Does your phone sometimes keep you from truly soaking up the flavor of places you travel to? There are plenty of apps that can make travel easier—from doing a quick currency conversion to rebooking on an earlier flight, minus the hold music. But when I travel, I try to use my phone sparingly (apart from taking photos and videos with it): I don’t want it distracting me from the local scene, or preventing me from the impromptu encounters that are so often the best moments of travel.
On your next trip, if you should find you’re spending too much time looking at your phone and missing out on some of what you’ve traveled so far to experience, you might try these tips:
- Leave your phone on airplane mode whenever you don’t need to be accessible—or better yet, use vacation mode to silence unnecessary notifications and other distractions.
- Use a tool that limits your screen time. You can adjust the settings so that your camera is fully accessible.
- Wear an old-fashioned watch. That way, you won’t use your phone to check the time—and then get sidetracked by a text message or news headline.
- Ask a local for directions instead of opening your mapping app.
- Install a translation app so you can communicate in a foreign language.
WOW List experts can often help travelers harness the benefits of their smartphone without being handcuffed by it. As you’ll see from the reviews below, having a local fixer accessible via a single app can turn your phone into a helpful resource when you need it—and allow you to leave it in your pocket when you don’t.
NORWAY: “The itinerary came together in the form of an easy-to-use digital travel guide…”
A vista (and a few woolly locals) overlooking Hjørundfjord. Photo: Traveler Mike Gold
“Torunn’s team fashioned an exciting and diverse itinerary that matched our tastes: getting off the beaten path and staying close to nature when outside the cities. The itinerary came together in the form of an easy-to-use digital travel guide that we were able to access by mobile app while on the go.
The nine-night adventure took us from Oslo, to the tiny mountain village of Skåbu, to the spectacular fjords and mountains, and ended in the quirky Art Nouveau coastal town of Ålesund. One highlight: skipping the famous (but often overcrowded) Geirangerfjorden and instead spending two days exploring the majestic Hjørundfjorden via boat and mountain hike. Another: driving the zig-zagging, switch-backing, jaw-dropping Trollstigen mountain road, which must be seen to be believed.” —Mike Gold
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
JAPAN: “We truly felt like a guardian angel was watching over us every step of the way…”
Chureito Pagoda sits in the shadow of Mt. Fuji. Photo: Shutterstock
“If you are thinking about Japan for a vacation, go! We loved the country, the people, the culture and the places we visited. Andrea purposely kept us away from high-traffic, touristy areas. What really made the trip unforgettable were the guides that he chose for us. And we not only had private cars to take us to the train stations, but all the drivers walked us to the correct platforms so we would not miss the train or get lost.
Andrea and his team are available 24/7 and often respond within minutes. They sent us morning updates, weather reports, and clothing suggestions for the day. We truly felt like a guardian angel was watching over us every step of the way while we enjoyed our trip. We have been home now for two days and miss the morning updates telling us what to look forward to for the day ahead!” —Robin and Warren Levy
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
AUSTRALIA: “Jacki and her team were only a WhatsApp message away, immediately offering solutions and alternatives…”
Rachel Phillips dives with a finned friend on the Great Barrier Reef. Photo: Traveler Andrea Phillips
“Australia is vast, and timing matters. The biggest benefit of working with Jacki is her ability to match experiences to the season and your interests. Trusting her recommendations was important, as she not only knows the highlights but also the hidden gems. The properties and guides clearly respected her, which ensured our trip ran smoothly and with a personal touch throughout. One highlight we’ll never forget was our WOW Moment—a seven-course tasting menu paired with a stunning sunset.
Even when unexpected issues arose—like a delayed island departure flight—Jacki and her team were only a WhatsApp message away, immediately offering solutions and alternatives. Having that level of support gave us complete peace of mind, especially while traveling such a long distance.” —Andrea Phillips
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
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