Most of us wouldn’t even leave our bedroom without our mobile phone, let alone the entire country. And whilst we spend 60% of our time a day using our mobile phones, most of us still don’t understand how much our phones are actually capable of. Travelling can be very stressful and spontaneous at times, making activities difficult to arrange. But, our phones are great for more than just playing games on the go. On the next trip you go on, you should make the effort to use it in a practical way to make your trip easier. You could even start by applying for an ESTA registration through your mobile to ensure that you’re covered if any accidents were to occur whilst on your travels!

1. Goodbye, Bank Cards!

Unless you faff around trying to convert currencies, you need to bring credit and debit cards with you on holiday. Now that conversion rates are poor due to Brexit, people have an even bigger incentive to haul around all of their bank cards. Not anymore though, as your phone can pay for all expenses for you! With apps such as Apple Pay at the tip of your fingers, you never have to worry about losing your bank cards or, even worse, exchanging currency for ridiculous prices at the airport again!

2. Bonjour? Ciao? Hola?

Hello, translator! With your phone, you can say au revoir to bible-thick language books and bonjour to translating apps! Respecting the culture and etiquette of the country you’re visiting can be tricky, especially if you’re not an expert at speaking the language. Carrying a French dictionary with you around Paris can be inconvenient, and who’s to say that you can form a proper sentence with the words you’re looking for? You’re visiting a posh restaurant, but how will you order the food? Not to worry, just let your phone do it for you!

3. You Can Book Reservations, Fast!

Before you can even stress out about how you’re going to order your food, you need to be able to actually get seated at a restaurant. Being a tourist usually means you’re pretty clueless about what places are popular or not, meaning that you can often get turned down by certain restaurants due to their abundance of customers. By booking a reservation in advance on your phone, though, rejection is a thing of the past! Whether you’re in Italy looking for the most authentic pizza, or you want a sample of Spain’s finest paella, you can easily satisfy your cravings.

4. No More Giant Maps

Who remembers laughing hysterically at their parents as they stared aimlessly at a giant map trying to find out where they actually are? I know I do. Paper maps are huge, not to mention confusing at times, and require you to scan the entire area in order to find out where you would be on the map. Almost every smartphone now comes equipped with a map app, allowing you to pinpoint your exact location and even obtain directions to another. Whether there’s a top-quality beach nearby, or you’re trying to find your way back to the hotel, your phone will have you covered.

5. Who Needs An Expensive Camera?

There’s always that one tourist that travels equipped with a top-of-the-range camera, complete with tripod, at least 20 different lenses, and even a drone if they’re feeling fancy. And you can’t blame them – some landscapes are too gorgeous to ignore! But, smartphone cameras are improving with every new model, and you can actually take a really impressive picture just with your iPhone these days! To keep your baggage light and your travels comfortable, leave the bulky camera at home! Your phone will do just fine.