The world is changing and so too is the way we travel. From booking flights and accommodation on apps to order take out and keeping track of loved one while they’re on the road, mobile technology is transforming the way we travel.
Just a few years ago, your cellphone was only used to send and receive text messages and calls. Today, it’s a mini-computer capable of navigating you around the globe, while taking high-quality photos and keeping in touch with your friends.
There are many ways mobile technology can enhance your travels. Here are a few suggestions.
How to use mobile technology during your travels
Browse, research, book
From finding the best flight deals to booking accommodation and learning about the best tourist attractions, you can be sure that there’s an app for everything.
You can monitor your bookings, make amendments or cancellations online and on the go. In addition, many hotels and airlines now offer messaging options and chatbots, making communication so much easier.
AI ChatBots can answer the most commonly-asked questions without a hitch, and can assist travellers in checking rates and managing their bookings easily.
Language and translation apps
From language and translation app to Google Translate’s new point-and-translate service, making your way around the globe has never been this easy.
The apps are easy to use, and you don’t have to carry a heavy phrase book with the common tourist phrases around anymore. Simply use the app, or even easier, point your phone’s camera at the text and wait for the magic to happen.
Watch: How Augmented Reality (AR) and mobile technology is revolutionising translating
Navigation and wayfinding apps
You can use Google Maps to navigate, well, pretty much everywhere on Earth. There are apps to help you around malls, parking lot and airports as well. Additionally, share your live location with a friend as a safety precaution.
Furthermore, Google Maps allows you to save any location to a list for future reference. It’s the ideal way to keep track of all the places you want to visit at some point.
Simply click on the location and save it. You’ll be able to see the saved locations (green flags) on your map. If you’re ever in the area, you’d be able to spot it easily as you navigate around.
This is a screenshot of my personal Google Maps account. I’ve saved all the places I want to visit to the ‘Want to go’ list, and have other lists too: favourite places, friends to visit, etc.
Priority Pass’ in-app airport maps, for example, assist travellers to easily locate available lounges and other airport amenities, taking the guess work out of navigating around a strange airport. Never miss a flight again!
Also read – Google Maps rolls out AR walking directions on Android and iOS
Save on packing space
Gone are the days when you had to fill your suitcase with unnecessary junk. Now you can listen to thousands of hours of music on an iPod, Spotify, Google Music or iTunes.
If you’re a lover of books, you can now carry an entire library with you on a Kindle or your e-reader of choice, and save a ton of space in your luggage.
If you want to snap a few holiday photos, your phone doubles as a camera and video recorder. Remote worker? Sure, just pack your tablet or laptop. Or, as I like to refer to it, ‘my entire office.’
Boarding passes and loyalty passes
Mobile boarding passes have revolutionised the way travel. It has cut down on the amount of paper used by airlines, as well as the time it takes travellers to get through the check-in process.
“Tech-savvy travellers can simply breeze through boarding gates with a turn of the wrist. Advances in technology mean that biometrics could soon do away with the traditional boarding pass entirely, with passengers’ faces becoming their ticket to travel. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security says it expects to use facial recognition technology on 97% of departing passengers within the next four years.”
Phil Seward, Destination CRM.
Electronic payments
Gone are the days when travellers needed to do an electronic transfer (EFT) or swipe your credit card. While there’s nothing wrong with those methods, we now have many more options.
From Apple Pay and Samsung Pay and Google Wallet, to PayPal Here (thanks, Elon Musk!), ROAM Pay and GlobalVCard, going cashless has never been easier.
Not also does it ensure your safety – not having to carry cash your person – but it saves you time. No more standing in ATM queues or carrying a bulky wallet. And then there are also currency apps.
Exchange rates constantly fluctuate and working our foreign currency can often just lead to a nasty headache. With currency apps like XE Currency or CalConvert, you’d be able to calculate the cost of the coffee in a jiffy.
Watch: Autonomous travel will rely on people and computers working together
With TSA
