From Naples to the world: the best apps for smart travel
Neapolitans have the adaptability that all world travelers wish they had: they are naturally equipped with instinct and the ability to improvise in any difficulty.
Thanks to these two "superpowers," they can handle extreme situations when they're outside Italy, but traveling also means enjoying the moment and not always being on edge. For a Neapolitan traveling abroad, therefore, some of the best apps for smart travel can certainly come in handy.
eSIM App: Goodbye, Wi-Fi
Le eSIM app These are apps that allow you to purchase virtual SIM cards, which can be activated on your smartphone without needing to insert a physical card. This is particularly useful because when traveling abroad (outside the EU), you often incur high international roaming charges.
Using an eSIM, on the other hand, you pay a fixed fee for a usually very generous amount of gigabytes, thus giving you the possibility of using all the apps on your smartphone without worrying about how much it will cost you.
Google Maps: impossible to live without
If our ancestors were able to orient themselves with the sun and the stars, today we have more effective tools and one of these is Google MapsThe must-have app on your smartphone for finding shops, restaurants, points of interest, and more, whether you're in Japan or the United States.
Be careful though, if you don't use an eSIM you won't have access to the latest features and you'll need to make sure you have the maps downloaded in offline mode, which you should do when you have an internet connection available.
Trainline: for those travelling in Europe
Trainline It's the perfect app for those traveling by train or bus within Europe. It lets you purchase tickets from companies like Trenitalia, SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, and many more. It also offers instant price comparisons, digital tickets, and live alerts.
Google Translate: Break down language barriers
Gone are the days when to visit a country you needed to know at least English or a good part of the local language and all thanks to Google TranslateOf course, learning different languages for your own personal culture is always pleasant and satisfying, but if the effort and commitment of this activity aren't for you, then the Google app is your ace in the hole.
The best feature to use is the one via camera: you just have to point it Type a foreign-language menu, a road sign, a notice, or any other content, and Google Translate will rewrite it into Italian in real time. It's not perfect, and it can sometimes generate unintelligible text, but generally it works very well and will help you in many situations.
Meetup: Get to know locals better
Neapolitans are said to be very sociable, but not all are extroverted and open, so using specific apps to meet locals and break the ice can be a real game changer.
The app in question is Meetup, little used and underrated, allows you to see events in a given area and organize them based on specific interests: trekking, language exchanges, expat dinners, photography hikes, and much more. It's essential for finding people with similar interests and talking to them without having to engage in awkward approaches.
Hopper: Book flights at the right time
Most people book flights when they're ready to do so, not when the price is right: the app Hopper It analyzes historical price data to predict whether a fare will rise or fall, then tells you whether to book now or wait, and finally alerts you when the time comes. A Neapolitan flying to Tokyo or New York knows that cheap flights to intercontinental destinations don't stay that way for long, and Hopper is the best way to find them.
TripIt: everything in one itinerary
Does managing dozens of apps give you a headache? TripIt could be the solution: forward each booking confirmation (flights, hotels, restaurants, train tickets, car rentals) and the app automatically assembles a single, day-by-day itinerary, accessible offline. You won't have to hunt for the booking email in your inbox at the gate (amidst the dirty looks of other travelers).
Anyone traveling on a tight schedule, such as a long weekend in four cities or a multi-stop business trip, quickly realizes its usefulness.
These are the best apps you can use when traveling abroad, so don't miss out and try them all.