traveling with cell phone

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.

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!

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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