Did Santa Claus bring you an iPad this Christmas? If so, we're sure that you're getting a fair bit of use out of it. An increasing number of hotels are betting you are too, and it seems like a brand new iPad app was on several hotels' gift lists. Australian Business Traveller has reviewed the top three apps currently making news.
Our top pick is the InterContinental iPad app, which focusses on the skills of its concierges. It's a beautiful app, with all kinds of information and suggestions for what to do at your destination. Much of the content doesn't require you to be online to view: a bonus for something to do during a long flight or a boring delay. (125 MB download, free)
InterContinental's iPad app: best looking of the bunch
The Westin New York at Times Square has had its iPad app out for several months now. It's pretty basic (probably due to being ahead of the curve) but if you're staying in the hotel or looking for some basic tips about Times Square then download away. (58 MB download, free) Several other Westin properties -- the Chosun Seoul & Busan, the Moana Surfrider, the South Coast Plaza, and the Imagine Orlando -- have iPhone apps, which will work at a reduced size on the iPad.
The Westin New York Times Square app: pretty, but basic
Best Western's hybrid iPhone/iPad app seems to be a Best Western-specific version of Foursquare or Dopplr, with location services. This app looks to be somewhat useful if you stay at Best Westerns a lot, or if your friends do. (3.6 MB, free)
Best Western's app: like Foursquare or Dopplr, but less useful
Of course, if you haven't booked your hotel yet, there's a wide range of apps available for searching and booking. We rate apps from Kayak and TripAdvisor as the most useful of the lot -- and with the multitasking function of the latest iPad software update, flipping between them to find out whether the place you're considering is any good is even easier.
What's your go-to iPad app for business travel? We'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
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