7 Travel Apps You Need Right Now

Traveling can be a complete nightmare, but not if you have the right tools. Thanks to technology, there are tons of ways to save time at the airport—like ClearMe, a new service that lets you completely bypass lengthy security lines.

TripIt

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TripIt not only keeps your travel plans in order, it even removes the process of entering all that information yourself. Hook your email up to the service and everytime you're emailed travel confirmations, TripIt skims that info and plugs it directly into the app.

Kayak

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Last minute travel changes are practically expected these days, and you can't always count on airlines to get you the best deal. That's why you should carry Kayak.com in your pocket by downloading their fare finding app.

FlightBoard

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Turn your smartphone into an Arrivals and Departures board for any airport in the world. FlightBoard not only serves up live info on flights, but is also designed to resemble the classic flipping board at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Packing (+TO DO!)

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Perhaps the worst travel faux pas, packing incorrectly can ruin an entire trip. Make sure you don't forget a single thing with Packing on your phone by creating packing lists, discovering items you may have forgotten and organizing what you still need to pack.

XE Currency

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Going abroad? You might need to change your currency. And unless you're a math wiz, these things can be confusing to figure out. Make sure you're not getting ripped off and keep track of your travel budget -- all on your phone.

Instagram

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This is an easy one, but crucial to any vacation. Make sure you document you beautiful views and adventurous travels with a photo app. Instagram is great because it gives you the option to share with all your friends (and back up to your email) with every shot.

GateGuru

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With GateGuru, you'll never have to find those dreadful departure/arrival boards again. It's pretty much one-stop everything: GateGuru gives you real-time flight status info (including push notifications), as well as taking in your TripIt and Kayak itineraries, and keeps you up-to-date with airport security wait times and maps out the airport so you can find exactly what shops and food you want most.

BONUS TIP

Via clearme.com

The quickest way to get yourself through the nightmare that is the uncertain security process is by grabbing a CLEARcard. Bring your CLEARcard and boarding pass to airport security and it'll all be a breeze.