Go Intel: Travel Apps for Skiers

App: Packing Pro
For: iPhone, iPad
Why: The only thing worse than spending  $200 on a pair of ugly snowpants because you left yours at home is arriving at the airport without your passport. Snuff these possibilities by creating a packing list with the Packing Pro app. Customizable lists based on destination, activity, travel buddies, and any other specifics you add will keep track of what’s in your bag and what’s not.
Plus: Lists created in Microsoft Excel, Numbers and Google Docs can be accessed and edited with Packing Pro.
Tip: Create “To Do” lists within your packing list—purchase lift tickets, make dinner reservations, print e-Ticket, etc.
Cost: $2.99

App: Open Table
For: iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows smartphones, Kindle
Why: Ski towns are full of great places to eat but finding a reservation last minute can be tricky. Open Table allows you to surf local eateries for available reservations and secure a table.
Plus: View menus, specials and user reviews of nearby restaurants.
Tip: Narrow your options by price, cuisine type, and location.
Cost: Free

App: Liftopia
For: iPhone, iPhone Touch
Why: Be a savvy shopper and find the best deals on lift tickets, equipment rentals and lessons from major ski resorts throughout North America. The app sends exclusive up-to-date offers and allows you to book with just a few taps of the finger. Browse deals based on resort, location, or best offers.
Plus: View trail maps, mountain stats, and snow reports from each resort.
Tip: Use the map feature to compare discounts based on your location.
Cost: Free

App: iFly Pro
For: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android
Why: This app makes navigating through airports and keeping tabs on your flights simple. Included are more than 400 GPS airport-terminal maps, guides to over 600 airports, bazillions of flight stats, and information on restaurants, stores, services—even parking rates and locations.
Plus: With iFly, you get suggestions on what to do during layovers as well as travel tips such as baggage and security requirements. Tip: Use the flightstatus feature not only to check weather conditions, delays, and cancellations, but to upload and manage your itineraries.
Cost: $6.99

App: Hipmunk
For: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android
Why: Searching flights and booking hotels at the last minute is stressful, but this app finds flights ranked by both cost and “agony” (flight time and number of layovers). Hotels are displayed on a map so you can see the exact location.
Plus:  Flights and hotels can be booked directly from your phone or e-mailed to someone else to keep all traveling parties in the loop.
Tip:  Turn on the “heatmaps” when searching for a hotel to find a place to stay based on interests such as food, nightlife, or landmarks.
Cost: Free

App: iExit
For: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android
Why: Craving a burger from that greasy spoon off the highway but can’t remember exactly where it is? Well, iExit knows. It tells you which exits have what you’re looking for, from specific restaurants to the nearest hotels and gas stations.
Plus: You can customize point-of-interest categories such as sit-down meals, independent or chain hotels, and even coffeehouses.
Tip: To conserve the battery charge of your device, click on the “more” button and turn off the background alerts when you’re not using the app.
Cost: $1.99

App: Postagram
For: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android
Why: Who doesn’t love receiving a postcard? A personalized one is even better. Select a photo from your device’s gallery, type in a message, choose a recipient, and Postagram will send the postcard anywhere in the world.
Plus: The pictures on the postcard pop out and fit perfectly into a picture frame.
Tip: You can also choose to print photos from Facebook or Instagram in addition to those saved on your device.
Cost: App is free, but postcards are $0.99–$1.99

App: SatSki
For: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, and BlackBerry
Why: Are you a ski nerd who needs all your stats up-todate and handy? This app is for you. Download trail maps from ski resorts in 12 countries, and Satski will keep note of your speed, distance, and vert in addition to tracking the locations of you and your friends so everyone is easy to find.
Plus: Satski also geotags photos, provides resort information, and gives snow and weather reports.
Tip: Join the Satski Online Community to connect to other skiers: Upload and replay your ski days, track your stats, and generally geek out over max speed, elevation, and airtime.
Cost: $4.99