It’s no surprise that everything is going mobile these days and for a traveler, that’s super convenient. Granted, I still travel with my Macbook Air but that’s because I need to be writing and blogging from the road. Otherwise, I’d be perfectly content with using just my iPhone because there are so many helpful apps to solve all my problems. These apps that are well worth a download!
Find inspiration with AFAR
I have spent countless hours on their site creating highlights and wanderlists but when I’m on the road, I often find myself browsing other entries from members of the community on their mobile app. It’s basically a mobile version of their homepage and the layout looks similar to Instagram so your eyes will be very familiar with the navigation. Find things to do, places to stay, and activities to try by sifting through the user-based content. You might just find your next destination.
Get organized with TripIt
Speaking of booking a hostel, there is a lot of planning that goes into a trip and TripIt helps you make sense of it all. You can either forward all of your travel confirmations (flights, hotels, bus tickets, etc.) to TripIt or you can use their auto import feature. I opted for the latter, which means that TripIt scans my email for confirmations and creates an itinerary for me and puts all of my information in one place. This sure beats printing everything out or fumbling through a stack of paper at the airport check-in desk.
Learn the language with TripLingo
I’m a huge fan of Google Translate but I can’t really rely on it if I’m outside the US because I turn off my data browsing and stick to Wi-Fi. In search of other language apps I stumbled upon TripLingo and have been happy with it thus far. The free version only unlocks a basic level of information and I haven’t upgraded yet. There are currently twelve languages to choose from and a couple different types of learning tools including flashcards, lingo for various travel situations and of course, on the go translations.
Stay connected with Viber
Up until a few days ago, I had not heard of Viber but I’ll be testing it out next month when I’m outside the country. Similar to WhatsApp, Viber allows users to call and text other Viber users for free. It’s important to note that you must be connected to Wi-Fi or have your data service activated. Once you download Viber and enter your phone number, it can access your address book to display who of your contacts is already set up with the app. There’s an option to include a photo like you would on other social networks and it makes searching through names a lot easier.
Megan Eileen McDonough is writer, blogger and social media specialist based in New York City. She also runs Bohemian Trails, a lifestyle blog designed for the savvy and stylish traveler. Bohemian Trails aims to feature must-see places around the world, covering everything from revamped neighborhoods and vibrant street art to innovative tech hubs and everything in between. Her cultural escapades have taken her to Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Megan is also a freelance writer and social media specialist based in New York City. She contributes to various online and print publications in the travel and fashion industries and is an international correspondent for both Jetsetter and Northstar Travel Media.
