Best Travel App (2014)

The Waze website claims it's the world's largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Users can connect with other drivers in the area and share real-time traffic information, keeping one another fully informed well in advance of other methods of discovery. This app is great for those on road trips or other car-bound travelers and even calculates the cheapest gas prices in proximity.
Photo courtesy of Waze

TravelSafe is an indispensable tool for smart travelers no matter their destination. It's an app that could possibly save a life or two, if it hasn't already. TravelSafe compiles emergency numbers for countries worldwide, providing access to police, ambulances and fire departments. If a traveler should have a passport issue, every embassy's contact information is listed, as well.
Photo courtesy of TravelSafe

TripAdvisor's mobile app gives travelers the opportunity to check the latest hotel, restaurant and attraction reviews; browse for ideas on what to order or what to do (or not); and read all sorts of helpful tips from other travelers who've shared their experiences. Reviews can be sorted by date, which is a useful feature.  While not all reviews are helpful, many travelers check here before making a commitment.
Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

Skyscanner aggregates fares from airlines and all the well-known travel sites to get users the absolute best deal on plane fares. For nervous sorts or penny-pinchers, Skyscanner also does the service of pinning a search to a phone's start screen and updating price fluctuations. Skyscanner makes searching for flights simple and saves you time and money.
Photo courtesy of Skyscanner

Hipmunk is the fastest, easiest way to plan travel. This app compiles flight and hotel information, including layovers and pricing, from top travel sites to save vacationers the hassle of hopping all over the web to compare rates and deals. Travelers can sort by "Agony" or "Ecstasy" to get the best comparison of flight or hotel price, hotel location, number of stopovers, etc., which makes looking for a flight or a place to sleep painless.
Photo courtesy of Hipmunk

Foursquare is a great app for those looking for information on the establishments they're patronizing. For instance, urban explorers can load the app when they enter a new restaurant or museum and see a list of tips and comments from those who have come before them. If a Foursquare user checks in frequently enough to one location, he or she can win perks or treats from participating venues.
Photo courtesy of pestoverde

Foodspotting makes finding favorite dishes or new flavors while traveling easier than ever. It's like Yelp but incredibly specific. Travelers can fly into any major city, and some smaller ones, too, and do a search for whatever they're craving. The best Tom Yum soup in San Francisco, or arepas in Bogota are suddenly just a few clicks away. An emphasis on attractive photography create a visual feast, as well.
Photo courtesy of Foodspotting