Three-quarters of Americans have made a trip abroad at some point in their lives, and there are many more with ambitions to do so, whether that means traveling around the world or hopping over the border to one of the nearby countries.
Like almost every aspect of life, technology has made things more straightforward, but only if people know how to use that technology for the better. Mobile phones make all the difference, and most aspects of travel can be sorted with the use of your phone including tickets and more. One day, maybe passports will even be on mobile devices! For now, phones can help with loads of other aspects of traveling.
VPNs For Entertainment
VPNs are a way to make it appear that your phone is in a different location, or mask a location. There are absolutely loads of uses of VPNs and when traveling it can be useful to access websites that may otherwise be blocked or even just ensure the site defaults to the right currency and language settings.
People may use VPNs to ensure they access the same sites and materials that they do in their home country, to make sure their apps don’t change based on region, or to ensure that their browser allows them to get to the same websites. Poker and online gambling sites may be different from one country to the next, but by using a VPN to set the home country as a location, players can potentially have uninterrupted service when they play poker online, and nothing will change from the way they play online usually.
The recent growing popularity of crypto integration into poker offers by online platforms makes a big difference in this context too because crypto is a digital currency, hence it makes the gaming experience even more complete.
Video streaming sites are another use of VPNs as different regions show different shows. Netflix, for example, has a huge number of different shows and movies that may be available in one country but not necessarily in another, so the libraries are geographical.
Translation Apps For Communication
People can learn some of the basics or rely somewhat on body language and rudimentary signs, so there are some tricks and tips to navigate foreign languages, but none are better than using translation apps that can revolutionize the way you communicate with people, even with a different language altogether.
Google Translate is a popular choice, offering real-time translation of text, speech, and even images. Just point your camera at a sign, menu, or any text, and voilà! Instant translation. There are other options like iTranslate and Microsoft Translator, which also support voice and text translations and can be used offline which helps with the roaming charges. These apps are lifesavers when trying to navigate foreign lands and communicate with locals.
Travel Insurance Apps
Travelers should ensure that they have insurance when they are going overseas, and this can provide peace of mind, but it has become a lot easier to manage in recent years among some of the providers that have apps. Some insurance companies offer apps that allow users to purchase, manage, and make claims on their travel insurance policies. Apps like Allianz TravelSmart provide access to policy details and the contacts people might need. Having these resources readily available can be crucial in case of an emergency, and it is even possible to start a claim on some of the apps should somebody need to.
Maps and Navigation
Most modern mobile phones have a way for people to get directions and access maps, using GPS to target their real location. Google Maps and Apple Maps are great for keeping travelers on the right path. These apps offer real-time GPS navigation as well as public transit information to help plan routes on buses. They also allow people to download maps of specific areas for offline use,
Along with apps for walking around and potentially driving, it is possible that people may want a ride-hailing app or a taxi app, depending on where they are traveling. Lots of places still use Uber for transport or may have a similar service in their own country for finding cabs, and apps like Rome2Rio provide comprehensive information on how to get from point A to point B using various modes of transport. Tickets can even be booked and stored on a mobile device in the wallet section to make the whole process even more streamlined.
Conclusion
Before undertaking a big journey it is a good idea to do some research and prepare, and this could include downloading certain apps or finding out how to use the features phones boast these days.
More planning may be needed when going somewhere very remote, but for most cities and big vacation destinations, some translation apps and a few simple preparations may be enough (along with travel insurance, of course). We’re definitely living in a global society and mobile phone technology has brought people a bit closer by making it easier to mix.
