Around this time last year, for most of us, planning a trip meant grabbing the masks and hand sanitizer and heading to the grocery store. If you were lucky, you were shopping for the whole week and would be spending a little more time away from home. Now this year, just in time for vacation season, things are almost like the good ol’ days when you could pack up the family and head to your favorite destination spot. But don’t leave all the devices you relied on during the quarantine back home – they can actually make your trip better than ever. Let’s take a look at few of them. (Note: Most have free versions and offer in-app upgrades.)
Best laid plans … make things so much easier.
Whether you like to have everything planned to a T or prefer to hit the road and see where it takes you, it’s always a good idea to have at least some direction. An itinerary mobile app can help you organize your plans during your time away. Here are a few that can keep you on track:
TripIt
If you’re looking for a way to keep all of your travel information, including flights, hotels, reservations, etc., in one easy-to-find place, you need this app. Its best feature is that it automatically pulls everything into one email box and sends you alerts (although getting multiple alerts on your vacation may defeat the purpose of taking a break).
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TravelSpend
This app helps you keep to your budget with very little effort on your part. Check your balance, convert currency and split bills with fellow travelers without the drama that usually goes with it.
Android Apple
Visit A City
See everything your destination spot has to offer so that you don’t miss anything worth doing. Use a premade itinerary or input your own. You can even buy tickets to some attractions through the app. It even works offline.
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Are You Going My Way?
There is going to be a discussion about which directions to follow. There will be – whether you’ve never been to the place you’re headed or if you’ve been there hundreds of times. Just accept it and have a GPS app ready to go so that the voice of Siri can also be the voice of reason on the roads. These are some of our favorite apps:
Google Maps
You can’t have a GPS app list without Google. Really, what more can we say?
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Waze
This app makes traffic a game with crowd-sourced information about real-time traffic and customizable characters! You even get points every time you send an alert through the app and can compete with friends. The only downside is that the game can be a little distracting when you really should be keeping your eyes on the road.
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MapQuest
This is not your parents’ MapQuest. There’s no printing involved and the directions will actually get you where you want to go. The app has additional features such as local weather, gas price comparisons and on-demand roadside assistance.
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¿Dónde está el baño?
If you’re traveling somewhere where people speak a different language, you may need some help with the basic sayings. These apps will have you speaking that language like a tourist in no time:
Google Translate
We already know that Google can do almost anything and translating is no exception. This app gives you both speech and text options to communicate in around 100 languages depending on the feature. But that’s not all: You can also use the app to translate using photos and hand-written characters. You can even use it offline. Check out what else it can do.
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Microsoft Translator
This app offers many of the same features as Google Translate and is also highly regarded. Between the two, it comes down to preference. (Note: The Microsoft Translator Windows app was retired on April 8, 2021).
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Duolingo
This may look like a kids’ game but if you want to learn a new language, it’s fun and interactive for all ages. This app has almost 40 languages to choose from, including Klingon. So, if you do ever find yourself in a situation where you need to ask, “Where’s the bathroom” in Klingon, Duolingo has you covered: “nuqDaq ‘oH puchpa”e’.” Of course, you can learn to ask in more common languages too.
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Most importantly, for any of these apps to work, you need the right tech and that’s where TCC, Verizon Authorized Retailer, comes in. Our knowledgeable sales reps will help you find exactly what you need for your trip and beyond. Be sure to ask about our current deals as well as what offers may be available on your personal account.
Here’s to happy and safe tech-filled travels!