10 smart phone travel tips

There is a side of me that would love to just leave the cell phone at home, turned off, never to be used until I return from traveling. That would be the dumb side of me. The smart side says to bring along a phone if for no other reason than for personal safety in a foreign land. Beyond that, a variety of travel apps could help navigate the worlds I might visit, provide all the information of a guide book and help me make friends in my new surroundings. But having those capabilities and doing something useful with them are often two very different animals.

One no-brainer use for just about any brand of smart phone is taking pictures. Duh. Remembering to use this device to your advantage will take integrating it into what you do and the way you approach travel.

For example, these are some must-do photo opportunities

  1. Take a photo of your hotel– Before going on a walk or cab ride, take a photo of your hotel including any signage that indicates were it is and its name. If in a foreign land where you do not speak the language, this is really important. In Venice I walked around for hours with a note written by the front desk bellman at our hotel that said “This American needs a plug adapter” as I tried to find power conversion adapters for my American plugs in a country where they don’t work. Looking back, I think I would also have taken a shot of that renegade American plug that won’t work if for no other reason that to amuse the natives.
  2. Take a photo of where you parked- This one is really good for at home too. If just a level of the parking lot or slot number of where you parked does not trigger instant recall of where the car is, shoot photos of other landmarks on the way like elevator buttons pushed to get inside the terminal so you can reverse steps later. At Disney World we take a photo of our car in Goofy Row 123. Seems like we would remember that but by the end of the day characters sort of run together to where I ask “Where were we parked? The Fred Flintstone lot?” Extra tip: Text that photo to someone you arrived with so they have it too in case something happened to you along the way.
  3. Photograph your checked luggage- Make it part of packing to follow this plan: Pack/unpack/photograph everything in the bag/repack/photograph all packed/photograph outside of bag. Do this on every piece of checked luggage in addition to tagging it inside and outside with your contact information both at home and at your destination. Best bet on outside tagging: Covered tags that do not easily show your contact information to casual observers (crooks).
  4. Don’t forget the juice. Odds are you will need power where power is not available on your travels at one point or another. Backup power sources like Duracell’s Powerhouse Charger that provides up to 60 hours of charge time are a good bet.
  5. Take a photo of your room number– This is good for finding your way back in unfamiliar surroundings/stumbling back after a night at a bar. If getting to and from that room to the hotel/cruise ship lobby takes more than 3 or 4 directions, you might consider making a movie of the walk with audio directions. This is one you might never use but if in a situation where you needed it, you would be a hero for thinking of it.
  6. Take a photo of new people you meet- This is great for people who can’t remember names (me) very well but never forget a face. The trick is to somehow get that person’s name on that photo. I keep an email or text window open to insert my new friend’s photo in along with their name for sure and maybe where I met them. Be sure location tracking is turned on so you know what country they are from too.
  7. Make sure you have the right plan for what you are doing- Cell phone service providers have a number of plans available, most of which can be added before you travel someplace where you need it and then taken back off after you return home. That’s a good idea and one worthy of a phone call to your service provider. I say “phone call” rather than suggesting going to their website to add on a package because you want that package to be the best value. Calling the service provider should get you that and a note on your account that you called. That’s important for later if something goes wrong and you have to call back with a problem. That note says “Hey, I called in and asked what the best option for me was. I did that. Now please have mercy on me because I didn’t pay attention/ignored warnings/did not follow the plan and wound up with a bill $500 higher than normal”. If you’d like to check e-mail, view maps or update Facebook with the iPhone, you should probably consider an international data plan.
  8. Prepare your phone for travel. Regardless of the phone brand, using 3 or 4G service is way more taxing on your phone than using WiFi. This will potentially save tons of money, since data roaming can be really expensive. Turn off automatic updates and reset your usage statistics so you can track how close you are to your limit too. If in doubt, choose “airplane mode” to disable pretty much anything that might come back to bite you later when your next cell service bill arrives.
  9. Take a photo of your passport, credit cards, other identification and travel documents. It may not be able to capture a perfect image of these important documents but having a digital backup of them might make a difference proving who you are if your hard copies of this stuff are lost or stolen. Email or text that information to your emergency contact person at home (the person you told the cruise line to call if the ship sinks) and to a traveling companion.
  10. Load up on the apps. Before you travel, make sure all the apps you have are updated as well as your phone’s software. It’s not a bad idea to have backup apps for things you use frequently. Twitter comes to mind here and I have every app available that does Twitter. I learned this the hard way on our #FollowMeAtSea Twitter press trip last year. When asked “What app are you using to tweet with?” my answer, deep in the Alaska wilderness, was “Any one that works!” .

