I just finished a photo book about my trip to New Zealand in May.
I was partially hosted by Tourism New Zealand on a travel agent fam trip and training event.
We had a small group of about 18 agents and were able to see a lot of the South Island and some of the North Island. The scenery is amazing and the activities were fantastic.
Not pictured in the book is the trip to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, as photos weren't allowed.
Would definitely return to New Zealand!
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Friday, August 02, 2013
International Phone Service Shenanigans
The Road Show has been trying to figure out how to have inexpensive international phone service while traveling. We've been to France, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia in the last year and have yet to figure out what's best.
Here's a run-down of what I've tried:
The Set Up: I have an Iphone 4S. I have AT&T phone service.
Of course, every phone service has different plans and costs, so my experience is limited to AT&T.
I have two monthly add-on plans my phone: Each plan is about $5.00 a month
a: World Connect-allows me to call from the US to other countries for a cheaper per-minute rate.
b: International Roaming-allows me to call from a foreign country back to the US for a cheaper per-minute rate. This can be pretty cheap when calling to Mexico or Canada, but other countries can be $1.50 or more per minute.
Different things I've tried:
1. Global Messaging 50: this gives you 50 text messages per month for $10.00. You are supposed to be able to send picture and video along with text messages, but some foreign phone carriers don't allow the photo messages. You can add this feature and remove it after your monthly billing cycle to reduce costs.
Review: I used this once or twice and found it frustrating when the photos didn't go through. Messages received get deducted from your regular messaging plan.
2. AT&T WIFI International App- This may be called AT&T Call International now.
Register and download the Iphone app. When connected at an AT&T sanctioned WiFi hotspot you can make phone calls for cheaper rates billed directly to your credit card. No monthly packages.
Review:
I tried this on a trip to NZ and never found an AT&T hot spot where I could connect and use this service. The trick is to find an applicable AT&T sanctioned WIFI hotspot. It won't work from just any WIFI network.
3. Unlocked cell phone with local SIM card. I've used an older Nokia phone with a SIM card in France and Australia, and an Iphone 3S (IOS4) with a SIM card while visiting Sydney, Australia for several weeks. The SIM cards are easily purchased online ahead of your trip and easy to use.
Review: This is a good way to go if you are going to make phone calls within the foreign country-say to restaurants and hotels or to stay in touch with local friends. You can get data plans as well as calling plans for less money than I could get with AT&T. You can give your new phone number (that comes with the SIM card) to people at home and they can call you. You can also forward your home phone calls to this new number, but it could run up your charges. I have used the text messaging on this but photos don't always go through.
4. FACE TIME over WiFi: One thing that has been great is using the Iphone FaceTime feature. With my phone plan, I have to use this on WiFi, and it only works with other Iphone users also on WiFi. Users with set data plans can use Face Time over their cellular network. This is similar to Skype, but is easily accessed through my phone contact list.
I'm still undecided about how best to maintain phone service at a reasonable rate while traveling overseas. If you have any other suggestions, please share!
To keep costs down, I always do this with my Iphone:
1. I turn off the cellular data usage feature (found under Settings>General>Usage) and stop all push notifications and automatic email loading.
2. Remember to put it on Airplane mode before I get on the plane. I can listen to music or audio books and videos already downloaded.
3. Upon arrival to the new country, I keep it on airplane mode and turn on the WiFi feature.
Here's a run-down of what I've tried:
The Set Up: I have an Iphone 4S. I have AT&T phone service.
Of course, every phone service has different plans and costs, so my experience is limited to AT&T.
I have two monthly add-on plans my phone: Each plan is about $5.00 a month
a: World Connect-allows me to call from the US to other countries for a cheaper per-minute rate.
b: International Roaming-allows me to call from a foreign country back to the US for a cheaper per-minute rate. This can be pretty cheap when calling to Mexico or Canada, but other countries can be $1.50 or more per minute.
Different things I've tried:
1. Global Messaging 50: this gives you 50 text messages per month for $10.00. You are supposed to be able to send picture and video along with text messages, but some foreign phone carriers don't allow the photo messages. You can add this feature and remove it after your monthly billing cycle to reduce costs.
Review: I used this once or twice and found it frustrating when the photos didn't go through. Messages received get deducted from your regular messaging plan.
2. AT&T WIFI International App- This may be called AT&T Call International now.
Register and download the Iphone app. When connected at an AT&T sanctioned WiFi hotspot you can make phone calls for cheaper rates billed directly to your credit card. No monthly packages.
Review:
I tried this on a trip to NZ and never found an AT&T hot spot where I could connect and use this service. The trick is to find an applicable AT&T sanctioned WIFI hotspot. It won't work from just any WIFI network.
