Featured Travel App: PackingPro

As much as we try to be super prepared before a trip, there always seems to be some last minute packing the night before a new adventure. And in that rush, it's almost inevitable that something will be forgotten as you try to recall that mental list you made while in class or at work. Luckily, there is a packing app that helps to take some of the preparation stress off travelers by allowing users to create packing lists and check items off as they are packed. 

Packing Pro not only helps you to check off items on your list, but allows you to view sample packing lists built for common trip types. You can also save lists from previous trips for future reference. 

This app is helpful for reminding you what not to forget, and also for organizing your trip before you go! 


                                  


Some features of the app include:

- Create unlimited, 100% user-customizable packing lists
- Build lists quickly & easily with multi-item selection- Multi-edit your lists (add, delete, rename or reorder any category or item)- Discover new ideas & suggestions from included sample lists- Use any list (sample or your own) as a template for future lists- Monitor a running tally of total items per category & how many of them are checked off- Sort items by type or item, or by hand yourself
- Total your list items, weights & values, by bag, by person & by category- Print your list directly to a printer with 1, 2 or 3 columns- Email your packing lists to family & friends

To ensure the smoothest packing for your next trip, get Packing Pro in the Apple iTunes App Store for $2.99. 


This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan.

Featured Travel App: WhatsApp

WhatsApp

WhatsApp makes texting or messaging your friends while abroad easy. Not only will you want to be able to message your friends and family back home -- you'll also want to communicate with new acquaintances that you meet on your international journey. WhatsApp is one of the most popular and useful tools to do so! 

WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for use with and between iPhone, Android, and other smartphones. WhatsApp uses your 3G or WiFi (when available, regardless of whether or not you have an international phone plan) to message with friends and family across the world. Use WhatsApp to send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages.

Features: 

• You can send messages to friends all around the world without being charged an exorbitant rate. Using WhatsApp is free!
• It is very user-friendly and simple 
• The display screen doesn't feature advertisements
• WhatsApp imports your contacts and displays those that are also using WhatsApp
• You can share photos, a status, or your location with friends
• It also allows you to send 100 messages a month to friends without WhatsApp for free!

This very straightforward and simple app has proven to be very useful and handy when traveling abroad. While you're there, you can use it to contact friends and family at home while simultaneously planning the week ahead with your co-workers or roommates. Once you return, you can use it to stay in contact with all the wonderful people you met abroad! 

This blog post was written by an International Center Education Abroad Peer Advisor. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan 

Featured Travel Apps: Wi-fi finder

Wy fy? or wii fii? Depends on where you are how you say it, but after being used to using our phones for just about everything, traveling abroad often means tricky business without the normal data plan. But, never fear because you can still log on to Instagram or check Google Maps while abroad when you are connected to wi-fi. Finding wi-fi while roaming the streets of a new city, however, is the tricky part. The app Wi-fi finder by JiWire can help make the search easier.

 


Quickly and easily find FREE or paid Wi-Fi when you travel with the JiWire Wi-Fi Finder for iPhone and iPod Touch. Download all of the locations offline, so you know how to stay connected when you are on the road. Using the GPS function on your iPhone, the Wi-Fi finder will tell you exactly where the closest Wi-Fi hotspot is, and how to get there.


If you prefer certain providers such as Comcast, you'll be able to see which hotspots are served by those providers. You can also filter by location type (restaurant, cafe, hotel, etc..). When you find the location you want to use, you'll be given a phone number and directions on how to get there.

So, next time you are in need of wi-fi, pull out this handy app and give it a try! 

This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan. 

Featured Travel App: Skyscanner

It's a dreary Monday night in Ann Arbor, Michigan and it's that heavy kind of hot outside where the rain falls but doesn't cool the air. You are sticky and stuck in the heat of August in Michigan. Skyscanner, a free online app that provides you with flexible search options for flights, can come to your rescue. Skyscanner's flexible search options mean you can browse prices across an entire month, or even a year, allowing you to get the best deal possible. It's the easiest way to find a cheap flight for a weekend getaway anywhere in the US, or a cheap trip abroad. It's also useful for watching flights if you are planning for a semester abroad.

If you are looking for the cheapest destination in any given time frame, simply enter your local airport and select the "everywhere" option for a destination, and the time frame you would like to fly. If you enter a month, you will get a graph with all flight options as shown below. You also have the option of choosing a specific date range. The "Explore" next to the "Search" button pulls up a virtual map which allows you to select destinations via physical location rather than price. The globe on the top right of the second image provides a similar function.

