This post has been sponsored by Verizon. All opinions are my own.
As a travel blogger, I travel – A LOT. As a baby boomer, I’m more aware of what can happen when I’m away from home than I was when I was younger. I’ve learned as a frequent traveler that we can be faced with random dilemmas. Sometimes these circumstances are manageable, other times they can be downright scary and serious. In moments like these, having a smartphone can be the key to getting the help you need.
Whether you belong to the baby boomer generation (like me) or were born at the turn of the century, I here are ten helpful travel apps that keep you safe while away from home.
#10 – Smart Traveler
Developed by the U.S. Department of State, this app provides current travel warning and alerts for citizens traveling abroad. It also gives contact information for U.S. embassies, in case something like your passport gets lost or stolen.
#9 – bSafe
This app creates a network of family, friends, and coworkers to share your location with. In addition to this, a “Follow Me” feature allows anyone in the network to follow you in real time, giving you a peace of mind that you will never feel stranded if something were to happen.
#8 – ICEContact
In Case of Emergency (ICE) allows first responders to contact relatives through the mobile phone of someone who has been in an accident or needs medical attention. It doesn’t work on a lock screen, which is a bummer but is still a solid app.
#7 – SaferVPN
SaferVPN turns into a VPN (a virtual private network), allowing users to navigate the internet through a secure network. Surfing the web with a high-level encrypted connection means your information is less likely to be stolen while on your travels.
#6 – NoonLight
This app works a lot like a 911 call, except it requires less interaction and is safer to use in case you are at risk of being overheard.
#5 – TripLingo
If you are traveling abroad in a country where natives speak a foreign language, this app is perfect for you. It provides the user with a list of emergency phrases for all of the more prominent languages spoken around the world. It even has short quizzes and games to help you learn the phrases on your spare time.
#4 – Travel Risk Map
Worried you might be in a bad neighborhood? This app keeps the status of public safety in any area you find yourself in. The app also gives feedback left by users who have been to the location or reside in it.
#3 – StaySafe
StaySafe is basically a GPS tracker app, with a little something extra. The app will automatically inform your emergency contact list via text or email if you fail to check-in at your destination, get to work safely, etc.
#2 – Triposo
The last app on my list is Triposo, which is able to give you a free travel guide while offline. You can receive recommendations on how to spend your day based on your location and the weather forecast of the day.
Whether you are a young adult or part of the baby boomers generation, I hope these easy to use travel apps help you to both have fun and stay safe.
#1 – Verizon 55+ Plan
OK, so it’s not technically an app, but it’s important to me to have GREAT service whether I’m at home in Florida, or trekking through Europe, and I get that with my Verizon plan without paying a fortune. If like me, you’re over 55, you are eligible for this plan specifically for baby boomers and older. You get two lines of unlimited talk, text, and data for only $80….yes I said TWO LINES! My advice? Before you hop on that plane, head to your nearest Verizon store to see if you are eligible (limited to those with billing addresses in FL, TX IL, MO and Detroit, MI) and make sure that your phone service will be there for you….whether you’re in Boston, Paris, or Hong Kong.
- For more information about Verizon’s 55+ plan visit them online at Verizon.com
