Five "Must Have" Apps To Use When Traveling Abroad
- Keep Your Trip Details Organized in One Place
- Take Advantage of an Interactive Travel Guide App
- Avoid Over-Spending on Purchases
- Communicate with the Locals
- Choose the Best Places to See, Dine, and Experience
- Dont Let Unexpected Bad Weather Ruin Your Trip
- Keep Track of What Time It Is
- Take and Share Photos of Your Trip
- Make International Calls
- Stay Entertained During Long Flights
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Your Apple iPhone or iPad has probably proven itself to be a valuable productivity tool at home, at work, and while you’re on the go. So, if you’re planning a trip overseas, don’t forget to pack your iOS mobile device, its charger, and an international power adapter.
Before leaving, you’ll also want to purchase, download, and install a handful of apps that can be used to enhance your travel experience. As you browse the App Store, you’ll discover many apps that can be utilized for planning and enjoying a trip, and help you save time, save money, stay informed, and remain organized in the process.
Keep in mind that many travel-related apps require access to the Internet in order to function properly. From your iPhone or iPad, you can access a Wi-Fi hotspot from an airport, hotel, coffee shop, or Internet cafe, for example, from anywhere in the world. However, if you utilize a 3G or 4G wireless network without prepaying for an international wireless data plan, you could wind up paying extremely high international roaming fees, to the tune of $20 or more per megabyte.
From the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap on the Cellular Data option and then make sure that the Data Roaming option is turned off when traveling outside of the United States. Whenever you’re within the signal radius of a Wi-Fi hotspot, however, turn on the Wi-Fi option on your iOS mobile device in order to access the Internet. Depending on your iPhone or iPad model, you also have the option of purchasing a pre-paid micro-SIM chip that offers wireless data service in the country you’ll be visiting.
Keep Your Trip Details Organized in One Place
In addition to apps that can help you plan and book your trip, such as Kayak Mobile (free), Hotels.com (free), Priceline Hotel & Car Negotiator (free), and Travelocity for iPad (free), many individual airlines, hotel chains, and rental car companies have their own free apps to help you book and manage reservations.
Other apps allow you to keep track of your complete travel itinerary in one place, including your airline, hotel, and rental car reservations. These apps will alert you of last-minute flight delays or cancellations, and help you navigate your way around airports, for example.
To help manage your itinerary, FlightTrack Pro ($9.99), TripIt Travel Organizer ($3.99), iFly Pro ($6.99) or Flight+ ($4.99) will prove extremely useful, especially if you’re a frequent traveler.
Once you’ve made your travel plans, there are also apps that can help you pack more efficiently. The Packing Pro ($2.99), Pack & Go Deluxe Packing List ($2.99), or Packing +To Do (99 cents) app will serve as a customizable packing checklist, plus offer recommendations about what to pack based on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing.