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17 Travel Gadgets That Will Make Your Next Trip Smoother

By Megan duBois

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Figuring out what you need to pack for a trip can be challenging—especially if you like to travel carry-on only . But whether you’re heading for a weekend away with your best gal pals or a week-long jaunt to a new city, the tech you pack is important. From portable batteries and small location devices to headphone adapters for planes, we’ve tested multiple items to see what the best travel gadgets really are, and which ones simply aren't worth the space.

We promise the products below merit a spot on your packing list . Keep them in a pouch or near your suitcases so you know exactly where they are at all times, and can grab them when the need arises. The best part? All of these accessories are available on Amazon , and most on Prime, so you can get your hands on them quickly in advance of your next trip .

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Madison Flager.

This under-$20 Amazon find has completely upgraded my in-flight entertainment experience. When I fly, I usually watch movies or downloaded videos on my iPhone so I can continue to use my noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones. This means I’m usually rotating between holding my phone in my hand and (unsuccessfully) propping it up on the tray table. This pocket-size phone mount clips onto the top of your seat tray table and perfectly holds your phone in place so you can watch movies, TV shows, or podcast videos hands-free. It features 360-degree rotation, allowing travelers to view their screen vertically or horizontally. The 1.5-inch clamp can be attached to tables, desks, gym equipment, and a variety of other surfaces. While I originally purchased this carry-on essential to use on airplanes, I’ve also attached it to my luggage handle while waiting to board a flight and on a train ride from Lucca to Florence. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

If you've been on a group trip, you know the struggle of trying to get ready when there are too few mirrors available compared to the amount of folks in the house or hotel room. Eliminate the hassle with a portable travel mirror, like this fold-out option available on Amazon. It shifts to varying heights, has three light settings (warm, cool, and natural daylight), and folds up flat, weighing less than a pound.

Associate commerce editor Meaghan Kenny calls this small wireless device “a complete game-changer—I'm never going back to the days of dry hotel rooms and dehydrated skin post flight.” She's found that sleeping with it, both at home and on the road, leaves her skin less dry and helps her to wake up feeling more refreshed. It's easy to use, too: “For as compact as the humidifier is, it can still fit 11.3 ounces of water—more than enough needed for a continuous cool mist throughout the day or night.”

Read a full review of this product.

Sure, many totes , backpacks , and small duffels now come with a trolley sleeve to secure it to a suitcase handle, but when you find yourself using a bag without that little sleeve, keeping your things together and upright becomes a balancing act. A Cincha travel belt is the workaround: It slips over your suitcase handle, then wraps around most any bag like a seatbelt, with adjustable straps to tighten or loosen as needed.

There’s nothing worse than getting onto an airplane and your wireless headphones not connecting to the seatback entertainment system. That issue is easily averted with this wireless audio transmitter and adapter . The small device pairs to your headphones via Bluetooth and then plugs into the tiny TV on the airplane so you’re never without entertainment on long-haul flights . I keep this Amazon gadget in my pre-packed go-bag, then charge it the night before I fly so I know it's fully charged before heading to the airport. Even better is that the device can pair with two sets of headphones, so if I'm traveling with someone we can both watch the same movie at the same time.

Gimbal stabilizers come in a variety of sizes and price points. If you’re testing the waters with the smartphone travel accessory , you may want to consider this under-$50 option. The anti-shake, one-axis stabilizer allows you to capture smooth videos and crisp photos of your travels without having to think about keeping your hands perfectly still and balanced. One perk of this particular stabilizer is that it doesn’t have a corresponding app that you need to use to make the device work, so you can just pop your phone onto the handle and go. At just 7.5 inches and less than half a pound, the stabilizer can fit easily into your day bag without weighing it down.

We’ve all experienced those long, twisty lines at the airport coffee shop that take longer than expected and leave you rushing off to your gate, juggling an iced coffee and your phone, all while somehow wheeling your carry-on bag behind you. Make that scenario a memory of the past with this luggage cup holder. The hands-free pocket slips over the handle of your luggage to hold up to two drinks and your phone. The adjustable cup holder has a Velcro opening that can be tightened or loosened to fit your suitcase handle and stay securely on your luggage as you traverse the airport. I keep this in my go-to personal item at all times, that way I know where it is before I head to the airport. Even better, if I do somehow spill a drink when using this, the cup holder is completely machine washable; I’ve throw it in with a load of towels to keep it clean.

If you’re headed somewhere warm, be it a theme park or Europe in summer, one of the best travel gadgets to bring along is a mini handheld fan. This VersionTech handheld fan is my absolute favorite of all of the ones I’ve tried. It charges quickly with an included USB charger (you can also use any micro-USB cords you're already packing), and has three speeds to keep air moving and keep you feeling refreshed. The handle of the fan can be folded back to allow it to sit on a table if you stop for a meal or coffee, or find yourself on a hot bus or train. I always have this in my backpack or fanny pack in the summer—when I whip it out and have a cool breeze blowing across my face, my travel buddies are instantly jealous that they don’t have one too.

Keeping your phone charged while traveling through airports can be difficult—not every airport has charging ports integrated into the seats at the gates, and most of the time people are huddled around the one or few outlets near the gate. I love this phone charging passport holder because I can charge my phone with an included power bank, and it has an integrated cable holder, and elastic bands to keep my phone in place as I traverse the airport. I also appreciate that the holder has a space for your passport and RFID blocking credit card slots for added protection.

No matter how meticulously you pack your clothes, pieces always end up wrinkled and looking like you slept in them on the other end. That problem is easily solved with this handheld garment steamer . The small electronic device weighs in at just under two pounds, so it won’t add much weight to your luggage. The steamer takes just 35 seconds to heat up, and has a removable water tank that’s easy to fill and an adjustable steam head so you can get wrinkles out no matter how your clothes are hung up. Leave this at home if you’re headed on a cruise, though; these portable steamers are not allowed on any cruise line.

Find more portable steamer recommendations .

Whether you’re traveling internationally or domestically, having a travel adapter is always a good idea. The universal adapter allows you to plug in your devices to outlets, no matter what country you’re in. There’s also a built-in surge protector and two USB ports so you can charge your phone or watch without having to unplug something bigger like hot hair tools or a laptop.

There’s nothing worse than misplacing something or finding out that your luggage got lost in transit on the way to your hotel or Airbnb. With an Apple AirTag , you can have constant eyes on your belongings, even if they aren’t technically with you. The tiny puck-like devices pair with your iPhone or iPad and use geolocation to let you know where your belongings are. I like that I can check on the location of my luggage, purse, or whatever else I've dropped an AirTag into with the Find My app. This is especially helpful after a plane lands and I want to be sure my luggage made it to my final destination.

Is there anything worse than checking into a hotel room and tossing and turning all night because of loud noises from neighbors or city streets? With this portable white noise sound machine, you can easily drown out the sounds of people, cars, or snoring companions. The machine has three sound options, and multiple volume settings so you can find the option that’s best for you. And because it’s so small at just 3.5 inches in diameter, it can fit in a backpack or carry-on bag with ease.

An electric handheld luggage scale is without a doubt one of the best travel gadgets, especially if you’re prone to overpacking and always have a checked bag at the airport like me. The handheld scale uses a strap to attach to the outside handles of your suitcase. Then you simply pull up with both hands using even force for the scale to display how much your luggage weighs. This is my easy way to avoid overweight fees or having to open my luggage on the airport floor to take things out and squish items into my backpack before racing off to my gate.

After flying through the friendly skies and making your way to your perfect vacation destination, your phone is likely showing that annoying red battery indicating that it’s almost out of power. With this wireless portable charger , you never have to get below 10 percent charge again. The charger can support wireless charging or charging with a connecting cable and can support Apple and Android products. iPhone users will be glad to know that with one full charge of the power bank, the device can charge an iPhone 12 at least eight times.

Keeping your personal information safe should be a top priority while traveling. One easy way to do that is with an RFID-blocking wallet, so skimmers in the pockets of nefarious patrons can’t get your credit card info just by walking by you. The wallet has multiple slots for credit cards, plus two zip pockets that are great for coins and paper money. Everything is further protected with a snap that covers both zippers and keeps the wallet closed.

Another popular travel wallet option: the Slim Mint ultra-thin RFID-blocking wallet. The compact case can hold cash and whatever essential cards you need on you—credit cards, hotel room keys, metro cards—so that they are easily accessible. When empty, it weighs just 3.2 ounces.

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11 Travel Tools You Won’t Regret Splurging On

Shannon McMahon

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon .

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto : "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at [email protected] .

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Frequent travelers are always in search of a good deal, but some travel tools are worth spending a bit more on. What’s the point in buying a cheap travel accessory if it’s not going to last?

Travel Tools Worth the Splurge

Here are the travel tools worth investing in once—and how they’ll help improve your travels, trip after trip.

Wireless Headphones

Don’t let uncomfortable headphones or a screaming baby keep you from sleeping on your flight. Noise-canceling and sleep-friendly wireless headphones are a travel tool worth splurging on if you have trouble sleeping on the plane, or simply want to block out the rest of the world.

SleepPhones look like a soft headband, but have wireless headphones inside that will allow you to sleep in any position on the plane. You’ll forget you’re even wearing them; I use them to turn on white noise that lulls me to sleep when I’m restless in a new place . Comfortable noise-canceling headphones that pack small like Bose’s wireless QuietComfort 35 are also a wise investment if you’re more invested in blocking outside noise.

Universal Power Adapter

Don’t be the American who blew a fuse plugging everything into one cheap adapter. A universal plug adapter that lasts means you’ll never have to worry about blacking out the hotel or shocking yourself—don’t learn this the hard way, with a cheap $3 adapter, as I did. Instead, invest in one universal adapter that meets your travel needs, like Zoppen’s International Travel Adapter , with Japan, U.K., E.U., and Australian compatibility for small electronics (but not bigger appliances, like hair dryers). It also has four USB ports for device charging, and its retractable prongs make it a super packable travel tool.

Hiking Boots

If you’re a hiker or camper, or you just enjoy a walk in the woods, stop heading out in your gym sneakers. A durable pair of hiking boots will save your feet and ankles from injury and fatigue, and your sneakers from getting ruined—plus, they’re a travel tool that will last you forever.

Keen has hiking shoe variations for every type of adventure, whether you want packable sneaker-like hiking shoes for shorter treks, or true boots with ankle support for rockier adventures. Keen’s waterproof Gypsum II boots come in both a men’s and women’s style and a variation of colors. These were my first hiking boots and may be my last: They’re packable and durable, and they provide all the support I need.

The Right Camera

Good photos will last a lifetime, so don’t settle for blurry smartphone shots: For something more capable of zooming and getting better light, invest in a packable camera—it might cost less than you think. Mirrorless cameras are thinner than a DSLR, and so are notoriously pricier, but Canon options start at around $450.

Not looking to pack a camera? Newer iPhone and Galaxy phones will do for most trips, and can be improved with clip-on lenses like AUKEY ‘s HD wide-angle lenses, which take up virtually no packing space.

Hard-Sided Luggage

Check your bag often? Consider a hard-sided suitcase that will last. Baggage handlers can get rough, and you never know what could end up broken or damaged. Briggs & Riley’s Sympatico hard-sided spinner expands by 22 percent to fit everything you need, and it compresses back down to meet airline size limits if you decide you’d rather take it as a carry-on. It comes with a lifetime guarantee that you’ll never have to pay for repairs, so while it is pricey, it could be the last suitcase you ever buy—making it the ultimate travel tool.

A Combination Back-up Charger

A portable charging bank is a must-have travel tool in case you run out of phone battery in an unfamiliar place—but new versions are combining them with other travel tools like luggage scales and flashlights for added value.

The  Oaxis Air Scale can give you a digital reading of your bag’s weight when it’s not charging your device, and other packable chargers like Xcentz’s flashlight power bank have built-in flashlights that can come in handy in an emergency. Having a multi-use version on you at all times will put more than one travel problem at bay and make the purchase more worthwhile.

