Supplementary apps and technology tools

 

This post is intended to cover off on some tools that you might want to use to make planning and execution of this trip (or other trips) easier.

Planning

booking.com

• I use booking.com to make my accommodation bookings where possible. This means I only have one place to go if I need to make changes. It is also easy to see if you have skipped dates or doubled up (if you  get the dates for one or more towns wrong). There is also a phone app. Works well.

Tripit

• Tripit makes it easy to store lots of travel itinerary information in one place. You can also store documents such as travel insurance and so on. Tripit also makes it easy to safely share your itinerary with others. I have used it for decades. There is also a phone app.

Recording

• I use Blogger to hold my journal of the trip. It is easy to cross post from there to Facebook etc. There is also a phone app, called Blogger Pro.
• While travelling I hold all my photos in Google Photos. Afterwards I move them into Lightroom. I have not yet decided whether I will take a dedicated camera or just my Pixel phone's camera.

Navigation

• The planning is done in RidewithGPS.
• While riding I use a Garmin GPS on my handlebars which has the daily routes I created in RidewithGPS.
• For in-town navigation I use Google Maps. In the maze-like towns (Matera, Ostuni) I use guesswork and luck.
• As backup or for emergencies I will have my Garmin inReach Explorer which can call for help anywhere in the world.

Financial

• I use the XE app for current exchange rate information.
• I use the Settle Up app to record and reconcile situations where we spend money on behalf of others in the group. I recommend that you install this app which takes a lot of hassle out of  "I paid for lunch yesterday"...

Communications

• I intend to take my Telstra phone and continue to use my Australian number. For a three week trip this is almost as cheap as getting a local SIM and much less hassle. I believe the other major Australian providers have similar arrangements.
• If I take my tablet I will rely on local WiFi or tethering.