Skift Take

Brands are betting that the Watch will be the next iPhone. So far, all we know is that it has a better shot of succeeding that its Android rivals.

More travelers with Apple Watches are armed with notifications about their flight, hotel, rental car, and nearby to-do options and directions.

For the most part, a leisure or business traveler can feel more in control of their time by getting real-time updates and appear less lost by navigating themselves through unfamiliar cities in a more discreet way. Nowadays — for some — whipping out a smartphone to find out how to get some place is almost as passé as taking out an actual foldout map.

So far, here are the booking and discovery Apple Watch apps that are syncing up with iPhones:

Booking

It’s great to get notifications about flight status and hotel checkin and checkout times, hopefully these companies will add reminders for when to leave for the airport, when to pack or request for late checkout or car return.

Booking.com
One touch booking of any one of more than 625,000 properties in more than 75,000 unique destinations.

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Expedia
Real-time updates on flight status and hotel checkin and checkout dates.

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Hotels.com
Find deals from nearby hotels, get reservation information and locate hotels via GPS.

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Hotel Tonight
Force touch and book nearby hotels by budget in a few seconds and get reservation information and turn-by-turn directions.

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Priceline.com
Imminent trip information on flight, hotel and rental car or suggestions of nearby hotels with deals and map location.

pricelinecom

Skyscanner
Gives travelers directions back to hotel wherever they are, available in English and Mandarin.

SkyscannerAppleWatch

Cleartrip
Gives travelers a list of their upcoming trips and opt-in notifications about changes in flight status.

Cleartrip

Orbitz
Combines flight status, up-to-the-minute travel updates, and loyalty program information.
AppleWatch-Rewards

Concur’s TripIt
Flight, rental car, hotel information and map.

Discovery Tools

Roaming the streets with the Apple Watch is allowing for a more informed serendipitous experience. These apps make it easier for travelers feel more familiar by having an idea of places to see, dine or do and what the cost is going to be. Quite helpful to know offhand whether or not withdrawing some local currency is needed to avoid the hassle of interrupting the experience.

FourSquare and Swarm
Get suggestions and deals on places to dine on FourSquare or visit nearby and checkin via Swarm to see if friends or family are on location as well.

Foursquare Apple Watch

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OpenTable
Reserve restaurants, get directions, countdown to dine time, and settle the bill with ApplePay.

OpenTable Apple Watch

TripAdvisor
Get the mini version of reviews, ratings complete with photos of peer-to-peer experiences at accommodations, restaurants and attractions .

TripAdvisor Apple Watch

Yelp
Ratings, reviews, hours or operations, of local businesses and prices at restaurants, cafes, and watering holes.

Yelp Apple Watch

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Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

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Tags: apple watch, booking

Photo credit: Hotel Tonight's Apple Watch App that allows would-be hotel guests to scroll, force touch, and tap their way to a last-minute deal and review their stay. Skift

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