Up until recently on my railfan adventures I’d load up one of my carry-ons with two cameras (still and video) laptop, GPS, an assortment of timetables, maps, atlases and track-guides, a folder with my tickets and reservations plus several magazines. Now that’s all in my pocket on my phone and I have my one carry-on or just a back-pack on shorter trips to deal with. Certainly a better experience that lugging all that stuff around! Everything I need is on my phone from my VIA and Amtrak Ticket Apps to Reservation Apps for Hotels and Airlines. I visit a new city and immediately load the local Commuter Rail or Transit Apps so no standing in line for tickets. I have a great Mapping/GPS program giving a constant read-out of location and speed along with the electronic editions of magazines loaded.
And the camera quality…..awesome! Both still and video!
You say….what happens if I lose my phone? Well I’d still have my credit cards but now the inconvenience of calling for reservations and waiting on hold (if I can even find a payphone!), I’d have to get a paper ticket or boarding pass (and they can always find your reservation with an ID)
BTW…. I could just as easily lose my wallet or tickets! Think I’ll take the risk for the convenience!
Even with a dumb phone, a little bit of advance planning can cut down the amount of stuff that you need to carry. Get rid of the GPS and brush up on your map-reading skills, timetables can often be obtained locally. Waiting in line to buy local tickets isn't that bad except near the end of the month. ATM's can be found almost everywhere. A folder for your paperwork is a necessity but cut down on the reading material. Above all, enjoy your trip and don't lose any sleep over something that you MAY have missed.
CSSHEGEWISCH Even with a dumb phone, a little bit of advance planning can cut down the amount of stuff that you need to carry. Get rid of the GPS and brush up on your map-reading skills, timetables can often be obtained locally. Waiting in line to buy local tickets isn't that bad except near the end of the month...
Even with a dumb phone, a little bit of advance planning can cut down the amount of stuff that you need to carry. Get rid of the GPS and brush up on your map-reading skills, timetables can often be obtained locally. Waiting in line to buy local tickets isn't that bad except near the end of the month...
And that's the whole point. I don't need to obtain those maps, timetables and tickets locally anymore...they're right there in my pocket now.
ghCBNS Up until recently on my railfan adventures I’d load up one of my carry-ons with two cameras (still and video) laptop, GPS, an assortment of timetables, maps, atlases and track-guides, a folder with my tickets and reservations plus several magazines. Now that’s all in my pocket on my phone and I have my one carry-on or just a back-pack on shorter trips to deal with. Certainly a better experience that lugging all that stuff around! Everything I need is on my phone from my VIA and Amtrak Ticket Apps to Reservation Apps for Hotels and Airlines. I visit a new city and immediately load the local Commuter Rail or Transit Apps so no standing in line for tickets. I have a great Mapping/GPS program giving a constant read-out of location and speed along with the electronic editions of magazines loaded. And the camera quality…..awesome! Both still and video!
Wise move. Even easier in Europe.
As for losing your phone, everytime you leave your hotel room, restaurant, train or taxi, etc. Check to make sure you have it in a secure pocket and that it is still there. If you use it put it back in the same pocket as soon as you're done. Don't leave it on the table or seat next to you in case you get a call. Don't put it anywhere but in that pocket or your hand and you probably won't lose it. And, good for you on packing light. No need to take half your belongings on a trip. If you can't fit what you need in a carry-on and a back pack you're taking too much in most cases. I've travelled on trips for almost 2 weeks with just a back pack and a carry-on. I got sick of bringing home stuff I never used.
ghCBNSNow that’s all in my pocket on my phone and I have my one carry-on or just a back-pack on shorter trips to deal with. Certainly a better experience that lugging all that stuff around!
Years ago, on 16 day guided trip through northern Canada and Alaska, we met a couple from Switzerland who were on their 4th time around the world -- one guided tour connecting with another one.
Naturally, we had suitcases packed for a 16 day trip.
They had small little packs, with clothes that could easily be washed and dried in the hotel rooms each night.
In trips since then, I have tried to cut way back. I have done pretty well, but my wife takes up even more space now.
York1 John
ghCBNSBTW…. I could just as easily lose my wallet or tickets! Think I’ll take the risk for the convenience!
The significant issue is far less losing (or dropping) the phone than it is looking down and seeing you're at 3% with none of the usual charging paraphernalia handy or usable...
As it happens, I've never owned a cell phone. I do have a small digital camera that fits in my shirt pocket that I take along on fantrips and such.
ghCBNSEverything I need is on my phone
Well, someones expectations are pretty low.
It is a real time consuming chore to use apps that require the onscreen 'keyboard'. Between my creaky, normal size fingers and declining eyesight those paper docs are looking better. But WAIT, AAA has dumbed down their paper maps to almost uselessness. I can preplan trip maps in Google My Maps, but the phone app won't let me open maps created on other accounts - WTH ??
Also just discovered how gawd awful slow GSM 3G data speeds are. Really bad DSL slow. No, I'm not a millenial spending a large fraction of income on phone service just to communicate non-verbally.
Fortunately I have a very small laptop as a phone alternative. Maybe.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.