Mobile App: TripLingo

Navigating a new place can be challenging. Navigating a new place without the ability to understand the people or signs around you is even more challenging. For the worrisome moments when you´re not sure where the next helpful hand will be, there´s a new app that can step in and bridge the language gap between you and your surroundings.

TripLingo is a free mobile app that helps travelers connect with the world around them no matter where they are. Interactive language features (e.g., an instant voice translator) help ease communication with locals, and an easy-to-read culture guide is there when you´re not sure whether to leave a tip at dinner or shake a stranger´s hand.

Special safety features are quick to access if caught in an uncomfortable situation and include common phrases and vocabulary in the local language, such as food allergies or the local phone number for emergencies.

Use of TripLingo requires a WiFi connection or international data plan, but if you´re in a jam, TripLingo lets you make emergency international calls with only a WiFi connection, thus saving money on expensive roaming fees. Other advantageous features include a phrasebook, a currency converter, a tip calculator and local weather information.