Times have changed from 20 years ago, when the only thing to do on a flight was listening to music, watch a movie or read a magazine. Now you control your entertainment preferences, all from your mobile device. You can sit back and relax, pluck away at your phone, or catch up on your favorite show or movie.
Netflix
4.4 out of 5 stars on Android and iOS
This one may seem obvious, and you may already have it, but it’s a must-have for reasons beyond binging on fantastically addictive shows. Not only can you add ones you want to see to your list, but with certain titles, you can download them to take with you to watch without WiFi. Say hello to watching the entire season of Orange is the New Black while you kick back on your flight.
Kindle & Moon+ Reader
3.9 out of 5 stars on Android (sorry iOS)
Maybe you’re more of a reader. If so, Amazon’s E-book app is one you should bring along for your trip. With instant access to your Kindle library at your fingertips, you can buy new books with just a few clicks. You can Moon+ Reader for your other reading needs if you have other non-Kindle format books or documents you want to read over. It features page, font, spacing, layout and color formatting, and you can easily further research and explore things you’ve learned in-book.
Dumb Ways To Die 2
4 out of 5 stars on Android and iOS
If it sounds morbid, that’s because it is. While the objective is, of course, to not die – these tiny colorful humanesque blobs just can’t help but find themselves in mortal danger. And it’s your job to save them from trying to retrieve their phone from the train track, getting slapped to death by a penguin, or being mauled by a yeti with a bad haircut. What makes this game so addictive? It’s easy to play, but impossible to master.
Google Trips – Travel Planner
4.1 out of 5 stars on Android and iOS
It was only a matter of time before Google helped with your trip planning. Part Google Maps, Part Google Calendar, this app lets users organize everything from their departures, accommodations, places to visit up to catching a ride when you get home again. You pre-organize your flight and hotel deals, giving you offline access for when you arrive. From there, you can plan an itinerary with the locations in your vicinity or ones that are pre-arranged. Simply add and schedule them in and Google will alert you how to get there and when to leave. You can then search from there further things to do, modifying your plan as you see where the day takes you. Need to make sure you’ll have landed in time to catch a business before closing? Simply call them and be sure. This app really does act like a travel assistant and spending a few moments on it before you land can really save you time and headaches down the road.
Pandora
4.5 out of 5 stars on Android and iOS
Pandora is considered to be the ultimate mood mind reader. How many times have you thought about listening to a song, flipped on Pandora and – boom! – the song was playing? But as soon as we thought Pandora couldn’t get any better, they roll out their premium features – which includes the ability to listen to songs without WiFi or data usage and – wait for it – no commercials. I don’t know if there’s much more to say about that. If you don’t have it, you need it.
Calm
4.8 out of 5 stars on Android and iOS
Taking a trip can be a stressful time. From the organization to the traveling, the blending into the new surroundings and finding your way around. Your whole trip can be offset by delays or a bad flight, but Calm can certainly help you keep your cool in the midst of the chaos.
Let us know if you’ve tried any of these and what you thought about them in the comments!
