Technology has made travel easier than ever and more and more people are carrying gadgets with them even on round the world trips. Being the little gadget geek that I am I had to bring my iPhone with me on my current journey. After testing a ton of apps I’ve found some that truly stand out for me. Most, but not all, of these work in offline mode but even the ones requiring a connection have become my go-to apps when I’m in wi-fi range.

Note: The prices listed may be different depending on which country your app store is in, these are in Canadian dollars since that’s where my account is. Sorry I’m not listing Android (etc.) apps, but since I don’t use those phones I haven’t a clue which would be useful for travellers and which aren’t.

iPhone Travel Apps That Work in Offline Mode

OffMaps – $1.99 for the app, guide downloads are extra (around $9 for unlimited if I remember right).
Offline maps with GPS for the iPhone! This is kind of like Google maps but it works without an internet connection. At the moment there’s 90 countries and 4500 guides available. While I’m the type to wander around not minding if I get lost, I don’t like staying lost when I’m tired and want to get back to my room.

This solves that problem and even shows local landmarks, tourist info, entertainment and other helpful information. This quickly became one of my favorite travel apps, hopefully even more cities, towns and perhaps even off-road places will be added as downloadable maps in the future. Very useful!

Wi-Fi Finder – Free
What I love about this is that there’s a database that can be downloaded so you can find wi-fi even without a connection… yes, many other apps require an internet connection to be able to show you where to find an internet connection, not as useful huh? This one solves that problem!

iXpenseIt – Free Trial, Full Version is $4.99
Hmm, travel budgets, not a fun topic. I’m mathematically challenged, a part-time shopaholic and a picky eater with (mostly) expensive tastes… but this has really helped me curb my spending and finally work out a budget I’m happy with! It’s easy to use, shows handy little charts of expenses and income, the categories are customizable and it even calculates the exchange rate. In fact even if you’re offline and had previously loaded an exchange rate, it will use the last known rate and calculate that into the budget.

XE Currency – Free
Sync when you have wi-fi access and it can give you currency exchange info while walking around even without a data connection since it stores the last currency values on the phone. Shows current rates for 180 currencies plus charts going back a year!

World Nomads Guides – Free
Translations and phrases for travel essentials like numbers, greetings etc. There’s quite a few languages available and the phrases are travel and social related so they tend to be much more helpful than some others.

GlobeMaster – $.99
Offline travel guide and utilities. As far as I know this is Wiki-Travel packaged up in an offline app with helpful information including general information, tipping, customs, how to get around, maps, a converter etc.

Stanza, Kindle and iBooks – Free
iBooks, Kindle and Stanza all have a bunch of free books available, mostly old titles but some classics can be a great way to pass the time on a long ride. I also use iBooks a lot as a way to store a saved PDF in the phone to be able to reference it on the go. Very useful for things like directions, websites I want to read later, historical details of places I’m visiting, details about the next hostel booking and I’ve even started keeping my current booking info on my phone after almost forgetting where ‘home’ was one too many times. ;)

Language Dictionaries – Prices vary, often free.
I’m not going to list all the ones I’ve used since the languages you need will probably be different, but no matter where you go it’s a good idea to check if there’s an offline translator or dictionary for the language at your next destination. That’s saved my sanity a few times when I arrive and need to ask directions to my hostel or where the nearest WC is. It’s also saved my back from having to carry yet more weight in my backpack.

iPod – Free with the phone =D
OK, so it’s not really a travel app but there are times I just want to drown out the world and fall into the comfort of familiar songs… Also helpful if you’re on a bus or in a dorm with someone snoring!

Internet Connection Required but Super Handy apps for Travelers

Skype and Skype’s iPhone app – Both the app & Skype to Skype calls are free.
You knew this one had to be on the list somewhere right? I’ve found that with a good connection the sound is better through my iPhone with Skype than with my notebook because I don’t carry a spare headset with a microphone in it. Either way you use it, Skype is one of the best things a traveler can have since they have great rates to landlines as well.

Yelp, iFound and AroundMe – Free
I love these! Even before I left Canada Yelp was one of my main apps, and while travelling, having info about local restaurants, supermarkets, pubs, banks etc. is even more useful.

