Handy travel apps you need on your phone
Lisa Du is director of ReadyTechGo, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology.
When travelling to an unfamiliar destination, there are a multitude of questions that may pop up. You’re in a strange place, you’re not used to how things work around there, and you have limited resources.
Well, believe it or not, your phone can be your number one resource! Have a look below at some of the most useful apps you need to download onto your phone before you hop onto that flight.
1. Google translate
Google Translate is a language translation app that will prove to be undoubtedly helpful on your next overseas trip. It provides text, voice, and even photo translation services. No need to fear those language barriers anymore!
2. XE currency
Let’s not ruin our trips with unnecessarily tiring maths! Don’t bother doing those difficult currency conversions in your head - let your phone do it. There are many, many currency conversion apps out there, but a good one is XE Currency. Simply select which currencies you wish to convert to and from, input the values, and have the calculations done for you!
3. Free Wi-Fi finder
When travelling, the internet can be your most valuable resource - but it’s not always available on your devices! In order to access the internet when travelling overseas, your best bet is to find an area with free Wi-Fi you can connect to. Now, the usual spots will be McDonald’s, the airport, and perhaps your hotel. But what do you do when none of these places are near you?
Use the Free Wi-Fi Finder app. This app will search for free Wi-Fi spots via postcode or tapping into your location. For a quick internet fix, use this app to find your best shot at a connection!
4. Uber
Say goodbye to frantically waving down taxis! Uber is the hottest transportation app of 2016 - it helps you to quickly find drivers in your area who will drive you to any location. It’s faster, cheaper, and far more reliable than a taxi service.
All you need to do is input your location and destination, and Uber will find you a nearby Uber driver to pick you up. When you’re matched with a driver, you’ll be able to see their name, license plate number, photo, and rating before they reach you. All Uber drivers undergo background checks before being allowed to drive anyone.
Uber is available in over 429 cities and 71 countries all over the world, including Australia, the US, the UK, China, and France.
5. TripIt
TripIt is a travel itinerary in your pocket! You can plan your entire trip on this handy app. Once you link your email account to TripIt, it will automatically search your inbox for information about your trip (such as reservation confirmations and receipts). It will then use this information to build your itinerary. All your flight, hotel, and other booking data will be neatly stored in one place on this app!
There is such a huge pool of useful apps available to us online. Make sure to take a helpful sip of this pool next time you’re travelling!
Which app helps you the most when you’re on holidays? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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