International travel comes with its own set of challenges, including staying connected and navigating foreign languages and currencies. Check out our list of must-have travel apps and services that will help you stay connected and make the most of your international adventures.
Communication Apps
Rated as one of the top social networking apps, it’s no surprise that WhatsApp should also be your go-to choice for staying in touch with family and friends back home when travelling abroad.
WhatsApp allows you to send messages, make voice and video calls and share photos and videos over WIFI, reducing international roaming charges.
Skype
With a history spanning more than two decades, Skype stands out as an exceptional choice for video calls and instant messaging. It boasts widespread popularity for both professional and personal communication needs, all while providing cost-effective international calling rates.
Additionally, Skype extends its offerings by providing a free trial period in select countries, allowing you to acquire a local phone number in various regions and conveniently answer calls via the Skype platform.
Translation Tools
Google Translate
Language barriers can be a challenge while travelling, but with Google Translate, communication becomes effortless. This powerful app can translate both text and speech across a multitude of languages, making it easier to communicate with locals. Plus, with its ingenious camera feature, simply point your phone at a foreign text, and watch as Google Translate instantly converts it into your preferred language.
Currently, the app boasts an impressive range of language capabilities: it supports 108 languages for text translations, 90 languages for image translation, offers offline functionality in 59 languages and enables live conversation translation in 71 languages.
Mapping And Navigation Tools
Google Maps
Google Maps is an essential tool for travellers. It provides detailed maps, directions, real-time traffic updates and even offline maps for when you’re in areas with limited connectivity.
The app also allows you to select your transportation options (driving, cycling or walking) and maps your routes accordingly while also being able to estimate how long it will take you to get there based on your choice and real-time traffic flow.
Google Maps also allows you to explore nearby attractions and plan your next stop or make use of the inside Maps feature to navigate big buildings such as museums or airports.
Mobile Wallet Solutions
PayPal
Using a widely accepted mobile wallet solution such as PayPal makes it convenient to pay for goods and services abroad without needing to exchange currency. It can link to your bank account or credit card and offers additional peace of mind knowing that you don’t need to carry around large amounts of cash.
Apple Pay and Google Wallet
These mobile wallet solutions allow you to make contactless payments with your smartphone. They’re becoming increasingly popular worldwide and are widely accepted in countries and regions that support contactless payments.
Just make sure to confirm with your bank ahead of travelling what the fees and additional charges will be for overseas usage.
Learn more about Apple Pay
Learn more about Google Wallet
With Vodacom, you can also get Travel Bundles. These voice and data combo packages keep your phone out of international roaming, saving you money on the charges, while still allowing you to share your travel experience and keep in contact with friends and family. Find out more here.
