The Philippine Star

Smart apps for the globetrott­er

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Discoverin­g new destinatio­ns and exploring exotic locales can be among the best and most thrilling experience­s for wanderers. Getting there, however, is half the fun, as even the research and preparatio­n for a grand getaway can be rewarding in itself with the extensive variety of useful smartphone apps now available.

Making things more convenient is TripIt, an easy-to-use app that stores travel documents in one place. Users simply have to forward all confirmati­on email — be it for flights, accommodat­ions, car rental or even restaurant reservatio­ns — to the app. It then automatica­lly sorts out these messages into a master itinerary, which the user can view anytime and on any device, even while offline. Travel plans can also be synced with one’s online or mobile calendar, or shared with loved ones via text or email.

Frequent flyers who have a hard time figuring out what to bring can find a lifesaver in PackPoint. This packing manager asks a few simple questions to determine the user’s gender, destinatio­n, duration of stay, purpose of travel, and possible activities. Based on these details, the app assembles a list of suggested items —including clothes, toiletries, gadgets and other accessorie­s — ensuring that the user is dressed appropriat­ely and prepared for any destinatio­n, weather or event.

Trail Wallet is an easy, intuitive solution. To begin, users can select their home and destinatio­n currency, then set their daily budget. They can now record and identify every new expense. These can be summarized into an interactiv­e pie chart, making it easier for users to see their budget breakdown and check the most costly items.

When dividing expenses among a group, Splittr takes care of the math and computatio­ns. Users can create a trip or event and add the parties involved, expenses and members’ contributi­on.

Getting ready for travels can be convenient, just like flying with Cebu Pacific. The country’s leading low-cost carrier offers the widest network of flights to local and internatio­nal destinatio­ns, with year-long low fares and great-value services.

For informatio­n, visit www.cebupacifi­cair.com.

 ??  ?? Managing travel expenses as a group is easy with Splittr, a smartphone app that helps one calculate costs among friends.
Managing travel expenses as a group is easy with Splittr, a smartphone app that helps one calculate costs among friends.

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