So, your holiday is fast approaching. You’ve got your ehic application sorted, carefully selected your hotel for maximum relaxation potential and packed your bulging suitcase. But have you got your gadgets?
You might be thinking that your holiday is time to switch off from incessant emails and stop constantly checking Facebook, and you’re not wrong, most of us do spend too much time on our phones (an average of 145 minutes screen time per day!). However, there are plenty of ways that tech can make your holiday even more stress-free, so don’t rule it out completely.
Google Translate
If you’ve booked your holiday abroad, the chances are you haven’t had the time to learn more than a few basics phrases in the country’s native language. While being able to say “Hello”, “Please” and “Thank you” will get you so far, there are plenty of situations where you might need a bit of extra help. The Google Translate app is your friend. You can use it to decode menus, find out how to ask for directions or even chat up the locals in the bar.
Smart Suitcases
Packing for a holiday sends even the most level-headed of people into a state of panic. There’s always that nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something, or that your belongings won’t get through customs safely. You can make this ordeal a little bit easier with a smart suitcase.
There a range of these high tech cases available on the market, including the Arlo Skye carry-on which is on the higher end and the more budget-friendly Aerolite. These suitcases are designed to be super secure, protecting your belongings from even the most turbulent of flights, and come with handy features like charging facilities for your mobile phone. You’ll glide through the airport effortlessly with a smart suitcase in tow.
Airline Apps
Most airlines have a good social media presence and their very own apps. Before you fly, it’s always worthwhile downloading the latest app so you can get up-to-date information and be pre-warned of any cancellations.
There’s nothing worse than turning up at the airport and finding out your flight won’t be taking off until the next day! You can also use these apps to make any last minute changes to your booking– so save yourself the time and hassle of waiting to speak to a rep, or spending hours on the phone to customer service.
Itinerary Planners
If you’re the sort of person that loves to jam-pack your holiday full of fun things to do, you need an itinerary planner like TripIt. Instead of having to keep track of multiple bookings and trying to plan the logistics of getting from the must-see cultural sites to the best beaches around, you can simply send TripIt everything you want to do and they’ll send you back an organised online itinerary. You can even share it with your friends or family, so they know exactly what you’ve got lined up for the holiday.
