Even though students probably don't to keep their eyes glued to their smartphone screens the entire that they are studying abroad, it may be challenging to sacrifice their mobile devices altogether. Fortunately for travelers, these gadgets can actually prove to be an asset overseas rather than being something that would detract from an international learning experience. By tapping into their devices, students can access all kinds of applications that can enhance their trips and make these excursions that much easier.
If you are preparing to embark on a European endeavor, you should put updating your smartphone at the top of your to-do list. Rick Steves pointed out that your device is probably already outfitted with a variety of functions that could be of use during your travels, such as a calculator and an alarm clock. That being said, there are so many other features that you can add to your phone so that you can have invaluable tools right at your fingertips during your study abroad program. Rick Steves explained that you can download apps that could help you with nearly every aspect of your trip – from currency converters and translators to restaurant reviews.
Studying abroad? There's an app for that
Perhaps one of the handiest applications for globetrotters is MetrO. With this app, students studying abroad can plan routes for taking public transportation to get from Point A to Point B in numerous cities throughout Europe. This will significantly cut down on time and frustration, as travelers won't have to go searching for maps of subways and bus routes or run the risk of getting lost.
Once you use MetrO to arrive at your desired destination, you could then find yourself in need of other mobile tools to ensure that your trip is hassle-free. For instance, if you are suddenly feeling hungry but can't decide where to head for your meal, you can fire up your TripAdvisor or Yelp apps. These solutions provide you with a whole slew of reviews – not just about restaurants, but also about attractions throughout the world. While you should take every piece of feedback with a grain of salt, these apps could give you enough insight to help you plan an almost perfect outing.
On top of these applications recommended by Steves, Mashable shared its own opinion on which solutions you should be sure to install on your smartphone before you head across the pond. The source advised that you guarantee you are prepared to deal with any kind of weather that comes your way over the course of your study abroad experience with the help of the AccuWeather or Weatherbug app.
Both of these applications are free of charge, making them an especially good perk for students traveling with their smartphones. Any time that there is inclement weather like snow or ice storms, rain or severe wind. This is particularly useful when people are constantly hopping from one place to another during their multicountry study abroad trip. These students never know exactly what is awaiting them at the next destinations coming up on their itineraries, but these apps can give them a heads-up so they are ready to face anything.
The one word of caution that you may want to keep in mind is that whenever you are using these revolutionary solutions, you should double-check to be certain that you are hooked up to wireless Internet. If you don't find a spot where you can access Wi-Fi, you are bound to eat up a bunch of your data, which can cost you an astronomical amount in international roaming charges. To prevent this from occurring, exercise caution and head to an Internet café before tapping into these apps.