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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  • 1 Post By Surfy
  • 1 Post By Wauschi

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  #1  
Old 6 Jul 2021
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Your favorite Apps for travelling and Overlanding



What are your favorite apps on your smartphone? It is years ago (2014), that we did collect those helpful apps we like to use - here at HUBB. And a lot of Users did add their Apps. Often too with their specific use case.

I will add my top 5 of my used apps here
  • here we go
  • Audible
  • Oanda Currency Converter
  • iOverlander
  • Messengers (threema / Telegram / whatsapp)
Here we go - Offline street navigation (Android / iOS)
Street names, house numbers, "Please turn left in 20m" - HERE or Here.com (formerly Smart2Go, Map24, Navteq, Nokia Maps) offers very good navigation in over 100 countries. Quite a few car manufacturers equip their navigation systems with Navteq map material (BMW, VW, Daimler etc.) Accordingly, the map material is of high quality. On a trip around the world, this software is simply unmatched. With an online connection, traffic jam avoidance is added - but the maps can be downloaded offline.

Nothing can beat google maps - but on a worldtrip you dont want to download many many times small areas... And cell coverage isnt available anywhere.

Audible (Android / IOS)
The apps will support you while traveling. Audio books are no substitute for normal books, but they often sweeten the waiting times without being completely distracted from the surroundings. Even on my road trips without company, audiobooks are important to me. Lying relaxed on a lonely beach, the sound of the sea in one ear and headphones in the second ear an exciting audio book, without holding a book without having to turn the pages - sensational. I also like to listen to monotonous passages while driving. Alone in a restaurant - also a great accompaniment. Besides, you save a lot of space and weight.

Oanda Currency Converter (iOS)
A currency converter with the indication of the last online update - is worth a lot when discussing a fair exchange rate. Be it when exchanging money or paying in foreign currency (USD/Euro) abroad. The app also shows the selling and buying prices for a currency (incl. date), so you can easily agree on something with the opposite party.

iOverlander is irreplaceable for us overlanders when searching for wildcamping and campsites. Community based, new camp locations are added daily - especially for campsites with valuable additional information about the offered infrastructure. The app often offers much more, the nearest ATM that also spits out dollars, the nearest laundry or supermarket. I have added many waypoints in South America.

The various Messengers like threema / Telegram / whatsapp are already very useful to stay in contact with home. In my everyday travel life, however, I always used these apps to stay in touch with other travelers, to arrange to meet others in other places or in the city. Quickly send the location - simplifies a meeting immensely. Whatsapp allows to create and link share a group chat, so other travelers can join without exchanging numbers via link/QR code - helpful to get to a group chat with location sharing in Hangout (Couchsurfing)

Here is my: my full collection of useful travel apps at 2021

As you can see - to add your specific use case can be helpful to understand, why this app is on your list of helpful apps for travelling!

I hope to be able to read here new stuff I didnt know before!

It looks that we still have time to update our Smartphones - till international travelling over land borders gets more easy... With linking back to this thread inside of my blog - too some new readers will join or read here at HUBB. Hoping to find some hidden gems in the endless app stores.

Surfy
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  #2  
Old 7 Jul 2021
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Location: Colombia,(when not travelling)
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Overland Travel:
maps.me
Tripline
iOverlander
Google maps
FuelmapAustralia
Australian Fores
Wikicamps
Patreon
Various national park apps (NSW, WA, Tanzania, etc.)

Travel in general:
Whatsapp
Messenger
Currency
Rome2Rio
Über
Culture Trip
Trainline
Airline apps (19 of them)
Rentalcars
AirBnB
Booking
Hotel apps (5)
Local restaurant apps
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  #3  
Old 7 Jul 2021
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All I need is a map for navigation - full stop.
And OsmAND is my choice.

Maybe I'm missing the point of overlanding.

But I also get your point. The other day I joined a meeting of travellers. Everyone was busy with the phone so I also pulled out mine to see the stories they have to tell.

Wauschi
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Old 7 Jul 2021
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Photography/Video:

Photopills - The tool for photo and video planning!
https://www.photopills.com/

ProCam 8 - photo app
https://www.procamapp.com/

FilMic - video app
https://www.filmicpro.com/

Pro Camera - photo/video/editing
https://www.procamera-app.com/en/

Moment - photo/video
(I use it with an additional 18mm wide lens on my iphone)
https://www.momentprocam.com/
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  #5  
Old 17 Jul 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rapax View Post
Photography/Video
(...)
Wow, you wasnt afraid to invest some bucks!

I will give ProCamera a try, because it delivers RAW Images and I can use too my apple watch to set stuff and take pictures. Guess this would be nice for night/stars pictures, when I can use the phone on a tripod without touching.

Those lowlight+ Settings seems to be an additional "In-App" investment?

Surfy
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  #6  
Old 23 Jun 2023
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Google Maps has always been helpful
Messenger
Klook for booking
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  #7  
Old 23 Jun 2023
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Being privacy minded I avoid using apps where possible, maps.me has been handy for offline navigation a couple of times when the Garmin batteries went down but I've sorted a USB port on both bikes now so that's less likely.

While going across Spain google was handy for finding local hotels and hostels, but for booking it was always best to call, and things like where to get food weren't always listed (or listed incorrectly) so it's best not relied upon.

I like being able to take photos on my phone, so the app for that would be on my list
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