TRAVEL APPS TOOLKIT
RUSSIA www.56thparallel.com
MUST HAVE TRAVEL APPS TOOLKIT FOR RUSSIA The way we travel has changed enormously in the last few years. No longer do we have to exceed baggage limits with stacks of bulky paper guidebooks, or pull out an embarrassingly oversized map every time we find ourselves lost in an unfamiliar city. Thanks to the wonderful world of smartphone apps, we can carry all the practical travel information we need in a hip pocket or handbag! Travel to Russia is no different. As one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, Russia-related travel apps for your smart phone or tablet are coming out faster than a Moscow billionaire can buy the latest sports cars. Not all of them are especially helpful though (searching ‘travel Russia’ in the iPhone App Store along brings up over 100 results!), so we’ve created this guide to the very best apps for planning your trip and getting around in Russia - all independently tested and reviewed by us, the Russian travel experts at 56th Parallel! 1. Before You Go – booking apps, itinerary planners, destination guides 2. Once You Get There – maps, transport, translation apps 3. Electronic guidebooks for Russia
SECTIONS WITHIN THIS EBOOK
BEFORE YOU GO There are a number of great travel apps out there to help you plan your trip to Russia. There are countless apps that can search out the best details on flights and hotels at your fingertips. Other apps help you create an easy-to-read itinerary and share it with your family and friends. Russia-specific destination guides will help you pick out the places you’d most like to visit, so you can start putting together the Russian holiday you’ve always dreamed of.
Kayak Claiming to be the ‘#1 Mobile Travel App’, Kayak features flight and car hire search, hotel search and booking and flight tracking. The best part of this app is the My Trips feature which allows you to store all your travel information in one place.
Flight Update Flight Update is an app which tracks your flight status, lets your store your itinerary and allows you to send your itinerary by email. Other key features allow you to check for delays or cancellations and find alternate flights. This app has access to over 1400 airlines and coverage of more than 400 airports.
Aeroflot The Aeroflot app is a free alternative to Flight Update (although admittedly not as sophisticated) that deals specifically with the Russian international/domestic air carrier.
Triposo Triposo delivers up-to-date information, detailed maps and intelligent recommendations for more than 15,000 destinations in 200 countries around the world. So far, it covers a number of popular Russian destinations including Moscow, St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Novgorod, Pushkin, Kazan and Novosibirsk. Great for planning your trip our picking out things to do see and do on the fly.
In Your Pocket
In Your Pocket is another city guide app similar to Triposo covering a good selection of popular Russian destinations. Once you’re in the city, it has a great ‘search venues’ feature which allows you to find out what’s on in the area on the days that you’ll be there. Both Triposo and In Your Pocket maps work on and offline, so you won’t be left high and dry if you can’t find a wifi connection!
RBTH (Russian Beyond the Headlines) for iPad The extensive English-language online news resource is best place to find out what’s happening in Russia, including festivals, concerts, theatre productions, sporting events and exhibitions. The amazing photo and video galleries are a great source of inspiration, and there’s an excellent interactive map of Russia and articles on some truly fascinating destinations.
ONCE YOU’RE THERE Once you’ve arrived in Russia, having a smart phone or tablet within easy reach can take away so many of the frustrations of travel: finding your way around, figuring out where to go, how to get there, what to see, where to eat, and how to overcome the sometimes daunting language barrier. The following apps are designed to make travelling around Moscow and Russia just that little bit easier, and perhaps even a little more fun too!
Google Maps
Gone are the days of trying to read a local map and then fold it back the way it was. Mobile mapping apps like Google, Yandex and Apple each have pros and cons but are definitely easier to use and more functional than a traditional map. Google Maps in particular is very accurate and is able to build routes and give directions for driving, walking and using public transportation. Yandex Maps Yandex is a Russian company whose map app now covers over 300 cities and towns around the world including 210 in Russia. It’s similar to Google Maps but also gives a traffic density level, rated from 1 to 10. If the traffic level is high, public transport may be better option to get somewhere quickly. Another useful feature for travellers is the search button and menu of nearby bars, restaurants, fast food outlets, petrol stations and other points of interest. The app gives you basic information about the location plus directions on how to get there.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps is great if you are looking for walking directions, using public transportation, or turn-by-turn driving navigation. It’s probably the best app for walking directions.
Yandex Metro Should you find yourself struggling to come to grips with the massive Moscow underground metro system, Yandex Metro is your best friend. Yandex Metro finds the most convenient metro route based either on your current location or the station of your choice. What maps this map extra useful is that it doesn’t require an Internet connection and also estimates the planned journey travel time. Yandex Taxi
Yandex Taxi allows you to order a taxi based on your current location or a specified address. The taxi can come immediately or be ordered for a later time. The app also lets you select the most suitable price, and options smoking or non-smoking car and child seats. Yandex Taxi currently only supports the Moscow Metropolitan region but hopes to expand their services to other cities within Russia soon.
Wheely Wheely is another transport booking app especially for Moscow city. For a slightly fancier form of travel, Wheely lets you book a private car and driver. The cars are Mercedes E and S class models and your driver will probably show up looking dapper in a suit and hat! Pretty schmick!
Google Translate Google Translate is still one of the best apps around for breaking through the language barrier, translating from one language of your choice to another with more-than-passable accuracy. It’s even quite good at translating whole phrases as well as singular words, although it can be a little rough here and there. It’s fast, easy to use and completely free and the pronunciation is excellent, making it ideal for practicing your spoken Russian as well as sorting out communication difficulties on the fly.
XE Currency Converter Whether you are travelling across multiple countries or going on a quick overseas holiday this app allows you to instantly access live currency exchange rates. XE Currency Converter is highly recommended for every traveller as it allows you to calculate your expenses on the go. Wifi Finder This handy app will find a free connection. Wifi Finder even compares wifi strength from locations near you, like cafes or libraries.
Viber Viber is an alternative to using your phone’s credit and instead uses your internet connection to send messages, make calls, take photos or send video messages. It’s the new way to chat for free on your phone.
ELECTRONIC GUIDEBOOKS FOR RUSSIA Hallelujah! So many of our favourite, world-famous travel guides are now available in electronic formats (PDF, Kindle, etc.) so now you can leave your gigantic brick of a guidebook at home and leave room in your luggage for other, more important things like cameras, sports gear and your best going-out clothes for a uniquely Russian night on the town! Guidebooks: We reckon Lonely Planet still has one of the most comprehensive guides to Russia around, and they’re leading the way with downloadable guides that are costeffective, easy to carry around and more environmentally friendly than traditional paper guidebooks. The best part is you can just download the chapters you’re most interested in, so you don’t have to pay for the ones you don’t need. Phrasebooks: Lonely Planet offer their excellent Russian phrasebook in downloadable format, as well as a European phrasebook with a Russian chapter. Rough Guide has a good Russian phrasebook as well. While it’s only available in paperback format at the moment, you can find free companion audio downloads in the phrasebook section of their website. The audio downloads cover a useful selection of words and phrases for travellers – perfect for listening and practising on your flight over!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST… For a great guide to a range of popular and more unusual locations in Russia and Siberia in particular, head on over to our destination and experience guides at www.56thparallel.com We’re sure you’ll find all the information, real-life stories, fabulous photos and tempting tours you could ever want to start planning your own dream trip to one of the world’s most diverse and exciting travel destinations.