I’ve found that in some places one app will outpreform the others so it’s nice to have a few to use. They all do need either a data plan or wi-fi to get the info but many hostels, hotels and guesthouses offer wi-fi so you can look up the info before leaving for the day or use Wi-Fi finder to find a hot spot nearby while exploring.

What travel apps have you found that you use frequently?

Most of these travel health tips are fairly well known and many really are just common sense, but we all need a reminder now and then to take care of ourselves, especially with the excitement of finally hitting the road on our dream vacation / trip.

This list is partially a reminder to myself since I came down with a bad cold within the first few weeks of travelling. The weather takes a bit of the blame (it’s been cold and rainy most of the time so far), but there may be are some things I could have done a bit better to help prevent it.

This is in no way medical advice, just a few tips that may help make your travels a bit healthier and happier.

Keep Your Hands Clean

Wash your hands often, especially before eating. Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer and wet wipes if possible for when there is no (or no clean) running water available. One thing that you may want to keep in mind is to take care not to offend your hosts, whipping out a bottle of hand sanitizer after touching their stuff or before eating their carefully prepared meal, can be a huge slight, so in some cases you may want to excuse yourself to use the washroom and clean up privately before a meal.

Another thing to think of is making sure that the surfaces you touch frequently are kept as clean as possible. Laptop keyboards, phones, iPods etc get very dirty very fast and are be breeding grounds for germs and viruses. Don’t believe me? Read this and it might make you think taking those wipes after all.

Get Enough Rest

With the excitement of finally being on the road you might have the urge to ignore this, but at least try to not let partying get in the way of enough sleep. Your body is going through a lot when you travel, especially if you’re going for the long term… new foods, lots of physical activity, different climates, late nights etc. so take the time to baby it a bit and get some beauty sleep.

Eat Properly

This has at times been a hard one for me since I’m vegan and getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet can be a challenge in some areas. But trust me, this is a top priority. Take vitamin supplements if you have to, but get enough nutrients. Remember, your body may be doing more while you’re travelling than it was at home and you’ll probably need more nutrients than you’re used to.

Also be careful what you eat. A good piece of advice I’ve always listened to is “take a cue from the locals”. If a place is packed with people from the area, or looks like it’s been there for years, the food is probably safe, tasty and reasonably priced. It’s even better if you can see your meal being prepared.

If you have special dietary needs or restrictions it may be a good idea to carry a small stash of emergency food with you. Even if you don’t have unique food requirements, taking a granola bar, a small bag of dried fruit or nuts (or whatever hits your fancy) may stave off tummy grumbles when you can’t get to regular meals.

Vaccines and Preventative Medicines

Hopefully you did this before you left, but if hadn’t, or you’re heading into an area you hadn’t planned, take the time to find out what vaccinations and / or medications (i.e. anti-malaria pills) are suggested to keep you from coming down with something. Exotic viruses are not a good souvenir. ;)

Stay Hydrated & Avoid Tap Water

I’ve always required massive amounts of water every day. (Friends and family have joked that there’s no way I could possibly hold it all. Their theory is that I’m sending water back to my home planet via some trans-dimensional warp field in my tummy.) Even with being used to drinking to rehydrate a small desert, I found I was drinking way more than usual to keep from getting dehydrated. Remember that the environment may be different than you’re used to, and airplanes are well known for drying a person out.

Since I didn’t want to spend my entire travel budget on liquids, I brought a SteriPEN with me so that I can sterilize water myself. It’s a good deal if you’re going on a long term trip, for shorter trips it’s not very cost effective but there are quite a few other options like purification tablets etc.. Another good thing to pack is powdered electrolyte packs just in case you hit a serious case of dehydration.

Clean Any Wounds Immediately

Cuts and scratches that may be of no importance at home can become infected very easily in a new environment. Your body may not be used to local bacteria and might not have the ability to take care of it by itself. Try to always carry something to clean and protect any wounds.. no matter how minor. I carry and small container of anti-bacterial spray, aloe and tea tree swabs and liquid bandages. They take up very little space and were useful within the first few weeks.

Health Insurance

If something goes wrong and you need medical care having health insurance is a must. Normally I’m opposed to the idea of insurance, but when I travel I’d rather the peace of mind knowing that if I break a bone, get sick, injured or need an emergency evacuation… there’s someone who has my back.

