14 Apps to Calm Your Travel Mind
Skift Take
Permanxiety is now a sad fact of life. But you may be able to stress less if you lean on a handful of smartphone apps that can help you avoid health risks, security threats, and other potential travel snafus.
Skift launched the latest edition of our magazine, Travel in an Age of Permanxiety, at Skift Global Forum in New York City in September. This article is part of our look into the current state of the traveler mindset through the lens of the pervasive state of anxiety felt worldwide.
Download the full version of Skift’s Travel in an Age of Permanxiety magazine here.
Travel has always come with stress. But in recent years Permanxiety has layered on an extra helping of hassle. (Just feel that pang in your sternum after you have been pulled aside by an airport official for secondary screening or questioning.)
We can’t wish away hyper-nationalists or authoritarians — or all the drama those characters are inflicting on travelers and others. But we are happy to point you to a mix of mobile apps that can calm your nerves and help you cope with standard snafus.
We five-star these free and paid apps for Apple and Android devices because they will let you clear your mind. And having a clear head will make it easier for you to cope with the larger, unavoidable problems.
Companion: Ask a Guardian Angel to Watch Your Back
Travelers have always gotten the jitters when taking an unplanned walk through an unfamiliar neighborhood that may not be safe. One way to seek reassurance is to ask a friend or family member to keep you company — virtually. The Companion app enables this, letting a loved one track your journey home via GPS on an online map. The app pings out a few requests to various contacts to see who is available and willing to keep watch. Thankfully the person does not need to install the Companion app to participate; they instead receive a text message that links them to an interactive map showing the user's location. In a worst-case scenario, the traveler can use the app to blare a terrifying sound to scare off the bad guys. Incidentally, this feature may become more common. In 2017, the Indian government declared that all mobile phones must have a built-in panic button to better protect solo women.
iOS and Android, Companion
CDC TravWell: Stay Healthy
One year it's SARS. The next, ebola. Then zika. The series of international health scares seem endless. But being informed about the latest risks for specific destinations can take the w
