During these trips, I have used my mobile devices to communicate very effectively with taxi drivers, front desk personnel, housekeepers, concierge and food service staff using my translator on my mobile device. I watched movies and television programs in English, read my local newspaper online, had the opportunity (through a hotel’s French Facebook page) to join an “after work group” and even made dinner reservations in Chinese. In one country, my French speaking taxi driver got lost, and much to her relief, I had both a map “app” and the translator so we made it to the airport in plenty of time for my flight.
Mobile technology has definitely made my life as a traveler easier, but the benefits don’t stop there.