When traveling long and far, always make digital copies of important documents and store them in a secure e-cloud vault.
The web offers travel apps that allow passengers to have a comfortable flight now that summer is approaching. For example, digital trackers help travelers keep an eye on their valuables and find them if they get lost. There are many other travel hacks.
COMFORTABLE — People of different sizes and shapes need a comfortable seat for a long flight. There aren’t many choices on commercial jets today, but seats with those extra few inches of legroom for tall people are a godsend. Try Legroom for Google sFlight, an extension app for the Chrome browser, to help you book the most comfortable seat in the house. Another solid option is SeatGuru.com. Enter your airline and flight number, and you’ll see a map of the seats with the most legroom. No download is required.
PRICES — Also, use Google to find a good rate. There are many search engines to find a cheap flight. Maybe you have a favorite tool like Skyscanner, Hopper, Kayak, or an online travel agency like Priceline or Expedia. But Flights is a super efficient price locator. Essentially, it has a host of filters to help the traveler focus on routes and convenient travel options; The user can then go through the application to book directly with an airline rather than a third party.
SCAN — When traveling long and far, always make digital copies of important documents and store them in a secure e-cloud vault. Digital records make it easy to quickly find what you need or locate the documents needed to sort out travel issues. A scanner is the most practical tool. Look for a compact machine that offers wireless and Ethernet connectivity. If you have multi-page documents, the KimKomando web page recommends the EcoTank ET-4760 device. It comes with a multi-page document feeder. Be sure to include at least your driver’s license, passport and health insurance card.
ON LINE — If a scanner is not an option, use an app. One of them is Adobe Scan. This app makes it easy to scan anything right from your phone. You can use it to convert documents, forms, business cards, and whiteboards to high-quality PDFs. It also offers different capture modes, so your scans are as clear as possible every time, as it identifies and sharpens handwritten or printed text. It also removes distracting elements like reflections and shadows. Another functional application is Genius Scan. Place a document in front of a smartphone or tablet, and the app automatically recognizes the paper in the background and scans it. Also check out Microsoft Office Lens, a scanning app for mobile devices.
SPYCAMS – When you arrive at an Airbnb, rented villa, boat, RV or hotel room, check for hidden spy cameras. Cameras are only legally permitted in common public areas. Sneaky tenants can hide smaller cameras behind furniture, vents, or decorations. Then there are hidden cameras that can even impersonate a Roku to a plug extender. The best way to detect is by the reflection of the lens. Turn off the lights in a room and slowly scan all spaces with a flashlight or laser pointer. There is also the RF detector which can only find wireless cameras.
iPhone — When traveling, a traveler’s air tickets, maps, hotel reservations, and car rental data are all stored on the smartphone. But what if the device disappears? For such eventualities, there are Apple AirTags and Tile Trackers. Airbags use signals from other iPhones to determine where they are. On an iPhone, the installed “Find My” application allows you to discover the device even if it is turned off or its battery is drained. Tracking is done through another Apple device such as an iWatch, iPad, laptop, or web browser if you don’t have another Apple product. This site tells you how.
ANDROIDS — These work more or less the same way. “Find My Device” is automatically enabled when adding a Google account to any Android device. Connect to mobile data or Wi-Fi to locate a device, turn on “Location” and activate the device finder app. Also, The Tile 2-pack is Android compatible and has a tracker for your luggage and one to slip into your wallet.
Author Rafael Matos is a veteran journalist, professor of digital storytelling, and academic mentor. He can be contacted at cccrafael@gmail.com.
