If you have a smartphone or a mobile device, then you’ve used an application or what we all know as an app. Whether it’s to check the weather, access the news, download books or get turn by turn directions there’s an app available for whatever you need.
Apps are easy to download and are often free but you should understand that there are some key things that you might consider before you download apps on your device. Is the app free or do you have pay for it? What information do you have to give before you can download the app? Who gets that information and what do they do with your information? When you download individual apps, some apps may be able to access your call logs, phone and email contacts, calendar data, internet data, your location and information about how you use the app itself. The information they collect from you can be shared with other companies. If you are concerned about how your information s being shared, make sure you check the “privacy” settings on your device or find ways to “opt-out” of data collection in the app privacy policy.
When we travel for work or fun, we find ourselves needing the help of apps. Unfortunately accessing apps can eat up a ton of our data, which means more costs added to our travel expenses. The good news is there are some apps that don’t require too much data and some don’t need it all! We can still be entertained and be safe without doing too much damage to our phone bill if we can find apps we can use that don’t need cellular data while we are away from home.
I have found that these 5 travel apps can be used with or without cellular data so it is a must-have when traveling. Download these apps before you arrive at your destination and you will be all set!
Tripit
The Tripit app puts together all your bookings in one place. Not only does it put your flights in one place, it also includes compiling your hotel and rental car information. The best part is Tripit automatically builds a chronological itinerary for you that you can send to your friends and family so they can keep track of your whereabouts and flight information. Who wants to carry a file full of reservation documents or go through an inbox full of confirmation numbers to find the information you need? You will need a Wi-Fi connection for the Tripit app to pull all your information but once everything is compiled in the app, the app works without data when you need to access the service.
Google Translate
Finding directions in a foreign country is much easier if you can ask a local. You also know that you’ll get the best price at a flea market when you’re able to haggle using their language. Google Translate is a great app for these situations and the best part is you don’t need to use your mobile web browser to look up translations. Choose from the Google Translate data-free language packs and download to your phone. Once downloaded, you’re now ready to type a term or a phrase you need translated. When you need to translate languages that don’t use the English alphabet, this app allows you to point your in-app camera at the phrase or word and the app will do the work for you! Cool right?
Travel Expert
Do you need a travel chaperone to help you navigate a new place? The Travel Expert is your travel chaperone! It provides off line maps to help you easily navigate your way in a new city. It helps you prepare for downpours because it has a weather function and it can even offer reviews on local establishments. You can also download individual city guides for a variety of major cities. A perfect travel companion!
Zello
The handy Zello app operates like a modern day walkie-talkie. If you’re traveling to a remote or less developed country, you can continue to stay in touch with Zello. Zello allows you to send photos and messages home and can also coordinate meet-up times with your travel companions. Zello uses a fraction of bandwidth of phone calls and often works in low bandwidth areas when phone calls won’t get through. Zello has been instrumental in allowing survivors of natural disasters to communicate with one another. Zello is truly a wonderful app!
In Case of Emergency or ICE
When we’re abroad, we need to be extra vigilant about being safe and healthy. We don’t want to spend our time in a hospital or seeing a doctor when traveling. It is a confusing to understand and access medical care abroad so we should avoid this as much as we can. ICE is an app available only on Android phones that compiles all data like insurance policy information, medications, medical history, allergies and more in one place so you can easily show it to your travel companions or healthcare provider in an event of an emergency. ICE includes a widget that allows healthcare personnel to bypass lockscreen passwords and access the app themselves. For iPhone users, enter all medical information using the Medical ID function on your phone. No matter what operating system you’re on, both apps are accessible without data.
Do you have favorite travel apps that you have to have when you travel? Do you need cellular data to access these apps? Is your app a free or paid one? Have you tried one or more of the apps above and find them to be useful? I would love to hear from you.
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