Once you leave the warm and fuzzy happy world of your home internet service provider, strange things start to happen. The most obvious is slower service or no service at all. The next reality check comes when you try to shake hands with that new service who may or may not be into meeting new people. Odd things happen in lands other than your own and having the ability to maximize connection time you do get is critical.

On our recent trip to Italy on Carnival Cruise Lines new Carnival Magic I had taken along a AAA Guidebook to Europe. I did not open that book once for any information. I did, however, use 20-some different travel apps, some successfully, others not so much. My phone and our MacBook Pro computers worked pretty well in Italy, Croatia and Spain but not exactly like normal. I had to wait until we got back home for everything return to normal but it did. Eventually.

Celebrity Cruises new app welcomes a new generation of passenger

Celebrity Cruises new app is more than just another little program you an use to kill time. In a natural evolution of their programming, Celebrity Cruises has added its first app and mobile web site.Celebrity is a cruise line that has fully embraced technology, rolling top-shelf brands into their onboard experience. More importantly, with this roll-out of Celebrity Cruises new app the line opens the door and welcomes a new generation of cruise passenger.

Now, iPhone users have the opportunity to download the free, new app from the Celebrity web site or from the Apple store. Other apps have been available from third-party sources for quite some time. This is the first official app from Celebrity and there are some big differences in Celebrity Cruises new app vs. the third-party apps available right now.

Users of Celebrity Cruises new app will have a wealth of functionality allowing them to view the destinations Celebrity visits, check out onboard activities including iLearn and language courses offered in the Celebrity iLounge and more.

Technology can be a big part of the Celebrity experience. Prior to boarding, guests can go online to explore a number of activities and packages available on their sailing. On board, a Celebrity iLounge is a popular gathering place that includes an Internet cafe equipped with 26 workstations. As an Authorized Apple Reseller, there is also a retail area where guests can try out and buy various Apple products and accessories plus an “enrichment center” that will offer classes on the iLife suite of programs and other general topics.

Celebrity Cruises new app welcomes a new generation of passenge
r in many ways. One of the best parts of Celebrity Cruises new app is having the ability to see menus, wine lists and even walking tours of a ship’s art collection, a Celebrity Cruises first.

Guests can use iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices with Celebrity Cruises new app to search for a Celebrity cruise and itineraries, obtain destination information, view details about each ship, connect with Celebrity’s social media sites, e-mail itineraries of interest to Celebrity’s Customer Service team, or contact Customer Service ‘live’ at any point during the experience.

Did you catch that last line?

“... or contact Customer Service ‘live’ at any point during the experience.”

That’s huge.
That’s engaging.
This is a cruise line that “gets it”.

Standard operating procedure for cruise line customer service:

Call on phone/work through problem/call back if you don’t like the result until you find someone who will tell you what you want to hear/Addressed problem but not feeling very good about it.

Glimpse at what might be coming:

“... or contact Customer Service ‘live’ at any point during the experience.”

Celebrity Cruises new app is definitely a step in the right direction.

Celebrity Cruises
new app is just one use of available Apple technology. The cruise line already uses the iPad for its menus and wine list in its Qsine specialty restaurant, which debuted this year on the Equinox, and its ships are home to “Celebrity iLounges,” equipped with MacBook workstations. Guests on board can take courses and get tips on Mac and iPod use.

“We knew our guests would relish yet another opportunity to capitalize on the latest technology in an entertaining, enriching way,” says Celebrity’s senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

Celebrity Cruises photo


The Gadling gift guide for the iPhone and iPod

The iPhone and iPod touch are popular. So popular in fact, that they have created an entire universe of accessories and products made to enhance their use. No other gadget in the world has this kind of assortment of great extras.

In this list, you’ll find ten products that will be well received by any iPhone or iPod Touch owner. Best of all, there is something for every budget.

