How Google's apps can make your holiday travels happier

Tech virgin Gillian Anstey recently went on a trip with Google SA and learnt about some apps that'll make travelling easier and more fun

GOOGLE NOW

Google Now (available for Android and Apple) is sort of like Google's answer to Siri and comes in really handy if you're travelling by plane.

If your flight confirmation is sent to your Gmail account, then all sorts of useful info relating to your trip will be sent to you starting from a few days before your departure date. Think flight delays, the weather and recommended things to do at your destination.

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GOOGLE PHOTOS

Besides the tricks you can do with Google Photos (available for Android and Apple) such as creating collages and animations, the best thing is about it is that you never have to delete photos to make way for others because they're automatically backed up with unlimited storage.

And you can access your photos offline too.

GOOGLE STREET VIEW

Not sure if your hotel or guesthouse is as fab as its website boasts? Mich Atagana of Google SA recommends using the Google Street View app (available for Android and Apple) for its 360º street-level images to check out what it's like in reality.

GOOGLE MAPS

Google Maps (available for Android and Apple) is my favourite app. In an unfamiliar city, it'll help you work out how long it will take you to drive somewhere vs walking vs taking public transport.

And the walking option on the app is the best way to reach your destination when you are bamboozled by your strange surroundings.

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TOP TIP: STAY CHARGED

The most important thing if you wish to use apps to make travelling easier is to make sure your smartphone or tablet is charged —  as well as your powerbank.

This isn't always as simple as it might seem.

On a recent visit to Kenya, courtesy of Google SA, I sat at breakfast and announced: "My phone is charging". Really? If you're staying in a modern hotel, think again.

In order to turn the electricity on and off in your room, you'll likely have to insert your keycard into a device near the door. So when you're out of your room, together with your keycard, your tech cannot be charging.

Someone mentioned that you can try inserting a different card into the slot, such as a store loyalty card, to keep the electricity on, but I have yet to try that.