directly from Shanghai on Viet Nam Airways.  We learned that if you want to get the best deal on a taxi, you let the driver talk to the hotel owner.  He will negotiate the fee for you, or at least that is what happened for us.

We will shop today and then board a train this evening for an overnight train ride to Sa Pa.  More tomorrow (I hope).

b

Note:  The internet is free fast and does not appear to be firewalled to the max!