Using an iphone5 app vs website for travel info

Apps fill up your phone and do nothing extra that the regular website won't do, in most cases. For example, I used to use the Facebook app on my phone. But the accumulating data from the app would fill up my phone's memory, and I would have to clear it out after awhile. The app really did nothing for me except limit what I saw (no ads, etc.). I can do everything with the website itself directly online, so I stopped using the app. But I would watch going online while traveling abroad unless you can find a really inexpensive data plan.

Without going into all of the technical differences, mobile apps are designed to quickly present the most useful content a user would want from the website without doing a lot of navigation like one would have to do on a website. So, an airline's app might have options for checking flight status, booking a flight, checking-in, etc. right there when the app is opened. Another example might be an app that consolidates several newspapers for a city you're visiting...no need to visit each paper's website separately. And yet another will let you call and text anywhere in the world for free. You don't typically need to take the time to logon with your credentials like many websites require (e-mail, for example)...you're already logged onto your g-mail when you open the app. These are just a few examples. As for no ads...that's a big bonus...you can watch travel videos on YouTube with no ads and no degradation in performance because of all of the ads. You have to search for and download apps...I guess that could be a drawback to apps. And practically every major website will also have a mobile website that's very user-friendly, like an app. With apps (and mobile websites), usability is the key...just a few thoughts.

Regarding the Facebook example I mentioned, when I use the internet instead, I get a mobile version of the website which looks exactly like the app. Same with Office Depot - accessing their website with my phone gives me the exact same interface as the app. Any website that is optimized for mobile phones will do the same thing without having a separate app.

That's a good point. I was just using UAL's mobile website from my Android phone last weekend to check flight status before heading to the airfield. I simply Googled UAL and was prompted to download their app or continue to their website (their mobile website). I was in a hurry, so I wasn't interested in taking the time to download the app from the Play Store and went to their site instead...it was basically the same thing as the app but quicker since I didn't have to download anything.

Thank you. Both of you confirmed what I sorta thought. Apps are cute but if you're capable with the URL and web page, why bother? Besides, I use Roboform to automate my logins, so I can go to my favorite web pages seamlessly even on my iphone5. Thx. T

Tom, As you're planning to take the iPhone to Europe, you'll need to be VERY CAREFUL with cellular data roaming or you may face a HUGE bill (perhaps five figures) when you get home. If you plan on accessing the internet, E-mail or anything of that sort when you're away from a Wi-Fi area, you'll be using cellular data. The "safest" method is to turn cellular data and data roaming "OFF" and just use Wi-Fi. You'll also have to check with your cellular network on the costs for voice calls and texts. Contact them to find out if they offer any travel packs which will reduce the charges. I travelled with an iPhone for the first time this year, and the experience was reasonably good, although a bit more expensive than I had anticipated (due to data roaming). Happy travels!

Thx Ken for the tip on phone charges! That's good advice for a newbie like me!

Many apps are faster to use than a website. I find this is the case with Yelp and Fandango, for example. And some useful apps for European travel don't use a data feed, like: Collins French-English Dictionary - we use this mostly in restaurants
Michelin Restaurants - good for finding a place to eat; gives reviews, directions and a map using the phone's GPS

Apps are different from each other just like programs are. Some good, some excellent, some mediocre, some not fit for the scrapheap. You have to read reviews and decide for yourself. I have maybe 100 apps on my small iPhone 4s and still plenty of room for more. I only have the 16GB version. I find that the better travel apps will know where I am so can make good suggestions and give accurate answers, often without me asking. For example I have a railway app that will, with one tap, tell me the next train home and from which platform from wherever I am on the network. I have a similar one for trams and buses and trains in Basel which does much the same. And I have one which takes me on walks in Switzerland and another which takes me across Paris. The navFree app is a very good GPS app with turn by turn directions and it is free, like virtually all my apps.

Tom, you may find that the iPhone and apps change the way you travel... they did that for me. GoodReader PDF reader has dramatically reduced the amount of paper I to take along for background on various sites and locales; there are a variety of apps that will download/store wikitravel and wikipedia information on places you might visit; certain museums and most cities have good touring apps, many free; the Rick Steves audio tours are free and good; and there are wonderful mapping apps. Radio apps are great for local entertainment. Phone calls via Wifi are wonderful. And there are lots of other uses. Suggest you spend some time searching the app store. If you're not really familiar with the iPhone 5 when you first travel with it, I'd suggest turning off "Cellular", which will prevent you from using data without knowing it (even though it sounds like it might turn off phone transmission/reception, it does not; instead, the data-driven functions will be disabled). You could always turn it back on if you need it (depending on the data plan you purchase).

Wow! Great ideas, folks, for using apps! I really have a lot to learn now that I know how to turn the iphone on! Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to be in Europe May 31 till Aug 6. I'll be starting on a cruise on the Queen Mary II (wish me luck I don't get sick like >200 of them did over New Years!!!). Then I'll be with a tour group in Cambridge, England, for 9 days. After that, I head to the continent for some more "country collecting" by train for a month; haven't decided yet where to go but I'm leaning toward "ticking off" some smaller spots, for the sake of doing so! Finally, my wife'll join me and we'll spend the last 4 weeks of the time seeing great friends in England, along with as many of the usual spots in England we can cram in! So I've got a lot to learn but I've got the time, too! I'd love to hear from all of you who have suggestions for good or bad apps!

Tom, what a wonderful trip! Since you'll be doing so much traveling, it might be nice to have a fair amount of entertainment on your device. As a test, I suggest you download a free TV show and a free book. That will let you see if you like to watch video or read using the iPhone. I don't have a TV at home, but I find TV, travel videos, and movies to be wonderful on long flights, and I bring along a variety of books on the iPhone... That gives me some choice depending on my mood. I'm not impressed with using guide books on the iPhone, although others may disagree. I found them to be cumbersome and much prefer paper. And music is a wonderful companion. On my last trip, the Uffizi was particularly chaotic, so I put on my headphones and enjoyed the art with Palestrina for company; my awareness of the crowds vanished.

Hey Nigel, which app is it for the rail info? That sounds good. We're coming over in the Spring and will be using the trains some.

@Tex, Both DB (German Rail) and SBB (Swiss Rail) have Apps. I have both of them on my iPhone and they work well. Trenitalia also has an App called Pronto Treno but AFAIK it's only available in the iTunes stores in Italy and the U.K. There is another App called InfoTreni which seems to work well (I believe it pulls data from the Trenitalia website). Of course, if you're using any of the above Apps outide of Wi-Fi areas, you will be using cellular data, so "tread carefully". Cheers!

The Paris metro has a good app too.

Hey Nigel, which app is it for the rail info? National Rail Enquiries is the key for all trains in the UK. Virgin Trains and London Midland both have very good apps for their respective train lines. The London Midland app even has the award winning live twitter feed. But they do take data. Small data, but data.

I have an app on my iPhone 5 called World Metro. It has maps of 27 metro stations in Europe, as well as maps in North America, Asia, South America, Oceania and Africa.

Nigel and Ken, thx for the information.

Thanks, Ken, for Pronto Treno. I've just added it to my travel apps and was pleasantly surprised to see it is in English for me. Grazie.

@Nigel, You're very welcome! Hope the App works well for you. I was only able to find InfoTreni here, but it seems to work reasonably well (had occasion to use it when I was in Italy in September). Cheers!