TRAVEL ABROAD THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

CATEGORIES Planning a trip Before you go Getting around Accommodation Everyday life Communication

CHECK STUDENT-ONLY FARES

Planning a trip

Some airlines offer student-only discounted airfares. The discount may be unimpressive sometimes (5 to 10% off the best public price), but the fare conditions are usually highly attractive: one-way fares are often available, as well as late bookings. StudentUniverse.com and statravel.com offer such prices: a one-way to London will cost only $327 (instead of $1,000+).

Planning a trip

HIPMUNK Hipmunk is one of the simplest price-comparison tools available, both online and as an app. It has a reduced scope (airfares and hotels only) but giving you easy-to-scan results in a grid sorted by AGONY ("a combination of price, duration and number of stops")! Nice touches include an icon that highlights flights with Wi-Fi.

Planning a trip

KAYAK KAYAK is probably the best-known price comparison tool, and includes most modes of transportation including car rental and limo service. It also is a good app for basic information along the trip. It includes information from GateGuru (everything you need to know about a specific airport) so you don’t have to download it separately.

Planning a trip

SKYSCANNER Skyscanner is a price comparison tool that allows you to search with maximum flexibility. Search “whole month”, or cheapest month” to find the cheapest time for your getaway. You can also search by country or a general category “everywhere” if you want to find the cheapest place to go for your trip! It is also a good place to search for hotels, allowing you to browse accommodations near key landmarks using the map view.

Planning a trip

NEED A PERSONAL ASSISTANT? TripIt is a tool that allows travelers to keep all their travel-related information in one single place. ➼Create

an account

➼Create

an itinerary for one or several trips

➼Forward

all your confirmation e-mails (flight, hotel, etc.) to TripIt and it will update your account with all relevant info

➼Share

this information with fellow travelers or through social networks

Think of it as a Facebook wall documenting each specific trip!

Before you go

PLANNING The Economist Traveler’s Briefing is an app for tablets to learn more about a country through a curated selection of articles, data, and live feed. It’s a good way to get a more current view of the country you’ll be visiting, and point of departure for further investigations. Also of interest: Dean Foster Associates publishes guides that cover dozens of countries and focus on the intercultural dimensions.

PackingPro will help put your mind at ease. Weather you’re going camping or spending the weekend in the big city, this app provides a thorough list of everything you’ll need with you on your next adventure!

Getting around GETTING AROUND WHILE YOU’RE THERE In many Asian and most European countries, train is the way to go from city to city. Railways usually have an app, and many offer electronic/virtual ticketing in the same way airlines do (check carefully the conditions of usage, though, as they may differ from the airlines standard).

BUS APPS iDBUS is a long-distance bus operator in Europe, with a focus on the London-Paris-Milan corridor. Free Wifi, comfy seats, and discounted prices. idbus.com, Eurolines is the traditional bus network in Europe (iDBUS would be Bolt and Eurolines, Greyhound). Great coverage, cheap prices. Busbud has an app, global coverage, and a website! Ideal to find intercity bus travel pretty much everywhere. Booking is performed though the local operator then, so performance is not consistent.

Getting around MAJOR RAILWAY SERVICES EUROPE RAIL EUROPE

Check timetables & book trips on the 30,000 most popular European routes. E-tickets in France, UK, Italy, Spain

VOYAGES-SNCF

E-ticket for France and neighboring destinations. Good promotions.

IDTGV

Low cost high-speed train in France. Buy directly from the app (mobile ticket).

B-EUROPE

Ticket on your phone for travel on Eurostar (PAR-LON-BRU), Thalys (PAR-BRU-AMS-DUS) and ICE (German high-speed rail)

PRONTOTRENO

Ticket on mobile for Italian travel with Trenitalia (Italy’s national railways)

SBB MOBILE

Ticket on mobile for Swiss public transport services

TRAINLINE

Tickets on mobile for any train in the UK

DB NAVIGATOR

Timetables between 250,000 stops and stations in Germany and Europe (trains, bus, etc.). Mobile ticketing in Germany.

