The future is now! It’s definitely a good time to be a traveler – especially if you own a smartphone. 2015 was a banner year for the wanderer as travel tech saw improvements by leaps and bounds, some destinations the world over became more friendly, and even airlines tried to make things easier on their passengers. If you’re the globetrotting type, get ready to learn all about the coolest travel advancements to hit the market or coming soon that will no doubt become the industry standard in years to come.
1. Goodbye Hotel Room Keys
In a technological upgrade that can most adequately be expressed as “about freaking time,” major hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott are updating their hotel rooms to allow smartphones to double as room keys. Travelers will simply download an app that controls the lock on their assigned door. It’s as simple as that! No more fumbling with an extra thing to carry around, and no more forgetting your room key card.
2. Your Commute Is About To Get Way More Fun
The car of the future is almost here. Companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Tesla and Google are currently putting the finishing touches on self-driving cars. Over the next few years, features like automatic braking, acceleration and steering will be released on select models, with the goal of making manual driving a thing of the past. Imagine how much more fun road trips will be when you don’t actually have to do any driving!
3. Carry Your Pets With You Wherever You Go
It’s a sad fact of life that your pets cannot go everywhere you do. Sometimes, they just need to be left at home for a day or two while you satisfy your wanderlust. For those travelers who get a little separation anxiety when away from their furry friend, there’s Petcube, a sleek little camera that pairs with your smartphone to provide a live video feed of your animal’s activities no matter where you are in the world. In addition, Petcube’s two-way speaker allows you to communicate with your animal, even when you’re out of town.