Select "everywhere" and your date range

Select a destination from the list

Here we chose Guatemala:
a list of all available airports becomes available

Fight options:
departure on top, return on bottom 

Alternatively, if you are looking for flights for a longer summer vacation, or a spring break trip, or anything where the destination is set but aren't sure WHEN you'd like to go, Skyscanner allows you to enter your destination and select a time period for travel. The app then gives you a graph with price ranges for your destination. Once you select both a departure (the upper graph) and a return (lower graph) date, the app will take you to a traditional search screen where various flights and prices are listed.

Select a destination and an open date range

Chart of flights in date range

Specific flight options:
 listed by airline and departure date (adjustable settings) 

Skyscanner also offers traditional search options, entered with a specific destination and time period in mind, which allow you to narrow your search by many options. These include: duration of flight, cost, airline, departure time, and landing time and are accessible with the icons across the top of the traditional flight search screen. There is also an option to view your search as a chart much like the two above which show you price differences over the course of the month vs. price differences for the airline on specific dates. You can also favorite searches to save them for later. Additionally you have the option of opening multiple screens for multiple searches using the double square icon in the top right corner, a number in the box indicates how many windows you have open within the app.

Options for purchasing the flight

Once you have chosen your flight, you have multiple options. Skyscanner allows you to purchase the flight directly from the airline with  the "Reserve" button via their website or over the phone. Alternatively, you can choose to watch the flight, tracking price changes and updates. You can also add the flight to your calendar, you can email the itinerary to yourself and you can share the flight to all your social media outlets.

This is the perfect application for last minute travels, carefully planned trips or travel junkies who need to get away from that darn August heat for a weekend. For those without smart phones, their website is also incredibly helpful:   http://www.skyscanner.com/

This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan. 

Featured Travel App: Airport Transportation

The airport is most likely the first stop on your travel agenda, but it shouldn't be the most stressful. Save the stress of figuring out your surroundings when you get to your final destination and make your trip to the airport stress-free with the Airports by TravelNerd app. This app is perfect for on-the-go travelers who want comprehensive airport information in one easy to use app.


Worried about missing your connecting flight by trying to navigate the terminal when you land? TravelNerd allows you to check airport terminals even when offline. Know where you are going with their convenient terminal maps before you even land. 

Not sure how you're going to get to your hotel once you have picked up your bags? TravelNerd can help you find a variety of different ground transportation methods and can further connect you to websites or provide phone numbers for various options. 

This app has multiple features that will be beneficial to you in all aspects of your airport travel, including: 

•Real-time flight tracking - view flight status, delays and cancellations
•Offline mode enabled - use airport guides without mobile network or internet access
•Over 250 customized terminal maps
•Airport information for over 70 of the most popular airports 
•Coupons for airport parking lots, airport shuttles and car service
•Wi-Fi availability and pricing
•Customized directions to popular destinations for 20 airports (e.g., SFO to Union Square or JFK to Manhattan)
•Airport restaurant, shop and lounge hours and locations
•Nurseries and other family-friendly amenities

Download this app for free in the Apple Apps Store and navigate your next airport trip swiftly with Airports by TravelNerd. 


This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan. 

Featured Travel Apps: Dividing the Bill

"I don't have any cash, can you get this and I'll pay you back later?"
"I paid for the hostel last night, can you get these bus tickets and we'll be even?"
"If you owe me $20, and I pay for this, then you'll only owe me $10, right?"

Traveling with a friend or a group of friends will inevitably lead to conversations such as these. Figuring out who is going to pay for the cab you just took or the drinks you just had can cause an unnecessary headache while traveling. Making sure that you are all evenly paid back can be problematic as well, and can cause stress when adventuring on a tight budget.

Having TripSplitter handy can save you the stress of the "I owe you what?" conversations that can consume a good amount of a meal time chat. TripSplitter allows you to breezily split expenses with travel companions. When you split a bill, enter each person's costs, and the IOU's are calculated and stored. This way, if you pay for the hostel, and they pay for the bus, the app can total what you still owe or are owed, so you equally split the costs.


Some of the main features include:
- Unlimited number of participants
- Create even or uneven splits
- Categorize expenses with the touch of an icon
- Convert currencies if your trip spans countries
- Turn device sideways at any time to see the IOUS
- Email participants a detailed list of spendings

This app was featured on ABC News Technology Review's App of the Week.

Save yourself the stress when traveling with your friends and download TripSplitter from the Apple App Store for only $1.99. Simplify your trip and split the bill evenly!


This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan. 

Featured Travel App: MetrO made easy

While we often like to think we can conquer a city on foot, it is usually much faster and less tiring to use public transportation. Yet, navigating a new city by metro or bus can be confusing.


That's what MetrO is here for. MetrO can help you find your way in the public transportation system in more than 400 cities around the world.

 MetrO allows you to find the best route from your current location to your final destination via metro, bus, or railway system within a major city. Once you download the cities you need, no network connection is needed to use the app.