3. Unlocked cell phone with local SIM card. I've used an older Nokia phone with a SIM card in France and Australia, and an Iphone 3S (IOS4) with a SIM card while visiting Sydney, Australia for several weeks. The SIM cards are easily purchased online ahead of your trip and easy to use.
Review: This is a good way to go if you are going to make phone calls within the foreign country-say to restaurants and hotels or to stay in touch with local friends. You can get data plans as well as calling plans for less money than I could get with AT&T. You can give your new phone number (that comes with the SIM card) to people at home and they can call you. You can also forward your home phone calls to this new number, but it could run up your charges. I have used the text messaging on this but photos don't always go through.
4. FACE TIME over WiFi: One thing that has been great is using the Iphone FaceTime feature. With my phone plan, I have to use this on WiFi, and it only works with other Iphone users also on WiFi. Users with set data plans can use Face Time over their cellular network. This is similar to Skype, but is easily accessed through my phone contact list.
I'm still undecided about how best to maintain phone service at a reasonable rate while traveling overseas. If you have any other suggestions, please share!
To keep costs down, I always do this with my Iphone:
1. I turn off the cellular data usage feature (found under Settings>General>Usage) and stop all push notifications and automatic email loading.
2. Remember to put it on Airplane mode before I get on the plane. I can listen to music or audio books and videos already downloaded.
3. Upon arrival to the new country, I keep it on airplane mode and turn on the WiFi feature.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
A Neat Smartphone Mapping Trick
The Road Show has been on and off the road lately, but look for more posts shortly!
Here is a neat trick shown to me by my daughter, who has graciously allowed me to share it with the world. I've used it in several faraway places lately, so I know it works.
If you like to take walks in the neighborhood where you're staying, like I do, but don’t like carrying maps or map books this can help you to not get lost. Think about times when you are walking in residential areas or early in the day, where there isn't going to be wifi or people around to ask for directions.
The idea is to save a map showing your starting location to your photo stream. Then you can access the map in your Photos while you are walking in the area.
You just need your smartphone with GPS and wifi to start.
Here are the steps:
1. While logged on to the internet, make sure your GPS is on, open your favorite navigation app
and locate your position. On Google Maps you are the blue dot.
2. Pinch or spread your fingers on the screen to shrink or enlarge the map. I try to enlarge the map
just enough to show some nearby street names. Put your blue dot in a corner to give yourself
more map space and leave room to show the area you will be traveling in.
3. Take a photo of the screen-called a “screen shot”- to save the map to your photo stream.
4. How to take a screen shot:
5. On the IPhone: press the home button and the on/off button together at the same time for a
second or two until you hear a click or see the image refresh.
6. Go to your photo stream and you should see the photo of the map.
7. Now you can access this map on your phone without being on the internet or using cellular data
8. Just remember that the blue dot is a fixed point in the photo and isn’t tracking where you are
walking.
9. Have a compass app on your phone that will work offline. This is good if you do walk off your map.
Hope this works for you and happy walking!
Here is a neat trick shown to me by my daughter, who has graciously allowed me to share it with the world. I've used it in several faraway places lately, so I know it works.
If you like to take walks in the neighborhood where you're staying, like I do, but don’t like carrying maps or map books this can help you to not get lost. Think about times when you are walking in residential areas or early in the day, where there isn't going to be wifi or people around to ask for directions.
The idea is to save a map showing your starting location to your photo stream. Then you can access the map in your Photos while you are walking in the area.
You just need your smartphone with GPS and wifi to start.
Here are the steps:
1. While logged on to the internet, make sure your GPS is on, open your favorite navigation app
and locate your position. On Google Maps you are the blue dot.
2. Pinch or spread your fingers on the screen to shrink or enlarge the map. I try to enlarge the map
just enough to show some nearby street names. Put your blue dot in a corner to give yourself
more map space and leave room to show the area you will be traveling in.
3. Take a photo of the screen-called a “screen shot”- to save the map to your photo stream.
4. How to take a screen shot:
5. On the IPhone: press the home button and the on/off button together at the same time for a
second or two until you hear a click or see the image refresh.
6. Go to your photo stream and you should see the photo of the map.
7. Now you can access this map on your phone without being on the internet or using cellular data
8. Just remember that the blue dot is a fixed point in the photo and isn’t tracking where you are
walking.
 |
| A Screenshot showing my location at the blue dot and surrounding streets. |
9. Have a compass app on your phone that will work offline. This is good if you do walk off your map.
Hope this works for you and happy walking!
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