Travel safely in the UK – Some Great Apps to help you!

Amanda Andrews writes this guest blog:

The UK is one of the safest places to travel, particularly as a solo female, but it still pays to take few precautions when you’re travelling alone.

One of the best ways to stay safe on your travels in the UK is to make the most of modern technology by downloading travel apps to your smartphone before you travel.

Here’s my guide to the best free travel apps which guarantee your safety as well as a great trip!

If you’re planning a ghost walk to explore a new city or just a few drinks at a local bar, you’ll want to make sure you get back to your holiday accommodation safely. Download a flashlight app like the free iHandy torch to your phone so you can find your door keys and feel safe at the touch of a button. The torch is super bright too so it’s a great way for feeling safe late at night.

The dangers of flagging down a taxi late at night or using an unlicensed cab are well known so it pays to plan a safe journey home. If you’re exploring London, make sure you download Hailo. In just a couple of taps you can order a taxi from one of 23,000 licensed drivers who also subscribe to the service. You can pay in cash or via a fully secure link on your smartphone too. You can take advantage of this technology elsewhere in the UK with TaxiApp who are making booking a taxi just as easy and safe across the country.

When it comes to choosing holiday accommodation as a solo traveller, choose a reputable company so you can guarantee great accommodation without compromising on safety. Self-catering is a fantastic way to explore the local cuisine, and you’ll find plenty in the UK despite the country’s poor culinary reputation, without having to eat out alone each night. Plenty of space means you’ll be unwind and plan your adventures for the next day. Download the Sykes Cottages app and choose from more than 3,500 cottages across the UK and Ireland and look forward to exploring the UK.

Having arrived at your holiday accommodation safely, you’ll want to start planning how to fit in all the must-see tourist attractions and discovering the best places to eat. The free TripAdvisor app is your best bet as it provides a handheld version of the popular website as well as free city guides to some of the most popular worldwide destinations. Find out where the locals eat for the most authentic experience and discover tips for avoiding the queues at the tourist hotspots. Rely on this app and it’ll save you lugging round a hefty guidebook during trip and looking like a tourist.

Check out Google Goggles too for speedy information about historic buildings and works of art; simply point the camera of your smartphone and you’re away!

Keeping in touch with your friends and family on your travels is a great part of being away. Whether you need to keep your travel blog updated or just Skype with your loved ones, finding good Wi-Fi is a must. Download the Wi-Fi Finder before you leave home which will direct you to thousands of free internet hotspots across the country. You can also access maps offline before you’re ready to log in so you can avoid a scary bill when you return home!

Travelling by yourself is one of the most empowering things you can ever do and provided you keep your wits about you, you can look forward to perfectly safe travels too. And some good Apps help too!

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