A Crossbody Travel Bag

Security, utility, and fashion can all be achieved with the right crossbody bag. Purchasing one on the smaller side is convenient and will force you to carry only what you need, and zippered pouches will keep pickpockets at bay. Travelon’s Anti-Theft LTD Crossbody is fashionable enough for all environments.

Packable Jackets

Bulky coats are not your travel friend, but it’s important to have a warm outer layer as a travel tool in the colder months. Invest in a dense-but-thin jacket with down, like Patagonia’s Nano Puff for both men and women.

Looking for something with more substance? Consider these 10 great travel jackets that are easy to pack .

Cozy Walking Shoes

More from SmarterTravel:

• 9 Travel Products That Will Take the Stress Out of Your Trip
• 10 Controversial Travel Gadgets That May Actually Improve Your Trip
• 7 Tiny Travel Gadgets You Can’t Leave Home Without

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Prices are subject to change.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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8 of the best apps to edit and retouch your travel photos

Editor's Note

Editor's note: This post has been updated with the latest information.

These days, you can't just pop an Instagram filter on your photo and upload it — the horror! It's better to use an editing app first. If not, how will all your friends know how very blue the Mediterranean appeared, how incredibly chic your hotel seemed or how those clouds really popped over the Bangkok skyline and river? With so many ways to edit your travel photos, it can be hard to know which apps to use — or even how to use them.

Related: 7 useful apps to organize and store travel photos

Whether you want to edit those meals captured in Italy or your favorite plane snaps, selfies or sweeping beach panoramics, this TPG guide to photo retouching apps can help, whether you're a professional photographer, absolute beginner or anything in between.

1. Snapseed

Best used for shots of landscapes, Snapseed has some very intense pre-set filters in the "looks" section, but the fun really starts when you play with the tools. If you select "tune image" you can edit things like brightness, warmth, ambience, highlights and shadows. In the "details" section, you can edit the structure and sharpen your photo.

The "selective" button allows you to edit just one part of the photo, like increasing the brightness in only one area that seems a little dark. Playing around with the app is the best way to learn how to use it, so practice on some photos pre-trip until you figure out the perfect balance.

Download for free on Apple or Google Play .

2. Facetune and Facetune2

Ever wondered why influencers look so perfect among stunning backgrounds? If you want to look like a boho-chic beachy goddess or muscled Abercrombie model traveling the world, Facetune is your app. A favorite of the Kardashians, the app allows you to completely edit your look. From teeth whitening to wrinkle and skin smoothing to reshaping your waistline, you can become a much more glamorous version of yourself. You can also patch any spots to cover tattoos, scars or other imperfections. You'll look so hot, no one will even bother to notice the Taj Mahal or the Statue of Liberty behind you. Just don't go overboard.

Download Facetune for $5 on Apple . Download Facetune2 on Apple or Google Play for free but expect to pay additional subscription costs for access to premium features.

Related: 20 best travel apps to download

You may notice a lot of #VSCO hashtags on Instagram . You can join in the VSCO fun by using this editing app, which also has its own camera. You can share all your edited photos to your own VSCO grid, which is the app's photo-sharing platform, similar to Instagram. Photographers will be a fan of the manual camera options, where you can edit the shutter speed, white balance, focus and ISO before snapping. Small icons at the bottom of the editing screen are options for changing the skin tone, contrast, sharpness, exposure and more. You can even edit raw images within the app.

Download for free on Apple or Google Play , which gives you access to 10 free pre-sets and most editing tools. For access to additional pre-sets, advanced photo editing tools and video editing options, you'll have to pay additional costs or a subscription fee.

4. A Color Story

This app has a simple, geometric interface that makes using it a pleasant experience. Upload your photos and edit them with many different tools for adjustments such as clarity, contrast, grain, blur and vibrance plus pre-set filters and effects you can download for free or purchase at an added cost. The app, similar to VSCO, has its own grid where you can view all your edited photos, and you can connect this section directly to Instagram for easy uploading and sharing.

Download for free on Apple or Google Play . Extra filter packages come at an additional cost or pay for a yearly subscription that offers 400 filters.

A little different than some of the other apps on this list, Prisma turns your photos into works of art (literally) by making them look as if they were paintings. Using styles from artists such as Munch, Picasso, Van Gogh, Levitan and more, your photos won't stay photos for long — they'll be turned into sketches, paintings and creative combinations of ornaments and patterns.

Download for free on Apple or Google Play , but if you want to save the photos in HD or have access to more artistic photo styling options, plan to pay for a monthly or yearly subscription.

Aptly titled, this app was created specifically for shooting and editing food photos. If you're the kind of person who needs to document every single morsel you eat on social media or feels like photographing your lunch is more important than eating it, this app will make your meals look extra enticing. Search from over 30 different filters, titled to match what kind of food or dining moments you're capturing, like a picnic, chewy, BBQ, sweet, fresh and tropical. Foodie is especially useful when dealing with bad lighting in restaurants, ensuring you'll get the perfect mouthwatering shot despite all odds.

7. Enlight Quickshot and Enlight Photofox

Budding photographers will love Enlight Quickshot, which allows you to do things like replace the sky in your photos with a new one or add special effects. The editing tools are easy to use but cover a lot of ground, including options to adjust color, tone and details, like structure, sharpen, shadows and more. Even if you're not really a photographer, the app has plenty of tutorials to help.

More advanced photographers will love Enlight Photofox, which is similar to Quickshot but offers further editing options to make your photos more artistic, with ready-made art filters and artistic editing tools like blend and sketch.

Download Enlight Photofox and Enlight Quickshot for free. Unlock extra features with pro subscriptions at an added cost.

8. Afterlight

One of the most straightforward apps for those wanting to quickly adjust or add a filter, upload a photo or take one with Afterlight's camera. Then, choose from several editing tools ranging from basic to advanced, or select one of the 10 free filter options. For those who want to add stickers or text, the artwork tab has a variety of options. The app is connected to Twitter and Instagram, allowing you to share your newly edited photos directly from Afterlight to other social media feeds.

Download on Apple or Google Play for free, but you'll need a paid subscription to access some of the coolest fusion filters like double exposure or dust, as well as the 130 pre-set filter library.

Bottom line

Regardless of your level of photography or preferred photo style, there's an app on this list that can help perfect your shot. Make sure to check out our other app posts for further reading on how apps can be useful for travelers.

• Best translation apps for travelers
• Best photo storage and organization apps
• Best flight booking apps
• 20 essential apps for all travelers
• Best hotel booking apps
• Best apps for foodie travelers
• Best mapping apps for getting around a new city
• Best apps for solo female travelers
• Best apps to travel with (or like) a local
• Best apps for aviation geeks

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The 6 Best Multi-tools for Travel, Tested and Reviewed

We put 30 multi-tools to the test to find the best ones you can take on the go.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips For Buying
• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Brian Kopinski

Whether you need a pocket knife to whittle sticks on a camping trip, a hex wrench to adjust your seat on a bike trip, or a screwdriver for a quick fix at home, nothing beats having a good multi-tool on hand. We tested 30 multi-tools to search for the best ones to travel with — testing for performance, ease of use, features, value, and durability. We even performed a drop test to make sure there was no damage after the multi-tools fell onto a concrete floor from hip height.

“The type of multi-tool you choose will vary greatly depending on what you need to use it for,” says Kevin Boyle, senior design editor at Wood Magazine , noting there are specialty multi-tools for everything from gardening to camping. But, while multi-tools are indeed multi-talented, they are meant to complement your toolbox, not replace it. “Multi-tools aren’t made to be comparable to regular full-size tools,” Boyle says. “They are best for simple, everyday tasks.”

Out of the 30 multi-tools we tested, our favorites featured a variety of tools in pocket-size formats to take on the go. We found tools that would be best for camping, cycling trips, keychain attachments, and more. No matter where you are traveling, these multi-tools will help you be prepared for anything.

Best Overall

Leatherman wave+.

• Performance 4.8 /5
• Ease of Use 4.3 /5
• Features 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

It offers an excellent range of tools that are intuitive and effective.

Although it is small in size, it’s too bulky to actually tuck in a pocket.

Leatherman has long been known as a leader in multi-tool manufacturing, and the 18-tool Wave Plus continues this trend. Even with 18 tools, nothing seemed unnecessary or out of place. We found the handles to offer a good grip, and while we wouldn’t exactly call it a comfortable grip, it’s easy to use in one hand. We found the tools and blades are easy to open and use, including the locking mechanisms. We did notice that to access some of the tools you have to open others, which can seem a bit unwieldy at first, but it’s easy to get used to. The tools are mostly intuitive, though we needed help from Google to ensure we were using the bottle opener properly. The pliers were particularly effective, though for some of the other tools, we’d prefer to reach for a full-size, stand-alone tool instead.

While it is indeed pocket-size, we found it too heavy and bulky to keep in a pocket, so it’s better to hang from a belt. It survived our drop test with flying colors, so you can feel confident about carrying it during travel. We thought the quality and performance were well worth the price; in fact, we might consider paying more for such a sturdy and useful multi-tool.

The Details: 1.2 x 0.7 x 4 inches (closed length) | 8.5 ounces | 18 tools

Travel + Leisure / Henry Wortock

Best for Camping

Gerber gear truss.

• Performance 4.9 /5
• Ease of Use 4.8 /5
• Durability 3.5 /5

It’s a compact tool with sharp blades that stow safely.

It doesn’t have a corkscrew.

Packing for a camping trip requires careful strategy, so your multi-tool needs to be as light and compact as possible. Even with an impressive 17 tools to its credit, the pocket-size Gerber Gear Truss more than fits the bill. This multi-tool is built for travel: one of us that participated in testing even keeps one in our car for easy access while on the road. But packability isn’t its only superpower. The tools are the main star, and they are as intuitive as they are effective. The pliers are sturdy and the blades are quite sharp on the saw, knife, wirecutter blade, and scissors, which all stow easily. The “titanium-like” finish made the tools survive our drop test without a scratch, and while the knives did come out a little bit on impact, there was no danger or damage.

Even if you’re just an occasional camper, this is a worthy tool to have on hand. The 17 tools are curated well — including a bottle opener for drinks, though we would love the addition of a corkscrew — and are a great value for the price.

The Details: 1.75 x 0.5 x 4.35 inches (closed length) | 8.4 ounces | 17 tools

Best for Cycling

Topeak mini 18+ multi-tool.

• Performance 4.5 /5
• Ease of Use 5 /5

It’s got everything you need for quick fixes on a bike trip.

Non-cyclists should look to other multi-tools for more features and functions.

A compact yet well-stocked tool bag is a must-have for every cyclist, which is why the right multi-tool comes in clutch for those long rides. With this 20-function multi-tool from Topeak, you need not worry about fixing a flat tire or adjusting your seat and can just focus on the open road. We found that each tool opened and closed easily, though none lock in place. While it doesn’t have blades, scissors, or pliers, it has enough hex wrenches to save a cyclist’s day. There’s also tire level and a chain repair tool so you can keep on riding. It’s compact enough to fit in a front pant pocket, but it’s made to stow in a bag beneath your bike seat. It’s also quite durable, with no discernable damage during our shock test.

This is indeed a tool made for cyclists: in fact, if you’re not a road warrior, you won’t get much use out of this except for the screwdrivers and bottle opener. It’s a good option for beginning riders still getting the hang of certain tools, though we noticed the manual is small enough to pack along with the tool.

The Details: 3.2 x 1.7 x 0.8 inches (closed length) | 6.4 ounces | 20 tools

Best Splurge

Leatherman free p4 multi-tool.

• Performance 5 /5
• Ease of Use 4.9 /5

It has a great variety of tools that are sturdy enough for home improvement projects.

It’s one of the pricier multi-tools on our list.

Another Leatherman multi-tool makes our list — and for good reason. The tools are easy to lock and unlock, though we observed that it’s better to use both hands to open and close it completely. The tools are sturdy and sharp: there are two blades sharp enough for sawing, a pocketknife perfect for whittling, and two sharp scissors. We found that the pliers grip well and can easily snip through plastic and wire. We also liked that there are both flat and Phillips screwdrivers.

