Thanks to the increase in iPhone/iPad users and proliferation of Apple-friendly travel apps, it is now possible to leave those heavy guidebooks and pesky printed pages at home.
Don’t get me wrong, I love thumbing through the pages of printed guidebooks when I’m planning a trip, but apps are so much more convenient for when one’s actually on the road.
Here are my suggestions (listed in no particular order) for apps to make your next trip to Paris easier and more enjoyable. Paris: A Frommer’s Complete Guide
(http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/paris-a-frommers-complete/id287092788?mt=8&ign-impt=clickRef%3DSoftware%2520Page-US-Paris%253A%2520A%2520Frommer%2527s%2520Complete%2520Guide-287092788-Lockup) $4.99
If you’re a fan of Frommer’s guidebooks, then their app will feel like second nature to you. All of the content and convenience you’d expect from one of the world’s leading travel guidebook publishers.
Paris Travel Guide – mTrip
(http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/paris-travel-guide-mtrip/id377138567?mt=8&ign-impt=clickRef%3DSoftware%2520Page-US-Paris%2520Travel%2520Guide%2520-%2520mTrip-377138567-Lockup) $5.99
mTrip’s Paris Travel Guide is a great app for trip planning (and to use while you’re on the road). Simply enter your travel dates and where you’re staying, and you’ll be able to either build your own itinerary or let the “mTrip Genius” do it for you based on the criteria you select (activities, attractions, budget, timeframe, etc.). Change in plans? Not a problem, just adjust your settings as you go and the “mTrip Genius” will recalibrate your itinerary.
DK Top 10 Paris
(http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/top-10-paris/id316367077?mt=8&ign-impt=clickRef%3DSoftware%2520Page-US-Top%252010%2520Paris-316367077-Lockup) $7.99
This visually appealing “best of” Paris guide contains hundreds of entries with visitor’s information, maps and stunning photos of some of the “must visit” sites in Paris.
Paris Museums and Monuments
(http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/paris-museums-monuments/id348965392?mt=8&ign-impt=clickRef%3DSoftware%2520Page-US-Paris%2520Museums%2520%2526%2520Monuments-348965392-Lockup) $1.99
This useful app is designed to help you prioritize your sightseeing options and navigate the city with ease. Each of the over 100 entries contain information on hours, admission fees, websites, and tips to help you save time and money during your stay in Paris.
Escargo
(http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/escargo/id343406670?mt=8&ign-impt=clickRef%3DSoftware%2520Page-US-Escargo-343406670-Lockup) $1.99
If you’re intimidated by the idea of ordering food in a French restaurant, let Escago allay your fears. This app is loaded with more than 1,800 common French gastronomic terms and translations to help you navigate menus, preferences and food allergies.
Sweet Paris
(http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/sweet-paris/id341863608?mt=8&ign-impt=clickRef%3DSoftware%2520Page-US-Sweet%2520Paris-341863608-Lockup) $0.99
Francophiles with a sweet tooth are sure to enjoy Sweet Paris. The app is formatted as a city map with over 100 listings (with over 400 photos) of chocolate shops, pastry shops, and other sweet finds in the City of Lights.
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