Do I need a visa for Vietnam? What’s the local emergency number in India? How can I find the closest pharmacy to me in Singapore?
These are all questions I’ve literally asked myself before, and I’m sure you have too (destination variable), or at least have wondered how you’d find the answers to them while traveling abroad. If you’re a good traveler, you probably took the time to look up the safety information on the U.S. government’s website, and checked out a few blog posts from people who have been to the destination you’re going to.
If you’re a great traveler, you also took a look at the recently improved TravelSmart app by Allianz.
It’s a free resource that has all of the safety information you need to know both when preparing for, and during your travels. It also includes features that allow you to store your travel plans, as well as any personal medical information you may need to have on hand in case of an emergency.
Some of my personal favorite features is that it includes locations of local hospitals, pharmacies, and embassies, and has 24/7 on call emergency assistance. Below you can find more details about these features, plus a lot more!
Finding out you need a visa to get into a country as you’re heading to the airport is never fun. Trust me, I got stuck in Bangkok because I forgot to look it up once on my way to Vietnam. But the TravelSmart app has all of that information handy, so you can easily look up visa and immunization requirements with the tap of a button!
The app also functions on geolocation, so it can provide you with country information and destination guides as you travel! This comes in super handy if you’re a frequent traveler, or adding destinations as you go!
Keep track of your flight information and status with the Real Time Flight Status Tracking feature which allows you to add your upcoming flight or flights to the app! Even if you forget to write down the flight number (which, let’s be serious, everyone does), the app can still find it by using the airport locations and dates.
There’s also a Medication Dictionary which let’s you store a photo of your prescription label for fast reference in case you need it, and it also helps you find similar international names! This would have come in super handy when I was in India and ran out of a medication I was taking for a skin allergy!
If you’re in an emergency situation abroad, you can’t just dial 911 like you would in the United States. It just doesn’t work that way. Looking up local emergency numbers then on top of that, storing them somewhere, is also typically something you don’t think about. But on the TravelSmart app, you can access Global Emergency Numbers right from the home screen. Hopefully you’ll never need to use them.
But speaking of emergency situations, the app also provides First Aid Term Translations for over 60 illnesses, injuries, and first aid needs, into 18 common languages! So no need to ever worry about having to ask, “Como se dice ‘diarrhea’ en Espanol”.
This is what I was talking about that’s one of my favorite features of the TravelSmart app; the “Assistance Around Me” button that not only includes a hospital locator, but now also includes doctor’s offices, pharmacies, police stations, and U.S. Embassy offices. Your mother will finally have peace of mind.
Especially if you mention that there’s also a 24 hour Contact Us button that can connect you with the assistance team for help with travel-related issues and emergency medical situations!
You can still download and use the TravelSmart app for free if you don’t have an insurance plan with Allianz…but with all of the resources they provide which prove their dedication to your safety, why wouldn’t you get one? I know you probably think you’re invincible like I do…but that’s basically proof that you really do need one.
I have the Frequent Traveler insurance plan that’s only $129 a year and covers pretty much everything, which you can read more about here:
Once you do get one, you can use the app to access your policy, and get all the information on what benefits are covered, as well as valid dates for the plan. You can also file and track claims right from the app, and even select how you want to be paid!
Normally I don’t get super excited over apps unless they’re a cool photo editor (and they don’t take up my precious phone memory space), but the TravelSmart app is actually one that I use, and highly recommend for all travelers. The new updates roll out mid-November, so be sure to download it and check it out!
Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Allianz, however all opinions, awesomeness, and writing are my own.
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View Comments
This is great!! Thanks for this detailed post, Alyssa. I've been using World Nomads but have been looking for an alternative. Downloading now ;-)
Awesome!! Glad I could help!
Alyssa, Is there a language barrier? You didn't mention anything about communication,
Corkie Stumpf
Where? I usually don't have trouble with language barriers since most people in the world speak English :)
Downloading now! I've never heard of this app but sounds like a lifesaver and something every traveler needs. It would save so much time too, not having to research where the hospitals, embassies, and police stations are and what the emergency numbers are. Thanks so much for sharing!
Yes it's great!! Especially since it works without service!
Great post..thnx for sharing it.