The Leatherman name speaks for itself and so does this particular multi-tool, which we think is durable enough even to use for home improvement projects. If you’re handy at home or need to be while on the go, this is a great tool that’s worth the price. All told, we were impressed with the variety and effectiveness of the tools. Yes, this is the priciest selection on our best multi-tools list, but we definitely think it’s worth the splurge, especially if you travel often.

The Details: 5.38 x 7 x 1.25 inches (closed length) | 12 ounces | 21 tools

Wetols 21-in-1 Multi-Tool

• Performance 4 /5
• Ease of Use 4.4 /5
• Features 3.8 /5

You’ll be hard pressed not to find a tool you need.

The plier cutters aren’t as sharp as we’d like.

Don’t let the budget-friendly price fool you: we found this 21-feature multi-tool to be sturdy and useful yet compact for travel. We prefer to keep it in a pouch — which can hold additional screw bits — on the belt strap, but it can fit in a front pocket as well. Take your time exploring all the features of this multi-tool, which felt heavy yet comfortable in our hand during testing. Among the numerous fold-out tools are a blade for cutting wood, flathead and Phillips screw bits, and a bottle opener. We found most of the tools effective, though the rope threads got stuck in the plier cutters when we attempted a cut. It survived our shock test without any damage, so it’s as durable as some of the pricier ones on our list. It’s hard to believe this nifty little gadget is so affordable, and it’s totally worth buying one to have on hand for fixing things in a pinch.

The Details: 4.88 x 2.44 x 1.65 inches (closed length) | 11.8 ounces | 21 tools

Best Keychain

Gerber gear dime multi-tool.

Gerber Gear

• Performance 3.5 /5
• Features 4.7 /5
• Value 3.8 /5

It’s compact and the tools stow very easily.

The blades could be sharper and there’s no Phillips screwdriver.

We were impressed with the overall effectiveness and durability of this mini multi-tool from Gerber Gear. It might be one of the smallest tools on our list, but it’s mighty, having survived our shock test without a scratch. While this tool is compact and lightweight enough to keep on a keychain, the tradeoff is that some of the tools are so small that they don’t offer enough leverage to be truly effective. There’s no Phillips screwdriver, so keep that in mind if you plan to use your multi-tool mostly for driving screws. There’s no locking mechanism, but everything stows away easily without any sharp edges (in fact, we found the blades and the wire cutter to be a bit dull). At just $29, it’s a budget-friendly tool to keep handy, though those who reach for a multi-tool more often might prefer to use this as a backup option rather than the primary tool.

The Details: 2.75 x 4 x 0.6 inches (closed length) | 2.2 ounces | 12 tools

Other Multi-tools We Liked

There were some other multi-tools we found useful during testing, although we found some minor issues that prevented them from being on our main list.

Rak Hammer Multi-tool : If you’re in the market for a multi-tool with a hammer, this is a budget-friendly option. However, the very feature we love makes it too large to store easily, making this a poor option for air travel — but it could work for a road trip.

Leatherman Skeletool Lightweight Multi-tool : This multi-tool is super light at just five ounces. It scored well during testing, but it didn’t have as many useful tools and features as some of the others on our list.

RoverTac Camping Essentials 14-in-1 Survival Tool : While we appreciated the hatchet for use during camping and other outdoor activities, this feature made it far less portable than the other travel-friendly multi-tools on our list.

Our team of experts tried out 30 multi-tools. First, we evaluated the design and ease of access, noting the arrangement of each tool, how safe it was to open/close any blades or knives, and how easy it was to engage/disengage the locking mechanism. For pocket-size tools, we paid attention to how easy or challenging it was to tuck them away in an actual pocket. When testing larger ones, we clipped them to keychains, backpacks, and tool belts as alternative storage options.

We then put each device through its paces, trying out each tool for its dedicated task: for example, we used the screwdrivers on the multi-tools to tighten a screw into a piece of wood and the pliers to snip a piece of wire. Next came the shock test, in which each multi-tool was dropped from hip height to simulate it falling out of a pocket. We then noted whether each multi-tool’s construction or function was damaged in any way.

We made our final selections for this best multi-tools list based on performance, ease of use, features, durability, and overall value.

Tips for Buying

Be mindful of size and weight.

Comfort of use is important when choosing a multi-tool, so you don’t want yours to be too large or heavy. If it hurts your hand to use it, it’s not the one for you, says Boyle of Wood Magazine . He also recommends looking for features like spring-loaded pliers that make it simple for you to operate with just one hand.

Think about the features you’ll need

Your multi-tool will only be as useful as you find the individual tools to be, so keep in mind what features and functions you’ll want yours to have. Boyle recommends choosing a multi-tool at least with a knife, pliers or wire cutters, and a screwdriver (both Phillips and flathead). “Some multi-tools have way too many tools that are not necessary or useful for everyday use,” Boyle says.

Above all, make sure the blade locking mechanism is easy to use and that the rest of the features are intuitive. Boyle says it’s a good thing if you can figure out how to use each tool without consulting the manual.

Pay attention to materials

Boyle recommends stainless steel-constructed multi-tools to prevent rusting, though plastic is another good option. Proper storage is key to ensure that your multi-tool is protected from the elements and impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the multi-tool’s design. The TSA prefers that you don’t keep any sharp objects in your carry-on bags, which will preclude you from boarding a plane with a multi-tool that has a knife or blade of any length. However, if your multi-tool has scissors instead of a blade, you can keep it in your carry-on as long as the scissors are four inches or shorter in length. In general, you can pack multi-tools in checked bags, which might be your best bet to avoid any delays in the security line, or worse, having your multi-tool confiscated.

While no state (at the time of writing) will bar you from owning a multi-tool, the carry laws will vary, particularly if your multi-tool has a blade. Typically, you can carry a multi-tool if it has a blade that’s four inches or shorter in length. You’ll need to check with your own state’s laws regarding open vs. concealed carry of multi-tools, as some features are perceived as weapons and can indeed be used as such. Above all, common sense prevails if you plan to carry your multi-tool.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this story, Barbara Bellesi Zito reviewed insights from our Travel + Leisure testers with an eye toward the most user-friendly and travel-friendly options in multi-tools. For professional insight on the most effective features, she consulted Kevin Boyle, senior design editor at Wood Magazine .

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7 Best Travel Apps for Photographers in 2024 (Updated)

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Travel apps for photography can help you with anything from finding the best photo spots to editing while on the move. Here are a few of the best apps for travel photography options you need to download before exploring beautiful destinations on your bucket list.

7 Best Travel Apps for Photographers

We list travel apps for both iOS and Android. And there is a mix of free and paid apps.

7. Snapseed

• App Type : Photo editor
• Price : Free
• Platform : iOS and Android

This is one of the best photography apps out there because of its features. It lets you do anything from color grading to adding all sorts of effects to make your travel photos look professional. Snapseed may be from Google, but it also supports iPhones . That means you don’t have to worry about any compatibility issues. And the good news is that all the tools it offers on Android are also available on the iPhone. Like any other editing app , Snapseed has all the basic tools you need, from adjusting exposure to correcting the white balance . But what differentiates it from the rest is the plethora of effects that it features. For instance, it has dozens of presets that let you create anything from retro film effects to classic black and white images . It also has advanced editing tools such as HDR . This lets you create vivid pictures even in challenging lighting conditions. Apart from the editing tools, Snapseed also includes frames and text tools to personalize your images. Using it allows you to create scrapbook-style images by adding borders and captions .

• Price: Free but has in-app purchases

While traveling, you don’t want to spend too much time on your phone editing your images. That’s why VSCO is one of the best apps for photographers because it’s so easy to use. Unlike Snapseed, VSCO doesn’t offer a lot of tools for advanced editing. Instead, it offers a streamlined experience. It lets you add presets and tweak basic exposure settings quickly. To use VSCO, all you have to do is tap a preset you like and adjust the sliders to alter the amount of effect you like on your images. You can also use sliders to change the brightness, contrast, saturation, highlights, and other exposure parameters. VSCO’s main selling point is its ability to recreate a film look . Its presets are based on real film stocks, making the result authentic. Apart from basic adjustments, you can also add fade and grain, among other effects, to help you customize the vintage style of your photo.

5. Pro HDR X (Discontinued)

• App Type : HDR ( high dynamic range ) camera and editor
• Price : $1.99

When you’re doing travel photography, a big chunk of photos are landscapes. And Pro HDR X is what you’ll need to make your images look more vivid and alive. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a technical term that describes the ability of an image to faithfully display shadows and highlights. Your phone cannot accurately capture the darkest and brightest elements, especially in bad lighting conditions. That’s why you’ll need Pro HDR X to make calibrations and ensure that your final image has rich blacks and bright whites. To create vivid landscapes, Pro HDR X captures three images with different exposures. It then automatically combines those pictures into one that has all the correct shadows and highlights. Just remember to only use Pro HDR X for static shots, preferably on a tripod . If you include moving subjects in your frame, they’ll end up blurry since the app sandwiches the three photos it takes into one image.

• App Type : Photo sharing and social media

Looking for the best locations when traveling can be intimidating, even for veteran travelers. When you’re in a place you haven’t been, it’s easy to get lost and miss the beautiful gems you want to capture. Spot helps you locate picturesque destinations while traveling. Consider it a social media platform where photographers can share the local spots they discover in the areas they visit. Apart from featuring well-known destinations such as Paris , Spot showcases places that other people may not know about at all. This cool app even has maps to help you locate where the photos were shot. It’s for planning your shoots, especially if you want to include unique places in your portfolio . Spot also lets you share the places you discovered on your travels. When you upload your photos to the app, you get to add locations and even include tips to help your fellow photographers track the exact spot where you took the pictures.

3. Citymapper

• App Type : GPS

When you’re doing travel photography, your ability to navigate places is just as crucial as your ability to take pictures. Knowing how to get there in the quickest way possible allows you to cover more areas. You can always use Google Maps to help you figure out where to go. But it doesn’t have all the information you need to get there. Citymapper shows you everything from routes to various transportation options to reach your destination. One of the biggest features of Citymapper is that it shows you the nearest train and bus stations. And it guides you on how to get there. It even shows the arrival and departure times, so you don’t miss your bus or train. Citymapper is available in major cities from Asia to Europe . The only catch is that it won’t be much use if you happen to be in lesser-known destinations. But if you happen to find yourself shooting around New York or Paris , this app is definitely for you.

2. PhotoPills

• App Type : Sun and moon tracker, photography assistant, and calculator
• Price : $10.99

Think of PhotoPills as your photography instructor and assistant. It has all the tools you may need, from taking photos of the stars to calculating your depth of field . One of its main features is the sun/moon/ star tracker . It helps you figure out where the sun or the moon will be at your location at any time of the day. If you want to know where the moon will rise and set, you have to get your phone out. What’s great about PhotoPills is that it uses augmented reality to show you where the sun or moon will be in a real environment. Even if you use the app in the middle of the day, you can see a digital rendition of the moon on your screen like it’s there. PhotoPills is also perfect for tracking the Milky Way . You can use it to figure out its location so that when the night comes, you can go to the exact spot where you expect it to appear. Apart from the tracker, it also has calculators for DOF, FOV, Hyperfocal Table, Long Exposures , Time Lapse and Star Trails . So if you don’t like fumbling around to get your settings correct, you’ll find this app useful.

1. Weatherbug

Weatherbug isn’t exactly photography-related. But you’ll find yourself using it a lot, especially in places with unpredictable weather. One of the best reasons to use it is that it’s free. And it offers a forecast for up to ten days. That means it’s perfect for helping plan your itinerary for more than a week in advance. Another advantage of using Weatherbug is that it has 18 weather maps. They include wind, temperature, and lighting models, among others. And it even has a Doppler radar that shows real-time snapshots of what’s going on without resorting to news updates. But what truly makes Weatherbug indispensable to photographers is that it features weather widgets that you can customize according to your needs. For instance, you can activate traffic updates in your area if you’re in a busy tourist spot. You can even keep track of pollen count and air quality if you are allergic or have a health condition.

