Best Android Apps for Exploring Another Country

These days our smartphones are our constant-companions that can make almost every aspect of our lives a little easier and a little more pleasant – whether you use it to watch Netflix while you’re peeling potatoes, or to take notes with Evernote.

When you go on holiday or are exploring a new city you will find that you need your digital companion more than ever before – and thankfully there are plenty of great apps that can specifically help you out in this situation. Read on and we’ll take a look at some of the best apps for taking with you to explore another country.

Babel

If you’re going abroad then it pays to learn the local language. This is where Babel can help, giving you the best chance of fitting in with the locals and asking for the right meal in the restaurant.

iTranslate

Babel is great for revision on the coach to the airport, but if you need a quick translation then iTranslate is the best app to use, or Google Translate. They use the same engine so it really doesn’t matter which you opt for. Just remember that this still isn’t going to be 100% accurate, particularly for longer sentences.

Instagram

There are plenty of great apps for capturing the sights in a new country, but Instagram is undoubtedly up there with the best of them. What makes Instagram so special is the way it encourages you to take photos of the things you normally might not – empty mugs of coffee against a moonlit sky, or amusing signposts that you find in the most remote locations. Add some effects as well and you get some great pictures that can show your holiday in a whole new light.

Vonage

If you want to stay in touch with your friends and family back home but don’t want to rack up a huge phone bill, then an app like Vonage might be just what you need. Vonage allows you to chat over a WiFi connection, so as long as you can find a hotspot you can tell your loved ones all about your holiday completely for free!

The Kindle App

Many of us these days would describe ourselves as people who only really read when we’re on holiday. If you’re among that number, then you’ll find the Kindle app to be a great companion whenever you’re on a long bus journey or sitting alone in a coffee shop watching the world go by.

SnapChat

Another way to share your holiday with those back home is to send them pictures, and SnapChat provides a fun platform for doing this by letting you send a brief snapshot of whatever you’re doing in that instant. While your friends are slaving away at work, they can see shots of you posing with lions at the zoo or gawking at amazing landmarks.

IFTTT

IFTT is not an Android app but rather a web app. Still though it is one that will work with your Android apps and help you to save a lot of time and stay connected to your friends back home by letting your various online tools and apps trigger events in others. Want all your photos to be immediately backed up on Dropbox or uploaded to a folder on Facebook? IFTTT is the place to go!