Traveling for business is exhausting and stressful. New places, different food, sleep schedules altered and lack of knowledge of local customs can lead to some embarrassing situations. These five apps will be handy to help make business travel a lot more relaxed.
GlobeTips
Americans are on automatic when tipping, even when traveling abroad where gratuity customs are much different than in the United States. This app covers tipping customs in over 200 countries. To save you possible distress, this app even allows you to scan your receipt when you have a bill you can not decipher, and in conjunction with your phone’s GPS location, will tell you exactly what kind of tip you should, or should not, leave.
TimeShifter
This app has one goal, to manage your light exposure and minimize the effects of jet lag. Dr. Steven Lockley, from Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine, gave input into the development of this app. Business trips can be more effective when you can function fully after a 14-hour flight. Type your travel information like departure and arrival airports, dates and times of flights and if you naturally rise early or are a night owl. About two days before the trip, an hourly schedule set by the app’s algorithm will designate when to avoid or seek light, when to take a nap and when it may be an excellent time to incorporate melatonin or caffeine.
The Air Force Culture Guide
This app can be a true life-saver for international business travelers. The Air Force originally developed this app to assist its officers to conform to customs overseas. Learn the correct way to act in just about any situation, with categories on politics, traditions, greetings, etiquette, conversational topics, dining customs, natural hazards and more. Focused primarily on Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, this app will help to keep you from accidentally insulting the citizens of the countries you are visiting.
Crime and Place
For those traveling to unfamiliar cities in the U.S., this app will help keep you out of harm’s way. By using the Uniform Crime Reporting database by the FBI along with the U.S. Census crime stats this app gives nationwide crime area information. The reported numbers of robberies, murders, stolen vehicles and more will show on your phone as a radius a half-mile around your current location. The radius is separated into three rings depending on the amount of crime reported in each ring. When entering a high crime area you will be alerted with a warning and directions to safer ground.
The Infatuation
When you need to take a business client out to lunch or dinner, this app makes finding an appropriate restaurant quick and easy. Infatuation rates restaurants in over 30 major international and U.S. cities with honest and relevant reviews. Infatuation just acquired Zagat, and with no data needed, you can even access the app offline anywhere.
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