Shop around and find the one that best suits your travel style. I went with World Nomads since they seemed to understand the “backpack around the world” mentality better than the others I looked at and their prices and coverage was pretty good. You may also want to check if you already have travellers insurance, some credit cards and home health insurance plans already cover it, or can for an extra fee.

Allergies

If you have allergies you already know to take medicine to prevent / treat a reaction, and you probably know how best to avoid allergic reactions when possible. This is just here as a friendly reminder.

Foot Care

Pack a pair of flip flops for dodgy (and even not so dodgy) looking shower stalls in hostels and hotels. I’ve seen some nasty cases of foot fungus already from people that ignored this, and a case of athletes foot will not only ruin your “seasoned traveller” look but it makes walking to those places you travelled so far to see rather painful.

Also be sure to break in any shoes before you travel if possible, blisters are not a lot of fun. Pack some extra bandages and / or moleskin to protect any hotspots.

Skin Care

I’ve noticed that travel has taken a toll on my skin already and some of the products that I had before I left are not as available in some places. Be sure to pack moisturiser as well as toner and zit cream if you have even the slightest tendency to break out. A new environment, seasonal changes and a more hectic daily life may cause even the most well behaved skin to develop odd behaviour.

Wear Sunscreen

I know.. you may want a great tan if you’re visiting a beach but make sure you don’t burn. Wear sunscreen everyday, even if it’s overcast. Environmental differences like higher altitudes seem to make people burn faster than usual, and a few hours enjoying the sun can quickly turn into the entire day when you’re enjoying your vacation. I’ve already seen one person that was burnt to a crisp and it really spoiled her trip while she was healing.

Also try to get sunscreen that doesn’t have a lot of harmful chemicals in it (phthalates, parabens etc.). There are often more natural ingredients that work just as well if not better. Why add more chemicals to the mix if you can avoid it?

Do you have any travel health tips or questions to share?

Since other travellers lists helped me decide what to pack I thought I’d share mine to pay back the new nomads, vagabonds and backpackers setting out on their own adventures.

To be honest, up until the night before my flight I still wasn’t sure what was coming with me. My sister and I packed and unpacked my backpack countless times, re-thinking each item every time.

Even with all that thought, I still probably took far too much to travel lightly. This is what I crammed into a 50L backpack. Some of it will probably be tossed / given away / lost along the way so I’ll update this list as I go. (Last updated April 18 2010)

Gadgets:

• Macbook
  • charging cord
  • memory foam case to protect Macbook
  • wire lock for Macbook (attach to table etc.)
  • travel packet of screen cleaner
  • USB sticks (8G, 1G) 1 stashed away with copies of important documents, 1 for backups
  • Bought while travelling: 320G USB hard drive
• Camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3)
  • 1 extra film thing
  • camera battery charger + 1 extra battery
  • USB film reader
• iPhone (will be used more as an iPod ie. no data plan or number)
  • charging cord (usb) for iPhone
  • earbuds
• power plug converter (only need for my luxury item)
• universal plug adaptor
• headlamp (handy!)
• Steri-pen & filter (so I don’t need to buy bottled water)
• 4 spare AA batteries

Clothes:

• 2 compression sacks to hold:
  • 1 turtleneck
  • 1 long broomstick skirt
  • 3 pants (1 loose black cotton, 1 jean-like, 1 yoga pants)
  • 3 tank tops
  • 3 t-shirts
  • 1 long sleeved t-shirt
  • 2 bras
  • 5 undies
  • 5 pairs socks
  • 3 bandanas – (will give away 2 along the way)
  • 3 scarves
  • 1 black leggings (layering & sleepwear)
  • 1 pair of thick tights (good for layering)
  • 2 hats (1 brimmed cap, 1 crochet beanie)
  • sunglasses
  • 1 pair gloves
  • 1 belt with a pocket large enough for my small camera and some cash
  • 1 sarong
  • 1 jacket that’s very wrong but I’ll replace it when I find something better. (thick, jean like cotton. takes forever to dry but I couldn’t find anything better for a reasonable price before I left)
  • 1 pair flip-flopish sandals – tossed, replaced with sandals
  • 1 pair high heal booties – tossed (I tried finding more reasonable footwear in Toronto, but finding summer shoes in the middle of winter was a no-go)
  • Update: 1 pair ballet flats – A gift from another traveller. – Wore out eventually

