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6 Best (and Free!) iPhone Travel Apps

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6 Best (and FREE) iPhone Travel Apps

One of the downsides of traveling is that it involves a lot of planning, organizing and energy. From a month before you leave to even during your vacation, many of us are booking hotels, double checking for flight delays, packing, planning itineraries and the list goes on and on…Instead of listing 10 or 20 essential travel apps, we cut the list down to just 6 apps that can help you save time and effort while traveling.

1. TripIt

This app syncs with your emails so that email confirmations from hotel reservations, concerts, restaurants and cruises can be automatically organized into a personal itinerary.

2. Photosynth

Have you ever ran out of space to step back in order to take a full picture of your favorite landmark? Photosynth allows you to take 360-degree photos so you don’t have to struggle in order to get that perfect shot.

3. EveryTrail

For the outdoor travelers – search for the nearest trail around you and never get lost (it coordinates with the phone’s GPS)!

4. World Travelpedia or UrbanSpoon

World Travelpedia searches for the nearest restaurants and shopping spots all around the world. If you are in Australia, U.K., U.S. or Canada, UrbanSpoon is also a popular app that picks a restaurant for you when you shake your iPhone.

5. Flashlight and Compass Apps

Some of the best apps are already installed on your phone! The compass is great for finding your directions on a confusing foreign street (and it doesn’t even require data!). Whether it is used for searching the ground for something you just dropped at night or camping overnight, the flashlight also comes in handy while traveling.

6. XE Currency

Up to date currency rates, you can save the last updated rates so they can be accessed offline while at a local store. Ever wondered if a souvenir is worth the money by trying to convert it into American currency? This app is definitely a must if you are planning to do a lot of shopping.

5 Reasons Why the iPhone Should be a Part of Your Packing List

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5 Reasons Why the iPhone Should be a Part of Your Packing List.

Everyone has different essential items for their vacation but there should be one common denominator on everyone’s lists – the iPhone. Here’s why:

1. GPS

While traveling, transportation can be very time consuming and it can even lessen the time you wish to spend at your destination. This is where the Maps App comes in – with the phone’s GPS, you can definitely save time by knowing where you are at all times.

2. Camera

One of the headaches of traveling is packing, specifically over packing. However, the iPhone has so many functionalities, it can help you save a lot of room in your luggage for souvenirs. For example, you can leave your camera at home because the one on the newest iPhone has 8 megapixels. You can even instantly post your photos to Facebook or edit them with Instagram. The built-in GSP in the iPhone means you can also leave your portable GPS at home!

3. Apps, Apps and More Apps!

The countless apps from the App Store can help you relieve a couple of hours of boredom while on the plane. The increasing number of airplanes with Wi-Fi also means you can check Facebook, your e-mail and browse the Internet while in flight.

4. Cheap hotels, flights, restaurants, car rentals.

You can also find the lowest rates for hotels, flights, restaurants and car rentals with apps such as Kayak and Urbanspoon. Urbanspoon also displays customer reviews of restaurants, price ranges so you know what to expect at the newest spot in town.

5. Camping essentials

If you are camping or hiking, useful apps such as the Flashlight and the Compass can also save space in your camping backpack. The flashlight is chunky and takes up a lot of batteries. If you are camping for a few days and are afraid of your phone running out of batteries, remember to put it on airplane mode and turn off data fetching/Wi-Fi to save battery.

7 Free Places To Go To In Europe

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7 Free Places To Go To In Europe

Traveling can be expensive, especially in Europe. With the high cost of hotels and food, it is hard to stay under your budget. Luckily for those who want to stay connected in Europe, our Europe SIM is currently free until August 31.

Oslo, Norway

Make your way to the Frognerparken (Frogner Park) where you can explore over 200 sculptures of Gustav Vigeland. The sculptures are known to be unique and bizarre, make sure you get a picture of each statue!

Paris, France

If you go to Paris at the right times, you can get into Le Louvre for free. Once the residence of many French kings, Le Louvre now holds the famous Mona Lisa painting (La Jaconde). The museum is free on Friday from 6pm to 9:45pm for those under 26 and free on the first Sunday of each month and July 14 (French National Day) for all visitors.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

For all the music fans, the famous Concertgebouw Concert Hall in Amsterdam offers free lunchtime shows on Wednesdays starting at 12:30pm (September to June). Concertgebouw stands as the second most popular concert hall in the world with almost one million spectators each year.

Vatican City, Rome

If you are lucky enough to be in Vatican City on the last Sunday of the month, you can tour the Vatican Museums for free from 9am to 12:30pm. Here is where you can find some of the best works by Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Venice, Italy

The Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) has been the heart of the city for as long as history can tell. You can listen to string quartets, duets and orchestras as you enjoy the sight of the famous Basilica.

Paris, France

Re-live Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame visiting Notre Dame Cathedral free of charge. Choirs normally sing at 8am and 9am so make sure you grab an early breakfast.

