5 Tips for Using Technology While You Travel

5 Tips for Using Technology While You Travel

Twitter

While many people still consider Twitter a place to post pictures of their lunch and hear from their favourite celebrities, the site has become an invaluable tool for communicating with large companies who keep a close eye on any negative PR. The best examples are airlines, who are often faster in responding to tweets than via phone or even in person! If your flight gets cancelled or you have problems with online check-in, don't be afraid to voice your complaint.

Facebook

Heading to Cape Town to take in the view from Table Mountain? Did you know you can win free tickets on their Facebook page? How about the Minnesota State Fair, who's page offers giveaways for the nightly concerts? Check out your destinations and events before you go, and even if you can't score free stuff, you'll get the heads up on anything new and exciting and have the chance to ask questions.

Groupon

You've probably used Groupon (or similar group-buying sites) at home, but have you considered using it while you're on vacation? Sign up for email alerts for the cities you plan to visit, and you may come out with a half-price dinner or discounted amusement park ticket. Best to do this a few months in advance, but look carefully at terms and conditions... especially expiration dates!

Skype

Skype has always been a great tool for communicating with people halfway around the world, and with the rise of smartphones and tablets it's become even more convenient. Take advantage of the free wifi offered in many coffeeshops, bars, and other places to say hi to loved ones, or check in at the office.

Apps

We've done several posts on terrific travel apps, but the best ones are often specific to your location. Have a connection Amsterdam Schiphol? Download their free app to check your departure gate and flight status. There are also great nightlife and event apps available for most major cities, and even tour guides for museums and historical sites. It pays to check out the attraction's website (or contact them on Facebook) to find out if they have one... it can be a great freebie!

Top 5 Blackberry Travel Apps

We talked about iPhone travel apps a while back, but in South Africa and the UK, the Blackberry is still king. So here are our top 5 Blackberry travel apps:

The Weather Channel - I've tried a few weather apps, and this one is by far my favourite. It has a clear display that shows you current and predicted weather forecasts up to 10 days in advance or any destination worldwide, so you'll know when to hit the beach and what to pack. (Free)

FlightTrack - One of the most advanced flight tracking apps out there, FlightTrack gives you information on not only your arrival time, but gate updates and realtime flight mapping. It's pretty comprehensive, covering 1,400 airlines in over 4,000 airports worldwide. (US$4.99)

Google Maps - My Blackberry's built-in GPS is pretty crap... so one of my first downloads was Google Maps. It's handy in the car if you don't have a Garmin or TomTom, and even better if you're wandering around an unfamiliar city trying to locate major landmarks! (Free)

Navita Translator - There are a lot of translation apps out there, but Navita keeps coming out tops. This handy app allows you to translate emails, texts, and tweets; you can also type or speak the phrase you want to translate. Navita supports 50 languages, including English, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian. (Free)

TripIt - This travel organiser lets you forward confirmation emails to them, and they'll build your itinerary for you! Keeping all your scheduling info at your fingertips, it syncs with your Blackberry calendar and Google Maps, and will even update people with your trip progress. (Free, or pro subscription for US$49/year)