MY JOURNEY SJ

Mobile ticketing in Sweden (aka MIN RESA SJ on iPhone)

VR MOBILE

Mobile ticketing in Finland (aka VR MOBIILI)

NSB

Mobile ticketing in Norway

DSB

Mobile ticketing in Denmark

BILKOM

Mobile ticketing on some journeys within Poland (PKP)

OBB TICKET

Mobile ticket in Austria

TREIN

Live timetables in Netherlands for all rail companies

ASIA HYPERDIA

An incredibly powerful door-to-door itinerary search engine for Japan that includes subway, high-speed trains & planes

12306.CN

Mobile ticketing for Chinese high-speed trains (on-going deployment, download from website 12306.cn)

INDIAN RAIL IRCTC PNR Mobile ticketing for Indian Rail (warning: purchasing rail tickets in India can be a daunting task for first-timers)

Getting around LOCAL TRANSIT Most city transit operators have their own app, and in addition many people develop their own versions. So the best thing to do is to ask around when you get to destination and pick up the most popular app. Examples: AllSubway is the simplest App for local transit. It features more than 150 static subway maps that can be accessed offline: no roaming fees, and it works over and underground. MetrO app covers 400 cities public transit systems in the world. It is not the most user-friendly app around, but is a great option if you visit several cities. HopStop app is a public transit app that works in many cities in the US and abroad. Google Maps is another option in many other cities.

Pro tip: Google “public transportation app for ____” and see what your options are!

Getting around

TAXI In many countries, taxis can be convenient, but offer less in safety. Ask locals for the best way to go by cab. It is usually preferable to call a taxi in advance from a trusted company, which you can do through the GroundLink app.

Accommodation ACCOMMODATION // BUDGET AirBnB is the most famous of all non-traditional accommodation websites. You can easily find an apartment, or a spare room, in many cities worldwide. The site is secured, but double check prior to travel whether AirBnB complies with local regulations. You may also consider Bed & Breakfast are a British institution, and are typically both cheaper and more charming than hotels. Use the AA B&B guide to find a typical inn on the go. The App is for iPads only. Homeaway is a service similar to AirBnB, available worldwide. It covers more areas than AirBnB. You may also check gay-ville.com (no app) for gay-friendly home sharing/swapping. Hostels.com, as its name suggests, specializes in hostels. Prices are unbeatable, so you have no reasons not to explore your area! YHA (Youth Hostels Association) also has apps in certain countries (Japan, NZ, UK, etc.), and Hostelworld is another global hostel app.

Accommodation ACCOMMODATION // INDULGENCE Weather you’re looking to splurge on something nice or trying to find your favorite brand from home, these apps will be sure to provide a large selection of upscale hotels.

Booking.com is one of the largest websites for hotel bookings. Its inventory includes a large number of independent hotels, including very affordable options. The app is convenient and efficient. Agoda is a very similar app with a strong focus on Asia, even though it is now part of Priceline. Hotwire sells distressed inventory, mostly from big hotel chains. Very good deals on last minute travel in 4 and 5* hotels, but charm is not guaranteed…

Everyday life LANGUAGE LEARNING If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t know the language, these apps might help break the ice!

Dulingo allows you to learn a new language or brush up on a language that you haven’t practiced in a while. 15 languages to chose from. Google translate is a good app to have on hand incase you need to look up a phrase in the middle of a conversation with a local. Say Hi is an app that translates your voice like a pocket interpreter.

FINANCES Budgeting during a trip abroad can be quite challenging, especially when you probably want to buy souvenirs and try as much of the local cuisine as possible. Don’t break the bank. First, keep on top of your accounts by downloading your bank’s app. Also useful:

Venmo allows you to send money for free. Transfer funds to any bank overnight. Mint helps you manage your finances by tracking your expenses. It takes a little discipline, but makes it easy to know how much you have left without having to check your bank account. TripSplitter helps manage finances when traveling with friends, track expenses and make sure every one pays their fair share. Easy to use and practical. (Also try Splitwise). Lifelock Wallet keeps all your cards (credit card, driving license, etc.) in one app. Among many features: the possibility to cancel them all in one phone call should your (real) wallet be lost or stolen. XE Currency Converter features live rates from every world currency, and even stores the last updated rates so it works when the Internet doesn’t. You’ll be able to simultaneously monitor up to 10 currencies, pin your base currency to the top, and shake your iPhone to refresh rates.

