travel-tips

Travel Apps

Posted on by Seniye Groff

There is no doubt that travel apps make travel easier, from planning to in-the-moment needs. I have some favorites and I tend to gravitate towards apps that are easy to use and relatively inexpensive. Loyalty programs apps are automatically part of my toolbox because it makes it easy to accumulate and use points within the app. The loyalty programs I have are Bonvoy (Marriot) and World of Hyatt (Hyatt). And of course airline apps are a no brainer. My go-to apps are Alaska and Delta.

For transportation I have Uber, Lyft and Grab (great in Asia). These apps are all pretty straightforward and simple to use. I also have the Clipper card app which makes paying for mass transit super simple. One app that is crazy useful is Rome2Rio. The directions to get from one location to the other with a mix of mass transit, taxi, driving, walking and even a town car just cannot be beat! It also outlines the time, cost and miles for each option.

Translation apps are key for effective communication and I like Translate and Google Translate. It doesn’t get easier to translate written or spoken words with either of these apps. I especially love the camera feature that allows the user to take a picture of text and the apps translates it. So easy!

I use Expedia and Booking for last minute hotels and Airbnb when I am planning ahead for lodging. I recently downloaded Hotel Tonight and am excited to try it out on my upcoming wandering journey. Since I will travel from Arizona to Georgia and will be in a different city/town each night and won’t really be able to predict where I will be specifically the app should be helpful…the joy of slow travel.

Currency is easily converted using the Xe app.

With my new AAA membership, I downloaded the app and look forward to to using the TripTik Planner. The app also has a section showing nearby gas stations with the cost per gallon. Hopefully I won’t need it, but I can easily request roadside assistance through the app, too.

CBP MPC is a free mobile passport control app. It allows users to submit their passport info and answer custom declaration questions electronically which will get you through customs faster.

AllTrails is my preferred app to use when hiking and I am sure as I stop to see different things along my journey, I will use this app to catch a hike or two along my way.

And finally my Libby app allows me to borrow and download audiobooks from the library. I will use this as I drive miles and miles along the highways on my upcoming trip.

What apps do you use for travel?

Solo Travel

Posted on by Seniye Groff

I am fortunate to have completed several solo trips oversees and I often get asked, “What is your favorite trip?”  Solo travel has been empowering and liberating for me. Traveling solo allows for the ultimate flexibility.  If I like a place I stay longer and if I don’t, I can quickly move on.  I think back to my first solo trip and stressing about not having anyone to travel with me.  I had a close friend dying of cancer and she told me, “Seniye if I could travel, I would do it in a minute!  Go travel…it will all work out.”  And she was 100% correct.

My favorite trip so far has been Morocco. It was my first time on the African continent and it did not disappoint.  The Sahara Desert was so beautiful…the sand a brilliant orange and the night sky littered with millions of stars that you just cannot see anywhere else because of the light pollution.  I loved the food, the artisanal crafts and the dizzying mazes that formed the souks.  The riads were charming hotels with sparkling clean rooms, amazing tile work and hearty quintessential Moroccan breakfasts.  I could go on and on.  If I had been too scared to travel alone, I would have missed all of it!

So how can you solo travel?  I have a few tips:

  • Pick safe countries.  There are lots of lists that outline safe travel for single women.
  • Do your homework and have a rough plan but get comfortable with wandering, too.
  • Share you itinerary with your family and friends.
  • Don’t do stupid things.  For example, I do not visit bars nor do I explore late at night.
  • Do your research.  There are Facebook groups with likeminded travelers.  The wealth of information shared has been really informative.  Two groups I like (but there are hundreds) are “Traveling Solo over 50” and “Solo in Style”. 
  • Target your search by country. There are many FB groups that focus on specific locales.  Travelers share their itineraries, tips and even meet up if they are in a location at the same time.

So, what are your solo travel suggestions?  And where do you want to go next?