When doing travel photography, you must have all the tools to capture the places you visit. And having good photography apps on your phone would allow you to do just about anything, even when you move around a lot. You should also include non-photography travel apps that you’ll find useful when navigating new places. Remember that as a travel photographer , you need to be as skilled at looking for the perfect destinations as you are with your camera. Check out our Next Stop: Travel Photography e-book to learn how to take print-worthy photos!

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This page provides information about photos if you are applying or renewing using a paper form. 

• Submit one color photo
• Submit a recent photo taken in last 6 months
• Use a clear image of your face 
• Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence 
• Have someone else take your photo. No selfies.
• Take off your eyeglasses for your photo
• Use a white or off-white background without shadows, texture, or lines

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Attire, hats, and glasses, already have a photo.

Use our  Photo Tool  to crop your photo so it's the right size.

• This photo tool does not check the quality of your image. 
• This tool is for cropping your photo only when you are applying or renewing using a paper form.
• Do not use this tool if you are renewing online.

After you apply, a U.S. Department of State employee will review your photo and decide if we can accept your photo.

Tips for Submitting your Photo

• Submit a high-resolution photo that is not blurry, grainy, or pixelated.
• 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) 
• Head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 - 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
• Printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper.
• Do not change your photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence. 
• Do not submit photocopies or digitally-scanned photos.
• Do not submit a damaged photo with holes, creases, or smudges.
• Have a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and mouth closed. 
• Face the camera directly with full face in view. 
• If you cannot remove your glasses for medical reasons, please include a signed note from your doctor with application.
• You cannot wear a uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage clothing. 
• If you wear one for religious purposes, submit a signed statement that says it is religious attire worn daily in public.
• If you wear one for medical purposes, submit a signed doctor's statement that says you wear it for medical purposes.
• Your full face must be visible and your hat or head covering cannot cast shadows or cover part of your face.
• You cannot wear headphones or wireless hands-free devices.
• You can wear jewelry and keep on your facial piercings as long as they do not hide your face. 
• Take off any face covering or medical mask so your full face is visible and the face covering or mask do not block portions of your face.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i get my photo taken.

You can go to:

• An acceptance facility  that will take a photo when you apply for your passport
• Any company which offers photo services
• A friend or family member, and print your own photo on matte or glossy paper

Acceptance facilities and photo vendors charge different fees for taking your photo. 

Can I smile in my passport photo?

Yes. Make sure your eyes are open and your mouth is closed in your photo. 

Do I need a new passport if my appearance changed?

You only need to apply for a new passport if your appearance significantly changed. If you can still be identified from the photo in your current passport, do not apply for a new passport. 

Minor change - do not apply for a new passport

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• Coloring your hair 
• Normal aging process

Major change - apply for a new passport

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• Significant weight loss or gain
• A gender transition

Do you have more tips to take a photo of a baby or toddler?

Yes. Some tips include:

• Lay your baby or toddler on a plain white or off-white sheet, or cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet. 
• Make sure there are no shadows on your baby or toddler's face.
• It is okay if a baby's eyes are not entirely open. All other children must have their eyes open.

Picture Perfect Passport

Follow these steps so you have a great passport photo.

Tips for Taking a Good Photo

Learn about a few tips for taking a good photo if you are renewing by mail or applying in person.

Image Sizing Photo Tips

Photos that are taken too close or too far away will be rejected.

Low Quality Image or Paper Tips

Photo is blurry, grainy, pixelated, or printed on the wrong paper. Photos should be high resolution.

Photo Exposure Tips

Photos that are too bright or that show shadows on your face will also cause you problems. Your photo needs to be a clear image of your face. 

Previous Passport Book Photos

Your passport photo needs to have been taken within the last 6 months. We verify that the photo looks like you. 

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Take Your Best Ever Photos on Vacation: The Essential Gear You Need

V acations can provide amazing opportunities for gorgeous travel photos, whether you're jumping on a jet to a tropical island, hiking into the mountains or spending a long weekend away in your local countryside. And with powerful cameras stuffed into phones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra , along with a plethora of  amazing mirrorless cameras from the likes of Canon, Sony and Fujifilm, getting great images doesn't mean hauling a huge kit bag with you. 

I've been a professional photographer for over a decade and have traveled the world taking photos. Here, I'll take you through the essential gear you need to bring with you on your trip. I'll also recommend some extras to consider if you want to return home with creative pieces of art, rather than just holiday snaps. 

Read more:   Take Pro Travel Photos This Summer With These Easy Tips

Choose the right camera

While you're unlikely going to buy an entirely new camera system just for an upcoming trip, if you're in the market already for a new camera then an imminent vacation is a great excuse to invest. While traveling with a camera used to mean hauling a bulky DSLR in your backpack everywhere you go, modern mirrorless cameras are typically much smaller and lighter, making them superb for traveling. I took just my Canon R5 and a small, lightweight 50mm f1.8 lens on a three-week trip to Sicily and loved the shots I got from this compact setup.

The R5 doesn't come cheap, nor is it the smallest camera around, but it offers stunning image quality from its full-frame sensor, amazing video skills and has pro features like in-body image stabilization. Want something a bit smaller? Look towards a micro four thirds camera like the Fujifilm X-S10 or the fixed-lens X100VI. Check out my guide to the best cameras if you want inspiration on which model to go for. 

Keeping your lens choices to a minimum will help reduce the weight. A standard zoom like a 24-70mm gives a great range for capturing wide, sweeping vistas, while providing enough zoom to get closer up on your subjects. I'd also recommend packing a small prime lens (like the 50mm f1.8) as these tend to be lightweight and compact enough to always have in your bag or slung around your shoulder for whenever inspiration strikes.

Read more: Best Camera Phone for 2024

But maybe you don't need a camera at all -- today's top phones can take amazing images and can shoot in raw format allowing for the same sort of editing you'd typically do with images from regular cameras. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes gorgeous images -- especially using Apple's ProRaw format -- and its multiple rear lenses give creative shooting options for whatever scene you find yourself in front of. 

The best travel tripod

A tripod certainly isn't essential for all travel photography, but when the light fades and you need to slow the shutter speed to several seconds to get a good exposure, you'll need one to secure your camera. You'll definitely need a tripod if you want to nail those nighttime shots overlooking a gorgeous bay, capture the stars above those snowcapped mountains, or pull off those artful long exposures of waterfalls.

Again, size matters and you should look for a compact, travel tripod that can easily fit in your backpack -- or attach to the outside of it. Modern materials like carbon fiber will keep the weight down, but they also tend to be more expensive, so you'll need to decide how much you're willing to shell out. 

As its name suggests, the Peak Design travel tripod is a great tripod for traveling, thanks to its small size when folded down and its light weight. I've done all-day hikes with this strapped to my back and barely noticed its presence -- something I can't say for most tripods. Make sure to check out my full roundup of the  best tripods you can buy . Or, if weight is really an issue, you can even try using your own DIY tripod .

A proper adventure backpack

A dedicated photo bag should be high on your list. After all, you don't want your fancy new gear getting knocked around and breaking, do you? A good bag will have compartments to keep your camera safe and secure, but will also let you access it quickly. It's important, too, to find one that also has plenty of space to keep other items you'll need while out and about.

If you're going to be out with it all day, I recommend a backpack with two shoulder straps, rather than a single-strap messenger bag. It'll spread that weight over both your shoulders and keep you comfortable longer. Look for things like side-access zips, so you can quickly get your camera out when inspiration strikes; plenty of additional pockets for batteries and snacks; weather-resistant materials; and mounting points to help carry your tripod. 

I've done a lot of the hard work for you in rounding up my top photography backpacks . There are options for all kinds of photography, from short city breaks to multiday hikes with lots of gear. Have a read through that list, and make sure that what you're taking is suitable for where you're going.

The important extras

The list above is really the essential stuff you'll need to take with you. How much more you bring will depend on how seriously you take your photography and the sort of images you hope to take. Those of you going on wildlife safaris, for example, will benefit from packing a big telephoto zoom lens. Always consider having multiple spare batteries and a charger, as even the best cameras will tend to give you only a day of photos. There's nothing worse than getting to a beautiful afternoon destination only to find you exhausted your power in the morning. Keeping a spare in your bag will let you swap it out and keep on shooting into the evening.

Read more: Best Accessories for Photographers

The same goes for storage. It's easy to take hundreds of raw images a day in a beautiful location and all those shots can quickly fill up your card. Thankfully, SD cards are pretty cheap these days, so it's worth buying a few 64GB or 128GB cards to keep with you. 

Then there's the wide array of photographic filters that may help you get certain shots. A circular polarizer can be used to help make blue skies more vivid, or reduce the reflection on water, while a neutral density filter darkens the image, allowing you to use long exposures to blur the motion of water, cars or people. 

If you want to shoot video on your travels, you may need additional equipment, such as microphones, higher-capacity, faster storage cards and perhaps even video tripods or gimbals for smoother, professional-looking footage. Check out my guide to the  best accessories for video production  for more info. 

I'm Blown Away by These Photos I Took on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra

• The 6 Best Apps for Travel Photographers
• By Lisa Michele Burns

Photo Editing Apps + Handy Apps for Travel Photographers

Planning a photoshoot, capturing the shot and publishing the results are all components of photography. Having the ability to research, photograph and then share your work all with snappy little apps on your phone is pretty darn amazing if you ask me.

I’m not a huge app geek who uses an app for every single thing but…once you’ve discovered which apps work to help you achieve the results you’re after, it’s game changing.

Whether you need to calculate the best settings, check if the northern lights are dancing, schedule and publish your images, there’s an app for it. Heck, there’s an app for anything and everything now but the trick is narrowing it down to those of value that will help you and your photography.

So, without further ado below you’ll find a list of what I consider to be the best apps for travel photographers, if you have any other suggestions, please feel free to list them in the comments below!

Also, because photography is all about showcasing your work, if you use any of the apps mentioned below including Steller, Spot, Instagram or ImageBrief, feel free to leave a link to your account in the comments too so we can all see your work.

Read more: “How to Become a Professional Travel Photographer”

Okay, onto the apps…

Best For: Planning your trip, discovering new and interesting places to photograph

When you want to know where to shoot or visit based on other’s experiences, Spot is a great app to have in your kit! You can create lists of the best ‘spots’ within a city, suburb or even street providing images and info for others to view.

Their slogan is ‘The best places in the world according to the friends and experts you trust’ and this is spot on. Like what I did there 😉 It’s created by every day travellers recommending places based on their own experiences, you can also add friends directly from Facebook to connect, share spots and plan adventures.

One of the best features is that you can add your own tips and recommendations to other lists, in turn creating a collaborative hub of location tips. When you upload a spot you’ll automatically see recommendations of other places nearby that have been shared by other Spot users. If you’re logging in from a new location, it’ll highlight great places nearby to eat, shop or sights to see including maps showing the exact location. There’s something crazy like over 500,000 spots already on the app so chances are, you’re going to find somewhere new to explore and photograph!

To plan trips before arriving somewhere you can use the ‘Explore’ tab to search destinations around the world to see where and what people are recommending. I know I prefer to do some research beforehand so have found this feature to be really helpful in unearthing places I never would have considered. Once you’ve got your own profile created, you can then save spots and have an easy to access wish list of locations to photograph or visit.

Also soon they’ll be creating a Spot website so you can access all the info from your desktop too. You can create a Spot account by downloading the Spot app HERE .

Take a peek at the screenshots below to see both my personal profile and some of the layouts of Spot.

Photo Pills

Best For: Calculating the best settings and planning shoot locations

I’m not sure you’ll find an app jam packed with more photographer friendly tools than Photo Pills. It really has everything you could ever need to plan, prepare and photograph wherever you are in the world.

From Depth of Focus tables, Exposure calculators, Time lapse settings that tell you how much time, memory space and shots you require…it’s technically your best friend in the field.

One of my favourites is the ‘Star Trails’ tool, mainly because you can twirl your finger around the screen and choose how intense you want the trails to be. The app will then tell you how long you need to leave your camera clicking away or you can add the time you want to shoot for and it’ll give you the angle and assumed result. Fancy, huh!?

