Technology is amazing and a big help to genealogists. How did we do genealogy before computers and cell phones? I recently read “Apps for Scottish Genealogy Travel” posted on The In-Depth Genealogist blog by Christine Woodcock. As I read this blog post, I realized that these tips could apply to all genealogy travel wherever we go - at home or abroad.
Tip 1 – WiFi may not be readily available where you are going. If you are using your own phone be sure and increase your data plan. Christine states that when she gets to Scotland, she will buy a SIM Card that has 8GB of data, unlimited texts, and lots of minutes. This usually costs her around $40. This way you do not have a huge phone bill at the end of the trip. Great advice and something I may not have thought of.
Tip 2 – Family Tree Apps. Use apps that you can use on your phone without needing WiFi. FamilySearch Tree app is a great app as you can attach photos, stories, and documents as you go. Ancestry and MyHeritage also has an app that you can access your tree without WiFi from your phone. Many Genealogy programs such as Legacy and RootsMagic have tree apps that you can use on your phone without needing WiFi.
Tip 3 – Organization Apps. Evernote is a great app for organizing your trip. It is a great place to put your research plan and your travel itinerary. It can be edited as you go. You can take pictures, scan with your phone and save it to Evernote.
Tip 4 – Scanning App. Evernote has a fantastic free scanning app called Scannable. This app will also use OCR to analyze the documents that you scan. Great for documents and photos that you may come across.
Tip 5 – Travel Apps. Expedia and Priceline are some examples. You can use them to book flights, find hotels, and rent cars. Airline apps allow you to check in on-line and be notified of delays. Hotel apps help you with booking rooms, check-in, and checkout.
Tip 6 - Location Specific Apps. Apps for maps, travel guides, restaurants, taxis, purchase train tickets, and bus schedules.
Your phone can help you in your quest for your ancestors, making it an essential tool not only for genealogy but when you travel too. Welcome to the wonderful world of technology.
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