Tagged With "smartphones"

It would be interesting to see the breakdown between domestic trips and international trips. I think we'd see the rates of smartphone use drop on international journeys because of the complexities and cost of connecting, unless it's with wi-fi. Tablet use probably wouldn't change significantly. But no, I'm not surprised at all.

You're probably right, but I think the gap is narrowing rapidly. In the study, nearly half those surveyed cited fear of losing touch with friends and news. And, it's getting easier to travel with your phone! For those who aren't sure how, I recommend our TravelGumbo series on Staying in Touch on the Road

That's interesting. I travel in part just so I CAN lose touch. Except once. On a stroll through a Borneo jungle, emerged alongside the only restaurant for many miles, it's TV announcing the election of Pres. Obama. An exciting moment but the only one I can think of when I was momentarily glad to be in touch. Maybe another thing that separates tourists from travelers is the "need" to be available.

Like PortMoresby, I also like times where I'm out of touch. For me my favorite escape is into the wilderness, hiking, camping, backpacking. Always enjoy coming home but always look forward to the next time I can do it all again.

TripAdvisor has published a report on how we travel, and found that 85% of us take our smartphones along on vacation, and 61% use social media while traveling. Not surprised, are you? REPORT 

Getting ready for a road trip still calls for packing and getting in the car, but when it comes to maps and routes and where to stop and where to stay…well, there’s an app for that. Quite a few, in fact.

Hilton adds a Google Maps link to its apps to let you see what the view from your window will be.

Princess Cruises helps you pick a cruise destination by smartphone

We all know smartphones have 'changed everything,' and a Hong Kong professor is studying how they've changed how we travel.

In the US, I use the Scout GPS app. They seem to listen to feedback and have made several improvements in their updates of the app. Overseas I use Google Maps, but will try others

UPDATE: There's an important update to Google's navigation and maps: it's now possible to download the Google Maps for most areas and then use them for turn-by-turn navigation while off-line. Considering that there are still areas where cell service is weak and that many people don't have generous data allowances when abroad, this can be a BIG advantage. Available now for Android users, and soon for iPhone.

We have come to rely on the internet more and more. Before (1990s) when I left on a several week journey, it was rare that any postcards I'd sent (remember postcards?) would arrive before I returned. Phone calls were ridiculously expensive and travelers would make due. I recently traveled to India which I would have thought would have reasonable internet access. Such as not the case. With rare exception, the internet was expensive ($5 and more a day -- a lot of money for India) and was...