Their ‘Sun’ tool is created to make the job of finding a great direction to shoot by telling you when the blue hours are, sunrise, golden hour, astronomical twilight…it again is fancy. Not sure why I keep using that word but I really can’t think of a much better one to use. It’s fancy schmancy.

You can also use the app to upload your work and participate in awards within the Photo Pills community, plan shoots and join their academy…they also host photo tours around the world!

Download the Photo Pills app HERE and below are some screenshots of all the fanciness…

Steller + Article by Steller

Best For: Publishing your photography

If you’ve been reading The Wandering Lens you’re probably well aware of my love for the Steller app. It’s an app that allows you to create mini magazines from your trips, showcasing your photography and stories at the same time.

READ MORE – The 6 Best Social Platforms for Photographers

For creatives it’s a unique way to publish your work and rather than one photo at a time like Instagram, you can make a cohesive collection of images to tell a story. If for example you’ve just returned from Iceland, you can publish one full Steller story about the trip, or break it down into photo filled stories of each location. Because who really returns from Iceland with just one photo from each location!? It’s more like hundreds!

There are page layouts and font styles to choose between to create a story that’s uniquely yours, plus you can decide how many pages you want as you go.

What I love most about Steller is that it doesn’t feel as instant or forced as other social media apps can. People uploading stories to Steller are thinking about the process, planning how it looks and it shows in the published results. Also the community is really supportive and scrolling through stories based on topics you search will reveal so much talent you won’t know where to stop! Forget the algorithms and tricks of Instagram, Steller is still a genuine platform for sharing your images.

Also the team at Steller have created a second app called ‘Article by Steller’, it gives you even more options to create and publishes multimedia articles in a scrolling format.

Check out Steller HERE or download the new Article by Steller HERE .

The Best Editing Apps – Adobe Lightroom CC, PS Express + Snapseed

Okay so adding all three technically means this article should be called 9 apps for Travel Photographers however, you certainly don’t need all three. Pick your favourite and stick with it so you have a consistent editing style.

Adobe Lightroom CC and PS Express are mini versions of their parent programs and have all the tools available for you to adjust the basics. You can toggle with shadows, highlights, brightness, whites etc and also use a series of Presets to chance the colour and tone of your images.

Snapseed is quite a popular app for people who don’t necessarily use Lightroom or Photoshop on their computers and just want to make their photos look as good as possible. Snapseed actually has so many tools available within the app that it can really help you to create almost any look you like. My only hesitation with using Snapseed is that I find the toggle system a little hard to get used to. A big positive is that it’s got helpful tutorials accessible via it’s menu.

It’s really personal preference as to which editing app you prefer but having one on your phone definitely makes life easier as a travel photographer. Sometimes when you want to upload an image quickly to social media but are at the airport, or can’t get your laptop out, a quick phone edit works wonders.

Take a peek at some screenshots below to see the layouts and design of each editing app.

I’ll share a more detailed post about editing apps very soon…any questions just leave them in the comments below in the meantime 🙂

Best For: Scheduling and planning your social media posts

Ever wondered how some photographers have those perfectly styled Instagram accounts? Where all the images line up beautifully and it’s more like scrolling through either a rainbow of colour or a muted splendour of all things minimal?

Well they might just be using Later. Later is an app that allows you to schedule your social media posts and plan in advance which images to post and when. Now it doesn’t break any rules and you can’t post directly from the Later app, however, it will notify you when your schedule post is ready and you can then click ‘post’ and it will copy all the details across to the Instagram app and away you go from there.

The layout of the Later app allows you to see the images together and how they would look as a cohesive account, plus it gives you insights into how your accounts are performing. You can track which images perform the best with engagement via comments, likes and also see graphs on how they stack up against each other.

Having these insights are so important to tracking your growth across social media, especially if you’re growing them organically (if you’re scamming, please feel free to exit my website, thanks). There are of course so many scams and tricks happening right now that it’s hard to know who is genuine and who isn’t, all you can really do is look after your own account and produce high quality work. Apps like Later make it nice and simple to use statistics in order to proactively choose when to publish content and what content receives more engagement with your audience.

The first plan is free for users and links through to your Instagram account, if you want to opt to add other platforms like Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook, you’ll need to sign up to a premium account to do so.

Download the Later app HERE.

Aurora Alerts

Best For: Photographing the aurora!

So if there’s one thing most photographers dream of shooting it’s the aurora, am I right!? Those dancing green waves that appear across the sky in the darker months, glowing like brilliant strips of magic.

You can of course head north (or south for the Aurora Australis) to places like Iceland, Scandinavia or Greenland to capture them and hope for the best but…there’s also an app for that.

Aurora Alerts (called Aurora Australis Forecast & Southern Lights Alerts in the App Store) is an app that will allow you to get at least a little sleep during the aurora season. If you’re on the hunt for aurora, trust me in the fact that you probably won’t sleep much. Finding them becomes an addition and you know that at any moment when the skies are clear, the aurora could be dancing above you…it’s just a matter of patience and luck.

This app gives you a little relief in the patience department. With Aurora Alerts you can input your location and it will tell you a short and long term forecast for aurora.

There’s also forecasts showing the possibility and strength of the aurora both overhead and on the horizon. If the ‘overhead’ rating is anything about 24%…it’s worth running outside to check what’s happening because sometimes the app can be a little harsh on its judgement of what’s impressive and what’s not.

You’ll find more details about apps like this in my post ‘ Weather Forecasting for Landscape Photographers ’ , in the meantime though download Aurora Alerts HERE , even if you’re not going anywhere, it’s fun to see where it’s happening and how strong it is…or maybe I’m just a weather nerd.

If you want share on Pinterest for later here’s a photo for you…

So, that’s my pick of the six best apps for travel photographers! What do you think?

Do you have any to add? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Want to learn with The Wandering Lens? Online self-study courses – Discover your potential as a photographer!

Are you craving a creative career, struggle to know where to start as a travel photographer and need a little guidance.

These creative courses have been written for you and bring together over 17+years of experience and lessons from working in the industry. I want to see others share their talents and get published, sell prints, find clients – to have the confidence to achieve whatever it is you want to within the field of photography.

My three comprehensive photography courses are now available for self-study enrolments and upon signing up, I’ll be in touch with instant access to get you set up and logged into the learning portal! You’ll receive access to every workbook within the course program and can work your way through in whichever order you chose.

Which of the following sounds like you most?

#1 You want to find work as a freelance travel photographer? The Freelance Travel Photographer Course is open for enrolments! Learn more here.

#2 You need a creative boost and want to transform your photography? Start with The 3-Week Composition Reset and work through composition and creative challenges.

#3 You’re keen to start a business selling prints? The Print Store Launch Pad will guide you through the entire process from curation and logistics to marketing + sales.

Take a peek at the course options below, if you’d like to discuss which one will suit you, send me an email via [email protected] and we can chat!

Hello! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens. With 17+yrs experience as a professional travel and landscape photographer, all advice found on this site is from my personal experience on the road. I hope it’s useful for your own travels and would love to hear in the comments about your trips and experiences around the world.

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Blog comments.

August 24, 2017 at 3:38 am

I love your articles, they are so helpful and full of details! Thank you for sharing all that valuable information! 🙂

thewanderinglens

August 24, 2017 at 3:39 am

So happy you find them useful Iris! Feel free to leave a link to your Steller or Instagram account so we can see your photos 🙂

August 24, 2017 at 6:11 am

I am so ashamed to admit that the only one I know is Later. But I rarely am using photos on my phone these days (just been busy working and doing nothing pic-worthy aside from playing with my dog!) I think my favorite app is Sky Guide. I think I may be addicted to it just in general being an astro-nerd… but it can be good for photography purposes as well, I am sure! 🙂

Great app list and I’ll have to check them out!

September 1, 2017 at 2:10 am

There’s always space for puppy photos on your phone! Thanks for sharing Sky Guide, that’s the one where you can point it at the sky and see stars and their names? So cool!

September 2, 2017 at 1:31 am

Your article about weather apps was really helpful so it’s great to now be able to see other ones for sharing photos.

September 4, 2017 at 2:11 am

Great to hear Tony! Do you have any weather or photo apps you use regularly? There’s so many to choose from so it’s always nice to hear what other people recommend too!

Laura Thomson

September 13, 2017 at 3:06 pm

I tried Spot and found it really handy for finding great cafes and sights. Interesting you use it for photo locations, really cool idea.

September 21, 2017 at 4:21 am

Thanks for sharing. This is a great post. I’ve not heard about spot before, but it sounds awesome. I’ve been using locationscout, but do not always find the spots I’m looking for. I also use the app blue hour, which is great to know when the sun rises and sets and set my alarm clock 😉

Britannia Cars

January 23, 2018 at 6:18 am

Wow!!!!! Wonderful Suggestions for travelers is given in the blog.Very interesting to read,great helpful post.

January 29, 2018 at 2:19 am

THIS IS AMAZING!!!! Stellar sounds like such a fun app for those of us who can’t stand the insta-fake and prefer telling stories. Is it a pretty active network.

And Image Brief? Heck yeah! I need to sign myself up to start selling some. I love that you can start small scale! I mostly just use IG (@thefamilyvoyage) at the moment, but I vastly prefer sharing images on my actual website.

February 2, 2019 at 12:32 pm

This article is so great and so helpful! I usually just happen upon good locations for shooting (as I’m sure you do as well!), however, I’m planning a trip to Europe in the spring and I think that location finding app is going to be super helpful for finding cool vantage points in cities like Rome and Athens. Thanks lovely! Looking forward to reading more of your articles.

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Wedding invitations, relive your adventures with travel photo books.

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Nov 28, 2023

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Why shutterfly is your best choice for travel photo books.

When it comes to cherishing your travel memories, Shutterfly is the perfect choice for your travel photo books. With our dedication to quality and an array of customization options, you can craft a unique travel photo book that truly encapsulates your adventures.

One of the primary reasons to opt for Shutterfly is our outstanding printing and binding quality. We believe that your travel photos deserve the best treatment, so we use premium materials and cutting-edge printing techniques to ensure vibrant colors and crisp details on every page of your photo book. Our robust binding ensures that your travel memories will stand the test of time.

Not only do we offer superior quality, but we also provide a wide range of customization options to make your vacation photo book truly unique. With Shutterfly, you can select from various sizes, layouts, and cover options to craft a photo album that perfectly mirrors your personal style. Whether you favor a traditional design or a more contemporary look, our customization options allow you to create a vacation photo album that caters to your preferences.

Creating your travel photo book with Shutterfly is also an effortless process, thanks to our user-friendly design tools. Our intuitive interface makes it easy for you to upload your photos, organize them in your desired sequence, and add captions or text to enhance your storytelling. You don’t need to be a design guru to craft a stunning travel photo book with Shutterfly. You can even have one of our designers do it for you with our free photo book designer service that will create your album in just 24 hours.

Insights for Crafting Magnificent Vacation Photo Albums

When it comes to cherishing your travel memories, nothing compares to a beautifully curated photo book. Whether you’re creating a keepsake for yourself or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, a travel photo album is the perfect way to showcase your adventures. Here are some insights to help you craft magnificent custom photo books that truly encapsulate your journeys.

Choosing the Best Photos

Before you start crafting your high-quality photo book, it’s crucial to carefully select the best photos from your trip. Take your time to review all of your pictures and select the ones that genuinely stand out. Look for images that provoke emotion, narrate a story, or capture the unique beauty of a location. Remember, quality trumps quantity, so be selective and choose only the best shots.

Structuring Your Story

A travel photo book isn’t just a collection of pictures; it’s a visual narrative of your journey. To create a captivating story, structure your photos in a logical and meaningful way. Begin by arranging them chronologically or by location, depending on what makes the most sense for your trip. Consider adding captions or short descriptions to provide context and bring your story to life. This will help you and your viewers relive the memories and connect with the places you visited.