Don’t forget to check out our other gift guides:

Gift guide for the lightweight traveler
Gift guide for famlily travel and kids
The top ten travel products of 2009
Macally PowerLink

The Macally PowerLink made it to the Gadling top ten travel products of 2009, which means it really does offer something special. The small device has two connectors – one for the iPod/iPhone and one USB plug for your computer. The PowerLink replaces your USB cable, but it also incorporates a Lithium-Ion backup battery pack, capable of charging your device. And to top it off, it even includes a 2GB flash drive. With this one product you can charge and sync your device and carry 2GB of your most important files.

Price: $49.99
Product page: Macally PowerLink

In Your Face Viewbase

The In Your Face Viewbase has quickly become one of my personal favorites this year. The product consists of a clamp to hold your device, and a flexible arm that can be attached to most parts of your airplane seat (or bus seat). Simply attach it to your tray table, and enjoy your movie. Of all the gadgets I carry, this is the one that gets the most attention, and every flight attendant that sees it, asks where they can order one for themselves.

Price: $24.95
Product page: In Your Face USA

Otterbox Commuter and Commuter TL case

The Otterbox Commuter and Commuter TL cases provide good looking protection for your iPhone. The Commuter case consists of two parts – one silicone jacket, and a polycarbonate shell to protect the back. The Commuter TL case ups the ante with a special honeycomb structure to cushion drops.

Price: From $29.95
Product page: Otterbox Commuter cases

Ultimate Ears MetroFi 700

The headphones included with your iPhone may be better than most standard headphones, but if you love your music, you may want to consider investing in something with a little more “oopmh”. The Ultimate Ears 700 come from the same brand that provides earphones for many of the world’s best musicians.

Yes – at just under $200, they may so be ludicrously priced, but one listen to them will show why they deserve such a pricetag.

Price: $199.99
Product page: Ultimate Ears

idox Traveler Series iPhone case/view dock

The idox hard case is as brilliant as it is simplistic. When closed, it is a really sturdy hard case for your device, and when you open it, it turns into an angled viewing base. This is of course perfect for watching a movie, or using your iPhone as an alarm clock. It provides the kind of protection you need for your iPhone or iPod touch when you pop it in your bag.

Price: From $24.95
Product page: idox traveler series cases

PowerMat

2009 was the year that finally made wireless charging available to the masses. PowerMat combines an inductive charging pad with special device cases. The iPhone and iPod Touch versions slide onto your device, and allow you to charge your device by simply placing them on top of the charging pad. Sadly, the combination of a PowerMat and iPhone/iPod Touch case will cost just under $150, which is quite steep for wireless charging. Their travel mat folds into a compact device, and packs easily.

Price: $99.95 for basic PowerMat kit
Product page: PowerMat

Kensington travel battery pack and charger for iPhone and iPod Touch

This is another of those super simple yet brilliant products. The Kensington travel battery pack and charger is a battery booster for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but the cap on this thing doubles as a stand. Plug it into your device, and sit back to watch a movie. The product features a folding USB plug for easy recharging and 5 LED lights show the charge level.

Price: $69.99
Product page: Kensington

Altec Lansing inMotion CLASSIC

Altec Lansing was one of the first companies to produce a battery powered portable speaker for the iPhone. Their original inMotion was a huge success, and they are revisiting that success with the new inMotion CLASSIC. This speaker features a cool retro look, full remote control and internal battery pack. As can be expected from Altec Lansing, the sound from this speaker is just plain fantastic. Highly recommended for some quiet entertainment in your hotel room, or massive audio at a beach party.

Price: $149.95
Product page: Altec Lansing inMotion CLASSIC.

Altec Lansing Orbit MP3

If the previous speaker doesn’t fit your bag, or you’d like something in a lower price range, then check out the Altec Lansing Orbit MP3. This small speaker is powered off three AAA batteries, and produces some mindblowing volume. Best of all, it sounds really good. Sure, you lose the bass and stereo of the larger speakers, but this is perfect for in your hotel room or anywhere else you’d like some tunes.

Price: $39.95
Product page: Altec Lansing Orbit MP3

iTunes gift card

You don’t need to go overboard when trying to find a great gift for an iPhone owner. The Apple iTunes gift card allows people to shop for music, movies and apps. And really, anyone with an iPhone will probably be buying at least one app or song a week, so a decent value gift card can go a long way. It pays to research the best deals on these cards – your local grocery store or warehouse club often sells them at a modest discount.

Price: From $15
Where to buy: Gift card retailers, Apple.com and Apple stores