Smartphones put to the test: Which is best?

— -- Travelers are increasingly bypassing the concierge and relying on their smartphones for directions, restaurant recommendations and local attractions.

But how smart are they? USA TODAY tested five models — the BlackBerry Storm, iPhone 3G, Palm Centro, Sprint Instinct and the recently released T-Mobile G1 Google phone — while posing as business travelers in Washington, D.C.

We started at the Capital Hilton near the White House and drove to the Hart Senate Office Building. From there, we strolled through the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and finished up at a nearby Italian restaurant.

The phones were consistently reliable for popular and basic features: finding our location, providing turn-by-turn directions and listing museums and restaurants with their phone numbers.

But several flaws were apparent. GPS connections can be spotty indoors or on cloudy days. Typing addresses using tiny keyboards and small screens is challenging while walking. Download speeds were often poor. Maps typically took more than 10 seconds to appear on our screen.

None of the phones offered third-party reviews of restaurants, which meant we had to use the phones' Web browser. On some phones, travelers can download applications that provide customer feedback, such as iPhone's Urbanspoon.

The verdict: In many cases, it's still better to print navigational information at home. But GPS phones can be very useful for travelers making decisions on the fly.

READERS: How do you rate your smartphone when it comes to your travel needs (GPS, maps, etc.)?