With a hint of spring in the air, summer travel plans have already begun in many households. Whether taking a trip across the country, across the state or even just trying to find local attractions, having a plan is key to a successful vacation!
Streamline travel plans
Whether you’re traveling across the world or having a staycation in your hometown, nothing beats spending time with your family. However, planning and managing travel logistics can cause unwanted stress. Fortunately, there are a growing number of apps and accessories that travelers can use with their mobile devices, such as the 4G LTE iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2, to streamline nearly every aspect of travel – improving the experience, as well as saving time and money.
Planning Your Trip: 68 percent of smartphone owners used their smartphone to assist them while traveling[1], according to a recent U.S. Cellular survey. Use your mobile device to find the best travel deals with apps like Expedia, Orbitz, and Kayak. These all-inclusive apps present deals for hotels, rental vehicles, and airlines. In fact, the survey found 27 percent of smartphone owners have booked a hotel room directly from their smartphone and 16 percent have purchased airline tickets.
We have found Hotwire to come in very handy on more than one occasion. My husband likes to drive way longer than I think is necessary, but usually by the time he’s ready to concede and find a hotel, it is pretty late and we need a good deal fast. That is where Hotwire comes to the rescue. We simply search for rooms in our current location, make our selections, and drive straight to the hotel.
En Route: Ever been that person fumbling at the ticket counter for your confirmation number? Go paperless with Gate Guru, which organizes your full travel experience – from flight and rental vehicle information to airport amenities.
In-Flight: With more than 10 hours of battery life and up to 128 gigs of memory, the lightweight iPad Air 2 makes a perfect travel companion for reading, listening to music, watching movies or playing games. Talk about a great way to keep kids occupied on a long flight. Plus, you can create your own in-flight oasis with a pair of noise-cancelling urBeats In-Ear Headphones, designed for music lovers who don’t want to sacrifice sound for style.
On The Ground: Upon arriving at your destination, you’ll want to look like a local. The Around Me app shows nearby restaurants, banks and more (including hospitals or emergency care centers for anyone traveling with an accident-prone family member), including directions to your destination. While you’re enjoying your vacation, Postagram keeps you in touch with loved ones. Just take a photo with the app, and for a nominal fee your message will be delivered as a mailed postcard!
After The Trip: Create an album of your favorite vacation photos on your phone so you have them on hand anytime you want to show them off or remind yourself how great your family trip way.
Cell Phone Safety
Don’t forget, just because you are travelling doesn’t mean the rules go out the window. Be sure to have your parent-child agreement set up and remind the kids!
¹ Results are from a nationally representative online survey of 738 smartphone owners conducted by U.S.Cellular in partnership with Maritz Research from November 12-20, 2014.
I was provided compensation for this post, all opinions are my own.
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