While travel is often meant for relaxation, rejuvenation, or celebration; sometimes it is important that we are accessible and have access to important information. Lucky for us, the technology wizards of the world have developed some mobile apps! Everyone knows about Facebook and that is certainly one tool to use, but there are others that are great as well! I’m going to give you my list of must-haves to keep in touch when you are gone.
The best part? They are free to download and if used on Wi-Fi are free to use. (You may have to pay for the Wi-Fi service wherever you are, but the use will be free once connected!)
If you absolutely must make calls, I highly recommend not using your cell service! Use a Wi-Fi app! Two of my favorites for making calls are Magic Jack and Skype. Yes, Skype can include video, but it is also great for voice only.
Magic Jack –FREE Calls to U.S. and Canadian phone numbers – or to any MagicJack number, anywhere in the world. The MagicJack APP will NEVER use your mobile minutes and does not require a voice plan. Wi-Fi or 4G recommended. MagicJack APP is 100% FREE and does not require any purchase. You can use your iPhone’s or Android phone’s stored contacts with the MagicJack APP.
This app is my absolute favorite for making calls back to the US when I am outside of the country. Whoever you are calling does not need to have MagicJack installed on their phones and you can call mobile numbers or land lines at no charge!
SKYPE – Skype is not just for mobile devices, but has long been used on desktops and laptops as well. Call your world from Skype – Talk to your heart’s content with free voice and video calls to all your friends and family on Skype. Chat with anyone, anywhere – Skype’s available on smartphones, tablets, PCs, Macs, and even TVs; whatever device your friends or family use, Skype just works.
* Operator data charges may apply. We recommend using an unlimited data plan or Wi-Fi connection.
If you want to use the free version of Skype, whoever you call will need to have Skype on their device as well. They do have a low cost paid plan so you can call anyone. They also have Video Messaging, MMS, and SMS options as well. I do not use those, I post pictures I want to share to Facebook, and as for texting, I have other apps I prefer for that.
If you feel you have to text, there is an app for that too! My two favorite texting apps are Tango and What’s App. Both of these apps require that whoever you are going to text, they must have the app as well so these do take some advanced planning. Tango is my favorite, but I use both of them.
Tango – Tango allows you to easily connect with friends & family or make new friends. Make video & voice calls, send text messages, play games and more all for free. No login & password – create an account in seconds, automatically finds your friends using Tango, calls & messages work just like they do on your phone. Tango works across most smartphones, tablets, & PCs. It has great quality on 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi.
I use Tango primarily for texting only and I use it on Wi-Fi so as not to incur any data charges when I am traveling. This is hands down, my favorite app for texting via Wi-Fi
WhatsApp – WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. WhatsApp Messenger is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia and yes, those phones can all message each other! Because WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, there is no cost to message and stay in touch with your friends.
This app has a very cool feature where you can send an invitation to your friends to download the app so they will have it. Always give them a heads up because many think the text invitation is spam and don’t download the app. Also, make sure to tell your friends to keep WhatsApp on – or check it often as it does not alert to a next text in the same manner that Tango does. This is a very good app and has some cool group features as well.
There you have my 4 favorite apps for staying in touch while you are traveling! Some of my other “must have” apps that I use often during travel are:
My TSA – you can monitor security check point line wait times and airport delays
Translator – translate English to local country language and vice versa. There is a “pro” version for $1.99 that is well worth it.
Airline Apps – don’t leave home without downloading your airline’s app. You will have up to the minute info on delays, schedule changes, the ability to check in for your flight, and more.
Of course there are many, many others, these are just a few that I use on every trip I take; feel free to share with me your favorite must have apps for travel!
Safe travels!
Kelley