For the Road Apps to ease your way while traveling

If you're planning to travel this year, download these free apps to help you deal with unexpected bumps in the road.

Having trouble keeping track of trip details? Forward all those confirmation e-mails for your flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises to plans@tripit.com, and Tripit will organize them into an easy-to-use itinerary. The app syncs your travel plans with your online or mobile calendar and forwards details to others. Available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Blackberry.

Missed a connection or stuck somewhere unexpectedly overnight? Hotel Tonight, available for iOS, Android, and Windows, lists same-day deals for rooms in more than 500 cities and lets you book from your phone. Hotels are rated Basic, Hip, or Luxe. (A new feature now lets you book deals up to seven days in advance. Prices aren't as good as same-day deals, but savings can be had.) On the flip side, ever booked and paid for a hotel room in advance and then had a last-minute change of plans? Roomer, available for Android and iOS Free, helps you sell that reservation to someone looking for a last-minute deal.

Stay in touch, but don't get stuck with huge data bills. WiFi Finder provides a listing of hotels, restaurants, airlines, stores and other locations across the U.S. and Europe and around the world with free WiFi hot spots.

Traveling with a group and sharing expenses? Cost Split, for iOS, lets you set up a budget and keep track of who spends what. Each person can add expenses (from their own device). At the end of the trip, the app generates a report on who owes what to whom.

Never pay full price for a drink. With Happy Hours, for iOS and Android, you can find the best food and drink deals wherever you are in the U.S. Search by day, time, location and features like free WiFi or type of cuisine.

Not sure what's allowed in your carry-on bag? The Transportation Security Administration has created a free mobile app, My TSA, for iOS and Android. It includes tips on how to prepare for various security lanes before getting to the airport and a "Can I Bring . . . " tool, on what items can and can't go through security in checked or carry-on baggage.

If you're driving to Boston, New York, San Francisco or one of more than 100 other cities, download the Best Parking app. Once you arrive, plug in an address, cross street, neighborhood or attraction, and the app will direct you to the cheapest nearby parking lot. Rates are updated regularly; links to discount coupons are provided. Available for iOS, Android, or BlackBerry users.

When you gotta go, you gotta go. Airpnp (no, not a typo) lets residences and businesses rent out their bathrooms to people who need to use them. Plug in your location and the iOS app lists nearby restrooms and the charge to use them, generally $1 to $5. Payment is made through the app.

Waze, a traffic and navigation app for iOS and Android, posts real-time traffic info from drivers in your area, and local gas prices.