Norway, Scandinavia

To catch a glimpse of the northern lights are on the bucket list of many travelers. The key is to be patient and know when to go. Tours can be expensive and can’t guarantee a sight of these mysterious lights. Plus, if you do your own research and stay in the area for a few weeks, your eventual discovery of the northern lights can be extremely rewarding. Northern lights usually appear during late autumn to early spring but the weather also plays a huge role. Some things to keep in mind are: visit during the night and visit when it is not snowing. Good luck with your sighting!

Top 6 Places You Can’t Miss While Traveling in Europe

It’s vacation season and why not add Europe to your destination list? Tourists can explore Greece’s original Olympic site (taking back to 700 BC), be serenaded down the Grand Canal in Italy, and go up the Eiffel Tower in France…all using the same currency!

  1. Le Louvre, France

    Le Louvre has been standing for almost 1000 years and was surprisingly first built as a fortress. Later, it was inhabited by many French rulers such as Louis XIV (Le Roi de Soleil or The Sun King).
  2. Olympia, Greece

    With all the excitement for the London 2012 Games this year, it would be interesting to see where the games began.
  3. Colosseum, Italy

    Another ancient structure, the Colosseum has been standing for almost 2000 years and symbolizes the imperial Rome of gladiators, spectacles and myths.
  4. Swiss Alps, Switzerland

    Chocolates are carry the symbol of it, watches and drinks are named after it, it almost subconsciously symbolizes durability and strength.
  5. Cheese Festival, Spain

    Taking place in May 2013, Trujillo is hosting the National Spanish Cheese Festival. This is when tourists can try hundreds of cheeses with wine, prosciutto and in tapas bars (perfect for chatting with some locals over appetizers and Spanish snacks).
  6. Museum Island, Germany

    A total of five museums on this island, Neues, Alte, Pergamon, Altes and Bode, Museum Island is definitely on the top of the list for many travelers. With centuries of history, the intricate architectural designs will blow you away.

How to make best use our of your gadgets while traveling

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How to make the best use out of your gadgets while traveling

Cellphones follow us wherever we go and they deserve a seat on the plane as well. If you are traveling with your cellphone this summer, here are some tips on how you can use them to save time, money and make the most out of your trip!

Whenever you travel, it is always a good idea to pack lightly. If you have a smart phone, you can skip packing the camera, the guidebook, the dictionary, and the GPS. Here’s why:

  • Most smart phones come with cameras that have high megapixels; you can even edit and share your photos with apps such as Instagram!
  • There are many apps out there made specially for traveling. Popular destinations nearby, how to ask locals where the closest train station is, everything is within the reach of your pocket. There’s even an app called “World Lens” that translates foregin signs you find (No more mistaking that “Do Not Enter” sign with “Welcome”.)
  • There is no doubt that everyone needs a map or a GPS while traveling. Instead of packing so many things, using the built-in GPS and map application on your phone can be a lot more convenient.

If you travel with an international SIM card and want to make a phone call back to United States or Canada, use this website to search up what you have to dial to make that call.

Taking photos can help you more than you think.

  • Take a photo of your hotel (with the hotel name in it and the names of the intersection.) This can be useful if you are taking a cab back to your hotel and can’t speak the local language
  • Take a photo of where you parked if you would be driving (e.g. parking lot number and specific landmarks) so that you can easily locate your car later.

Lastly, make sure you have the appropriate charger for your phone because voltage ranges vary around the world. This is a great visual guide for international socket shapes.

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Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

INFOGRAPHIC: How to Avoid Roaming Charges

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INFOGRAPHIC: How to Avoid Roaming Charges

The summer means its traveling season! But don’t let roaming fees ruin your vacation, for more tips on how to avoid these outrageous bills click here.

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4 Actions You Can Take Now to Prevent Jaw-Dropping Roaming Bills

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4 Actions You Can Take Now to Prevent Jaw-Dropping Roaming Bills

With expensive hotel rates, fancy restaurants and transportation expenses, shocking roaming bills have also contributed to the high cost of vacations. Many cell phone users are unaware of the fact that they will be charged more than usual for using their phones outside certain zones.

Here are 4 actions you can take to avoid the outrageous roaming bill:

  1. Enable airplane mode while traveling. The airplane mode prevents any calls and texts to be sent/received. Different phones (iPhone, Samsung) have different settings for example, the iPhone also blocks Location Services while the airplane mode is enabled. This function is useful for preventing any possible charges while traveling to your destination while still having access to music, games, and calendar.
  2. Get an international SIM card before leaving so you can enjoy local rates for calling, texting and data. In the end, this may be cheaper than making that one call using the hotel phone’s outrageous rates.
  3. Turn off data roaming on your phone.
  4. This will prevent your phone from using data on the road while outside the range of your carrier’s cell phone towers.

    iPhone:

    Settings → General → Network → Data Roaming → Off

    BlackBerry:

    Manage Connections Icon → Mobile Network Options → While Roaming → Off

    Android:

    Home → Menu → Settings → Wireless & Networks → Mobile Networks → Data Roaming → Off

  5. Even if you have an international data plan, it is easy to go over any data plan’s limit if you are not careful. Keep in mind that although your phone is tucked away in your pocket, it may still be using a significant amount of data by pushing emails, syncing to your social media, and having automatic application updates. Navigate the settings on your phone to turn off automatic fetching of data.

