Do you plan on taking a vacation in retirement? If you do, there are many ways you can optimize your experience by using your phone. Your phone can be pretty much whatever you want it to be on vacation – a note pad, a map, even a flashlight. Here are eight ways to use your phone on vacation.

Make a Packing List: Before you start your journey, you’ll have to pack. Maybe you already have a list you consult, or you make a mental list before every trip. You can also write a packing list on your phone that you can update whenever and wherever. Don’t forget these 5 essential items to pack on your next trip.

Check out a menu: Rather than walking to look at the menus at 10 different restaurants, you can view menus on your phone if the restaurant has a website. This is helpful if you have any dietary restrictions or are just looking for your favorite dish.

Map your route: Ever get lost in an unfamiliar place? It’s probably not how you want to spend your vacation. Luckily you can use your phone as a map whether you’re driving or walking. This way, you can explore new places without getting lost.

Get public transit directions: If you’re visiting a city, sometimes the colorful jumble of subway lines can be daunting. And asking for directions doesn’t always get you to where you want to go. But public or mass transit might be the best option for getting around, so if you’re looking to venture onto public transportation, you can use your phone to direct you to which line to take and where to transfer.

Facetime friends and family: You can of course, wait to describe your travels to family and friends when you return. Or you can bring them into the experience by Facetiming them when you’re in front of a great view.

Translate: If you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language, using your phone as a translator can be very helpful. Forget carrying around a small dictionary with you. Your phone can even tell you how to pronounce words.

Get the weather forecast: The local weather forecast is at your fingertips. And if you’re going on outdoor adventures, it’s good to look up the weather before you leave so you know how to pack.

See in the dark: If your phone has a flashlight feature, you can use it when you get back to your hotel room and forget where the light switch is. An actual flashlight isn’t necessarily something you want to carry around with you when you’re traveling, so using your phone can help you save space.

If you’re taking the time to plan for a vacation, you should take the time to plan for retirement. You can take the first step by signing up for a no cost, no obligation financial review. During a review, you’ll sit down with one of our team members at Zinnia Wealth Management and tell us about your retirement goals and concerns. If travel is on your bucket list, we can factor those expenses into a retirement plan.