Find My Friends!

Cell phones have become an integral part of our everyday lives. We hardly every let them leave our sides and panic when we accidentally leave them at home.  But in the case of travel safety, this can be a really helpful thing.  

Most, if not all, smart phones have the ability to track your location because of wireless internet services and data plans.  In the event of an emergency, this can be used to locate you wherever you may be in the world. 

When traveling in a group, which I highly recommend for inexperienced travelers, it is important to keep track of the individuals you are traveling with.  There are multiple phone applications that can be used to accomplish this, with the most famous being "Find My Friends". By creating an account, your friends can see exactly where you are in the event that you can not be found.  

This application was very useful on my recent trip to Panama City. In the event that we could not find somebody, before panicking, it was very simple to check our phones with this app.  In a city with thousands of college students on spring break, it was very important to make sure that nobody went missing.  The only negative aspect of this application is that our mothers tried to follow us to keep tabs on us as well.  And that is another story completely. 

How to Beat Mobile Technology Shocks Overseas

When traveling abroad there comes the struggle of communicating with family and friends because phone charges can be overly expensive in foreign countries. Between texting, calling, and social networking, the costs of mobile technology can skyrocket in seconds. 

Using a smartphone overseas is said to be the in the top causes of mobile plan bill shock. This is because uninformed travelers use international roaming with no idea what checking those emails and Facebook are really costing them. International roaming means that while overseas, your phone will use the network of a mobile phone carrier in your destination country. Just loading one webpage is using about 1 megabyte of data and can cost up to 4 dollars. 

The easiest way to avoid high mobile bills is to take advantage of free WiFi wherever you can. Free WiFi can be available in hotels, restaurants, cafes and other free hotspots. Cell phone users are not billed for their data used on WiFi. However, be aware that free WiFi is not common everywhere in foreign countries like it is in America. 

Another mobile phone option that is fairly new and available in the app market is Viber. Viber is an application that can be used on any smartphone or computer. It features FREE calling, texting, picture and location sharing technology with other Viber users. It also instantly integrates your contacts from your phonebook. When my friend was traveling in China this past summer, we communicated over Viber. It was so quick and easy to use and one of the best ways to communicate while using a smartphone!

The key to communicating with family and friends overseas is to find out the communication options of your destination before you go. Being prepared will come in handy when you avoid hundreds of dollars in cell phone bills back in America! 

Banking Abroad!

Currently, $1 in United States currency, when exchanged, would give you 0.73 euros. 

These discrepancies in currency can lead to problems when traveling and it is important to keep track of your bank account.  This can help you catch potential overdrafts or identity thefts, which are common problems that can arise while abroad.  

With the expansion of mobile technology, many major banking branches now have cell-phone applications that allow you to bank on the go!  These are extremely helpful when you are abroad and do not have the convenience of your local bank.  These applications allow you to complete many important banking activities; such as transferring money, tracking purchases and checking your balance. 

Personally, I have fallen victim to the pitfalls of spending abroad.  I love to shop and traveling opens your mind and wallet to many interesting experiences and purchases.  Having your card declined is embarrassing when you are at the mall at home, but it is far worse when you are in Australia and didn't realize that you had over-drafted your account.   These differences in currency amounts through exchange rates can cause you to miscalculate just how much money you have left to spend! 

By downloading these applications to your mobile device, you can save yourself time and hassle and make the most out of your travel! 

https/www.wellsfargocom/mobile/apps