Oftentimes, travelers spend a lot of time taking pictures and posting on social media. Many criticize the rampant use of the smartphone during travel as a result. However, the smartphone—and many other technological wonders—make travel much easier than ever before.
1. There are apps to improve pretty much every aspect of travel.
There are dozens of travel apps to help you find great deals and so much more. You can save money and get direction for the best experiences. Some of the best travel apps include:
- Skyscanner
- Citymapper
- Kayak
- GoogleMaps
- Airbnb
- Hotel Tonight
- TripIt Hopper
- Uber
There are even apps like Google Translate and Duolingo to help you communicate when visiting a foreign country.
2. You can book everything online without a travel agent.
With time and a few different browser tabs open, you’ll have everything you need to book your trip. There are filters on most travel sites so that you can narrow by price, location, convenience, and anything else you prefer.
3. You can research the best travel destinations for everyone in the family.
Are your travel companions elderly, disabled, or children? You can easily research destinations that will appease your group. You can choose a destination by age level, interests, historical periods, and more.
You can also locate accessible hotels and excursions for the disabled. For example, TripTripHurray can be used to find accommodations, public transport, shops, services, restaurants, and other places of interest for those with disabilities.
4. If you can’t take off work completely, take it with you.
Thanks to cell phone plans, data, and mobile hotspots, it’s possible to stay connected with work, even when you’re on vacation. You can even access the internet on planes nowadays. So, if you have a project that you need to finish, you can take it with you rather than missing out on your vacation.
5. You have entertainment at your finger tips for long car rides or flights.
Download Audible, Amazon Kindle, and Netflix and you’ll have all the entertainment you need. There are also thousands of games that can make your layover feel like just a few minutes. Some highly recommended apps for entertainment while you travel include:
- Waze
- Roadtrippers
- Foursquare
- Findery
- TuneIn
- Overcast
- Automatic
- Openbay
Each app is free and loaded with things to do during the boring parts of travel.
6. You can stay in constant communication with those on your trip and back home.
Whether you want to share photos with those at home or connect with your party for dinner, you’re just a text, phone call, video chat, email, or social media post away. Even though you don’t want to spend too much time on your phone while on vacation, you can’t deny that it’s handy to have around.
7. There are always coupons for posh travel experiences.
Check out Groupon, Expedia, Hotels.com, and more for excellent discounts and promotions on some amazing experiences. You’ll save on hotels, car rentals, excursions, and more as long as you do a little research ahead of time. Subscribe to travel coupon sites and website newsletters to find the best discounts on any travel experience.
8. You can get anywhere you want with navigation apps.
Whether you’re walking, biking, taking the bus, or driving your car, you can navigate the whole experience with Google Maps and other popular navigation apps. You can also download the apps onto your phone ahead of time – that way, if you’re trekking in an area with low connectivity, you always have your directions handy.
9. Transportation can be booked with a single tap.
The Lyft and Uber apps will connect you with a shared or private ride to most places on your journey. Oftentimes, they’re more affordable than a traditional taxi and more comfortable. There are some limitations to these apps since they can’t pick you up at every port or airport, but they’re still an excellent way to get around most of the time.
10. Find restaurants, gas stations, transportation, and more instantly.
Don’t let your stomach go empty, your gas tank run out, or your driver fall asleep at the wheel. If you download the right apps, you can instantly discover the closest accommodations and amenities on any road trip. Here are some of the best apps for your convenience:
- AroundMe
- iExit
- Gas Buddy
- Sightseeing
- Hotel Tonight
- Gogobot
- TripAdvisor
- Yelp
11. Use your phone for pictures and back them up on the cloud.
Unless you only take professional-quality photos, you can document your entire vacation with your phone’s camera. You won’t miss any candid moments because most people have their phones with them at all times. When your phone’s memory gets too full, just back them up using Google Photos or iCloud. What would we do without technology like this?
