Travel Channel's First App Hits the App Store
The Travel Channel and Anthony Bourdain have just released a new iPad app meant to help travelers plan their trips. The app includes a ton a features and has a very high production value. Anyone traveling to one of the cities included in the app should definitely download it.
The main theme of the app is creating "layovers", which are itineraries of locations to visit. The app includes suggested layovers and users can create their own by selecting from the locations and restaurants in the app's database. The app will also estimate the amount of time it takes to visit a location and the amount of time it takes to travel from place to place. Currently, the cities in included in the app are Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Rome, San Francisco and Singapore.
Every city has a bunch of locations to choose from, ranging from restaurants, bars, and sightseeing destinations. Each location has plenty of pictures and information about it, such as the hours of operation. The list of locations can even be filtered to only show certain types of places, like bars or restaurants.
Every city begins with a video introduction in which Anthony Bourdain talks about why he loves the city and some of his favorite things to do in it. The production value of the videos rivals the television show. The quality of the photos is also first-rate. In addition to the introductory video, each location has a list of Dos and Don'ts, notes of what "inspires" Bourdain about the city, and information on traveling to the city.
The app definitely has a focus on food, which is no surprise given that Anthony Bourdain got his start a chef. The biggest category of locations is bars and restaurants and Bourdain usually talks about the food in the introduction videos.
For users who are actually in the city, there is an interactive map that displays locations with information, suggested layovers, and the user's layovers. The app integrates with a lot of social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, and allows people to check-in on Foursquare.
Travel Channel Cities
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iPhone Screenshots
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iPad Screenshots
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