Mobile Phone by Johan Larsson

1. XE currency exchange

Knowing the different currency rates of every country is difficult for even the seasoned traveller. XE currency exchange is one of the easiest currency exchange apps to use. Setting up XE currency exchange is easy, the user sets their default currency, and the app will give the rates against other currencies. XE currency will even remember the latest downloaded rates, which becomes helpful when traveling and WIFI is not available. XE currency exchange is an excellent measuring stick to understand the current foreign coin exchange rate.

2. Google Translate

Anyone who travels internationally knows how difficult the language barrier can be. English will suffice for basic conversations in most of the world, but knowing basic foreign words helps. Google Translate is one app that will help anyone who wants to get past any language barriers. With Google Translate, the user can speak into the phone in their native language and translate into many popular languages; users can also type in the word that they need translated. Rather than carrying around a large and cumbersome book, any savvy traveler needs to download Google Translate to make their international travel easier.

3. Wi-Fi Finder

When traveling, wireless Internet is usually difficult to encounter. With Wi-Fi Finder, the job gets much easier. The app helps the user locate a wireless connection from any of the half million locations listed around the world. The app allows the user to filter the results to filter out hotspots that charge their users.

4. Skype

Skype is an essential app for anyone that is away from home often. With Skype, both users can video chat for free. It would be prudent to find a wireless hotspot; Skype does better with a faster Internet connection. Anyone who misses family and friends when they travel needs to download the free Skype app.

5. AccuWeather

One thing that every traveller needs to follow is the weather report. AccuWeather has a great app available for free that tracks the weather around the world. The app allows its users to add multiple locations; which makes it easier for the traveller to plan ahead. The app is great for viewing the next days hour by hour forecast, as well as the ten day forecast. Anyone who travels should know the weather forecast; this app performs perfectly just for that.

The cell phone has become a powerful tool in almost everyone’s lives. It is apparent for any serious traveller that a cell phone makes their day much easier. There are hundreds of travel apps on the marketplace and anyone is sure to find what they need. Some of the apps are free, and some are pay; depending on the need it is often worth it to pay the small fee to download an app. Without apps, traveling is much more confusing and difficult to plan.

Authors By-line
This guest blog was brought to you by Cash4Coins who provide simple, open and honest service to exchange foreign coins and exchange euro coins and provide the best rate in the UK.

The post Recommended Mobile Apps When Travelling appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo by admin

Nobody wants their holiday or business trip to begin badly with confusion and hassle when it comes to parking. As with many other things in life, the key to minimising these kinds of issues is to prepare. Preparation and planning are actually the solutions to most things when it comes to ensuring that you have a smooth and straightforward trip.

Use Online Facilities

By far the most straightforward way of booking airport parking ahead of your day of travel is to use the internet. Not only will this cut down on hassle, but it is also likely to save you a significant sum of money. Going away knowing that you paid extra because you could not be bothered to book ahead is not a nice feeling to take with you.

Some specialist providers offer parking booking services, whilst it is also possible to sometimes book with the airport’s own website. There are often a great variety of prices, so look out for the cheapest options, which are often in what could be termed less convenient locations. This can save a few pounds when you are working to a tight budget.

Whilst prices, of course, vary according to the time of year and occasionally other local factors, as well as the duration of your stay, it is possible to make some significant savings by booking ahead. A typical saving in this sort of situation would be from around half off to two thirds off the usual price.

Check the Distances

Some parking at airports is off-site and requires a short bus journey to reach the airport itself. This may well be slightly cheaper, but you will need to consider your personal requirements. If you are travelling in a group, especially one of which young children are a part, it may well be more straightforward to park on site. Consider your needs and make the most cost effective choice based on making travel as efficient and easy as possible.

A number of companies that provide parking services at airports offer discount deals in tandem with commercial partners, such as credit card companies. Checking carefully whether you qualify for any of these deals can also save you significant amounts of money.

Other reductions can also be found by carefully scanning the services offered for midweek deals and occasional offers. By timing your travel well, you can make significant savings this way and offer some real help to your budget.

