By Hans Osnabrugge

It’s summertime, and that means vacation. You’ve crunched the numbers and you’re going to stick to your budget on the big trip.

Right?

But after the photos have been taken and the adventures have been had, you realize you’ve overspent. What’s worse, mobile spending during your vacation was through the roof ~ four times more expensive than your normal monthly phone bill.

Welcome to the hidden costs of vacation.

But guess what? This doesn’t have to happen.

By harnessing the power of the latest technologies, killer apps and hot new startups, you can budget for your trip, find the discounts you need and make sure you’re calling home at the lowest possible rate.

Here are some of the hottest travel technologies to help you save money on your next trip.

Phone home cheap ~ Use VoIP

RingCredible: VoIP, or Voice-over Internet Protocol, is a simple and inexpensive solution that’s used in many countries. Using VoIP, you can call anyone around the world for just a few cents. It’s safe, it’s easy, and you don’t have to ask your contacts to download an additional app or create any profiles or accounts. Download the app, sign on with your regular phone number and make a call to any mobile or landline number.

Find free Internet

Wi-Fi Finder: Does your hotel charge an arm and a leg for Wi-Fi access? This is a useful app that you can use to find free Wi-Fi spots wherever you might be staying, so you can check your email.

Get smart about getting around

GateGuru: This is one of many mobile airport guides that will help you find what you need while you travel. This one even helps you get discount rental cars, in case your flight is canceled. Many airports have built apps that guide you through your flight schedule, airport dining and drinking and finding cheap parking.

AirportParking and Best Parking: Cut back on your parking fees by using these apps to find great deals and places to store your car while you’re away or to find parking spots outside of the airport if you’re traveling by caravan.

AllSubway: Why lose your money in overpriced taxis? This app maps out the subway system in 163 cities worldwide.

SaferTaxi: OK, if you insist on a taxi, the world offers you a smorgasbord of taxi apps that help you find safe, affordable solutions, like SaferTaxi if you’re headed to South America. No more having to play the role of poor, confused tourist, which is an easy target for shady taxi drivers the world over.

Find deals and steals for restaurants

Wikitude: This is a great startup that lets you find mobile coupons and discounts for restaurants, stores and shops around you and allows you to scan your money and figure out exchange rates wherever you’re at. You can also find ATMs, restaurants, user reviews and much more.

JetSetter: If you’re in the middle of a trip and need to find new accommodations quick, check out JetSetter, which offers 60 percent off on same-day blind bookings. What’s great is that this app gives you an insight into a hotel’s neighborhood.

TippingBird: What you’re used to tipping back home might be a small fortune to the country you’re visiting on your vacation. This handy little app saves you money ~ and embarrassment ~ by giving you the tipping standards in various places around the world and in various settings (taxis, spas, hotels, etc).

TripSplitter: If you’re traveling with friends or another family, this app lets you split the costs accordingly.

Track and save all your expenses

Moxtra.com: Use this app to completely organize your trip. Upload packing checklists, itineraries, visa requirements and travel tickets to folders that you can access from anywhere. This will save you grief in the future.

Expensify: Take this handy app overseas to track your purchases and transactions through syncing with your credit cards and bank accounts. You can also take pictures of all of your receipts and save them, so that when you get home, you’ll have a PDF report of your spending.

Hans Osnabrugge, CEO of RingCredible and Partner at Brooklyn Ventures, has advised startups such as SoSocio and ValueWait, among many other global operations. He’s an expert in mobile VoIP solutions and has extensive experience in the wealth management and startup sectors, where he has consistently netted proven results.