Maps, surprises at the destination, unreliable means of transportation, and many other such things were pretty common in the past. How long has it been since you held a map in your hands and got lost? Surely, it has been a while if at all. Younger generations have it easier, and that is thanks to the technological advancement that boomed in the past two decades. With high-speed internet, online booking, Jet travel, to name just a few changes, technology really has had a significant impact on how we plan a trip and how we travel. But in the end, it is all for the best?
Online visas
One of the impacts that technology has over how we plan our trips is the development of the electronic visa system. Depending on your nationality and your destination, your chances of being eligible for an electronic visa are pretty high since numerous countries adopted this method. Instead of going to an embassy, the applicant uses the internet and applies online. There are several services that can help with that. iVisa is one of them. All you have to do is visit their website, check your eligibility, and fill in a simple form. It does not take you more than 20 minutes, and you receive your visa via e-mail. In most cases, all you need is a valid passport and a few other accessible documents. Even the passport photos can be taken online. It has never been as easy as this.
No surprises at the destination
Before the internet took over all our devices, you could not possibly tell what you should expect when you reached your destination. Now, on the other hand, you can read and see everything you want before you even start planning. People leave reviews on several reliable platforms, such as TripAdvisor, and you have all the information you need before you leave. There are few things you can discover for yourself. While some people like some mystery, in most cases, that is a positive thing. You do not always find what you are looking for if you plan a trip blindly, and that has the potential of ruining your vacation. Reviews and pictures from previous travelers may seem insignificant for you, but you would not think that way if you did not have any to begin with.
Online booking
Travelers still use travel agencies, but not as much as before. In fact, most people prefer to plan their trip on their own, especially if they travel on a budget. Online booking systems, whether they are for flights or accommodation, find and compare several offers so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget. Travel agencies do indeed find flights and accommodation, but the fees are somewhat higher. Plus, there is no flexibility. And think of the fact that travel agencies were the only option at some point. Not since technology conquered this field as well, though. You can do pretty much what you want now. And you have technology to thank for that.
The examples above are just the beginning. There are more such examples such as GPS tracking that does not allow you to get lost and online translators. A lot of apps are meant to make your trip more convenient. All you have to do is do a simple search according to where you are going. The point is that trips are not what they were used to, and technology made that possible.
[Image via: Google Images]
