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Smartphone Travel
tips with Corliss Group

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Smartphone Travel
tips with Corliss Group

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When the smartphone was in its infancy and app stores were not yet operational, its best built-in app to help travelers was the Maps app. There were no walking directions provided, just a map that you needed to interpret to help you get to your destination.

These days, smartphones have so spoiled us that we wonder how we have lived without it.

For example, the technologically-advanced descendant of the first map app now features not only driving and walking directions, but also directions for those who take public transportation (for some countries, at least). This has made it easier for travelers to navigate through some foreign countries the same way that natives do.

With the right apps, you can turn your smartphone into an indispensable travel companion that can save you money; if your pockets cannot afford travel just yet, you can even do a little armchair traveling from your smartphone.

Below are some handy apps to have when exploring foreign territory:

Bla Camera Pro ($0.99, iOS)

Dubbed by its developers as "the worlds first smart camera," Bla Camera has something called P.E.A.R. Technology, which analyzes data like light and weather and consequently recommends a filter and setting based on your environment.

Camera Plus Pro ($1.99, iOS)

Camera Plus Pro is another alternative to your phones regular camera app which lets you tweak more settings. Apply filters and see the effects before snapping your photo; edit and share from within the app. You can also create a private folder to hide certain photos, like your balloon sleeves.

Google +

Fewer and fewer people whip out their cameras and prefer to shoot with their smartphones. If you are not the type to back up to clean up your photo album once in a while, you would likely find that your photos have eaten up your phones memory or storage capacity. If you left your laptop at home and are traveling with just your phone, enable your Google + account to automatically back up your photos; with your photos stored in the cloud, you will be able to free up space on your phone for more photos. Make sure however to enable this feature only on WiFi while abroad, as you might end up with a shocker of a phone bill if you are on a metered data roaming plan.

Google Maps (Free, iOS/Google Play)

This map just keeps getting better and better. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can use Google Maps to help you find your way around the city, even if it's your first time getting there. Get turn by turn directions, and click on "Street view," which will give you an actual view of your destination.

City Maps to Go (Free, iOS/Google Play)

If you want to navigate around a country but think that you might not always have Internet connection, City Maps 2Go's offline maps will save you from stealing paper maps in your backpack. The map includes points of interest as well as travel guides culled from Wikipedia. Get the pro version ($2.99 for iOS) for more maps and features.

VSCO Cam (Free, iOS/Google Play)

This camera app with a minimalist user interface brings photography in focus with its gamut of throwback analog filters (requires in-app purchase). Some of the filters were built to mimic the color and grain of various films.

Pin Drop (Free, iOS)

Never forget anything visit-worthy, thanks to this app. Mark favorite places you want to remember, revisit or recommend to friends.

Metro (Free, iOS)

If octopus-like train station systems befuddle you, take out the guesswork with an app like Metro. Download your chosen citys train system and let the app trace your path from point to point.

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The Corliss Group
Travelers: Hong Kong's Best Restaurants 

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The Corliss Group
Travelers: Hong Kong's Best Restaurants 

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Hong Kong's Best Restaurants

Ken Hom, the celebrity chef, recommends the best places to eat in Hong Kong in five courses

A typical brunch

At Din Tai Fung I had one of the best xiaolongbao – little soup dumplings filled with broth and served in a bamboo steamer – that I have ever had. There are lots of things from Taiwan and it’s popular because it’s cheap. You have to queue because they don’t take reservations, but it’s worth it. Go with friends, so you can try a nice assortment of dishes. The restaurant is part of the Din Tai Fung group, whose outlets have maintained great consistency. This one is on the Hong Kong Island side.

Din Tai Fung, Shop G3-11, 68 Yee Woo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (00852 3160 8998, dintaifung.com.tw/en). Three courses £12-£15, without drinks.

Lunch

A really nice place to go for dim sum is Island Tang. It’s decorated in the old Hong Kong style of 30 years ago, so it has atmosphere. Lots of Chinese in the know go there. It’s the usual cast of characters – barbecued pork buns, steamed dumplings, stuffed peppers – but presented in an unusual way.

There’s also Nha Trang, which does Vietnamese food but in the spirit of Cantonese: very light, full of flavour, fresh. The pho noodles and the Vietnamese spring rolls are especially good.

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Going on Vacation?
Use Our Credit Card CheckList!

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Going on Vacation?
Use Our Credit Card CheckList!

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Going on vacation? Congrats! You’ve earned it. To maximize your enjoyment during your time away, you’ll want to make a few essential preparations. The last thing you need is the credit card company freezing your account while shop-hopping in Soho or guzzling Hefeweizen in Munich. Here’s a quick checklist of easy steps you can take to ready your accounts for a trip abroad.

1. Call the credit card company

2. Make a list of essential info

3. Get up to speed with your rewards program

4. Get a better travel card

5. Know your holds and limits

6. Pay your bills in advance

Call the credit card company

Creditors take active measures to detect theft and prevent fraud–for both your and their own sake. When they notice an aberration in spending patterns, they often freeze the suspect account to stop potential criminal activity. If your credit card hasn’t left Ohio in two years and it suddenly starts making extravagant purchases in Seoul, the issuer will likely deactivate the account until you verify your identity and location. This can result in major inconveniences abroad, especially if you don’t have easy access to a phone line. Call your credit card companies a week or so in advance to tell them your travel plans.

Make a list of essential info

When traveling, you put yourself at greater risk for losing a card due to theft, negligence or silly mistakes. When this happens, you need to act fast to close your accounts. Before you travel, make a list of your account numbers and the phone numbers for the corresponding credit card companies. Give one copy to a trusted friend or relative, and stash the other deep in your suitcase. You can put this information on a mobile device as well, but it will be compromised if you lose your phone. The ability to connect quickly with customer service will minimize the damages of theft or displacement.

read full article here

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The
Corliss Group Luxury Travel Agency: Gems of South America

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The
Corliss Group Luxury Travel Agency: Gems of South America

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Source

Buenos Aires offers you so much excitement. It is a colorful city with lots of interesting sites to see, night clubs, and the local venue is yours to enjoy! The beaches at Rio are wonderful and the harbor at Rio is surely one of the world’s most beautiful!

From either ports cities of Buenos Aires or Rio you may fly to the amazing Iguazu Falls which borders the countries of Argentina and Brazil.

Plan your luxury travel today at http://www.corlissgroup.com

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The
Corliss Group Luxury Travel Agency: Gems of South America

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The
Corliss Group Luxury Travel Agency: Gems of South America