Must Have Apps for Traveling – WhatsApp Messenger
Did you know, most of the larger cell phone providers in much of Central & South America include unlimited data use of WhatsApp? In the plan, not counting against data used! That is free messaging, free photo sharing, free voice messages, free calling, and free video chatting from WhatsApp to WhatsApp. So it is no wonder that most travel businesses here have come to rely on WhatsApp as the most efficient and economical form of communication.
Why You Should Get WhatsApp Before You Travel to Latin America
There are a million reasons you should download WhatsApp but let me stick to a few simple ways it comes in handy when you are traveling. Not just in Latin America, but anywhere in the world.
You Only Need a Wi-Fi Connection, No Roaming Data or Phone Plan
You do not need to bother with any sort of expensive roaming plan when traveling. So long as you are connected to internet, you can use WhatsApp to make calls, send photos or videos, and even make video calls. You can set your phone on airplane mode even and just connect internet so you never have to worry about coming home from vacation after spending all your savings to find an atrocious cell phone bill. We have all been there one time or another, but not anymore!
WhatsApp is End to End Encrypted.
What does that mean to you? It is A safe and secure place to store your travel docs. What my husband and I do before any trip is make a group chat for the trip. Here we message a copy of our passports, visas, plane tickets, tour confirmations, etc. This way it is all handy to pull up whenever you need to present them. This came in super handy during the pandemic when you had to do all sorts of online forms and provide things like QR codes or confirmations from other apps. Just screenshot everything and send all into one place. Easy peasy, and the guy in line behind you will appreciate you too.
Photos & Video Sharing with Family & Friends.
When traveling, not all of us want to share our photos with the world. But when you are having fun, you always want to share with those you love. So I send photos to my family or friends’ groups of sites or experiences I know they may enjoy. Just me, my friends and some fun back and forth. Photos, videos, voice messages…you can do it all for free so long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.
Honest disclaimer here, I am not a fan of social media, and I rarely share anything on Facebook. When Facebook acquired WhatsApp, I was very skeptical that it would be ruined. (I hate the new emoji reactions….save it for FB, tired of the extra dinging just for a thumbs up or smiley face!!) If I want to send something to family and friends, I just want to speak to my friends and family, not know what else is going on outside that interaction. So for that, WhatsApp groups serve a better purpose.
Contacting Local Numbers for Tour Providers, Local Restaurants & Other Travel Services in Case of Emergency
As I mentioned above, most locals and businesses here in Latin America use WhatsApp as one of the most common methods of communication. We have clients from all over the world, so it only makes sense that we want to use the best form of communication no matter where our clients are visiting us from. Likewise, it is important that you can contact us as well without having to incur roaming charges. Most hotels, restaurants, and even some transportation has WiFi available. When traveling, it is important to have a means of contacting not only locals, but loved ones back home in case of emergency. WhatsApp helps set your mind at ease while traveling because you can stay connected nearly everywhere in case of emergency.
It is the Most Widely Used Messenger App in the World
Aside from the social media messaging apps, WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app in the world. So, if you are on WhatsApp, there is a good chance the person you are trying to reach is too. If not, you can send them a regular text message to invite them.
If you are a stats nerd and want to see how many WhatsApp users are in your country, you may want to check this out.
How much does it cost to download WhatsApp and Where Can I Find it?
Free! You can download WhatsApp on most cell phones so long as the operating systems are up to date and capable of the features WhatsApp offers. You can head to your app store on your phone, or we have included the links here for your convenience.
And if you are one of the lucky few who are able to leave your cell phones behind and only travel with a Mac or PC, you can follow this link to download WhatsApp to your Mac or Windows PC.
Again, these are just a few reasons we think WhatsApp is the bees knees when traveling. And we love it for business too.
We highly recommend you download WhatsApp and get familiar with how to use it prior to traveling so you do not have to hassle with receiving a text message on your phone to confirm the service. This could cost you a roaming text, or worse you may not be able to connect your phone. So, with a little planning ahead, you can communicate anywhere hassle-free on your next vacation.
Please keep in mind, we are a travel business, we are not in any way affiliated with WhatsApp. You can find more info about the app on their website. But if you have additional questions, zip us an email, or just connect with us on WhatsApp and test your new app! +1 210 858 6353.
Happy Travels!