Travel Abroad With A New Packing App

I have one full screen for my travel apps on my iPhone.  I have so many, I even put them into groups like Air, Hotels and Navigation.  I use these apps all the time when I travel abroad and just before I head to the airport.

If I'm going abroad, I check out my destination on Smart Traveler and make sure everything is fine on that end and that where I'm going is considered safe rigt now. If it's a country where I've never been, I open up Cultures and read about where I'm going to make sure when I hold up 2 fingers it means I want 2 of something ... not that I'm offending anyone.

Right now I'm testing 2 packing apps:  Packing Pro and Packing Planner.  Truth is, I normally throw things into a bag and head to the airport.  I'm hoping one of these apps will help me plan what I'm taking better, so I can start traveling with a smaller bag.

Packing Planner is essentially a digital packing checklist app for your device that allows you to create customizable to-pack (or to-buy) lists from a selection of hundreds of various items. You can categorize them (clothes, tech, toiletries), then once you’ve packed that item, check the box and move on to the next one. Simple as that.  You can do that with Packing Pro as well.

Want the app to take on Skynet-like control of your packing? You have the option of setting the app to remind and nag you to pack or buy certain items prior to the trip. You can also email off the list to your traveling partners and print out a copy in case you need a backup.  This is a cool setting that Packing Pro does not yet have.  And I need to be nagged constantly, so I'm going to enjoy that part of the app.

Here is a screen shot of my iPhone travel app area.  I'm a real nut job, huh?

I guess I'm going to rely on you to tell me if I've missed anything.  And if there are travel apps you highly recommend, please let me know and I'll give them a try.

For more information about Packing Pro and Packing Planner ... and more information about the Cultures and Smart Traveler ... I've provided those links for you in this post.

And on the subject of Smart Traveler, always remember that it's a great idea to always register with the State Dept. so in case of a dire emergency, someone in that country is going to have a record of you.