There’s no denying that technology has had a positive impact on the world. While there have been some downsides to the rise of the internet, in large part the effect has been a good one — and that’s something we especially see when we see how it’s changed how we travel.
It’s easy to overlook just how much technology has transformed the traveling experience. If you were to travel back one hundred years, you’d likely find taking a trip an exhausting, almost impossible-to-organize experience. Today, we have a wide array of digital tools that make going abroad — and having fun — easier than ever.
In this post, we’re going to run through some of the many ways technology makes taking a trip more straightforward. If you’re planning a getaway, then keep them in mind — you’ll find that they enhance your trip.
Destination Inspiration
It’s a big old world out there and always has been. But the sheer number of destinations available can make deciding where to go quite a difficult process. How could you ever decide whether to go to Prague or Seville, Vietnam or Colombia in the pre-internet era? You’d only have a few guidebooks to go off, and you’d have to hope the authors knew what they were talking about!
Today, you can use the internet to conduct extensive research about the destination you have in mind. During the course of your research, you may find that there’s actually somewhere else that would be better suited for what you’re looking for.
Finding the Cheapest Flights
Traveling isn’t cheap, but it’s less expensive than it used to be. And this is something we see especially when we’re looking for flights. There can be a huge difference in the cost of flights, and if you didn’t know when those cheap flights were, then you could end up paying more than twice the cost of what you could have. Thanks to the internet, you can get a clear overview of all the ways to get to your chosen destination, and then make a decision that’s in line with your budget and needs. Two of the best websites for this are Skyscanner, which will show you all the flights available, and Rome2Rio, which will show you all the ways (flights, trains, car, etc) you can get between two destinations and the cost.
Hotel Review Help
Nobody wants to take a long flight, arrive at the hotel they’ve booked, and then find out that it’s not what they expected. Yet that’s something that people just had to live with in the olden days since the only information about the hotel came from the hotel itself. Today, you have the power of consumer reviews to help you make an informed choice about which hotel you book. If your chosen hotel has a long list of five-star reviews, then you’ll know it’ll be worth your money. On the other hand, if it has a low rating, then you’ll know what you’ll need to continue your search!
Finding Things to Do
Unless you’re one of the fortunate few, then you won’t have that much time off work to explore the world. As such, you’ll want to make the most of it. That means hitting the ground running and making sure that you tick off everything that you want to see and more. While you can get a guidebook for this, the quality of books can vary wildly, and in many cases, the information it contains is outdated if it’s more than a few years old. With the internet, you can conduct your research, using a variety of websites to discover the essential things to do in your chosen destination.
Budget-Saving Tips
As we said above: traveling can be expensive. And that’s especially true if you arrive at a destination “blind” — that is, without any local information. There’s a reason why newcomers end up eating at extremely overpriced tourist restaurants, and that’s simply because they don’t know where else to go. With the internet, you can look up budget-friendly restaurants, bars, and activities, helping you to keep the costs of your trip down. A quick search of ‘how to save money when visiting [your destination]’ will produce a whole host of results that’ll have a big impact on your finances.
Smooth Traveling
Traveling can be a lot of fun, but it also produces some stressful moments that can make it slightly less fun than we’d like it to be. For example, if you arrive early in the morning, then you may have to drag your heavy suitcase around until you’re able to check in to your hotel. Or at least, that’s what you’d have to do in the pre-internet era. Today, you can easily find places that offer luggage storage services, allowing you to simply drop off your bags and begin exploring hassle-free. It’s a convenient way to make the most of your time abroad, and it’s all thanks to the power of the web.
Language Translation
Visiting a destination far from home can be hugely exciting, but it does often come with a pretty big challenge: they speak a different language! In many corners of the world, you’ll find that English is only spoken in the main tourist areas of the destination, if at all, and that could have a negative impact on your trip. But with the right language translation tool, you’ll have confidence that you can get by even if you’re far from the main tourist zones. Having the option to translate the local language will allow you to dive a little deeper into the culture than you ordinarily would.
Navigation
People don’t like getting lost in their home city. When they’re abroad? It’s even less fun. Not knowing where you’re going can be frustrating at best, and outright dangerous at worst. But with a smartphone and a data plan, you can ensure that you always know which way to get to your destination, helping you to make the most of your time. Google Maps and Maps.Me are two of the best out there, with the latter being available offline if you’ve already downloaded the local map.
Keep in mind that sometimes it’s good to put away maps and simply wander without knowing exactly where you’re going, but you’ll certainly want to have the option of navigating yourself with your device.
Working As You Go
Historically, the biggest barriers to travel have been money and time. People had to be in the office Monday through Friday, which severely limited the amount of time they could spend traveling. Now, thanks to technology, more people than ever are working remotely, and that’s allowed them to spend a lot more time exploring the world. If you have a remote job, then you can spend a month living and working in an overseas destination, working during the day and exploring in the evening. Plus, since you’ll be making money while you travel, you’ll be able to explore the world without it having an overly negative impact on your bank balance — indeed, you may even find that it allows you to save money if you choose a destination with a low cost of living.
Currency Exchange
In the olden days, many people just had to accept whatever foreign currency exchange they were given. After all, there was no realistic way to check if you were getting a good price. Today, travelers can use the web in a number of ways to get the best deal. They can get a great exchange rate online and use a travel currency card to pay for things while they’re on the road, or they can use the web to check that the in-person rate they’re getting is good enough.
Making Last-Minute Plans
Sometimes, the destination we chose turns out to be a little underwhelming. And that’s OK — we’re not destined to love every place we visit, and you’re under no obligation to stick with a place just because it was your original plan. Technology allows you to easily make last-minute changes to your plans, allowing you to rescue your getaway and make it one that you genuinely enjoy. Indeed, with your smartphone and an internet connection, you can come up with a new plan in as little as an hour with just a little research and planning.
Additionally, the internet makes it possible to enjoy a last-minute vacation. If you see an event that you want to attend overseas, you can have everything — travel, tickets, hotel — sorted extremely quickly.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, technology has revolutionized how we travel and explore the world. While there’s some magic in getting rid of the map and going on an adventure, that’s an option that’s only available to a select few who have a high tolerance for adventure. For most of us, the additional help that technology provides allows us to take more trips and see more of the world than we could have in the pre-internet era. So the next time you’re taking a trip, be sure to give some thanks to the handy little device that you’re carrying around in your pocket!
Caroline is doing her graduation in IT from the University of South California but keens to work as a freelance blogger. She loves to write on the latest information about IoT, technology, and business. She has innovative ideas and shares her experience with her readers.