Savvy Travel is just a Click Away

written on November 9th, 2015 by Rafia Abubakar

When it comes to travelling, being organized goes a long way. The next best thing to having your personal tour guide is having access to a wealth of information with just a few clicks. I’ve rounded up some of the mobile apps I have used and also think would be nifty while on a trip.

Travel Review / Tips – After doing research about my next destination, I check out websites and pages that offer real-time and first-hand reviews from fellow travelers and visitors. You can be sure to get straightforward accounts from real people..

• TripAdvisor – A useful app you can download to skim through user-generated reviews about hotels, restaurants and other places of interest.
• Foursquare – This handy app is good when you want to check out what’s good within your proximity. Also shows tips from users who have been there before you.
• Yelp – Same as with TripAdvisor and Foursquare with a focus on local businesses.

Public Transportation App – Like most airlines some forms of public transportation have mobile apps to help commuters along the way.

In London, where the very complex underground train can be a maze, downloading Tube Map London Underground app (iOS , Android) will take out the guessing game. Plus you will be alerted of detours, delays. Hong Kong MTR and Singapore MRT have their own. With a little research you may find the suitable public transit for your commuting needs.

Some of the most convenient public transportation apps have been for Taxi companies.

• GrabTaxi and EasyTaxi – Hail a cab from the comfort of your mobile app. Specify the pick-up and drop-off point, and pay the fare plus booking fee.
• Uber – Same with GrabTaxi and EasyTaxi except in payment option. With Uber, you have a cashless transaction as the payment is through your credit card.

GPS Apps – For those who choose to rent cars or go on foot, a Global Positioning System (GPS) is your bestfriend. Seriously, if you don’t want to lose your way navigating through unfamiliar streets, GPS apps will be your life line.

• Waze – one of the hottest apps for drivers and travellers alike. A community-driven app, updated in real time by fellow motorists. You get the latest in traffic and road conditions, which can be a big help in planning your road trip or route when on the road. Available for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
• Google Maps – apart from giving directions, google maps can also come up with different commuting options and routes.
• Offline Maps & Navigation – Take into consideration that you might end up in a deadzone area and you will have no signal. Best to have back-up offline maps to keep you from getting lost.

Weather Apps – You don’t want to be caught in a cold climate and all you’ve packed is a wardrobe of light material. No, you really don’t want that. Getting a heads up on what the weather is like in the city or country you will be visiting is smart. Helps you decide what to pack too.

• AccuWeather
• Weather Underground

Communication – The following apps are nothing new and I’m sure everyone has used one or the other. These messenger apps though are a huge help when traveling. Phone calls or even text can be costly especially when abroad. Just be sure to hook up on free WiFi where available.

• Viber
• WhatsApp
• FB Messenger
• Skype

Translation Apps – It would be nice to be able to communicate with locals in their own language. Also best to get the basics down so you won’t have a hard time communicating and getting around.

• Google Translate – You can type in the texts or phrase of the language in question and translate it to your preferred language, or vice versa. There’s also the option of an audio input.
• Scanner & Translator – This nifty app lets you scan texts and signs and translates it to over 90 language of your choice.

Currency Converter Apps – Sure a calculator can also do the trick but an updated app with real-time and current rates will lessen miscalculations.

• XE Currency – Let’s you customize and choose the currencies you want to view. You can peruse through them, comparing rates from 2-5 currencies at the same time.

Tech and the Travel Savvy

I will admit it took me awhile to let go of old fashioned maps when on a trip. The thrill of figuring out the routes and directions were an adventure in itself. Embracing technology and the latest gadget is not all that bad. In some cases they are more than helpful to make a trip a memorable and hassle free one.