Personal:

• hair straightener (my luxury item)
• travel toothbrush, toothpaste & floss
• small solid shampoo / bodywash (I’m still not sure if I like this, it gets very messy if it’s not dry when I repack, but it’s much smaller & lighter than liquid.)
• small bottle of hair conditioner
• scrubbie glove
• facial wash
• toner
• facial moisturizer
• sunscreen
• lip balm
• small case of makeup: mascara, concealer etc.
• tweezers
• nail clippers & tiny file
• a few small hair clips, elastics & 1 head band
• comb

First aid:

• bandages (liquid & a few regular)
• moleskin (not actually made from a mole ;p)
• tea tree oil & aloe swabs
• small Polysporin anti-biotic spray
• antibiotics
• anti-malaria meds
• bug repellent
• a few Tylenol tablets
• electrolyte powder
• Gravol (anti nausea)
• Nicorettes – for the plane, may have saved my sanity

Misc.

• messenger bag – doubles as Macbook carrying case / day bag
• money belt – Although I hate to admit this but it’s so uncomfortable to wear I’ve found alternative ways to keep my passport safe and no longer use the belt.
• passport
• credit cards & debit card
• vaccination records
• paper copy of important phone numbers
• 1 marker (with duct tape wrapped around it)
• 1 pen
• 1 small notebook
• pack-safe backpack protection
• 1 small combo lock
• 1 regular size combo lock – tossed when I realized I forgot the combo, will have to replace.
• 2 travel towels (1 too bulky but nice, 1 tiny – may eventually get rid of 1)
• 1 silk sleep sheet
• sink stopper
• door wedge
• cloth shopping bag (in a keychain, it’s tiny)
• a few Canadian flag stickers
• 4 sewing needles (taped to battery package)
• 1 small thread
• a few small packets of moisture absorbing silica gel
• emergency blanket
• emergency rain poncho
• chopsticks & plastic spoon
• a few spare ziplock bags (small & large size)
• a couple dryer sheets (helps absorb smells from the pack)
• 1 Buddha, 1 Smurf & 1 Sheep (my tiny travelling companions, the sheep and Smurf were gifts from friends, my little Buddha always travels with me.)

Changes in Gear So Far

Lost:

• sunglasses at airport before I even left Toronto – (Replaced)
• foldable ‘travel’ scissors (confiscated at airport) – (Replaced)

Threw Out / Gave Away:

• High heal booties worn before I found sandals – they finally gave out on me, I’m going to miss them!
• flip flopish sandals – they were too painful to wear more than 5 minutes!
• Steri-pen filter – Realized I didn’t need it, according to OneBag a coffee filter works just as well. I kept the Steri-pen of course, that thing has saved me quite a bit of money already.
• 1 Scarf – given away
• Fleece sweater – tossed after it got shrunk in the wash
• 1 long broomstick skirt – the one I brought was too bulky
• Fluffy travel towel – too bulky, decided the small thin one and the sarong worked just as well
• Jacket that’s very wrong – finally tossed it, hope to find a better one soon
• pack-safe backpack protection – I found it too awkward to use, I’m going to buy the small Pak-Safe bag that can be stored inside the backpack / locked to furniture when I get the chance.

Bought:

• High heal sandals – Yup, you read that right and I understand that many will say it’s silly, but my feet feel better in them and I feel more confident. That’s worth it to me!
• Jeans – Yup, I broke one of the cardinal rules of travellers and bought a pair of jeans. Well worth it, I feel much more comfortable!
• long, halter style summer dress – Guadalajara
• warm fleece sweater – Guadalajara (tossed)
• replacement sunglasses
• replacement scissors
• small umbrella
• Spanish / English dictionary – Then tossed when I found one for the iPhone that didn’t need Net access. (SpanishDict)
• Super Tiny (physical size) USB drive (320G) to clone my macbook and store backups. Needed when my macbook’s drive got corrupted. Made clone with SuperDuper, booted from there, repaired main drive. Glad I could find one so easily, I’d suggest bringing one with you.

