Travel + Tech = <3

Save money, travel better

15 years ago...

Today

Get organized.

Find deals, save money.

Stay in touch.

Be aware.

Understand. Make yourself understood.

A magical thing called the cloud

● Greatly simplifies file storage● Essential for backing up photos, critical documents

○ Programs like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud ○ Consider using two-factor authentication○ Some (I believe) have a set of emergency

passwords you can print out to access yr account(s) in case your phone is stolen.

● Things to store:○ Digital copy of passport, visa/other critical paperwork

info, medical insurance information, emergency contacts, credit card phone numbers (in case cards are lost/stolen), bank phone number.

○ Certain trip planning apps will also store + password protect credit card numbers, sensitive data

Airfare + Internet = ...Well, it's better than it used to be.

Methodology:● Use a comparison search site as a baseline.

○ My favorites: Skyscanner, Momondo○ Kayak, Fly.com are also good starting points.○ Look at the connecting cities/airports.

● Do a matrix search. ○ Yields lower prices? Note airlines, airports.

● Go to individual airline website(s). ○ Search for the journeys that yielded lowest price.

● Airline not based in the U.S.? ○ Use native TLD (ex: co.uk, co.kr, .fr, etc.)○ Price will be in native currency...is it less?

When flight prices still suck...There are a few things to which I inevitably resort:● Break it up. Connecting flights through a hub airport?

Book two RT tickets instead of one big ticket.○ This can work better if you're flying through a

European or Asian budget hub. (Search for flights out of airports like Stansted, Beauvais, etc.)

● Flex your dates. ● Wait. Last minute is (sometimes) the best minute.

○ Set up alerts if you don't already have them. ● Go anywhere!

○ Skyscanner has an "Everywhere" destination option.○ Google Flights lets you see all prices for a region or

continent.

Quick case study: BOS - BKK

Popular destinationInternational hub airport

Standard two-week vacation periodLeaves mid-week (cheaper)

Watch this space!

Cambridge is home to at least two of the companies leading the way in travel tech and data analysis. ● ITA Software is just down the street, and Google Travel

operations are based here.● Hopper Travel still in stealth mode, but also based in

Cambridge. ○ Has given a few data-related talks.

● Keep your eyes peeled for travel-tech talks. ○ Many posted on Meetup, many given at MS NERD

Center.

Accommodation +

● The Web offers tons of great alternative accommodation options that are cheaper than hotels:○ Airbnb, Couchsurfing, home exchange○ Hostelworld/HostelBookers (not just for hostels!)

● Not into budget accommodation? That's cool. ○ Last minute deals: Hotwire, Hotel Tonight, Priceline○ Use the same tactics you do for flight searches; if

you're abroad, use that country's native version of a deal website (ex: hotwire.co.uk) to see if prices are better in local currency.

● Other ways to save money, get perks:○ Give 'em PR help. Most chains have FB pages,

Twitter accounts; they'll often have contests.○ Leave reviews, helpful feedback

Tiny computers...in your hand

● Smartphones are great.○ You don't need to jailbreak them or buy $

international plan. Stop. Please. ○ Turn on airplane mode as soon as you leave U.S.

soil. Leave it on. Forever (outside the USA).○ WiFi is your friend. It's usually available in hostels,

hotels, modern cafés, other hotspots. Now you can use it on the London Tube platforms.

○ Many apps targeted at travelers don't require network access to use. This includes a few translation and map apps.

● If you don't have a smartphone, that's cool. You can travel without one (shock/awe).

APPS

● Kayak Explore, ITA's OnTheFly● FlightAware (free), other flight tracking apps● Google Maps, Apple Maps (j/k on that second one)● City Maps 2Go - works offline● TripIt, Evernote, TripRider● Hotel Tonight, Hotwire, Airbnb, Priceline● Free Wi-Fi Finder● WhatsApp (Skype, Google+ Hangouts)● XE Currency ● Mint.com, Expensify● Camera+, Snapseed● Google Translate, Jibbigo, WordLens

Obligatory slide about security● Password-protect those phones!● Public computers

○ Don't access your banking stuff.○ Don't log into accounts tied to a credit card.

● Open WiFi can be your lifeblood. It's also insecure.○ Login credentials can be stolen. Don't access

sensitive data or sites over public WiFi.○ Password-protected WiFi networks are safer.

● Need to bank, pay bills access sensitive info?○ Use secure connections. If you're in an inhabited

area, many hotels will sell you a day pass to business centers.

● In general: Make sure websites you access have the proper domain; look for https.

In summaryTechnology is great. That said—

You don't need it to experience, discover, connect, or do anything else that really matters. So if you don't have it, don't understand it, or don't like it...

Don't worry.