Summer is over, but it is never too early to start planning the next adventure. As an international teacher, I am always looking for ways to make my life easier when traveling. Selecting the best credit cards, getting the upgrades, and making itineraries are just a few things that can be accomplished digitally.
Credit Cards
Having some spending power when traveling, makes life that much more enjoyable. We always are on the hunt for the card that will provide the best services and benefits. This is an on-going hot topic among international teachers. In a recent, informal survey of international teachers (very informal), most agree that the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best card for traveling.
At the time of this writing, Chase is offering 50K in bonus points if you spend at least $4000 USD in the first three months. The key here is to apply for the card when you have big purchases to make in order to benefit from this offer. The $450 USD annual fee pays for itself with the $300 annual travel credit, $100 credit towards TSA or Global Entry fees, and a Priority Pass membership. This membership allows you entry into over 1000 airport lounges which means free food and drinks (including alcohol) ~ (lounges vary in service).
Most credit cards match one point for every dollar spent. CSR gives 3 times the points for travel and dining charges and usually offers points specials throughout the year. Currently, CSR is offering 3x the points for AirBnB bookings. Follow the link to Chase Sapphire Reserve and see if it is the credit card for you.
Google Trips
This is the bomb of all apps when traveling to new places, and is available as an app for your phone (IOS & Android).
You need to log in with your Google account, and the app will draw from your Google Calendar and Google Email to show you a list of your recent and upcoming trips.
Google Trips will provide you with your "Need to Know" information such as currency, emergency services, and airport transportation. The power of the app is in the Things to Do section. The app can build custom itineraries based your interests, or you can select a general itinerary based on the amount of time you will have in that area. If you have wifi or cellular connection, Google Trips will display real-time information and give you opening and closing times. It also displays the average time more tourists spend at different attractions.
If the weather impedes on your travel plans ~ no worries ~ Google Trips will recommend alternative activites to get you out of the rain or snow.
Google Translate
Can't speak the language? No worries with Google Translate. Download the app and have it ready. After selecting your languages, for example English --> Chinese, you can write or speak in English and it will automatically translate the text to
Chinese. You can also do this in reverse by using the arrows in the center.
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| Translation of English to Chinese |
Don't want to type or speak? Use the camera feature. Open the camera on your phone and then hold the phone over the text. Through the camera, you will see the translated text.
Google Maps
Never get lost again with Google Maps. There is so much in this one app that planning your trip and navigating unfamiliar streets will be a breeze. When you have wi-fi you can look for your directions and plan your course to use off-line.
Using this hand guide, you can navigate through all the features that GMaps has to offer.
Recently added as a feature, GMaps will now show you parking difficulties in major cities. You can then decide if you are driving, walking, or taking an Uber. Look for the red P symbol in the bottom of the map for indications of how difficult it will be to park.
After you have become a pro at using GMaps, check out all the other tips and tricks that GMaps has to offer. Click Here!
Google Flights
Have you ever visited an airline website to search for flights? You have signed into your account and began your search. You were not ready to purchase, so you closed the site and returned less than 24 hours later to find the price of the flight jumped $100 in price. How can this be? Simple answer is "cookies". Little programming scripts that airlines force you to accept and enable before using their websites. Annoying!
Cookies are the reason Google Flights is probably my favorite website to use ~ flights.google.com. Using an Incognito Window Tab, this website allows you to search and compare prices for most flights around the globe ~ without the cookies. It does not track your search history. Once you find a good flight, you can track the price. Google flights will send you an email every time the flight price changes. You can also look at the flight price history to determine the best time to purchase the ticket.
You can also search the same flights on different days and find out which day has the best prices.
GF also lets you click on the airline icon and it will direct you to the airline's website to purchase your ticket! Super convenient to have all of this at your fingertips.
Click here to see all Google Flights has to offer.
What's your favorite travel tool?
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