Here’s an example of how much it could cost you to roam in France:

  • Incoming/Outgoing Calls – $1.39/minute
  • Data – $20/MB
  • Incoming Texts – $0.20/message
  • Outgoing Texts – $0.50/message

Be sure you know your roaming alternatives next time you travel to avoid outrageous roaming bills!

4 Memorable Ways to Spend your London Afternoon

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4 Memorable Ways to Spend your London Afternoon

With the London Games fast approaching, millions of visitors will be watching the game live. Make the most out of your vacation by traveling to some of the most notable places in the UK.

Unusual restaurants

Eating in the dark? Traveling through a maze to get to your table? These spots are definitely hard to forget even long after your trip

Dans Le Noir

Eat and drink in the dark. This is the perfect chance to test your taste buds, because you can’t actually see what you’re eating. A rich dining experience with the help of blind guides.

Beach Blanket Babylon

An old Georgian Mansion in Notting Hill. Explore the intriguing tunnels and bridges connecting each room. The restaurant will make you feel like you have traveled back in time, dining in rooms such as the “Crypt” within a giant maze.

Watch the famous Olympic torch relay

On the last day of the relay, July 26, drop by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to cheer on the athletes and philanthropists who will be carrying the torch towards the finish line. Click here for the route to cheer on them on. To access the routes on your phone, you can download the official London 2012 mobile app with a UK data plan.

For the Nature Lovers

From street arts to gardens, discover the beauty of London in its most free form.

Hyde Park

With a slight resemblance of Central Park in Manhattan, Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in London. This park is also right next to the Kensington Gardens, which was once a private garden of Kensington Palace.

The Serpentine Lake is situated in the middle of the park where you can take a boating ride on UK’s first solarshuttle. The park is also within a 10-minute drive to the Buckingham Palace, it is definitely one of the Royal Parks that you don’t want to miss.

Regent’s Park

At this Royal Park, there is something to do for all types of travelers. Live performances take place in the park’s outdoor theatre with productions such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

The London Zoo is located within “Regent’s Park”. This summer, “Zoo Lates” is hosted every Friday night (In June and July) after hours where visitors can discover numerous animal demonstrations including nocturnal creatures.

Spot the “Giant Olympic Rings” all around UK

To celebrate the Olympics, The Rings ornament cities to welcome visitors. These are three of the many places where you can spot the giant rings.

Birmingham Airport

Cardiff

River Thames

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INFOGRAPHIC: What to Expect at the London 2012 Games

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INFOGRAPHIC: What to Expect at the London 2012 Games

The London Games are coming up fast and there might still be tickets left. For more tips on watching the games click here.

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Five Mistakes You Want to Avoid While Traveling to the Olympics

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Five Mistakes You Want to Avoid While Traveling to the Olympics

With the Olympics coming up in less than a month, everyone is searching for ways to maximize their London experience. For those who will be watching the Olympics on the big screen, there are also some useful advice for you.

Mistake #1: Not doing research on transportation

Prioritize the top venues you want to attend each day and try to arrive a few hours before the start of the event to avoid the rush. To save time, book a hotel close to the venue of the game. However, booking a far hotel can save you money.

Keep in mind that your Olympic ticket will give you free transportation for the day of the event.

Mistake #2: Packing unnecessary items on your trip (A light traveler is a smart traveler)

Try to limit the number of valuables you bring (Anything that you would hate losing). Items such as shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and other toiletries will be provided at the hotel, so you can skip them on your packing list (You can ask for toothbrushes and razors at the hotel service desk when not provided in the rooms).

Mistake #3: Not bringing an international SIM card or not realizing you need one

Most hotels in London charge a hefty price on international calls and Wi-Fi so being prepared is key. Getting international sim cards will provide the convenience of calling family and friends back at home and you can even replace the heavy GPS with your smart phone. With the UK SIM card, you will get greater coverage at every London 2012 Olympic venue. Apps are also great for planning your itinerary by using the “Official London 2012 Mobile Apps”.

Mistake #4: Booking a last-minute hotel

Unfortunately, hotels in London are already starting to get fully booked around the time of the Olympics and they generally charge more for last-minute bookings especially during a global event like the Olympics. If you are unsure about the credibility of how a hotel or hostel appears to you, go on www.visitlondon.com for an official list of trustworthy accommodations.

Mistake #5: Booking a hotel that is over your budget

You probably won’t find it surprising that hotel prices are hiked up during the Olympics. The lowest price of an average hotel room is about $300 a night and this can add up to $1000 if you are only staying for three or four days. Book early and use site such as www.room77.com to get deals on discounted hotel rooms.

Tips for those watching from the big screen:

  • If you’re at the Olympics without a ticket, have no fear! You can watch the Olympics on the big screen for free at various locations throughout the city (Victoria Park, Hyde Park, and Trafalgar Square).

The ceremonial Olympic torch fire is currently being carried by 8000 torchbearers (philanthropists to athletes) over a span of a 70-day Torch Relay. To see how inspirational each torchbearer is, find today’s torchbearers here.

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