Using Your Smartphone when Travelling

It seems these days everyone has a smartphone and they are taking it with them everywhere they go, including on holidays.  There is nothing wrong with this, but it’s important that you make sure to check with your provider about any extra fees that you may incur.  If you are not sure, or don’t have time to check, it’s a good idea to flip your phone to Wi-Fi only when out of town/country.

iPhone 2g, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (Photo credit: reticulating)

That said, if you have your phone with you, there are a variety of things that you can use it for.

Directions

One of the best things about a smartphone is the ability to use it for directions.  That said, it’s hard to say how current the information you find is.  You can probably find a compass application as well if you are not sure what direction North is.

Language

In a country that speaks a different language than your home language?  There are all sorts of apps that will help you with the language from how to spell a word to the proper pronunciation.  If nothing else, you can show your phone to someone to get your point across.

Websites

Of course, you can easily use your phone to check the city/area/country’s website for any information you require.  Want to know the address of city hall?  No problem.  Looking for a hotel?  Chances are that information is on a website somewhere.  Looking for a certain type of restaurant?  Put the type and the city you are in, and you’ll find it.

A quick search for “travel” in the application store finds a lot of apps for hotels and trip review sites.   I’m sure with a bit more searching and different search terms; you can find a lot of handy items.

Apps that sound promising:

SeatGuru - Tells you what seats are the best on the plane with a colour guide

GateGuru - Maps of airports, security wait times, and updates for gate changes.

TripIt - Free and Paid, keeps track of itineraries for you.

Xe Currency - Determine what an items costs in your home currency.

WeHostels - Helps to find hostels and you can even message people staying there.

Forvo - Helps with language and pronunciation.  Paid app.

Trail Wallet - Track expenses and categorize them.

Do you have a favorite travel app that you think others should know about?

Blue Mountains

I took a day trip to the Blue Mountains.

The Three Sisters

Nighttime Harbour Cruise

Nighttime Harbour Cruise

A relaxing cruise around the Sydney Harbour at nighttime.

 

Around Sydney

I spent a week in the Sydney area.  I tried to get out and see a lot of things but you just cannot see everything you want to in that time.  I attended a concert at night when I first arrived, went to the Aquarium, took in a concert at the Opera House and took a day trip to the Blue Mountains (post coming up with these).

Water taxi.  Popular method to get around

The Opera House

Inside at a Concert

Hyde Park in Sydney.  I love the rainbow from the water

Part of the Sydney Skyline

Another water taxi.  This is also where many ferry's are caught to get you around Sydney.  From here, I caught a ferry to Manly beach and took a night cruise (next post).

Double rainbow

Koala Pictures

I saw Koala's at several different places through my journey in Australia.  They are creatures that sleep a lot and eat eucalyptus when they are awake.  Rumor says they actually get stoned off the plant, but the various guides assured us this was not the case.

If you look closely, you can see the baby in her pouch.  The guides told us this was not common to see and to be able to see so easily with the Koala hanging out on the railing.  She was actually roped off so that people could not touch her and disturb her slumber.

Grampions

Day 2 of the Great Ocean Road we visited the Grampions.

Most of these do not need any explanation.  We were up early to be at the summit by sunrise which was amazing.  We then proceeded to hike down, some areas of which were very narrow and we had to go slowly.

Traveling the Great Ocean Road

We now travel to Australia, just outside Melbourne to be exact, along the Great Ocean Road.  I took a 2 day trip to visit this area as well as the Grampions.

Scenery along the way

We stopped and saw koalas.  Can you see the ball of fur up in the tree?

I believe these are some of the Apostles.  My mind is fuzzy after all these years.

One of the areas along the road.  The tide was coming in as you can see on the beach and the water lines.

Another set of rocks.