There are some really helpful apps out there for travelers, according Brett Snyder, special contributor to CNN.com. Snyder is founder of air travel assistance site Cranky Concierge and listed a number of apps for finding hotels, rides, as well as flight and trip tracking.

The one I recently used in my whirlwind day trip to IMEX America in Vegas was Gate Guru.  I was able to pull up the shops and restaurants in my terminal and around my gate at McCarran International.  It was pretty accurate and included ratings from fellow travelers. The only issue I had was it listed a restaurant that did not exist, so not sure how often their database is updated.  I gather it is like other user-populated apps, where they add their own content and locations. Not 100% reliable, but close. Of course, the wafting smell of Cinnabon near my gate was enough - I didn't need an app to help me find that! Those places should be outlawed! (just kidding, they have a great marketing model - bake it and they will come)

I also use my airline's app, as Snyder suggests, which is great in that I can bring up my boarding pass on my phone and don't have to print it out, thereby saving part of a tree. I can also check in and check the flight status anywhere prior to my flight.

What are apps you use and can't live without while traveling?