5 ways that technology can boost your travel experience

It’s fair to say that technology plays a significant role in our lives, so it makes sense that it features heavily in our travels too. We tend to book everything from our flights and accommodation to travel insurance online, we use apps to help us find where we are going and to look up recommendations, and we then use technology to leave reviews of our trip and share our amazing photos with the world.

With so many advances in technology, its use when it comes to travel is being pushed forward all the time. In fact, the ways in which technology is being put to use may surprise you. Here are 5 ways that technology can boost your travel experience.

1. Virtual Reality

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Virtual reality has, of course, been around for quite a while now, and the travel industry has taken full advantage of it. There are a number of ways that travel companies use this technology, but one of the main ones is to show travelers exactly what they can expect to see when they head off on their trip.

This can be anything from giving them a sneak preview of their hotel room or cruise cabin, to offering travel preview experiences such as giving travelers a taste of what it’s like being at the top of the Eiffel Tower or exploring the Colosseum. One Japanese company has even gone one step further and created a virtual reality airline where you can enjoy a whole mini-break, from the flight to all kinds of travel activities in your chosen destination, all within two-and-a-half hours.

2. No More Travel Sickness

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If you love traveling but get travel sickness, you will know how much getting to and from your destination can be tough on the body, regardless of whether you are using medication to treat the problem or not. However, travel sickness now may become a thing of the past. In 2-18, French car manufacturer Citroen released the Seetroen glasses, a pair of glasses which eliminate travel sickness in 95% of adults and children over 10. They may not be the coolest things you have ever seen, but with most people saying they work within a few minutes of putting them on, they can be a lifesaver for those afflicted with the condition.

3. Enjoy Your Layover

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Long-distance flights can be tiring at the best of times, but they can be made a whole lot worse when we have to spend so many hours in another airport when we fly indirect. Sometimes layovers give us chance to explore another city, at other times there just isn’t enough time to get from the airport and back in time for your connecting flight. If the latter is the case for you, you may find that the better option is to make use of an AirPod. Available for rent by the hour, these futuristic-looking pods are planned to be located in the middle of airports and give you the chance to relax and have some privacy while you wait for your flight. They will even be hooked up with Netflix if you fancy passing the time with your favorite TV show or a new movie.

4. Clothes That Stay Fresh – Wear After Wear

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We all know what it’s like – having to carry dirty laundry around with us when we are traveling. However, that may be a thing of the past due to Danish company Organic Basics. Their SilverTech range has been designed specifically to cut down on laundry time; their products can be worn again and again without the need for washing. While their main focus is on sustainability, you can probably see that this has massive advantages for travelers, particularly those traveling with just cabin baggage. Their range of underwear and activewear will stay fresh and clean for a number of weeks, really cutting down the amount you have to take with you on your trip.

5. Breaking the Language Barrier

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Communication has always been a problem for many travelers – or possibly an adventure, depending on how you look at it. However, if you are worried about how you will get on in a country whose people speak a language that you are not familiar with, a new piece of technology could help you out.

A few companies have released a high-tech earpiece which translates spoken language into your native one in real-time, meaning you can now understand everything that is said to you. If you can’t quite afford this kind of technology, Google Translate is developing all the time, so it may not be too far in the future when this function is available through its app.

Technology really is a wonderful thing and it has opened up so many possibilities with regards to travel. And who knows what the future will bring in terms of new technological products and services which will enhance our travels even further.