Selecting the Right Layout and Themes

The layout and theme of your travel photo book play a critical role in its overall aesthetic appeal. Shutterfly offers a wide range of customizable layouts and themes that can enhance your photos and complement your travel story. Select a layout that allows your images to shine and a theme that reflects the mood and vibe of your trip. Whether you prefer a sleek and modern design or a more rustic and vintage look, Shutterfly has options to suit every style.

By following these insights for crafting magnificent travel photo albums, you can showcase your adventures in a unique and visually enchanting way. With Shutterfly’s easy-to-use design tools and superior-quality printing, you can bring your travel memories to life and create a keepsake that will be cherished for years to come.

Keeping Your Memories Alive with Travel Photo Albums

When it comes to preserving your travel memories, Shutterfly is the perfect partner. With our wide range of options and easy-to-use tools, crafting a magnificent travel photo book has never been easier. Let’s explore some of the features that make Shutterfly the best choice for preserving your travel memories.

Adding Captions and Descriptions

One of the best ways to enhance your travel photo book is by adding captions and descriptions to your photos. Shutterfly’s user-friendly interface enables you to easily add text to each image, adding context and storytelling to your travel memories. Whether you want to jot down a funny anecdote, share intriguing facts, or simply provide a location description, captions and descriptions will bring your photos to life.

Amplifying Photos with Filters and Effects

Make your travel photos even more visually enchanting by using Shutterfly’s filters and effects. With a wide range of options to select from, you can enhance the colors, add vintage vibes, or create a dreamy atmosphere. Our intuitive editing tools allow you to experiment with different filters and effects, ensuring that your book perfectly captures the mood and emotions of your journey.

Travel Photo Book Inspiration

When it comes to preserving your travel memories , there’s nothing quite like a beautifully designed photo book. Whether you’re embarking on a road trip with your besties, a family trip to Disneyland, or jetting off to your honeymoon, creating a travel photo book is the perfect way to preserve those precious moments. Let’s explore some inspiring ideas for each of these travel experiences:

Road trips are synonymous with open roads, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable adventures. A road trip photo book can showcase the diversity of your journey, whether it’s a coast-to-coast trip or scenic drives through national parks. Include photos of breathtaking vistas, roadside attractions, and candid shots of your travel companions.

Family Vacations

Family vacations are filled with laughter, bonding, and cherished memories. Whether you’re exploring a theme park, relaxing on a tropical beach, or visiting historical landmarks, a family vacation photo book can encapsulate the joy and togetherness. Include photos of the whole family, candid moments of fun, and snapshots of memorable activities.

International Adventures

Traveling to new countries and experiencing different cultures is an enriching adventure. An international travel photo book can showcase the beauty of foreign landscapes, vibrant cityscapes, and unique traditions. Include photos of iconic landmarks, local cuisine, and candid shots of the locals you meet along the way.

Romantic Getaways

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, honeymoon, or simply enjoying a romantic escape, a photo book can capture the romance and intimacy of your special moments. From sunset beach walks to candlelit dinners, include photos that evoke the love and connection you share. Don’t forget to add captions that express your heartfelt emotions.

Related Resources on Travel Photo Books

With Shutterfly’s user-friendly design tools and superior quality printing, creating a travel photo book has never been easier. Choose from a wide range of templates, layouts, and embellishments to personalize your book and bring your travel memories to life. Start creating your vacation photo book today and relive your adventures for years to come!

Additional Resources:

• Travel Keepsakes
• Free Photo Book Designer Service
• Annual Photo Books

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Travel Tips

Ai tools for travel bloggers.

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, travel bloggers and content creators are constantly seeking innovative ways to captivate their audiences and streamline their creative processes. Enter the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is revolutionizing the way we wanderlust-driven storytellers craft our content. From generating awe-inspiring visuals to curating bespoke itineraries and effortlessly translating content for global readers, AI is reshaping the travel blogging scene with unparalleled finesse. Continue reading to discover some of the most compelling AI tools for travel bloggers and content creators that I have discovered thus far. These groundbreaking AI tools are all designed to elevate your content and inspire your audience, while simplifying your life as a travel blogger. Please check back often as I will continue to update this post.

This post is broken up into many different categories to help you navigate the sea of AI tools, each has a brief description of what the tool/app does.

AI CHATBOTS

As travel writers and bloggers, chatbots are probably going to be your most used AI tool. You can use chatbots to help come up with story ideas, headlines and titles, scripts for videos and so much more. The key is to come up with some really great “prompts,” which are more detailed that search queries. I will provide some examples below, along with other use-cases for using chatbots.

Here are a few Chatbot Tools:

• ChatGPT (one of many OpenAI tools) – This is the leading chatbot out there, it is especially powerful when you subscribe and use their version 4.
• Bard (by Google) – I have found this not to be as good as ChatGPT, but sometimes it can provide better responses. It’s worth using if you do not like the results you get from other chatbots.
• Orca AI – An open-source threat to ChatGPT by Microsoft.
• Jasper – an AI writing tool designed to generate marketing copy, such as product descriptions, company bios, ad copy, and social media captions.
• Rytr.me – A chatbot segmented into a variety of use-cases, i.e. blog post, headlines, YouTube titles, story plots and more.
• Perplexity.ai – This is an answer engine that delivers answers to complex questions through a chatbot-style interface and large language model (LLM) similar to ChatGPT, but perhaps a bit more user friendly for newbies.
• PromptVibes.com – When you can’t think of a good prompt, this AI tool can come in handy.
• Hemmingwayapp.com – Helps you keep your article and video scripts at an 8th grade level, which has been proven to get more traction.
• https://chat.lmsys.org
• Claude 2 – Another ChatGPT rival. Video to learn more.
• DocuAsk – Upload a document, i.e. a manual, contract, etc and then you can DocuAsk specific questions without having to read the entire document.

ChatBot Uses for Travel Bloggers

• Content Generation : Blog posts, social media captions, titles/headlines, research, and newsletter snippets, are just a few content generation ideas that will make your writing process more efficient.
• Article Condensing: Help condense lengthy travel articles. Let’s say you have a 2500-word article you wrote, but a magazine only wants 1000 words, you can use a chatbot to condense with ease.
• Proofreading and Editing: No more typos! AI can aid in checking grammar, spelling, and style, ensuring that your travel content is polished and professional before it reaches the audience.
• Keyword Optimization : Chatbots can help identify relevant keywords and phrases to optimize travel content for search engines, enhancing online visibility and driving more traffic to the blog or website.
• Multilingual Content Creation : AI chatbots can translate travel content into multiple languages, allowing bloggers to reach a global audience and cater to diverse readerships.
• Tailored Itinerary Planning: You can generate personalized travel itineraries based on user preferences, providing content creators with customized plans for their audience or individual customers.
• Trend Analysis : Chatbots can help identify emerging trends and popular destinations in the travel industry, enabling content creators to stay ahead of the curve and produce relevant, timely content.
• Social Media Scheduling and Management : AI-powered tools can automate social media posting, ensuring that travel content is consistently shared across various platforms and reaching the intended audience.
• Reader Engagement : Chatbots can facilitate real-time interaction with readers, answering questions, providing recommendations, and creating a more personalized experience for the audience.
• Inspiration and Brainstorming : AI chatbots can serve as a creative partner, offering travel content ideas, writing prompts, and potential collaboration opportunities to keep your content fresh and exciting.

Chatbot Prompt Examples for Travel Writers/Bloggers and Content Creators

• “Generate a list of 5 tips for solo travelers to ensure their safety and make the most of their journey.”
• “Write 5 captivating headlines for an article about [destination], make it less than 80 characters long.
• “Describe the cultural significance and history behind a famous landmark in [destination], and suggest ways for travelers to respectfully appreciate it.”
• “Create a detailed 7-day itinerary for a family vacation in [destination], focusing on a mix of outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and kid-friendly attractions.”
• “Provide a comprehensive guide to using public transportation in [destination], including ticket prices, popular routes, and etiquette tips for first-time travelers.”
• “Write a review of a unique boutique hotel or eco-lodge in [destination], highlighting its sustainability practices, amenities, and overall guest experience.”
• “Discuss the impact of over-tourism on [destination] and suggest responsible travel practices that visitors can adopt to minimize their footprint.”
• “Share a personal story about navigating language barriers in [destination] and offer practical tips for travelers to overcome communication challenges.”
• “Describe a memorable culinary experience in [destination] and explain how it reflects the local culture, history, and regional flavors.”
• “Provide a comparison of different accommodation options in [destination], focusing on factors such as price, location, amenities, and ambiance to help travelers make informed choices.”
• “List the 10 best restaurants in [destination], provide average meal prices, and describe the type of cuisine for each.”

AUDIO AI TOOLS

Travel bloggers and content creators can leverage audio AI in various innovative ways to enhance their work and engage their audience. Here are a few audio AI tools along with some examples of how to use the technology:

• Eleven Labs – Translate text to voice. Choose from different AI voices or clone your own. Very powerful tool.
• Play – Very similar to Eleven Labs above. Click here to hear an example I created.
• Musicfly – Create and discover AI covers of your favorite songs.
• Sounds Draw – Create royalty free music .
• BeyondWords – Convert text into engaging audio. Becoming popular with bloggers to convert their posts into an audio file at the top of an article.
• Lalalai Music Remover & Noise Remover – Effortlessly reduce and/or remove noise and background music. The unique algorithm cancels out unwanted sounds, producing tracks with crystal clear voice.
• Adobe Podcast Vocal Enhancer – Speech enhancement makes voice recordings sound as if they were recorded in a professional studio. Will remove unwanted background noises or improve poor audio quality.

Audio AI Use-Case Examples:

• Audiobook Production: Convert your travel blogs or guidebooks into audio book format, offering your audience a convenient and enjoyable way to consume your content during their commutes or downtime.
• Podcast Creation : Use audio AI to create, edit, or even host podcasts, providing your audience with an engaging and immersive format for consuming your travel content.
• Voiceovers and Narration : Add professional-sounding voiceovers or narrations to your videos, slideshows, or presentations, enhancing the storytelling aspect of your content.
• Text-to-speech conversion : Convert written content, such as blog posts or articles, into audio formats for users who prefer listening over reading, making your content accessible to a wider audience.
• Audio Content Transcription: Transcribe podcasts, interviews, or video content into written text, enabling readers who prefer written content to consume your material easily.
• Language translation : Utilize audio AI to translate your content into multiple languages, allowing you to cater to a global audience and extend your reach.
• Virtual Assistant : Create an AI-powered virtual assistant for your website or app that provides travel tips, answers user questions, and helps navigate your content using voice commands.
• Voice-Based Social Media Content : Use audio AI to create engaging voice-based content for platforms like Clubhouse or Twitter Spaces, allowing you to connect with your audience in real-time and share your travel experiences.
• Audio Editing and Enhancement : Enhance your audio content quality by using AI tools to remove background noise, balance levels, and improve overall sound.
• Voice Branding : Develop a unique and recognizable voice for your travel brand using audio AI, establishing a consistent audio identity across all your content and platforms.

PHOTO TOOLS

Travel writers, bloggers, and content creators are constantly seeking captivating visuals to enrich their storytelling and bring their adventures to life. With the advent of photo AI tools, globetrotting creatives can now effortlessly enhance your visual content, automating various tasks while maintaining the essence of your work. By harnessing the power of these cutting-edge technologies, travel enthusiasts can ensure that their content is as visually striking as their narratives, captivating their audience and evoking a sense of wanderlust in every pixel.

• Mid-Journey – This is probably the leading Photo/art AI tool out there at the moment. I have found it a bit difficult to learn and get good results, but some people are having great success.
• DreamStudio Stable Diffusion – Easy-to-use text to image AI tool. Capable of generating photo-realistic images given any text input, cultivates autonomous freedom to produce incredible imagery, empowers billions of people to create stunning art within seconds.
• Dream UP –
• ImgCreator –
• Dall-E 2 –
• Mokker – Remove backgrounds and replace on any image.
• Cutout – Has several AI design tools.
• SuperMeme –
• Designer by Microsoft –
• Background – Background removal and replacement tool
• HotPot –
• NVIDIA Canvas – Turns your crude paintings into photos.
• Adobe Firefly (beta) – Takes text and turns into amazing images. FYI, Adobe has integrated many AI features into their suite of products.
• Kive – An AI-powered tool designed to help creative professionals easily organize visual libraries and create mood boards for their projects. By leveraging AI to automatically tag images, the tool simplifies the search process and makes it easier for users to find the exact content they’re looking for.
• Ideogram – Text to image similar to Mid-Journey, but really easy to use. Downside at the moment is not enough server space so very slow. Results vary, and there is no way to prompt for edits. This type of technology will however continue to improve.

