Learn to be travel- and tech-savvy

Passport? Check! Reservations? Check! Travel apps? Wha-?

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If you want your trip to be hassle-free, it’s time to travel with the times. Today, travel and technology go hand in hand like long-haul flights and jetlag. Here are some tricks and tools you should pack along with your sunblock, so you don’t have to travel barefoot or suffer an uncomfortable seat across the Atlantic.    

There are a number of travel sites out there promising you cheap fares. Which one can really get you there? Plan your trip with Hipmunk, an app that compares hundreds of travel sites to give you the cheapest flights and hotels. If you book last minute, you can save up to 60% off.

SeatGuru by TripAdvisor informs you ahead of time if your seat does not recline and offers little leg room or if your TV is broken. It rates seats as superior or substandard through a color coded system and offers other useful information like in-flight amenities. You might also find Seat Alerts useful, an app that notifies you if your preferred seats have become available. This is especially convenient if you were booked a middle seat.

A great flight tracker to have in your pocket is FlightAware, an app that gives you live tracking maps and flight status. You can search by flight number, airline, route, airport code, aircraft registration, or city pair and returns with tracking data like flight details, maps, and radar overlay.

Before downloading any of these apps, make sure you phone is travel ready.  Call your provider and verify rates. Then verify again. Some providers charge exorbitant rates with hidden charges. If you only plan to use your phone for emergencies, turn off your phone’s cellular data feature. Your phone might perform routine updates without you knowing it and cost you a fortune. If you’re traveling to several countries, consider subscribing to a global Wi-Fi service. Boingo is a trusted network that gives you access to thousands of hotspots all over the world for as low as US$7.95 a month.

Another option is to get a SIM card pack at your destination so you can have a local number that’s cheaper to use within the country. Before you leave, make sure to have your phone unlocked so you can use a different SIM. Those calling or texting you from home may have to pay international charges, but that serves them right for disturbing you on your vacation.

The simplest and perhaps the cheapest alternative is to buy a disposable cellphone especially if you’re staying abroad for long. You may also want to look up Pingo, a prepaid international calling service, that allows you to call from and to almost anywhere at reasonable rates.

On the day of your flight, look up your airline’s app to track your flight for delays and to check-in ahead of time. If you have an iPhone, load your electronic boarding pass to the built-in Passbook so you can conveniently show your boarding pass when needed.

Breeze through security with TSA Precheck so you don’t have to take off your shoes and belt and take out your electronics and liquids. If you’re a frequent traveler to the U.S., apply for the Global Entry U.S. Customs and Protection Program. This will allow you to skip the long lines of immigration by being deemed a “trusted traveler.” If you’re traveling around Asia Pacific or the Middle East, look up Asia Fastrack to get the VIP treatment and breeze through immigration.