Emergency food stash:

(I’m vegan and there will be times that I’ll be stuck without food I can eat if I don’t plan ahead, so I tend to carry a bit to tide me over. This list changes as I eat some and buy more, but these are the basics I like to carry.)

• powdered soy milk – tastes rather icky, but it’s better than nothing
• peanut butter
• a few granola bars
• small bag of dried fruit

Considered not bringing, but glad I did:

• Small crochet beanie – Not only can it hide a bad hair day, but it helped keep me warmer during a cold & wet few weeks in Mexico. It packs very small, love it!

Planning for long term travel can be the most overwhelming part of the entire trip but here’s a few things that you may want to do before you leave so that once you arrive in your destination you can sit back and relax or go full speed into your next adventure without worries.

I’d originally planned to write about what I needed to do to plan for backpacking around the world travel before I left but, well.. I got a bit overwhelmed! I’m glad I left it until now though since I’ve learned a few new tips from my mistakes.

I’ll probably update this as I learn more and think of other things I wish I’d taken care of before I left. If you see anything else that you’d add to this list, please share in the comments.

Check what vaccinations are required and / or suggested

Depending on the scope of your trip and your list of countries you plan to visit this list can be pretty big. I won’t give any advice which you should get and which you can safely skip, but make sure to go to your local travel clinic at least 2 months before you leave as some vaccinations require a few boosters to be effective.

Make sure your passport is up to date and has plenty of time left before it expires

Not only do you not want to have to go through the hassle of updating your passport while you’re on vacation, but some countries may not let you in if you have less than 6 months left before your passport becomes invalid.

Learn at least a few basic phrases in the language spoken at your destination

I didn’t do this and spent the first few weeks desperately scrambling to try to understand words and phrases like “how much?”, numbers, how to ask for directions and understand the answer. A few basics like those as well as greetings, ‘thank you’, ‘please’ etc will help immensely!

Translation Dictionary

You may also want to get a translation dictionary, one with phrases is even better. Again, learn from my mistake, get this before you leave! Trying to buy a dictionary without knowing what it’s called, how to ask for it… or even being able to ask where a bookstore is makes the process rather difficult. ;) (Seriously, close your eyes and picture trying to mime those questions out, then imagine trying to decipher the answers… it took me a few days, and getting lost twice, to find it.)

Make a list of what you intend to pack

Try to do this early on since your list will probably change many times as you learn more about where you’re going and rethink how much you can carry. The thing that helped me a lot was to read lists of what other people packed and adjust it to my needs. Some things like a headlamp, universal drain stopper and a bandanna wouldn’t have been things I’d have thought of but all 3 have proved to be indispensable!

Buy any gear you need

Try doing this a bit ahead of time, but after you have a good idea what you’ll need. I ended up buying things that I left behind and scrambled at the last minute for other stuff I wanted to pack. Again, I’d recommend reading lists of what others took (especially if you’re going on a long trip) and then decide what will be important to you.

Test packing your gear

This step took me over 20 tries before I settled on my packing list. Most people (myself included) want to take anything that “might” be needed and tend to pack way too many clothes. One of the best pieces of advice I heard (but sadly ignored) is to take half the clothes you think you’ll need and twice the money. People wear clothing everywhere and the locals will know better than you how to dress for the weather / culture in their own country.

Make sure you can carry it all comfortably, and if you’re backpacking buy a sturdy, well fitted pack. Trust me, this makes all the difference in the world. I’m still looking for my perfect backpack.

Take care of mail, bills etc.

Depending on how long you intend to travel you might have to redirect mail to a friends place or get someone to collect it for you. Letting it pile up lets everyone know you aren’t home… which is probably now what you want to announce to potential thieves.

If you’ll be receiving utility bills while you’re gone, find a way to pay them. Either go paperless (if you’ll have access to the Internet) or see if you can set up a pre-payment option. If you’re leaving and selling everything, make sure that they’re all cancelled and that you have a way to pay those final bills which may arrive after your departure date.

