5 Ways to Use Your Smartphone When Travelling

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Many people travel with their romantic partners, friends, or family members. This makes perfect sense – after all, it is natural to want to visit new countries and cities with those that are closest to us. 

However, the greatest travel companion of all is not a fellow human, it is a piece of technology. That’s right, it is your smartphone. 

That beautiful little device that fits in your pocket is the key to having the ultimate traveling experience. The benefits that phones bring to traveling are incredible – honestly, it makes you wonder how people used to survive without them! 

So, let’s get into 5 of the best ways your phone can optimize your traveling experience to make it one to remember! 

• Use Google Maps to guide you when walking

Generally, traveling involves a lot of walking. 

This is where Google Maps comes to help. It can direct you wherever you need to go when you are on long walking trails and can even save you if you get lost.  

Remember, walking is super important when traveling, and is one of the main reasons why traveling is great for your health. Here are some more reasons why traveling is good for your health, if you want to learn more.

• Take high-quality selfies and videos 

When the weeks and months pass by after you return from your travels, it is truly a sad time. 

You feel a lot of nostalgia and (most of the time) wish you could hop in a plane or car and return to traveling again. However, most of the time this is not possible. 

But here is the good news. The memories you make whilst traveling live on in picture-form. Any time you are missing traveling, you can pull out your phone and look at all the selfies and videos took whilst you were out there. 

So, when you are next traveling, make it your mission to capture all those amazing moments through selfies and videos. Just remember, though – do not take dangerous selfies!  

• Make use of translation apps 

Translation apps are true lifesavers when it comes to foreign travel. They can help you order food, ask for directions, or have conversations with locals – basically, they open endless opportunities. 

Some good translation apps to try on your iPhone or Android are: 

• Google Translate (learn more about Google Translate here)
• Microsoft Translator 
• Scan & Translate + Text Grabber (which is particularly useful for dealing with documents and written messages) 

• Use free messaging apps to save money 

Smartphones come with a wide range of free messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp – talk about 21st century convenience, right? 

Naturally, these apps can save you major costs when traveling, as you do not need to do international calls or texts. 

• Get weather updates 

There is one giant fear that everyone has before traveling: the weather. 

When people travel to a nice destination, they pray that it is sunny and warm – after all, you do not want to go to Spain and have your break ruined by bad weather! 

Therefore, it is a good idea to get weather updates through your smartphone that keep you up to date about upcoming weather conditions. For example, there could be a heavy rain forecast for the next day, so you will be able to plan accordingly around it.