Download the following Apps: Google Translate with the English, Portugese, and Spanish language packs, WhatsApp, Uber, and Bolt for communication and rides.
Android additional useful Apps: Lens by Google to allow
getting information on what you're looking at and is free except for
the data. Also consider SmartGuide, GeoTale, GPSmyCity which are subscription or cheap to get information/history on many attractions.
Click here for the things to consider if you plan to
use your phone.
First order of business is to contact your carrier and see what they
offer for using your phone in the countries you are planning to
visit. Depending on the phone model,
your carrier may offer in-country calls, text, and data. Roaming data
can be
expensive. Not all US phones are compatible with forign wireless
systems because
they use different radio frequencies. Find out! Roaming data can be expensive so if your phone is able to use an eSim you can save lots of money on prepaid plans.
Another opotion is to purchase a sim card or e-sim's for
the coiuntries you are visiting. This can be a less expensive option
than using a US carrier roaming data. However, WiFi is usually free and
you can set your phone to use data
intensaive apps only while on WiFi. Gogle Maps can
be used off line if you download the maps for the cities we'll be visiting, so there is little need for using much roaming data.
Things you will want to download before you leave the US so you
don't gobble up data for these apps.
1) Download Google Translate and
the language
packs for the countries you will visit. You'll need English,
Portugese, and Spanish for this trip.
2) Download Google Maps and the off-line maps that allow navigation without data
useage. You'll need maps for Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and for
Spain: Bilbao, Burgos, Madrid, and Segovia.
3) To totally geek out, check out the path of the eclipse
with all the times for each phase of the eclipse. (Note: they showed
C1's where there should be C2 and C3.) We will be right on the path of
totality just below Burgos Spain. An animation of the eclipse
show first contact, C1, when the moon just touches the sun, C2, when
the moon just covers the sun, C3, when moon just starts to slip off the
sun.