Here’s a note about technology and modern travel. With all the mobile apps, it’s tempting to think that technology has transformed business travel. The reality is that most travel is still about fatigue and dehydration. If they could invent an app for that, we would be making real progress. Nevertheless, technology can provide some assistance. Apps that I have used or that sound useful are:
- TripIt for managing your itinerary, either manually or by constructing one from your confirmation emails;
- Kayak for booking flights, rental cars, hotels;
- Uber for when you need a ride;
- TravelAdvisor for reviews of hotels, restaurants, and events;
- Yelp for when you want to know what restaurant serves both the best and the worst food in town, what market is both the best and the worst, what coffee shop is…
- App in the Air for airline and flight information;
- XE Currency if you’re traveling to non-dollar denominated locales;
- Google Translate for when you want to say something in a foreign language. Use at your own risk;
- Gas Buddy for finding gas stations. My husband, who travels more by car, loves GasBuddy.
- HotelTonight helps you find a hotel in a pinch. I haven’t used this one, but it sounds useful.
Do use technology to your advantage, but don’t be a snob. If you know you’re going to need a phone number the minute you land, write it on a sticky note and slap it to the back of your phone. Don’t make business travel harder than it already is.
And take care of yourself.
© 2016 Jennifer K. Crittenden
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