Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
... and Trail Wallet to record expenses. Keep a separate account for each country by category of expenses. Very easy to use and interesting to look back at.
The first thing I do when getting into a new country is get a local SIM card (they are cheap and useful).
I used to get local SIM cards in Europe and South America in the past. In 2017 I switched to T-Mobile after Verizon fees started to climb even as I was getting less data for it. T-mobile may have its coverage issues in USA but in Europe and South and Central America and Asia they have free unlimited data and texting. Even though the data is advertised as low speed I found it to be 3G or even 4G and enough to use google maps, browse web and email and make voice calls via whatsapp. T-mobile has partnered with local providers in those countries and if you use their roaming partners, no additional fees are added.
And all this using my regular USA plan with no extra charges tacked on.
Honestly? When I travel, I leave all tech at home (ebook and mp3 player as the exception). It gets in the way of what I want, a new experience. To be honest, I don't even do the smartphone thing (cost/benefit is Way on the wrong side) and rarely take my basic phone with me anyway.
Hasn't been an issue with multiples of out-of-country trips, just like it wasn't an issue before they became popular. I've found that while I can get some okay recommendations from places like Trip Advisor, once you start talking with locals they scoff at the ideas/places as "overhyped" most of the time and and suggest 10 places that are better (usually I'm looking for more authentic, a locals favorite).
So far, I've yet to find an app or website that beats simply talking with people. *shrugs* but I'm old and got burned out by working in tech for my career.
- Many hotel/flight apps for any chain/carrier that I have used.
- Apple Wallet (for easy access to boarding passes, requires iPhone)
- Smart Traveler (US State Department STEP App) - I register whenever traveling overseas
- Mobile Passport
- MyTSA
- Priority Pass
- Momondo, Skyscanner, Hopper, Booking.com, Hotels.com, etc.
- TripAdvisor
- Google Maps, Maps.me, Here (all have the ability to download maps)
- What’s App
- Google Translate (you can download the language)
- XE Currency
- The World Clock feature on my iPhone - for multi-time zone travel
- Transit apps for the local city, when available and if necessary
- Groupon
- Notes
I have a special trick I use that minimizes a lot of that. I travel with only a tablet. Before I go I make a text file of any URLs that I might need to refer to while on the road. Then I copy and paste that text file into an email that I send to myself. So all I have to do is open my email and open the message "Links", and they are all right there, waiting to be clicked on.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
