Today I read that the iPhone is 18 years old. Many senior women own new or newish iPhones but still cannot use them for basic travel needs. Five baby skills to learn today are:
Where to store travel documents. Too many women tell us they cannot find documents they received by email? Most smart phones allow you to put a star next to an important email, say the 24/7 number for our Paris Cruise in May. Do it. Better and quicker, if you need the document: download the attachments. On my phone, which is not new, I click an attachment, it opens. A little arrow at the bottom of the screen opens up a menu of where to put the document. I like the notes area. OR you can also click on print, and take a screen shot of the page. OR put it in Books. Android phones have similar areas for storing documents and photos like your passport picture page. There are times you need the document and are not carrying hard copies. Say again on our Paris cruise, you want to see the new Notre Dame on your own. You can show the taxi or a pedestrian a photo of the church. PS a screen shot if a way to photo what is on your screen, ask anyone….
How to make a folder. You can photo, travel documents then file them in a folder. We suggest one folder for each trip. Why would you need to do this? Perhaps you decided to take a walk in Delhi, got a bit lost and need to show a passerby the name of your hotel? Hotel addresses and phone numbers be on a document in your files. You want tax back in Italy, and the store you bought from needs to see your passport photo page?
Use Contacts Put important phone numbers, with correct overseas codes into contacts. Why would you need quick access to a phone number? You are waiting for your transfer in Mexico, and want to pop into a bathroom. You need to call the transfer agent’s cell phone quickly, so they know where you are. A European or overseas cell phone is confusing and a lot of digits. After you put the number into your contacts, call it, to assure you have right country code.
System Settings: as airline staff asks you to turn off electronics, put your phone on airplane mode. To avoid charges overseas for ‘roaming’ leave airplane mode on. If you must be reachable by phone, then do these steps when you land. Turn off airplane mode then put cellular data off. Now you can get phone calls and when, in wifi, you can get emails etc. Most long haul planes today also offer wifi; to get it free, you should join the frequent flier program of your airplane ahead of time. Why use it on a plane? If your flight is late and you want to tell our Florence team, you can text them via wifi from the plane.
GPS has saved me on many occasions. You pay for roaming, but, if lost, use it. Look at the map, type in your destination. On some phones you must touch the car icon first then next screen is a walking person image. Once, you do not need the map, turn it off cellular usage. OR if a cheapskate like me, find free wifi in front of a bank or restaurant, get your map and bearings, screen shoot the map, file it, and continue on your way.
Phone tips without the fancy stuff for Women Who Travel. We hope this is helpful to some of you, contact us for more information on small group award winning tours this year. Our Iphone is 646 309 5607.
Definitions- I vary between Apple and Android:
Whatsapp This is a wifi based phone, text system. Look it up today and add it to you phone.
