Easter in South Africa is all about the open road, whether you’re heading to the coast, finding peace in the bush, or making memories with family in the berg. Beyond serving as a camera and a music player, your Android smartphone can help you plan, navigate, and stay safe as you travel.
TCL shares practical tips to turn your device into the ultimate travel buddy this Easter break.
Download must-have travel apps before you hit the road
You can use your Android smartphone to manage your trip details, bookings and logistics from one place. Before you embark on your trip, you’ll want to make sure you’ve downloaded and signed into your favourite travel apps. Some apps you might want at hand include:
- Adobe Lightroom to edit your stunning holiday images and TouchRetouch to clean your photos up with minimal effort.
- Airbnb to help you find places to stay or the local alternative, LekkeSlaap.
- Google Maps or Waze for real-time GPS navigation, traffic, and transit info.
- Namola or Life360 to share your location with loved ones to keep each other safe as well as reach emergency services if something goes wrong.
- PackPoint to organise what you need to pack in your luggage and suitcase based on length of travel, weather at your destination, and any activities planned during your trip.
- TripAdvisor for advice about what to do and where to eat.
- TripIt to manage your comprehensive itinerary and share travel plans to your calendar, friends and family.
Prep for areas with limited signal
The cellular networks blanket most of South Africa, even deep rural areas, but it still pays to be prepared for areas with no or spotty coverage. Download your maps ahead of time. On Google Maps, you can simply select your route or region and save it for offline use. Also be sure to keep details like travel plans, booking details, and addresses accessible offline. You can store them in an app like TripIt or take screenshots as a backup.
Keep your battery going
You really don’t want your phone to run out of battery when you need to call roadside assistance. Prolong battery life with tricks like using the battery saver mode, lowering scree brightness and switching off features you’re not using like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Also carry a power bank and keep a car charger with you. You’ll thank yourself if you’re stuck in traffic or take an unexpected detour.
Stay safe when travelling in convoys
If you’re travelling in convoy with friends and family, keeping tabs on everyone is easier (and safer) with the right tools. Location-sharing apps like Namola or Life360 let you see where each vehicle is in real time, without the need for constant phone calls or messages. These apps also allow you to set check-in points and send SOS alerts if something goes wrong, like a breakdown or wrong turn.
