Top 5 Travel Apps for the Holiday Season

It’s almost time to ditch the suits and ties, and break out the beach towels and flip flops, but to get the most out of your holiday-period, check out our top 5 app recommendations to squeeze as much out of your down-time as possible!

5. Trip Advisor

This is a little bit of an obvious one, but it’s easy to discount the value it can provide. Fact of the matter is, no matter how well one tries to plan a trip, some details can always go amiss, and the one place you want to avoid being disappointed is when you pick your destination. Before you go spending money on something just on a friend’s recommendation, rather download the Trip Advisor app and let the review section give you a better indication of whether your dream destination could actually be a nightmare waiting to unfold.

Download: Android | iOS

4. Be Emergency Ready App

If you’re traveling abroad, or even just to a city you’re unfamiliar with, safety is a crucial but often neglected aspect of trip planning. This emergency app was originally built to help guide kids on what to do during emergencies, but it’s just as applicable for adults. It covers everything from eye injuries, fires, bee stings, poisoning, or broken bones – so if you’re going on extreme sports or just extreme bar-hopping this app could get you out of trouble that you might otherwise not be prepped for.

Download: Android | iOS

3. WiFi Map

Staying connected while on holiday is easier said than done, and if you don’t make use of WiFi hotspots, you could run up quite the data bill while you’re FaceTiming and sending videos over WhatsApp to friends and family. WiFi Map will help you locate all the WiFi zones scattered around whatever city you’re in, using your GPS to keep tabs on all the available networks. Even more convenient than just seeing the networks is the fact that the app sometimes displays the password too (if it’s a common public network, of course). Just be wary of doing any banking or important transactions on open WiFi networks.

Download: Android | iOS

2. The Entertainer App

The premise of this app is rather simple, but it could help save you tons of money not just during your holiday, but throughout the year. Through a paid subscription to the Entertainer app, you’ll get access to a lot of cash-saving deals like buy-one-get-one-free specials across dozens of different spots in Joburg and Cape Town. Chances are you’ll be heading out and about quite frequently if you’re going on vacation to a different city, and going out can get quite pricy if you overdo it, but by using the app, you could go to venues offering specials so that your pockets don’t empty out halfway through your trip!

Download: Android | iOS

Google Translate

This one is indispensable for those who will be jetting out of SA’s borders and into countries where language barriers could crop up. You’ll be able to translate from up to 52 languages and use a variety of different input methods, including voice, notes with a stylus, or image uploads that contain text information. It will also allow you to save a few key phrases, so before you head out you can jot down some of the key questions or words you’ll probably use frequently and have them on hand to refer to as soon as you touch down in your holiday destination!

Download: Android | iOS

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