Everyday life

Everyday life

GUIDES Many popular US services like FourSquare are also popular abroad. In addition, you may want to consider global or local services like the ones listed below. Tip: check what the guides say about a city you know and love to find the one that fits you best. Time Out apps are available in a multiplicity of cities, and they combine highlights of local culture with nightlife, dining, sport and other activities. Blackbook is another interesting guide app. MiNuve (MonNuage) is a massive community of travelers in Continental Europe, who share tips and pictures of pretty much everything worldwide. Apps are created for each city. Last.fm allows you to connect with others throughout the world who have similar music tastes. Stay current on musical happenings in your host city and enjoy previewing music and videos all in one app.

Pro tip: You can also find free apps for walking tours, museum guides, etc. that will help you get to know a new city!

Everyday life AROUND TOWN TripAdvisor is perhaps the most well-known app that allows you to read reviews and find top things to do in locations all around the world. Also useful: Yelp provides access to reviews of local restaurants, helps find restaurants near you, and provides menu and pricing information. FoodSpotting helps you find the best eating options based on recommendations from locals. Not limited to restaurants, here you’ll find information about markets and food stalls! AroundMe provides a complete list of businesses in the area. Everything from restaurants to hospitals and gas stations. Sort by category or distance and even add the contact info in your phone! (Also try: WhereToGo)

Everyday life HEALTH & SAFETY TravelSafe Pro is the to-go app to find information useful in case of emergency. You will find all emergency numbers, and details of the nearest consulate or embassy. Android only. Also useful: Smart Traveler is an app from the Department of State. It includes current information about each country, with specific recommendations notably in terms of safety. JetLag Genie is your very own jet lag coach. It will tell you when to take your melatonin pill, go to bed, or get some sun. The official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. This app gives you instant access to the information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. The International SOS Assistance App is an essential tool that helps you make the most of your International SOS membership. Access mobile-friendly medical and travel security information and country guides and receive instant alerts during your trip.

Everyday life EVERYDAY LIFE Tipping can be tricky, and a source of unfortunate misunderstanding and overtipping does not always get out of trouble, rather the opposite. Tipulator helps you tip according by local standards, wherever you are. Tipping Bird is an alternative. Also useful: SwearPort helps you navigate the dark side of everyday vocabulary, and swear like a local in dozens of languages, just a little bit less spontaneously. SitOrSquat directs you to the nearest public toilets available, and manages your expectations about cleanliness, price paid, etc. They even have reviews. Converter Plus converts pretty much everything, including currencies (rates are automatically refreshed), mpg, l/100km, cubic feet, and more. Maps.me provides access to detailed maps of all countries, cities, even remote villages! Works offline—no Wifi or 3G required.

Everyday life DOCUMENTING YOUR EXPERIENCE When traveling you’ll experience some pretty amazing things. These apps will help you document everything from the places visit so you remember every detail!

Instagram allows you to share pictures with your community. Find other travelers using #PrincetonAbroad

Travelog serves as a single place to document your travels including sites visited, pictures, journal entries, etc. Create a Tumblr to document your travel journey. Share the site with family and friends so they can stay updated on your journey.

Looking to dig deeper? This story has some great ideas of how to preserve your memories and reflect on your experience: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/travel-apps/?source=_TZb

Communication STAYING CONNECTED There are lots of options beyond Facetime and Google Hangout that allow you to text, talk, and video chat for free over the internet!

Viber

Skype

GroupMe

WhatsApp

Communication

SOCIAL NETWORKS Social networks can be a great way to connect with locals and to cure a bit of homesickness by staying connected… though it’s important to not remain too connected to home. We got to go out and explore! Facebook is popular worldwide, but other networks coexist in many countries. Line is a Japanese social network that is taking Asia (and now Europe) by storm. Use it to send and received text, voice and video message; free voice & video calls; and post on your wall… WeChat is a a similar service and is booming in China, taking over Weibo as the most popular social network. It is also becoming popular in other countries. It also similar to What’sApp.

HAPPY TRAVELS!