Magic button hiding in your phone’s camera roll

When you’re travelling, having a phone in your pocket is an absolute necessity. 

But it’s not just for taking photos and scrolling social media. In fact, there are a ton of great smartphone features that can make your holidays easier, safer, and more enjoyable. 

Here are some of the best travel-related tips for iPhone users, to get yourself ready for your next trip. Some of these will only work if you’re running the latest operating system.

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Create a reusable packing list

In the Reminders app, you can create a packing list template, which you can just reuse for future trips. 

Just create a new reminder list with all the miscellaneous items you need to pack for every trip – chargers, adaptors, toiletries, etc. 

Tap the three dots in the top right, and hit ‘save as template’. You can now use this template to create specific lists for each trip you take in the future, modifying them as needed. 

Track flights

All you have to do is send an iMessage with your flight information to someone – or even to yourself. This creates a clickable link within the message that shows flight information including which gate you’re boarding from, possible delays, and estimated time of arrival. 

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For more detailed information on this feature, read our guide here. 

Translate with ease

The Translate app on iPhone can act as your own personal interpreter. 

You can translate written text by typing it in, or tap ‘camera’ within the app and point your phone directly at the text. The app translates the text in real-time as you move the camera.

Or tap the microphone icon, and speak – the app will automatically translate for you. 

Before your trip, download a language to your phone for offline use. Just go to Settings  > Translate, and tap Downloaded Languages within the app. 

Add a location to your reminders

Say you’re heading on a trip to Paris, and need to remember to call a restaurant to make a booking once you’re there. 

You can create a Reminder that will go off once you arrive at a certain location – like your hotel. Just create a reminder and tap the location button – then tap ‘custom’ to add your own location. 

Create and share city guides

Before your trip, create and customise a guide in Apple Maps. You can share your guide with your travel companions, and even download Maps on your iPhone to use offline.

For more about how to do that, check out our detailed guide here. 

To save a detailed map of an area while you’re on WiFi, search for the name of the area and tap ‘download. Then you can adjust the size of the area on the map to optimise storage – maybe you only need to save one neighborhood. 

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Send check-ins to your loved ones

Whether you’re travelling alone or just want to keep your family back home reassured, you can use the Apple feature Check In to automatically update someone when you’ve reached a certain destination. 

If your progress toward that destination stops, your designated contact will receive details like the last known location of the device, battery percentage, and more.

To start a Check In, open a conversation in the Messages app and tap the plus sign on the bottom left. Tap “More,” tap “Check In,” and then tap “Edit” to add details. You can choose “When I Arrive” or “After a timer.” Tap send. 

Both phones need to be running iOS 17 or later for Check In to work. 

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Identify objects in your photos and videos

If you’re looking through your camera roll at photos from your trip, but not quite sure what something is, you can identify objects in your Photos app. 

Just open a photo and look for a symbol at the bottom featuring a circle and two small stars. Tap this, and you’ll get info on popular landmarks, plants, animals, and even food.