This my first travel app review and I’m starting off with the app that I use by far the most often, Tripit.

TripIt is a website where you can store all your trip plans in one place.

To get started, open an account online, and once you are set up you just forward confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com using the email that you signed up with. TripIt will then add those details to your account.

TripIt does the rest; adding your transport, accommodation and entertainment details into your account which is accessible on smart phones and online.

[screenshot of a flight itinerary on TripIt]

So far TripIt has worked for most of the booking services I use, such as flights from kayak and accommodation booked on most hotel booking sites. The system doesn’t process some emails from airlines or hotels that were booked directly. In this case you will need to fill in the booking details yourself.

I found this out the hard way the first week I started using this app. I forwarded my flight details for an inter island flight with go! Mokulele in Hawaii. TripIt couldn’t process this email, so I manually added the flight times and flight number, but I left out the payment details. I had paid for the baggage fee online, but when I arrived at the check in the airline told me they couldn’t bring up the payment details on their screen, so they made me pay the fee again. I didn’t have access to email either so I couldn’t show them the booking (and I still haven’t got my bag fee back either).

Despite this inconvenience, I am sold on the idea of having my travel plans on my smart phone, rather than relying on printing itineraries out. I don’t have a printer, let alone a home to go with it, and it is inconvenient to have to go to net cafes just to print out an itinerary.

TripIt Apps

TripIt Apps are available on iPad and iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices. The App is free, which is what I use. There is also a Pro version available for $49 a year.

Tripit Community

With TripIt you can also create a public profile where you can share your travel details with friends or publicly. If you have an account I am at tripit.com/people/nomadicnotes.