Wi-Fi Finder, HotelTonight

The regular Webbuzz columnist in off this week, but here are a couple of new or improved apps that make traveling easier.

» Free Wi-Fi Finder: You’re touring an unfamiliar city and in need of Wi-Fi — make that free Wi-Fi. With the tap of a button, this app (also free) uses your smartphone’s GPS to find nearby public Wi-Fi hot spots. Free Wi-Fi Finder, which also allows you to search for a particular Wi-Fi spot, works in more than 100 countries, including the United States, Japan and Italy, and allows you to star favorites so you can easily find them again.

» HotelTonight: This free app enables you to find and book discounted same-day hotel rooms (thanks to unsold inventory) in more than 200 destinations worldwide. HotelTonight has been around for a few years, but it became more useful late last month when it began posting its daily deals at 9 a.m. local time, instead of noon. According to the site’s executives, the lowest rates this holiday season can be had on Sundays, followed by Fridays.

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Stephanie Rosenbloom, New York Times

© 2013 The New York Times Company