JK: Lessons Learned from 2 years of full time travel: 3 of 3

 Lessons Learned from 2 years of full-time travel: 3 of 3

April 2024

Hiking Trails

• We use an App called AllTrails
• The Free version has trail maps for hikes all over the world
• You can filter for: length, elevation change, biking trails, walking trails, etc.
• Paid Version = allows you to downloaded offline maps, great if you are in a remote area with no cellular service. You can still have the satellite GPS signals track your progress on the trail map.
• It will keep a record of the trails you have hiked

Local Guides

• A good local guide can make all the difference in the world. they can provide insight and recommendation to make any journey more interesting.
• You will find “free” walking tours in may popular tourist cities: these are usually offered by foreigners with decent language skills but questionable knowledge of the locale and history. They work for tips, so they really aren’t for free.
• Look for Professional local guides, that are accredited.
• see www.TripAdvisor.com
• also www.GetYourGuide.com

 

Mobile Phone Plans & Internet Access

• we ALWAYS want cellular data services wherever we go. This allows us to communicate with each other, make reservations and travel plans, and lets us navigate on a drive or on a hike
• Using your home mobile phone plan while travelling (aka roaming) can be VERY expensive.
• Some providers do have somewhat decent roaming plans (means using your phone in a foreign country). 
• Several people have said T-Mobile isn’t bad
• Google Fi is not bad – you just can’t stay out of the USA too long before they shut you off.
• Old School: when in a new country go to the local phone providers store, they will sell you a "Tourist SIM card package". It will have a SIM card you insert in your phone and comes with a certain amount of data that will last for 1 week, 2 weeks or a month. The prices are often VERY good (anywhere from $5 - $20 for 2 weeks). Usually there are a bunch of shops at your arrival airport.
• Current Tech: E-SIM’s are the way to go!! Essentially an E-SIM is some software that replaces the physical SIM card in your phone. You download an App from an E-SIM provider, then buy a data plan and off you go. No going to a store. No physical SIM card to swap. Check if your mobile phone can support E-SIM’s.
• NOTE: most of these plans DO NOT provide a local telephone number (but a few do)
• Some major providers: 
• HolaFly, 
• Nomad, 
• Airalo (I’ve used), 
• Lebara (I’ve used), 
• FlexiRoam (the one I use now) 
• and many more
• Since you typically won’t have a local phone number:
• Download the App called WhatsApp.
• It’s sort of a universal texting App that the whole world uses. Hotels, Travel Guides, Restaurants, Merchants all use WhatsApp!!
• To make a local or long-distance Phone calls, set up one of these:
• Get a free Google Voice account, (or get a free Skype account) add some money so you can make all sorts of international phone calls for cheap ( 1 - 25 cents per minute depending where you are).

Navigation

• We use Google Maps EVERY day.
• for walking
• for driving
• to figure out what bus or train or subway or Ferry to take
• Download Offline Maps while on Wi-Fi before you arrive in a new location
• The Map Data is stored locally on your phone - so you won't use up your cellular data while navigating
• Myth busting: GPS data does NOT come over the cellular network, it is broadcast by GPS satellites in orbit. If you have an Offline Map stored on your phone you do NOT use any internet data to see your route.

Taxis

• As much as we try to use local subways, trains and busses, sometimes it's just easier to take a taxi, especially if manhandling luggage.
• Try to google the expected rate from airport to hotel in advance.
• search to see if there are Fixed Price routes (example: Airport to Downtown = $X, or Euros, or Pesos)
• Look to see if the Taxi has a working meter
• in smaller locations NEGOTIATE a fixed price to go to your location before you get in the car.
• Ask if the driver will accept credit cards before getting in the car.
• Research local equivalents to Uber (aka a ride hailing app). Having an App is pretty common in MANY countries now. The advantage is you can call for a car to come to your location, see how much your fare will be in advance, pay for it with a credit card (usually). Examples:
• Uber is in many cities - but not all
• FreeNow - in Europe
• Bolt - in Europe
• Grab - in Asia
• Go - in Japan
• and many more depending on locale

Translation

• We use Google Translate (Free)
• you should Download languages in advance over Wi-Fi
• It will translate anything you take a photo of
• You can dictate in English and it will translate (and vice versa with your new foreign friends). It can also speak the translated sentences for you.
• It's not always perfect but it's pretty darn good.

Online/Computer Safety

• Think about whether you really need a computer on your trip – often the answer is no.
• If you plan on bringing a laptop – make a Backup before you leave home
• Remember these rules apply to your mobile phone or tablets (iPads) as well!
• Use reputable VPN (Virtual Private Network) software 
• yes, on your mobile phone too!
• This encrypts all your data to prevent the bad guys seeing your communication
• Use a Password Manager
• yes, on your mobile phone too!
• this encrypts all your myriad account passwords
• We use Bitwarden: free and open source
• Encrypt sensitive files (or delete)
• we use a paid version of AxCrypt to encrypt files and folders.
• Social Media
• We have several friends who never post about where they are traveling while on the trip. They don’t want anyone using their posts to facilitate a home break-in while they are away.

Multi-Currency Accounts

• OPTIONAL: These are Not necessary for most people.
• There are special pseudo Bank Accounts for people who want to hold money in multiple currencies.
• they are NOT banks, but have corporate accounts with many major banks in various countries to facilitate moving money across borders.
• Examples: Wise.com and Revolut.com
• They do facilitate doing Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) in foreign countries (you might need this if you are staying for a long time and your apartment’s Landlord wants EFT payments).
• most people Traveling or on Holiday do NOT need their services.

Software & Apps we use

• I-Drive for cloud-based computer back up from anywhere in the world
• auto back up everyday
• Google maps (sometimes Waze is recommended by locals)
• for walking, driving, subways, bus, and train routes
• Rome2Rio for navigating with smaller carriers (local buses, local regional airlines)
• Google Photo (storing billions of photos)
• Google Voice (free calls in N.A., cheap long distance)
• Google Drive (cloud storage)
• Google Translate (really useful)
• Google Flight (finding flights, comparing prices). We also use:
• SkyScanner
• Momondo
• typically we book directly with the airline online
• Airbnb (most of the time) & VRBO for > 3 day house or apartment stays
• Booking Hotels:
• Hotels.com
• Booking.com
• also we go directly to the Hotel's website
• Booking Car Rentals:
• Check the Major Chain Apps 
• Look at aggregators – I’m using QEEQ and AutoSlash these days
• WhatsApp (global messaging app)
• used ALL over the world
• recent Tour Group set up a Group Chat so the Tour Guide could send out meeting times for dinner, trains, etc
• SplitWise (track and split group expenses)
• AllTrails paid version for hiking/walking trails
• Restaurant reviews and Reservations
• OpenTable
• Resy
• The Fork
• Mobile Phone Plans
• FlexiRoam (E-SIM based cellular data plans for all over the world)
• Bitwarden (Password Manager program that encrypts entries)
• AxCrypt to encrypt files and folders on our computers
• XE (up to date currency conversion)
• Nord VPN (encrypts internet traffic, access to your home countries internet standards)
• we use this on our laptops, iPads and mobile phones
• TripIt:  presents a really nice detailed itinerary that you can share with everyone on the trip.
• Authy: for two factor authentication
• ToDoist: To Do lists
• Most Major Airline Apps
• add or delete depending on what flights we have booked
• Amazon Kindle app for books to read
• Netflix & Hulu for streaming (using with VPN to access N.A. content)