Here are some ways content creators can leverage photo AI tools:

• Photo Enhancement : Use AI tools to automatically adjust lighting, color balance, and sharpness, turning ordinary photos into professional-quality images that enhance your content.
• Background Removal or Replacement : Employ AI to easily remove or replace backgrounds in your images, allowing you to create clean, consistent visuals that focus on the subject matter.
• AI-Generated Images: Don’t have a corresponding image? Let AI generate stunning visuals or illustrations related to your travel content.
• Object or Scene Recognition : Utilize AI-powered tools to identify and tag objects or scenes in your images, making it easier to search, organize, and manage your travel photo library.
• Image Resizing and Optimization : Optimize your photos for web and social media platforms using AI tools that resize and compress images without losing quality, ensuring faster loading times and better user experience.
• Social Media Memes/Graphics – You can use AI tools to quickly create graphics or memes for social media.

AI MARKETING TOOLS

In the competitive world of travel blogging and content creation, harnessing the power of AI-driven marketing tools can make all the difference in expanding one’s reach and growing a loyal audience. These advanced technologies enable travel enthusiasts to streamline their marketing efforts, refine their strategies, and engage with their target audience in meaningful ways. By leveraging AI’s data-driven insights and automation capabilities, travel bloggers and content creators can optimize their online presence, creating a lasting impact and building a strong, authentic connection with their readers.

Examples of AI marketing tools that can be helpful for travel bloggers and content creators:

• Survey AI Tool : GoHoller is a helpful tool to survey your audience with.
• Social media automation : Tools like Buffer or Hootsuite, with AI capabilities, can help you schedule, analyze, and optimize your social media posts, ensuring maximum engagement and reach across multiple platforms.
• Name Generator – Struggling to come up with a new blog or product name, check out Namelix.com .
• Email Marketing Personalization : Platforms like Mailchimp are harnessing AI to personalize and segment your email campaigns, tailoring content for specific audience groups and improving open and click-through rates.
• Presentations – Create presentations in a fraction of the time with Beautiful.ai .
• Content Optimization: Tools like MarketMuse or Clearscope use AI to analyze your content and provide recommendations on keywords, topic coverage, and structure to improve your search engine rankings.
• Chatbot Integration : Implement AI-powered chatbots, like Chatfuel or MobileMonkey, on your website or social media platforms to enhance user experience, provide instant assistance, and engage with your audience in real-time.
• Sentiment Analysis : Utilize AI tools like Brand24 or Mention to monitor online mentions of your brand, analyze audience sentiment, and gather insights to refine your marketing strategy and better connect with your readers.
• Profile Images – Create profile photos with different backgrounds from an existing photos with PFMaker.com
• Logo Creators – Use LogoAI.com to create AI generated logos, then customize to your liking.
• Website Builder – Easily create a website using: App.mixo.io
• Ninja Tech – AI Executive Assistant.

AI VIDEO TOOLS

The ever-growing demand for engaging video content in the travel industry calls for innovative solutions to streamline the creation process and captivate audiences. AI-powered video tools are the answer, offering content creators an array of sophisticated features to enhance their storytelling, optimize production workflows, and tailor their videos to the preferences of their viewers. By embracing these cutting-edge tools, travel bloggers and content creators can elevate their video content, ensuring that their stories resonate with viewers and effectively inspire wanderlust in every frame.

That said, we’re not at the point where we can simply describe a story and watch AI spin out a movie or TV show. But, AI can produce compelling shortform content for entertainment, education, training, or marketing purposes by finding and assembling videos, images, and music, then generating narration — all based on your script, which can also be AI generated.

Five examples of AI video tools that can be helpful for content creators in the travel space:

• AI-powered video summarization: Tools like DeepVA or SummarizeBot can condense lengthy travel videos into shorter, engaging highlights, making it easier for viewers to consume and share your content.
• Unreal Engine and Wonder Studio – Combined, these AI tools provide the ability to create advanced real-time 3D creations while automatically composing, animating characters into a live-action scenes.
• Automated video creation: Platforms like Lumen5 or Magisto use AI to convert text-based content, like blog posts or articles, into dynamic and visually appealing videos, expanding your content reach across different formats.
• Video personalization: AI-driven solutions like Vidyard or Spirable can help tailor video content to individual viewers based on their preferences and interests, creating a more engaging and personalized viewing experience.
• AI-generated animations: Tools like RunwayML or Daz 3D can assist in creating realistic animations or 3D renderings of travel destinations, providing your audience with immersive and interactive visuals when actual footage is unavailable.
• Adobe Firefly – Currently in Beta, this program promises to make video storytelling as easy as telling in text.
• InVideo – InVideo simplifies video creation with ready-made templates that you can quickly customize even if you’ve never done it before.
• Visla – AI powered video creation platform that enables teams and individuals to easily record, edit, and share high-quality videos.
• HeyGen – HeyGen is an AI-powered platform that enables easy creation of professional videos through features like talking avatars and text-to-video. With over 100 AI avatars and 300 voices in 40 languages, users can quickly produce realistic lip-synced videos. The platform provides a suite of features including text-to-speech, audio uploads, multi-scene videos, and creative styles, alongside templates for various video types. Its API allows for easy integration with other products. With no video editing skills required, it’s ideal for creating engaging videos for marketing, e-learning, and more.
• RunwayML – From basic editing to advanced post-processing, Runway is like having your own video production studio right inside your browser. Simplify the tedious, repetitive, and time consuming aspects of video editing.

AI Tools for WordPress

• WP AI Assistant – With this one-of-a-kind plugin for WordPress, you can turn your website into a conversational interface powered by artificial intelligence.
• Speaker – Speaker turns text into synthesized speech. More than 235 voices in 40+ languages and variants are used to turn written text into human-sounding speech
• Link Whisper – When making internal links, Link Whisper is your best bet. While linking between interior website pieces is often overlooked, it can be crucial for user engagement and search engine optimization.
• RankMath – Manage the indexed material and its visibility on search engines. Website content may be easily optimized with the help of multiple in-built suggestions, and users can gain insight into excellent SEO techniques in the process.

AI Tools for Business and/or Productivity

• MyMind – Amazing browser plugin that helps you keep track of everything, and easily search for what you’re looking for. Sort of like browser bookmarks, but on steroids.

Helpful AI Articles

• How AI Could Transform Travel—and How to Take Advantage of It
• How ChatGPT Can Help You Build Your Business: All You Need to Know
• ChatGPT vs Google Bard (2023): An in-depth comparison
• Meet Your New Executive Assistant, A Powerful AI Named Atlas
• Yikes, now AI can design a whole website from a text prompt
• I used AI to double my income in one year. It wasn’t hard to do and didn’t cost me anything
• GPT-4-generated pitches are 3x more likely to secure funding than human ones
• ChatGPT SEO Strategies: How to Supercharge Your Website Traffic Using ChatGPT and SEMrush!
• How to use Midjourney: The popular AI image generator
• The Rise of the AI Underground
• Generate Leads With ChatGPT: Create Free Resources Your Audience Will Love
• How to use GPT as a natural language to SQL query engine
• 7 Best AI Art Generators of 2023
• 10 Best ChatGPT Prompts To Use for Making Money
• 7 advanced ChatGPT prompt-writing tips you need to know
• Taking The Leap With AI: The Top 10 Game-Changing Uses For ChatGPT-4

As you can see, these AI tools for travel bloggers is expanding rapidly. I will do my best to continue to update this list and provide helpful solutions and AI tools for my friends in the travel sector. If you have any suggestions of AI tools that should be included, please drop me a line. And, if we met at the TBEX Eau Claire conference in Wisconsin, be sure to say hi.

Mike Shubic

Tags: AI Chatbots , AI Tools , AI Tools for Content Creators , AI Tools for Travel Bloggers , AI Tools for travel writers

Novel: Lines, Signs & Forks

Featured road trips, roadside attractions, travel experiences, most road tripped man in the world, latest posts.

6 ways to travel smarter this summer using Google tools

Mar 27, 2024

[[read-time]] min read

Some of our new and existing tools from Search, Maps and Shopping will make summer travel a breeze.

• General summary

Get ready for summer travel with Google tools! Discover new places with AI-powered trip ideas in Search, find curated recommendations in Google Maps, and customize your travel lists. Create your perfect travel wardrobe with personalized style recommendations. Translate on-screen text instantly with Circle to Search or use Lens to translate the world around you. Explore like a local with multisearch in Lens, getting AI-powered insights about what you see.

• Bullet points
• Get trip ideas with generative AI in Search : Explore new places with AI-powered itineraries that include attractions, restaurants, flights, and hotels.
• Find lists of recommendations in Maps : Discover lists of places to go from publishers and locals, including trending, top, and hidden gem restaurant lists.
• Create even more customized lists in Maps : Organize your travel plans or share your favorite spots with new customization tools.
• Curate your travel wardrobe with Search : Get personalized style recommendations for apparel and accessories that complement your vacation wardrobe.
• Translate your screen with Circle to Search : Instantly translate text on your screen, including PDFs and streaming app lyrics.
• Shakespeare-ish

In summer's embrace, Google's tools inspire, With travel tips to fuel your wanderlust. AI's magic weaves trip plans, a desire, Unveiling hidden gems, a traveler's trust.

Maps reveal local secrets, lists galore, Curate your wardrobe, style at your command. Translate screens, explore without a bore, Lens guides your steps, a virtual helping hand.

AI overviews, knowledge at your side, Multisearch unveils the world's untold tales. Google's gifts, a traveler's joyful ride, Summer's adventures, where your spirit sails.

Summer's here, explore Google tools help plan your trip AI-powered guides

Discover new spots Maps lists show local gems Customize your plans

Style recommendations Curate your travel wardrobe Translate with ease

Lens translates text Multisearch gives AI insights Explore like a pro

Explore other styles:

Attention travelers: Summer is right around the corner — which means summer vacation is, too. So today we’re sharing six ways Google tools can help you prepare for and make the most of your next trip.

1. Get trip ideas with generative AI in Search

Exploring a new place is one of the best parts of traveling. But uncovering the best spots to visit (or stay, or eat) can be difficult or time-consuming. So just ahead of the summer travel season, we’re testing new, AI-powered capabilities in Search that can do some of the heavy lifting for you.

Now, if you’re opted into Search Generative Experience (SGE) and you ask something like “plan me a 3 day trip to Philadelphia that's all about history,” you’ll get a set of suggestions that includes attractions and restaurants, plus an overview of your flight and hotel options.

These itineraries will bring together a range of ideas from sites across the web, as well as information like reviews, photos and other Business Profile details that people have submitted to Google for more than 200 million places around the world.

With all of these links and resources organized in one place, it’s easy to dig deeper and learn more about your destination or compare different options. And when you’re ready, you can quickly export your trip ideas to Gmail, Docs or Maps to keep tweaking or share with your travel companions.

This capability is available in English in the U.S. — just enroll in Search Labs and enable SGE to try it out. As with everything in Search Labs, this functionality is experimental. So as you research these trip ideas, share your feedback with a quick thumbs up or down.

2. Find lists of recommendations in Maps

If you prefer to do a bit more hands-on research, we’re making it easier to discover lists of recommendations right in Google Maps — from sites you love and in-the-know locals.

Starting in select cities in the U.S. and Canada, if you search for a city in Maps, you’ll now see lists of recommendations for places to go from both publishers — like The Infatuation — as well as members of the Maps community. We’re also introducing trending, top and hidden gem restaurant lists created by Google Maps, based on what people are interested in or loving in that city.

