7 Ways the Internet Has Made Travelling Easier

Travel is one of the best gifts one can give to themselves; a gift that ranges from cities to jungles, to giant buildings to giant trees, from the finest dishes in the classiest restaurants to the abundance and the explosion of street food flavours. In today’s world, travelling is one of many aspects of life that the Internet has impacted. Some say it has made it worse by taking out the excitement of travelling, taking out the unknown factor, and making it too easy. One, however, can also claim that the Internet has made the world of travelling a more secure world while maintaining the element of surprise. Here, we look at how the Internet has made travelling much easier and more enjoyable.

1. Easier Research

*Photo by Solihull Heritage & Local Studies on Flickr

Not long ago, when you wanted to choose a vacation spot, you would go to a library, pick up an atlas book or a travelogue, and read it from start to finish. It would probably take a long time and extraordinary effort. You might have taken an easier route and asked a couple of your friends or relatives to recommend a place. The downside would be that what they had liked would not be to your taste.

The Internet has solved this research problem for you. To get information about different places, all you need to do is google them or read a Wikipedia entry. Instead of asking a friend, you can check travellers’ blogs or forums like Travellerspoint and read people’s comments on social media.

2. The Rise of Online Booking

Some of us remember showing up at a hotel or accommodation only to find out that all rooms had been reserved. You might have seen it in the movies or had direct experience of it. This problem is also sorted out today with the rise of online bookings.

Today, most hotels and accommodation providers publish their listings online. They display their amenities and room features for you to choose from. When reserving a room or apartment, you will automatically see if a room is full or not; if it is under construction or ready to be used.

There has been a rise in travelling and rental websites where you can book your room and make payments online. Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia are some of the most popular rental websites. The serviced accommodations and hotels have their websites for direct booking, too. Paymán Club's website, for instance, allows users to make online bookings and payments directly without the need for intermediaries.

3. Better Navigation

*Photo by Alessandro Giangiulio on Flickr

There was a time when you would get lost upon entering a big city. If you were going sightseeing, you would find it challenging to find different attractions in the area. You had to rely on the word of other passers-by. Sometimes, they were helpful, while on occasions, they gave you misleading information.

Today, you may do without such misinformation since you can just turn on your cell phone’s location access – GPS – and see where you are, where you want to be and how long it takes to get there. You will also have no fear of getting lost as you can navigate your way out.

4. Online Transportation Services

*Photo by Giorgio Montersino on Flickr

The time to stay by the side of the road to get a taxi is over as with online services such as Uber and Lyft, you can arrange a ride in a blink of an eye. Online shuttle services to or from the airport have also been a great help. You can even track the drivers on a map finding out what time they will arrive.

To book a flight, you can do without the hassle of staying in a line to purchase a ticket as the services are now fully online, and you can even compare the prices to choose the best time to travel. For instance, Google Flights allows you to consider different options based on your destination, budget, and take-off times.

5. Surpassing Language Barriers

Suppose you are dining in a restaurant in a foreign country. You don’t know the language to order, can’t even read the menu and translate the price. Such language barriers would dampen your pleasure. However, with the help of the Internet, you will easily overcome such challenges. You can find the translation of the menu and its ingredients, find the best expressions to ask for a meal, and even translate the waiters’ or chef’s words.

Moreover, there are always new downloadable applications coming, helping you on your journey. They can do simultaneous translations, teach you different languages and expressions and thus make your trip easier.

6. Online Reviews

While choosing a hotel or apartment to rent, you have to be wary of that accommodation’s reputation. You will also like to know what the previous guests thought of the room where they stayed. Online reviews are a great help in finding out about other guests’ experiences.

Online reviews are not limited to hotels and apartments as people share their experiences about different attractions such as museums, parks, and even mountains. TripAdvisor is one of the most reliable websites where people have left their reviews about almost everything.

7. Sharing Unique Experiences

*Photo by cattan2011 on Flickr

The trip is over, and you want to tell others about things that happened, the places you visited, and the uniqueness of what you went through. Now, the scope of your audience is not limited to just your family and friends. You can share your experiences online – on social media or through blogs and forums. You might share your photos on social media and engage with a community of travellers who have a story to tell just like you.