Combine Itinerary, Map Navigation, Weather and more into one app
The Role of Technology in Modern Travel
In today’s travel, the integration of technology has significantly transformed the way travellers experience their journeys. Mobile itineraries and mapping navigation systems represent two important technologies that cater to the needs of independent and adventure travellers. This blog explores how these technologies enhance the travellers experiences, particularly focusing on self-guided and multi-day tours, where the need for real-time information and reliable navigation is very important.
The Importance of Mobile Itineraries for Travellers
There’s an expectation today that travellers have instant access to travel information. Mobile itineraries address this need by providing a centralised platform where all trip details are accessible in one place. This approach not only simplifies tour management, because the software used by Operators should easily push data to an itinerary app, but this also ensures that travellers have a seamless experience. Mobile itineraries are especially crucial for self-guided or multi-day tours where the complexity and duration of travel can make traditional paper-based documentation cumbersome and impractical. Gone are the days of 50 page .pdf road books and vouchers printed by the Operator or their customer.
Traditionally guided Multi-day Tours have not seen a need for a mobile itinerary for their customers. This thinking is outdated as travellers are now used to having information at their finger tips on their phone. Not only does this service provide a tool for the guides to ensure consistent information is given, but it also reduces the issue of answering the same 12 questions like... where are we meeting, what time, what's the next activity and so on. This enables the guide to communicate more effectively.
Having navigation and an itinerary in one smart phone app makes multi-day cycle touring easier
Key Elements of a Mobile Itinerary
A comprehensive mobile itinerary includes several critical components:
Pre-Trip Information: Before embarking on their journey, travellers receive all necessary introductory information about their trip, the destination, briefing times and location, expected weather, and any cultural nuances to anticipate.
Vouchers and Bookings: Transfer and activity vouchers should be stored digitally, reducing the need for physical copies and the risk of losing important documents.
Day to day Itinerary: Detailed schedules include timings, locations, and even expected durations for each activity, helping travellers plan their day efficiently.
Accommodation Details: Information about each accommodation, including amenities, check-in procedures, location and contact information, is readily available.
Activity Suggestions: With the advent of Ai personalised recommendations will soon be here for dining, shopping, and additional activities provide travellers with options to enhance their travel experience based on their location and preferences.
The Need for Mapping Navigation Systems in Multi-Day Tours
For multi-day or self-guided cycle and hiking tours effective navigation is crucial, particularly in remote or rural locations, and busy towns or cities,. Traditional signage might be lacking, and complex routes can be challenging to follow. Modern mapping navigation apps provide real-time, turn-by-turn navigation, ensuring travellers do not stray off course (too far :-). These tools are invaluable for reducing the anxiety associated with navigating unfamiliar places and enable a more enjoyable and stress-free trip. Things have changed significantly from paper maps to turn by turn digital navigation. POI (Points of Interest) can also be added to the map layer.
Overview of Popular Mapping Systems
Ride with GPS: Known for its robust features tailored for cyclists, it offers detailed route information, elevation profiles, and offline maps.
Mhikes: Focused on hiking trails, mhikes provides trail information, points of interest, and emergency locators.
Strava: Tracks physical activity and has social networking features. It can be used to record and share activities like running, cycling, hiking, swimming, skiing, golf, and yoga
Bikemap: Ideal for urban and rural bike routes, offering community-based insights, route planning, and navigation features.
Advantages of Using Smartphones Over Traditional GPS Units
Smartphones offer a multifunctional device solution that includes GPS functionality, reducing the need to carry multiple devices like an additional GPS unit. They provide updated map data, location services, link to POI websites and additional functionalities like camera, communication, and emergency services access. The integration with other travel apps for weather, booking, and social interactions makes smartphones a valuable travel companion.
Smartphones are the most modern
and widely used tool by travellers
Benefits of Integrating Mobile Itineraries with Mapping Navigation Systems
Combining mobile itineraries with mapping navigation systems creates a unified travel tool that offers numerous advantages:
Cohesive Experience: Ensures all travel information and navigation aids are in one interface, reducing the hassle of switching between apps and devices.
Enhanced Accessibility: Keeps travellers informed with up-to-date and accessible data, available both online and offline, enhancing the overall travel experience.
Customised Travel: Allows for last minute adjustments and updates, offering a tailored travel experience that can adapt to any changes or preferences.
The Future of Travel is Digital
While Ai is blending into travel the immediate future of travel is digital and on mobile. This is particular important for complex travel like multi-day and self-guided cycle and hiking tours.
As technology continues to evolve, the way we explore and experience new destinations will increasingly rely on these digital tools. For tour operators, embracing these technologies means providing guests with not just a well informed journey, but a comprehensive digital support system that makes their day to day travel easier... it's that simple. And be weary of thinking your customers demographic is not suited to digital and mobile. Because they are thriving in it.
Adopting such integrated systems not only elevates the customer experience but also positions tour operators as modern, innovative, professional and customer-focused companies. If you want to be competitive in the multi-day and self-guide sector you need to front with the technology and services.
Here's what an Ody Trips user had to say...
" I loved the Ody Trips App because it was very intuitive which made it easy to use. I referred to ‘Ody’ every day to check out all the information we needed the following day. Features like the weather was great which made our planning for the day easier in terms of what to wear and what to prepare for if the weather changed. I liked being able to read the details about where we were eating and there was the map feature to help us get to our destination. It was great to have the phone number, host name and what meals were being provided and check-in and check-out time at accommodation. Reading what facilities were provided at the accommodation was helpful, eg swimming pool, hot tub etc. Another feature was having places of interest to visit along the cycle route, eg Lord Rutherford’s Memorial, with the kms stated to our accommodation. Brilliant.
Finally under ‘General’ we found everything we needed to know for our trail, eg trail section info, gradients, trail condition updates etc.
Overall this app provided us with the independence we needed without having to second-guess information we may have wanted or needed, and saved us having to put phone calls through to ask questions. As four 70+ year old ladies, if we can enjoy the cycle trail with the help of this app, then I’m sure someone cycling in a group can do the same."
Val Goulding - Customer of Cycle Journeys New Zealand