By paying close attention to every aspect of planning your trip, it is possible to make really significant savings. Plan ahead, peruse offers carefully and prepare every aspect of your trip in advance. You will find that you not only save money on parking, but your trip goes much more smoothly too.

AUTHOR BIO
Shirley Jones and attended the local grammar school. A business traveller of several years standing, her articles are published on a wide range of websites and blogs. Experience has taught him the pitfalls of airport parking and what good advice can be found online about car hire from Cost.co.uk.

The post Tips on Saving Money on Airport Parking by Booking Online appeared first on Best of European Union.

Disadvantages, disadvantages

At first sight, every option at your disposal seems to come with own problems and limitations. Let’s have a look at them in turn:

Cash

Exchanging your money before you go is a popular option, but make sure you are getting the best exchange rate and look out for hidden fees. Once abroad, make sure not to carry too much cash around with you to prevent theft.

Traveller’s cheques

Compared to cash, travellers’ cheques are a far safer way of taking travel money abroad. They can be inconvenient, though, and are no longer widely accepted. Today, generally speaking, they are no longer a wise choice for your holiday abroad.

Debt- and credit cards

Using your debit card may be convenient, but it can be expensive. You may be charged per transaction as well as a fee each time you use the ATM. A credit card can be a good way of spending your travel money but again, look out for hidden fees and be careful that you don’t spend too much and get into debt!

In response to the issues of these three traditional payment tools, banks have started offering specialised credit cards, which offer free ATM withdrawals and fixed currency rates during your stay. Unfortunately, it is anything but easy to determine whether or not they make sense for you and which of the many cards on offer is best. Is there really no solution to the travel money dilemma?

Well … there just may be

A travel card (sometimes also called currency card) can be the ideal payment alternative for you. You load your travel money before you go and get the best possible exchange rate. You can use the card at any location where Visa and MasterCard’s are accepted and it will offer you a safer, alternative way of carrying a lot of money with you on holiday. A travel card usually lets you make your purchases for free unlike a debit card and you will not risk getting overdrawn as the travel card does not have a credit facility.

Of course, you will still need to take some cash with you for small purchases such as ice creams or taxi fares. Perhaps the best way, therefore, is to take some travel money as cash and use your travel card for the more expensive purchases. Before you do this consider how you tend to spend your money when on vacation:

• Are you likely to be eating out at restaurants a lot or do you tend to buy snacks from street vendors whilst on the go?
• Do you go to large pubs and clubs that will take a card or do you tend to go to smaller beach front bars that will only take cash?
• Are you planning on hiring a car where you can pay for petrol with a card or are you going to use taxis or other methods of public transport which will require a cash payment?

Essentially, when considering which type of travel money to take you have to consider what type of vacation you are going on. This, however, presents you with practical questions you will find a lot easier to answer than the abstract choice between cash or card. Investing time into these matters is sure to pay off: Get the balance right and you can have an even happier, worry free vacation.

This article was written in association with Tuxedo, a leader in the field of currency cards and prepaid technologies.

The post The Travel Money Dilemma: Cash Or Card? appeared first on Best of European Union.

One thing that makes Stockholm so unique is that the large city is actually comprised of 14 separate islands, connected by a network of bridges. There are currently 50 bridges keeping Stockholm’s different areas within easy reach of each other, and many of these are attractions in their own right.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mispahn

Despite the fact it is made up of islands, Stockholm has an enviably good public transport network, comprising trains, buses and underground subway trains. You can buy day passes that allow you to get around using any combination of these, as with most major European cities.

The climate in Stockholm is surprisingly mild for a Scandinavian country, though you will find that if you visit in December the days are incredibly short, with only 6 hours of daylight on the shortest day. By contrast, there are 18 hours of daylight at the mid point of summer.

There are so many things to see and do in Stockholm’s many thriving districts that there is certainly something for every traveller. You can check out the historical sights in the old town, or shop and socialise in the trendy districts of Norrmalm and Ostermalm. The nightlife is great, but be aware that drinks are very expensive in Sweden.

Stockholm is a truly great European destination for a city break, and with plenty of transport links and hotels it is easy to find a well priced deal for a trip there.

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