Smiling Michelle L. Jensen (Travel HerStory) taking a selfie outdoors wearing the Insta360 GO Ultra standalone camera magnetically clipped to the brim of her dark baseball cap, with large sunglasses, a knit top, and a thatched-roof structure and garden path visible in the background at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, California, USA.

Making travel smarter!

Travel Tech & Apps

Navigating tech can be overwhelming, even for digital-savvy travelers, so I’m sharing my tips to help you travel smarter with the right apps and tools, whether you’re planning a quick getaway or a more extended trip.

Here, you’ll find practical travel tech and app recommendations I’ve tested during my adventures that have made my trips smoother and budget-friendly.

Including curated lists of free travel apps for destinations like Paris, honest reviews of products to find out if they’re worth the cost, digital tools that help you navigate foreign cities like a local, all before boarding your flight.

Quick Answer

How do I communicate abroad if I don’t speak the local language?

The best way to communicate abroad without speaking the language is to pair a real-time translation app with some language learning beforehand, rather than relying on translation alone. I use Google Translate for on-the-spot needs, along with Mango Languages (free with most library cards) and Lingopie‘s show-based lessons to pick up real phrases before a trip. I’ve used this combination since my first solo trip to France in 2013 and have continued to find it useful in places like Thailand, where I’ve used apps to communicate with taxi drivers.

Product Reviews

Connection Apps

Europe Apps

Language Apps