For example, if I needed to get from my apartment in La Latina to the airport, MetrO could provide me with a route, saving me time trying to decipher the map or having to ask someone. It can displays various routes as well - including the shortest route or the route with least stops/transfers.

Best of all, this app is FREE! So before your next adventure, make sure to download MetrO to help you easily navigate the big city that awaits you.




This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan. 

Featured Travel Apps: HTH Health Care Simplified

Getting sick is one of the last things you want to occur on your trip abroad. But, it is often something that is out of your control. For those who have ever experienced being sick abroad, it can be a stressful and unpleasant experience. Not only are you far from home and the usual chicken noodle soup, but you also have to navigate your host country's medical system, which can be tricky to do, especially if you don't know the language very well.

But, our trusty travel abroad health insurance provider, HTH, has a handy app that can help you with your medical or dental woes while abroad. They make handling the situation much more convenient and less stressful with their mPassport app.

 

mPassport allows you to:

- Search, map and choose among carefully selected doctors, dentists, hospitals, and pharmacies
- Schedule an appointment on short notice
- Find equivalent medication brand names and translate important medical terms and phrases, as well as hear them spoken in the local language

This app is free to you when you purchase the highly recommended U of M Travel Abroad Health Insurance (available for educational and leisure travel - only a $1.10 per day).

Also, this app does not require an internet connection and can connect with Google Maps to get directions from your current location.

Get MPassport through the Apple App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.


This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan. 

Featured Travel Apps: Jet Lag Cures

Anyone who’s ever gone from Ann Arbor to Chicago knows that a time zone change of any size can be challenging to adjust to. When traveling overseas, chances are the time change will impact you more than you anticipate, not only because the sun may come up when you’re accustomed to going to bed, but also because the farther you go, the more time you spend trekking through airports, counting down the seconds until your layover is over, and losing sleep while crammed between the passenger next to you and the reclined seat in front of you.

Regardless of how long your commute is, there are plenty of apps that claim to eradicate jet lag, each with divergent reviews from travelers who have tried them. 

Here are a few of the highlights we’ve found at varying prices and with unique features and approaches to suit your personal needs (all information courtesy of item descriptions in iTunes and Google Play).

Jet Lag Rooster (FREE through iTunes and Google Play) boasts “scientific research” behind its customized jet lag plans that focus on when to seek and avoid sunlight to optimize your jet lag adjustment. No internet or data connection required to operate.

Jet Lag Rooster allows you to select when you would like to start adjusting to your new time zone, and it provides daily schedules for your anticipated adjustment period.

StopJetLag (FREE through iTunes and Google Play) allows you to set your own travel plan and takes into account your flight schedule. This app reminds you of when you seek bright light exposure, food, sleep, exercise, and optional melatonin supplements. No internet or data connection required to operate.

JetLag Genie ($2.99 on iTunes) allows you to customize your departure and arrival locations, the usual times when you go to sleep and wake up, and your personal flight schedule. JetLag Genie generates suggestions for when you should seek and avoid light, sleep, and darkness before, during, and after you travel. It includes a Melatonin guide.

Jet-Lag Rescue ($3.99 on iTunes) utilizes individual pressure points in an acupuncture-esque approach to recalibrate your internal clock after you’ve traveled.

Jet Lag Rx ($9.99 on iTunes) offers suggestions for when to seek and avoid light, sleep, and food, but as of February 2013, a majority of consumers reported that it crashed frequently.

This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan.

Featured Travel App: Vocre Translate

Traveling this summer? 

Nervous about your language skills? 

Be prepared before you go, wherever you go.

Vocre Translate (pronounced VOO-RAY) helps you communicate flawlessly in and between over 60 languages, and it’s easy to use. Simply select the language you are speaking (i.e. English) and the language you want to translate to (i.e. Czech), hold your phone or tablet between you and the other person, and Vocre will take care of the rest. It offers immediate language translation in both written and verbal form, and it makes conversing back and forth virtually effortless. Although we can't guarantee perfection in its every translation, it may be a better alternative to relying on pointing and pantomiming. (And admit it: you’re super stoked to be able to use words to enlighten everyone you encounter on the glory that is Snapchat while you’re taking shameless selfies across the globe.)

Vocre lets you choose the language and male-female gender of both speakers. 

(#TravelTip: All jokes aside, we suggest trying local venues for your coffees/teas/beverages of choice before automatically deferring to chains you know and love. We assure that you won't regret it.)

A free version of Vocre Translate is available for Apple products, and it includes Mandarin Chinese, English (UK and US), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish (Spain and Mexico).

Get Vocre Translate through the Apple App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad (free version; full version: $4.99) or through Google Play for Android (full version: $0.99). See product details for data requirements.

This post was written by an International Center peer adviser, and this post and app are in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan.

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