Here are some helpful Apps for Traveling in Thailand
By Angelica Fenton
Navigating the ins and outs of a new land and culture can be hard wherever you are in the world. Thailand is no exception. Luckily, Daughters Rising has a list of tried and true apps that’ll help make your Thai travel experience go smoothly. We’ve found apps that cover everything from calling your parents and getting a safe ride to talking to locals and finding your next adventure.
TextGrabber
Ever ordered foreign food and had no idea what the menu said? Next time before you go and chow down on something suspicious, download TextGrabber. This app is a lifesaver when you’re stuck in a restaurant, shop, or local attraction with no translations. Simply take a picture of the text you want to translate, highlight it and the app automatically tells you what it says. It’s that simple!
Learn Thai
If you want to go beyond translation to explore and expand your Thai, this app is for you. It’s a digital phrasebook with categories ranging from basic words to get around to restaurant conversations and more. The app lists the translation you need with phonetic spellings of words and phrases along with an audio guide for each word or phrase to help you speak Thai correctly.
Google Voice
Google Hangouts is an awesome app and resource if you’re traveling abroad and don’t want to buy a new SIM card or an expensive international phone plan. Port your current cell number to Google Voice for a small one time fee and you’ll be able to call your home country over WiFi for free and international numbers for cents per minute through the Hangouts app, no matter where you are in the world. Now there’s no reason to not stay connected to your friends and family while you’re on the road or ask to borrow local phones!
Grab
If you’re visiting a major city in Thailand like Bangkok or Chiang Mai, consider downloading a ride-sharing app like Grab to get from place to place. A standard ride around town will cost you about 60 baht (less than 2 dollars), and about 100-200 baht less than a tuk-tuk or taxi will charge you. You can pay with card or cash through the app and avoid potentially sketchy bargaining situations or getting lost with taxi and tuk-tuk drivers.
Google Maps
This app is absolutely necessary. You will get lost at some point in Thailand. Google Maps can get you back on track, even if you don’t have WiFi. You can even download maps to certain locations and save them to use when you’re offline. You can search for nearby attractions, restaurants, shopping, and events through the app too. Just download it!
