The holiday travel season is here, and several Americans are obtaining ready to descend upon airports and highways across the country. Crowds moving around or at airports are inevitable this point of year, but there are some tech tips that may facilitate ease the pain of traveling.
1. Back up your information before you leave
Organizing for your trip ahead of time will prevent time and cash, but in our wired society, making ready your electronic devices before travel may conjointly stop a disaster. Whether your mobile device or laptop is lost or stolen, it will be devastating to lose precious photos and videos. Back up your knowledge before leaving on a trip to forestall the loss of these irreplaceable moments.
2. Aggregate travel information
TripIt offers a central place to track travel reservations online and via its mobile app. Once travel information is loaded, the service can email reservation data and even flight delays and gate changes. TripIt is out there on iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone seven.
3. Gather emergency info
EmergencyLink is a service that lets your link all your medical, money and insurance info. Emergency info will be stored on-line and on the mobile app. EmergencyLink has an emergency response service that may be set up from your mobile device. The mobile app is on the market for iOS and Android.
4. Organize what you pack
Apps like PackingPro (iOS) and Packing List (Android) allows you to create highly customizable lists of things you are packing on your trip.
5. Compare gas costs
GasBuddy is a common mobile app the finds the most affordable gas station in the realm. The mobile app is offered on iOS, Android and Blackberry devices.
6. Notice a last-minute place to stay
Airbnb, the vacation rental matchmaking service, features a feature that lets users browse last-minute rooms or flats for rent. Airbnb's mobile app is on the market on iOS and Android devices. Hotel Tonight lets users book last-minute hotel stays via its iOS or Android app.
7. Check in to your flight from home
Most airlines let users check in and print boarding passes from home. If you've got baggage to check, some airlines also have separate lines for baggage drop-off. Don't forget to check TSA.gov for additional info, like what you'll be able to tackle an airplane or acceptable kinds of identification.
8. Share a ride to the airport
Shareporter (iOS) is a ride matchmaking service that lets users seek for individuals creating similar treks to the airport, to split the prices of taxi rides.
9. Find free Wi-Fi
Several airports within the United States offer free Wi-Fi. Google and Boingo recently announced the addition of 4,000 sponsored Wi-Fi hotspots, including 15 airports. Visit an airport's web site to seek out out if it offers free Wi-Fi. Those out of luck could wish to get Boingo Wi-Fi pre-pay credits for regarding $two per hour. Take precaution not to transfer sensitive data over an open Wi-Fi network. Keep it to casual Internet browsing.
10. Translate foreign words
Apps like Google Goggles (Android) or Word Lens (iOS) truly uses your phones camera to translate words before your eyes. Google Goggles is free and can read and translate many languages. Word Lens could be a free app, but users should purchase a language pack for regarding $1 per language.
source: cbsnews.com
10 Tips To Prepare Holiday Travel
