These offline apps provide maps, guides and currency info even though you may not have Wi-Fi. So you really want to stay disconnected on your next vacation, however you are scared your cellular phone addiction will get in the way? Well, you’re not alone. According to a survey from intrepidtravel.com, which runs digital detox tours, the average adult said 16 hours is the longest they can keep away from their cell phones before feeling “miserable.” Well, don’t worry. It is possible to stay disconnected without actually leaving your phone. The fact is, your phone is amongst the best tools available for keeping you from spending too much time on the internet.
There are numerous exceptional apps with offline capabilities that will allow you to navigate new countries, stay entertained and get informed even when you not have a connection. So save money on your roaming charges, avoid those emails from your boss and take a Facebook detox by downloading these apps:
Every App You’ll want to Stay Disconnected on Your Next Vacation
Maps
How do you possibly stay disconnected when you have become so dependent on Google Maps’ little blue dot? Well, you may still follow that blue dot all over the globe, since GPS doesn’t rely on the internet. The app’s one downfall is that you’ll need to upload maps before you disconnect.
CityMaps2Go has even more offline features, allowing you to search streets, addresses or attractions and acquire detailed directions even when you don’t have service.
Really want to head off the grid? Avenza PDF Maps is definitely the king of single-purpose maps. This database has thousands of specialty maps for download, including maps from the National Park Service, nautical maps from the NOAA and maps for special events, all of which are available for offline use.
CommunicationGoogle Translate has made great progress since the first edition of its audio translation option caused travelers everywhere to get lost in translation. While it’s still not absolutely perfect, it is usually close enough. The most recent iteration of the app will even instantly translate a photo of printed text for a wide range of languages and automatically detect spoken languages, which could be helpful in say, India, where individuals speak in more than 1,500 tongues.
Currency
XE provides live exchange rates and historical charts, which is probably only necessary if you’re a day trader. But for regular travelers who need to trade dollars with wily money changers, the app will store the last updated rates, so that you can avoid getting scammed even when you’re offline.
Guides
Many traditional guidebooks are now available in digital versions, so instead of carrying a 1,000-page Lonely Planet for a week, it is possible to use the electronic version in your pocket.
Triposo will do your online research for you, sifting through millions of websites to provide you personalized hotel and restaurant recommendations and access to offline maps, local tips, saved wish lists and previous bookings.
Itineraries
Tripit enables you to easily manage your bookings by creating trip itineraries that include transportation, accommodation and rental car information, all of which may be automatically imported by forwarding the app your email confirmations. Tripit will also save confirmation numbers for events, restaurant reservations and directions.
Notes
Evernote is actually a one-stop shop notepad, scrapbook and self-created guidebook that will allow you to save pages from the internet for later use, compile notes, integrate photos, and seamlessly sync up with every one of your devices to be stored forever as soon as you get internet connection.
Reading
Pocket is a total game-changer, especially if you reside in a city where you lose cell phone service on public transportation. This app allows you to save articles you didn’t have enough time to read because you were too busy watching the most recent Donald Trump parody video, and save them for offline use later. This can also be particularly helpful when saving articles highly relevant to your destination.
The Kindle app is just as useful as ever. The reading app will allow you to download and read books from the Kindle store without having an actual Kindle, and it even has a free and low-priced titles section.
Music
The pay version of Spotify is completely worth the $9.99 monthly (or $14.99 for up to six accounts), because along with providing you with ad-free music, it will also enable you to save thousands of songs for offline use. Now you can show your new European friends how Justin Bieber’s new album is actually kind of good, even if you don’t have Wi-Fi.
Staying offline
Freedom is a versatile app which will allow you to block yourself from using the internet for a predetermined time period across various devices. It will likewise allow you to block only certain websites and schedule recurring sessions. Similarly, Moment will track your iPhone and iPad usage on a daily basis and allow you to set daily limits.