If you’re staying Stateside, your AT&T or Verizon network has you covered. But if you’re overseas, that roaming can get expensive. Check with AT&T or Verizon about their international data plans before you leave, or just try to rely on Wi-Fi. Turn off Push services and Notifications through Settings so that your device isn’t constantly polling the server, and switch off cellular data. If your phone is unlocked, you can buy a data-enabled GSM micro-SIM in your destination country -- Apple sells the GSM iPhone 4 unlocked and contract-free for $649 (16GB) and $749 (32GB). Unlocking your phone yourself is possible, but exact instructions depend on the model and firmware version, and if you mess it up, you can brick your phone. So we don’t recommend it.
Wi-Fi Finder enables you to locate the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot—and gives you directions to get there.
If you’re travelling domestically with both an iPhone 4 and an iPad, consider using AT&T or Verizon’s Personal Hotspot service on your iPhone to get your iPad online -- you don’t need a 3G-enabled iPad this way, and even if you have one, it’ll be cheaper than paying for data on both. If your hotel doesn’t offer Wi-Fi, plenty of other places do (hello, Starbucks!), and the free, universal app Wi-Fi Finder can locate them. Save on costly hotel phone bills by using Skype (free, iPhone) to make calls over Wi-Fi. Calls to phones are 2.3 cents per minute, or you can get a 60 minutes/month subscription from just $0.89.
If you’re driving in an unfamiliar place, a turn-by-turn navigation app can be handy. TomTom USA ($34.99, iPhone) isn’t cheap, but it stores all the maps on your phone, so there’s no need to have a data connection to use it. An alternative is Navfree GPS Live USA (free, universal), which uses the user-generated OpenStreetMap database to guide you. Again, the maps are stored on your phone, so you won’t need a data connection for turn-by-turn instructions.
Once you’ve reached your destination, it’s time to see the sights. Lonely Planet has guidebook-style iPhone apps for $5.99 for tons of cities, plus audiobooks for $1.95. Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 is even free in the iBookstore. They’re all quite comprehensive and will steer you right.
Find your bearings with Google Earth and tilt your device to see a side-on view of the map.
Augmented reality apps are great to bring on vacation too. Wikitude (free, universal) lets you hold up your device to see overlays of landmarks with relevant links to Wikipedia, YouTube, Booking.com, and more. Tapping each one brings up a summary and a link to a more informative entry. Google Earth (free, universal) isn’t augmented reality, but if you zero in on your location and tilt your device for a street view, it can really help you get your bearings. Don’t forget a weather app to plan which day to head to the beach and which to spend in a museum. And to brag about your trip, try Postman ($2.99, iPhone) to send digital postcards featuring your photos or a screengrab from Google Maps—you can post them to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or the web, and email them to friends. Finally, SitOrSquat: Bathroom Finder (free, iPhone) points you to the closest public restroom from its database of 95,000 reviewed facilities; you can even filter down to just those that are currently open.
Beverly Hills is silly with restrooms, says SitOrSquat.
