TRAVEL
There’s an App for That
Navigate your next trip with these helpful apps every traveller should know about.
By Gillian Berner | Illustration by Jeannie Phan
THERE'S A LOT TO JUGGLE when you travel, from remembering currency exchange rates to decoding local parking signs. Download these tried-and-tested, highly rated apps to make your next adventure just that little bit easier, so you can focus on savouring each travel moment and making memories.
BRIDGE LANGUAGE BARRIERS
Navigate the local language with Google Translate, a free app that translates more than 100 languages across text and images in real time. Another option is iTranslate, which can traverse across text, conversation and images in 100-plus languages and dialects (you’ll need to pay for upgraded access to the camera function for menus and signs). Both apps have an offline mode, so you can use them without Internet. Now we’re talking.
CONVERT CURRENCY WITH EASE
One of the questions most asked by travellers on trips abroad is, How much does this actually cost? XE Currency lets you easily access up-to-date exchange rates and currency data, so you can quickly calculate exactly how many Canadian dollars, say, that latte will set you back. The app also facilitates fast international money transfers to more than 200 countries.
SPLIT BILLS SMARTLY
A tricky part of group travel is figuring out who owes what at the end. Apps such as Splitwise, Tricount and Splid will help you track expenses and divvy up bills with your travel companions.
PARTNER UP WITH CAA
Request roadside assistance, track savings and access regional deals on dining, hotel stays and more when you travel with the CAA Mobile App™, which has over 200 Member-exclusive deals with partners across Canada and the U.S.
REWARD GOOD SERVICE
International tipping customs can be confusing, which is where GlobeTips comes in. As the most comprehensive tip calculator on the market, it offers guides specific to more than 200 countries and helps travellers calculate the appropriate local tip amount for a wide range of services.
TAKE A HIKE
If you’re planning an outdoorsy adventure, consider AllTrails, the gold standard for hiking and trail guides. Just plug in your destination and you’ll get access to important relevant details, such as distance, elevation, difficulty level and directions, plus offline maps for spotty cellphone service.
CRUISE THROUGH CUSTOMS
Travelling to the U.S. by air could involve long lineups at customs. Get through faster with Mobile Passport Control (MPC), which allows you to upload your travel document, photo and customs declaration in advance. The result: shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing. (MPC is available in Ontario at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa International Airport.) And when you’re heading back to Canada, ArriveCAN works the same way. Fill in your customs declaration up to 72 hours before departure and get access to Advance Declarations express lanes at 10 Canadian airports, which move up to 50 percent faster than regular customs lines. CAA