3. Create even more customized lists in Maps

We’re also adding new tools to help you customize lists you create, so you can easily organize your travel plans or share your favorite spots.

When you create a list of places in Maps, you’ll be able to choose the order they appear. So you can organize them by top favorites or chronologically like an itinerary — tailoring your list based on whatever you need.

You’ll also be able to link to content from your social channels — like your review of the delicious meal you ate — for more context on why you saved that spot to your list.

Both of these updates are coming to Google Maps on Android and iOS globally later this month.

4. Curate your travel wardrobe with Search

Part of the fun of planning a trip is planning your outfits. Our new personalized style recommendations tool can help you easily discover more products you’ll like. When you search for apparel or accessories in the U.S. on mobile browsers or in the Google app — like “men’s polo shirts” — you’ll now see a section labeled “style recommendations.”

You can quickly rate options with a thumbs up or down (or a swipe left or right), and get instant results with items that complement your vacation wardrobe. Not quite ready to buy? We’ll remember your preferences for next time to help you narrow down your options much faster.

5. Translate your screen with Circle to Search, or what’s around you with Lens

If you’re traveling somewhere and don’t know the local language, deciphering even basic information can be challenging. Maybe you’ve found a great restaurant to check out, but you need to translate the PDF menu on their website. Or perhaps you’re getting acquainted with local musicians on your favorite streaming app and want to understand their lyrics. Google Translate can help, but copying the text or switching to another app can take you out of your flow.

Luckily, Circle to Search , available on select Android devices, will soon let you instantly translate whatever’s on your screen. Simply long press the home button or navigation bar and tap the translate icon.

Translations in Circle to Search will start rolling out in the coming weeks. Circle to Search is currently accessible on Pixel 7+ devices and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series , in all languages and locations where they’re available. And starting this week, we’re rolling out Circle to Search to more Android phones, including foldables, and tablets. 1

Meanwhile, if you need to translate something around you, like a street sign or poster, Google Lens can step in to help. Just tap the Lens icon in the Google app and select the translate filter. Lens will automatically detect the source language and blend the translated text over the original.

6. Use multisearch in Lens as your personal tour guide

Lens is also great for exploring the world around you, especially with the latest AI-powered upgrades to multisearch. Just point your camera, ask a question about what you see, and you’ll get helpful insights in an AI overview. Perhaps you’re at a museum and want to know more about a certain work of art. You can snap a photo, ask “why did the artist paint this?” and get a quick overview with the information you need, along with links to dive deeper. It’s almost like having a tour guide in your pocket.

Use Lens and multisearch to learn about paintings, like Monet’s Water Lilies at The Art Institute of Chicago.

AI overviews on multisearch results are available in English in the U.S. for everyone — no enrollment in Search Labs required. To get started, look for the Lens camera icon in the Google app for Android or iOS .

More Information

Circle to Search is available on Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and is currently rolling out to more Android devices including Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy S23 series, S23 FE, Z Fold5, Z Flip5 and Tab S9 series. Circle to Search is coming soon to more Android devices including Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.

Related stories

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5 AI-powered tools to help you get outside more

Celebrate spring with floral illustrations on Google Books

New ways to power up your electric vehicle adventures with Google Maps

Find more sustainable ways to get around, with new Maps and Search updates

Quiz: Do you know solar eclipse Search Trends?

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• In Photos: Every Three Key Hotel in Italy

The ins and outs of the most outstanding hotels in the country.

Italy Venecia Hotels Travel MICHELIN Keys

The Three Key distinction is the highest hotel honor in The MICHELIN Guide. Earning One Key (107 properties) or Two Keys (31 properties) is difficult enough, but only eight hotels received the Three Key distinction in Italy. These hotels excel in all five criteria used to judge hotels by our Inspectors. Here, we thought it fitting to focus on just one of those criteria — the most photogenic of the five — architecture and interior design. Below, take a look at the interiors and exteriors of each of our eight Three Key hotels in Italy.   Read also: Every Three Key hotel in Paris Every Three Key hotel in New York City

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Hero Image: Corte della Maestà — Civita di Bagnoregio

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Why It's Worth Paying for a Third-Party Mobile Photo Editing App

If you want to give your mobile photos an edge, consider paying for a third-party photo editing app.

Quick Links

My top mobile photo editing picks, why i pay for third-party photo editing apps, should you pay for a photo editing app, key takeaways.

• Apps like Picsart and Photoshop Express offer extensive tools for photo editing that surpass native and free photo editing apps.
• Paid photo editing apps provide superior editing tools and enhance creativity for professional results.
• Investing in a third-party photo editing app can save time and improve the overall quality of your photographs.

With a smartphone in every pocket, anyone can claim to be a photographer now. But what about the editing part? Is your phone's native photo app good enough to get the job done? Here's why I think it's worth spending money on a third-party photo editing app.

After some trial and error, I've honed in on a select few apps that consistently deliver good results. Picsart and Photoshop Express are the only two that have earned their spot on my device.

Picsart is a powerhouse , offering an extensive array of tools and features. And it's more than a photo editor, it also functions as a video editor, AI art generator, drawing app, and graphic design tool. It's got everything I might need for doing something creative on my phone.

In the realm of photo editing, Photoshop has long been the standard—Photoshop Express is like its mobile sidekick. It has everything you could possibly need for high-quality photo editing.

Put these two together, and there's no limit to what you can create. You can use both apps for free, Picsart also has a free browser app , but the good stuff is locked behind the subscriptions.

Download: Picsart for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Download: Photoshop Express for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

If Picsart or Photoshop Express are not for you, check out these other photo editing apps for Android and iOS . Many of them are free, and some offer subscriptions for access to better features.

If you're still on the fence about doling out cash on a photo editing app, here's my two cents on why I reckon it's worth it.

Superior Editing Tools

Not only do third-party apps usually have more to offer than your native photo editing app, but getting a paid version normally means you get unlimited access to all of its tools.

For example, many of Picsart's AI tools and nicer filters are locked behind a subscription, such as the background remover. And the Photoshop Express Advanced Healing tool is also only available to premium users. To me, those features are exactly why I love the apps. Apple Photos doesn't come close.

Enhanced Creativity

The more tools you have access to, the more creative you can get. To demonstrate, let me edit a photo with a vintage aesthetic using Apple Photos (first screenshot) and then Picsart (second screenshot).

As you can see, the difference is striking. I had to make the best of the basic tools Apple Photos has, while Picsart has specific filters and overlays to achieve the exact look I'm going for. The first screenshot doesn't look bad, it just doesn't scream vintage.

Professional Results

If you take your mobile photography a bit more seriously, especially if you have a social media page dedicated to photography, a native or free photo editing app probably won't cut it.

Photoshop Express comes with tools like Smooth, Heal, Dehaze, and Red Eye. These tools go beyond filters and cropping and actually fix errors in your shots, which I consider to be a crucial part of photography.

It Saves Time

Setting aside all the hours I waste tinkering with Picsart's templates and AI effects, a paid photo editing app can end up saving you time, believe it or not.

Think about this scenario: you took a great shot of a cityscape, and you want to edit it to get that moody, blue hue of the cyberpunk aesthetic—which app will get you there faster? Sorry again Apple Photos, but it's not you.

If you don't feel the need to tweak your photos after snapping them, my answer would be no. If you're considering buying an image editing app for specific features that would give your photos an edge, it's worth a shot.

Most photo editing apps have free versions or offer free trials for full access, so maybe give that a try for a few weeks. If it leaves you feeling like you've gained anything, such as photography skills or more likes for a killer edit, I say go for it!

Visit Waterford launches 'Dive into Waterford' summer itineraries and photo competition

Win an overnight stay and a day out in waterford for you and three friends by entering the 'dive into waterford' photo competition..

Waterford's tourism sector has launched its new 'Dive into Waterford' campaign this summer, with six different itineraries for visitors to choose from and a social-media-based photography competition.

The new campaign from Visit Waterford is designed to encourage visitors to uncover the depths of the Waterford they may not have known about. 

The team has created six different ‘Dive In’ itineraries for visitors to choose from, featuring pretty coastal villages like Dunmore East, Ardmore and An Rinn, and top destinations like Tramore, Lismore and Dungarvan, and Waterford City.

“We have developed a range of itineraries for visitors to take the opportunity to take a dive into our heritage, our coastline, our food, the wilderness of Waterford, Waterford’s activities and of course Waterford’s luxury offering," said Mealla Fahey, Director of Visit Waterford.

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Visit Waterford is also offering visitors a chance to soak up some local culture en route as they launch an all-Waterford summer playlist on the music streaming platform Spotify which celebrates the county’s rich musical culture.

Speaking at the Visit Waterford launch on May 1, Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Joe Conway said: “Ireland’s oldest city has enjoyed a range of award wins, from the ‘Best Place to Live’ to, ‘Best Place to Visit’ and more. So now, it is time for Waterford to shine and for visitors, now is the time to visit and take the opportunity to take a ‘dive into’ all that Waterford has to offer.

"We are so fortunate to enjoy a 147km unspoiled coastline, backed by two mountain ranges and the stunning Waterford Greenway connecting it all. There has always been a date in the future when the culmination of enormous investment in Waterford’s tourism product would arrive, and I believe that date has now arrived.”  

Pictured in Tramore is Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Joe Conway with Visit Waterford members Janet Carey, Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Karen Harris Dunmore East Adventure Centre, Emma O’Brien Waterford Treasures and Mount Congreve Gardens Sara Dolan, Chairperson Visit Waterford, Commercial Director Mount Congreve Gardens and Waterford Treasures, Mealla Fahey, Lismore Heritage Centre, Clare Barrett, House of Waterford, Philip Erskine, Granville Hotel, Laura Coffey, Waterford Castle Sinead Corcoran, Tower Hotel, Michael O Neill, Tower Hotel, Paula Halloran, Love2Learn, Louise Prendergast, Viking Hotel, Edel Clancy Lafacdio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Clare Busher O' Sullivan, Visit Waterford. Credit: Patrick Browne

Visit Waterford has also unveiled a brand new social media-based photography competition.

The competition is a photographic celebration of Waterford and encourages photography enthusiasts to discover their creativity and upload photos to social media using the #DiveIntoWaterford hashtag.

“We are delighted to announce a brand new photography competition for Waterford. It is such a picture-perfect destination and we know that there are a great deal of wonderful photographic opportunities for people to dive into capturing images of our historic features, our coastline, our fantastic food, the wilds of Waterford and more," said Sara Dolan, Chair of Visit Waterford.

"It will be wonderful to see the variety of interpretations that will result from the #DiveIntoWaterford photography competition this summer.”

To enter, post a photograph to Instagram, X or Facebook and tag @VisitWaterford. Make sure to use the #DiveIntoWaterford hashtag and post your image before August 31, 2024. Entries will also be accepted by emailing: [email protected].

Finalists will be selected at the beginning of September and asked to submit a high-resolution copy of their image via email, along with their details. The top 30 images will be posted on Visit Waterford's Facebook page for a public voting period to select the winning image for the 2024 Visit Waterford photography competition.

Are you planning a vacation in Ireland? Looking for advice or want to share some great memories? Join our Irish travel Facebook group.

In addition, the finalist’s images will be hosted in a public exhibition at Mount Congreve Gardens in Waterford in September 2024 where the finalists will be invited to an occasion and the winner will be announced. The exhibition will also be hosted online at VisitWaterford.com  

The winner will also be awarded a wonderful overnight stay at Dooley’s Hotel in Waterford plus a day out for themselves and three of their friends so that they can dive into all that Waterford has to offer. They will be treated to a tasty and adventurous day out in Waterford beginning in the City with Freedom of Waterford passes from Waterford Treasures, followed by brunch at The Stables Cafe, a jaunt to Tramore to enjoy access at the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, followed by an adrenalin filled afternoon at The Dunmore East Adventure Centre and rounding off the day with a delicious dinner at East Pier in Dunmore East .

For further details on the photography competition, and full terms and conditions, see www.VisitWaterford.com .  

Travel information, ‘Dive Into Waterford’ itineraries and an events guide can also be found on the website and also are available on social media via @visitwaterford.

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