Make copies of all important travel documents

Keep a copy with a trusted friend or family member, put a secured file on a usb drive and carry it in your money belt and / or send a copy to an online email account that is only used for this one purpose etc. You may even want to store photocopies somewhere in your bag (separate from the originals) . Trust me on this one, I know from experience on a trip a long time ago how hard it can be to prove you are who you say you are with no documents to back it up.

Get travellers insurance!

I’ve never been a big fan of the concept of insurance, but this is one that is important. If you get sick or injured or even have stuff stolen you’ll appreciate the peace of mind knowing that you will be taken care of. Look at a few different travel insurance packages and choose the one that works best for you. I went with World Nomads because the offer good coverage and seem to understand the backpacker mentality better than some of the other companies I looked at and I’d heard positive things about them from other travellers.

Set up a Skype account

This may not be needed for short trips, but for long journeys Skype is the best way I’ve found to keep in contact with friends and family at home. The video calls make it feel much more personal than telephone and it can really help with those homesick moments to actually see your friends smiles encouraging you to keep following your dream!

Set up Twitter and or a blog

Depending on your travel style and length of trip these can also be great ways to stay in touch and share your experiences.

Become a member at Couchsurfing

This is way easier to do from home and is the only way (that I saw) to become a verified Couchsurfer member. The benefits? Well a free place to stay with locals that can show you things that you may otherwise miss!

Do you have any other pre-trip tips for soon-to-be travellers? Are there things you wish you’d done before hand? Help us out and share your wisdom in the comments.

For the last few weeks the entire thought of this world trip that I’m about to embark on has seemed like a surreal dream or a movie that I was only paying partial attention to. This couldn’t be real and definitely was not happening to me. I kept thinking “sure I’d love to travel the world and visit new countries, see new things, talk to new people… I’ll do that someday”. Somehow it felt like I was going to wake up, safe, secure and happy with how things are now in my very sedentary lifestyle, that today is not ‘someday’, but here I am and panic is finally starting to set in.

Well.. I woke up rather abruptly this week and realized that not only am I really going through with it, I have a massive amount of tasks to accomplish before I can get on that plane… in 3 weeks!

So far I’ve given notice on my apartment, found a nice couple to take over my lease, bought a lot of needed travel gear, sold most of my furniture, scanned massive amounts of old photos and papers that I just couldn’t part with and (somewhat) started this blog. It seems so little has been accomplished when I write it down.

Hmm, did I mention it’s only 3 weeks? Uh huh! I still need to buy a ticket (after I fully decide where to start this adventure), get travellers insurance,  say good-bye to friends, take care of about a billion loose ends (cancel utilities, update online accounts, forward any straggling mail to an alternate address etc. etc.), sell the rest of my stuff and give away anything that still is sitting around by the deadline. Oh, and taxes for 2009 since I won’t be in Canada for tax season… and that’s just a small snippet of the list, or as I’ve started calling it, the “big list of OMG I still have to do what?!?!”

OK… deep breath…

I’m pretty sure these feelings are normal, every time I’ve moved from one city to another the old one starts to seem better and better. Old friends start calling again, the sun shines more, people smile and greet me by name as I wander around the neighbourhood… it feels as if Toronto is trying to lull me back before I’ve even gone.

I started having doubts soon after I thought of packing it all in and backpacking the world, why leave when its safe here? I have a career, friends, a comfortable apartment in my favourite area of the city. Why do I need to do this? What do I hope to find?

The last few days I’ve been going through all my stuff and trying to organise it into piles sorted by who to give what to, donations and trash. Let me tell you, the process of scanning pictures and seeing all the happy times sure did put me in a sad sentimental place. In a way, that’s the answer right there, it’s the past… I want the future, I need change! I want to be challenged again, to be unsure and lost, not because of insecurities, but because I’m suddenly in a place that I don’t know the language and cultural expectations. There’s a strong freedom in that and a strength that I need to find again in myself.

I just keep telling myself to breathe, that if I change my mind Canada will still be here, that it will be easier once I get going, that I’d regret not travelling while I have the chance, that I will enjoy it once I get out there and that the ‘getting ready’ will be the hard part.

I feel like this is the right thing for me… so the only thing left to do is all the stuff that is still left to do! No I’m not backing out…. and I won’t forget to breathe.