First, we are happy to share yesterday’s Tnooz article that features Travelfusion’s new map search function that we featured here on the blog a few weeks ago.

In his article, “Travelfusion plus maps into door-to-door metasearch,” Kevin May describes our new feature that allows users to navigate via Google Maps to tailor flight search results and filter out the best travel options.  This is merely the beginning of great new Travelfusion features and changes to the look and feel of our main website, and we are getting excited for the new site’s launch in Spring 2010.

In other technology news, anyone who’s been connected to the Internet over the past 24 hours is definitely aware of Apple’s recently announced new device, the iPad.  Experts have been sounding off about the pros and cons of this device since even before the announcement was made, but what really interests us is how iPad might change the way we travel – or not.

Photo credit: mac_filko

The folks over at Jaunted, one of our favourite sites for travel news and opinions, have taken it upon themselves to post both sides of the story – the pros and cons of the iPad and how it will relate to travel.  Check out their point and counterpoint of the positives and the negatives to help decide what you think.

Will the long battery life and compact size make the iPad an essential companion for bringing your own games, films and television shows on long-haul flights?  Or does the lack of a camera and fragility make it something too breakable to bring on the road?

Tnooz has also polled the travel experts to see what they think in their recent article on the iPad that is a must-read for seasoned travellers looking to form their own opinions on the device.

Personally, I think that the WiFi connectivity, hundreds of travel apps (some of which I featured yesterday) and ability to bring my podcasts and tv shows with me on a trip make the iPad very appealing.  The lack of a USB port and the price will make me wait before getting one – or hope that these things will change in the next version.  Will you be lining up to buy the iPad this spring?  How will you use it?

Photo credit: CarbonNYC

From ways to stay connected via social media, maps, restaurant reviews and more, the iPhone is becoming an essential traveling companion for many, including myself.  Here are some specific recommendations:

WiFi Finder – FREE

Tired of paying huge data roaming fees when you get back from your holiday?  Use this handy WiFi finder to locate hot-spots in over 135 countries.  A great way to stay connected without breaking your budget, and even better -the app is free to download!

Currency – FREE

Want to determine the price of that must-have souvenir in your own currency?  Convert prices with the touch of a button with this free currency app.  Don’t be surprised by your credit card bill when you return home and stay informed about how much you are actually spending.

London Tube – £0.59

Planning on taking public transportation on your trip?  Search iTunes for local transport applications for your destination.  This London Tube app is an example of the great resources out there to help you get from point A to point B in a new city.  Plan your journey in the palm of your hand, and without the worry of having to pull out a map and look like a tourist!

Urbanspoon – FREE

Want a quick idea of where to eat?  Looking to avoid tourist traps and find a spot popular with the locals?  Urbanspoon is a fantastic application that will give you a host of restaurant recommendations with the shake of the iPhone.  The drawback to this app is that it currently only covers a limited number of cities, but if you are traveling in the U.S. or the UK, this is a go-to app for finding your next bite to eat.

Language Translator – FREE

Are you looking for the best way to ask for your check?  Want to ask where the closest bus stop is? Can’t decipher the road signs?  Try this language translator app that will translate simple phrases in a variety of languages.  It’s as simple as typing in your phrase and selecting the languages you wish to translate.  ¿Dónde está el baño?  Combien coute une bière? Very important questions indeed….

Twitterrific – FREE

Want to stay in touch whilst on the road?  Hoping to instantly share photos with friends and loved ones back at home?  I’ve found that Twitter is the best way to do so – and there are a host of free apps for your iPhone that will help you do just that.  My favourite is Twitterrific, but there are die-hard fans for all the different ones out there.  These apps make it simple to share a photo, a link or just update people on your travel itinerary.

This is only a brief view of the thousands of apps that are available that will help you on your next trip.  What are some of your favourite travel apps?

First, start your search on the main Travelfusion home page.  Once you have entered your departure city, address or postal code, you will see a drop-down menu of airport options from this location.  At the bottom of the list you will notice the new option, “Try the map.”

Click on “Try the Map” to be taken directly to the map screen, as seen below:

Click on the map to move the “FlyGlass” icon to your preferred location.  When you’ve found your preferred departure location, click to select this location.  Repeat these steps to select your destination.  Remember, the map is highly interactive and can be zoomed in and out as much as you wish in searching for your destinations.

Once you have selected your departure and arrival cities on the map, you should see this type of screen on the Travelfusion main page, with the “leaving from” and “going to” fields filled in with your selections:

If you are happy with your selections, click on “search” to generate your unique list of flight options based upon your map selections.

Once your results page has loaded, you will see a list of available flight options sorted by price with the lowest first.

For even more detail, select a flight by clicking on it, and you can even click on the airport name or three letter code (for example, LTN or CDG) to see the airports on a map, or below these options you will also find a link to see your entire route on a map.  See below for screen shots of these features:

Finally, if there is an airport near you that you prefer, you can also filter your results on the map to select specific airports and exclude others.  On the side of the results list, you will find options to “Specify airports/airlines.”  Click on the airports tab to see a drop-down menu of all the possible airports for your search.  To see these airports on the map, click on “show on map.”  See below:

By clicking “show on map” you will be taken to the map view which shows your airports and their locations.  This can help you to find the airport closest to home or work and will help you make the choice of which one is most convenient for your journey.

We hope these features will make your flight searches even more interactive and informative in 2010.  Please let us know how you like them – we would love feedback from users!