Johannesburg - Contiki Holidays, the youth travel company for 18- to 35-year-olds, has launched an iPhone app, Shout, which is free to download and is the best way for passengers to connect with each other prior to, during and after their trip.
Shout is the latest in a string of digital platforms that Contiki has introduced in the past few months, preceded by The Exchange and MeetUps.
Guests can download the app and set up a profile to connect with other travellers before their bags are packed, through an extension of Contiki’s MeetUps tool.
While on the trip, the app’s main feature is its timeline, where passengers on a specific trip can upload photos, videos and messages to share with fellow travellers, as well as post to their Facebook and Twitter accounts so family and friends can follow their Contiki adventures.
Passengers can add photos and videos when offline, which will be automatically uploaded once in a WiFi area and stamped with the original date and time, something which cuts out expensive roaming charges.
Once the trip ends, the app can still be accessed and used as an archive of their memories.
Also included are the relevant Contiki itineraries for each traveller so they don’t have to carry travel documents. Passengers can use the app’s handy travel tools to convert currencies, translate languages, check the weather and refer to city maps.
Contiki also teamed up with travel experts Lonely Planet to provide app users with the Nearby feature – top tips on best local hotspots and hidden gems.
“We wanted to provide our customers with an exciting new digital product that exemplifies what Contiki is all about, and Shout does just that,” says Kelly Jackson, general manager. “We’ve continued to lead the 18-35 market through constant evolution and innovative digital solutions that keep us ahead of our competitors.” - Saturday Star