Take More Vacation Time Off

Can These Travel Tech Startups at the Web Summit Improve Your Vacations?

The Web Summit that concluded in Dublin, Ireland was chock-full of travel technology companies trying to get funding, trying to build buzz, and trying to be the next big thing. With over 20,000 attendees and over 2,000 exhibitors, it was a HUGE show.

Dublin Web Summit - Travel Exhibitors
Dublin Web Summit 2014 – Travel Tech Exhibitors

I talked to dozens of travel and lifestyle startups over three days and want to share my picks with VacationCounts readers. So here are my 5 favorite travel websites and mobile apps that help you save time, money, and help you to better enjoy your time off from work.

Remember these are start-ups and early-stage businesses, so in some cases their apps are new and not completely polished. Look for the word “Beta” to signify it is released but still in the testing-feedback-improving stage. And since they are all new to me, I have yet to try any of these apps and services to determine if they deliver what they promise. Give them a try and report back on your experience!

Document Your Vacation Time Off

Travel Diaries

Website: http://www.traveldiariesapp.com

Travel Diaries (screenshot)

What it’s about: Create an online diary of your trip with all the daily details that you can turn into a real book. Edit the contents, add photos, and share with your friends and family before, during, and after. When you are done with your vacation and want to create a lasting memory, order a copy in book form. Have it printed and shipped to you by mail to be put up on your vacation memories bookshelf. It also makes a unique gift for travel partners and family members that are less tech-savvy.

Thoughts: Who needs photo albums anymore? So do you want a physical book or do you prefer to blog about your travels online?

Be Productive While Traveling by Air

LoungeBuddy

Website: http://www.loungebuddy.com

LoungeBuddy (screenshot)

What it’s about: Quickly look up the different lounges available at almost every airport in the world. Even if you don’t have frequent flier status with the airlines, find out how to buy your way into a lounge with a day pass. Either way you’ll stay productive while traveling.  Get on the Wi-Fi, grab a drink and snack, and catch up on whatever it is that you want to do (in peace and quiet) during a long layover. Download the app to your iPhone in the App Store or Android in the Play Store before you head off on your next flight.

Thoughts: Are you a non-loyal traveler who is never going to earn gold status nor agree to pay for lounge access?

Get Compensated When You Lose Vacation Time Off

AirHelp

Website: http://www.getairhelp.com

AirHelp (screenshot)

What it’s about: When your flight is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked (it happens way too often during the busy holiday seasons such as Christmas) do you claim compensation directly with the airline? You can do this yourself by reading up on the country-specific air passenger consumer rights or you can pay this company a 25% commission to do the work for you. Of course you don’t pay them anything if they fail in their airline compensation claim. You’ll hopefully save time and money when you are the unfortunate victim of a major disruption to your vacation plans.

Thoughts: Have you successfully been able to receive airline compensation in the past and how hard was it?

Earn Travel Money by Recommending Hotels

Yonderbound

Website: http://www.yonderbound.com

Yonderbound (screenshot)

What it’s about: Instead of writing reviews on TripAdvisor for free, this startup intends to reward travelers for writing and sharing their hotel reviews. It took you a lot of time to write those reviews, so why not earn money in the process? However instead of earning cash-back, you’ll earn credits to book future travel on their site. So for those that stay in numerous hotels and have strong opinions, it is one more way to afford to travel more by earning discounted bookings.

Thoughts: Will a new hotel review site take off or is TripAdvisor too powerful now?

Feel Good About Taking More Vacations

GlobeDrop

Website: http://www.globedrop.org

GlobeDrop (screenshot)

What it’s about: Next time someone acts jealous about you taking yet another vacation to a far-off land, tell them that you are doing it for a good cause. This site aims to connect charities around the world with travelers wanting to donate needed supplies. So many countries are home to non-profits and NGOs which help local communities in areas such as education, orphanages, youth organizations, social welfare, and healthcare. You are able to sign up to buy and deliver goods from a wish list and personally deliver them to the charity in need. What a great and simple way to give back to the places you visit on vacation.

Thoughts: Have you donated while traveling in the past and how have you located reputable organizations in need?

 


I’d love to hear about other cool and new travel apps that you recommend. Add your comments about my picks and share your favorite apps that help you to take more vacation time off.

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Scott (VacationCounts)

Scott (VacationCounts)

The Vacation Days Maximizer who delivers Work-Life-Vacation Balance advice so everyone can Take More Time Off.

4 Responses

  1. I’ve started to tinker with the Traveldiariesapp.com product and it operates so smooth and simply. I’d love to see an ipad app version of this product. I don’t see an output option to anything other than print. In the FAQ’s somewhere, the developers say that their business model seeks a profit from the printing end of this. That does not offer much incentive to allow an export to ePub option.

  2. I like the idea of Travel Diaries best but agree that printing books is a thing of the past. It would be cool if the output could be ported into Blogger or WordPress to connect seamlessly with existing blogs.

    1. I still think there are many reasons why someone would want to print a Travel Diary in book form. It probably depends on whether that person prints photos and reads paperback books as opposed to downloading ebooks.

      My top recommendation for this company is to offer a Kindle ebook (and other common ebook formats) “print” option. That way you can share your travel “blog” electronically and at a lower cost. Plus you could even sell your travelogue ebook online and make some money.

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