This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias

Spring break season is almost upon us… I can’t believe I’m saying that, but now that January’s over, it’s officially time to start planning those spring break trips. And while you’re planning, you definitely need to make sure your smartphone has a great data plan, because I’ve got eight smartphone travel tips for your next road trip that will bring your family together on the road, and make your life a whole lot easier.

Use the web browser to look up fun facts about the locations you’re traveling through. Each year, my family takes a 15 hour trip to our favorite beach destination (when you live in Kansas, every beach is pretty far away). On the journey, we like to pass the time by learning a little bit more about the places we love to travel to the most… one fun fact we learned is that our hometown is actually named after a town right next to where we vacation each year, despite being in totally different parts of the country! How crazy is that? Use your smartphone to check out fun facts and you’ll be learning– and blowing your kids’ minds– on the whole drive!

Have family members contribute to a road trip playlist! When the whole family gets involved, music becomes 10 times more fun. Ask each member of the family to share a list of their favorite songs, and create the ultimate road trip playlist the entire family can enjoy on your favorite streaming app. Or, find karaoke versions of songs on a video streaming app to allow the kids to sing along!

Use location based apps and browsing to find the nearest rest stop, restaurant, or restroom, for when you REALLY GOTTA GO! It’s amazing how much technology has changed over time, and now, thanks to the magic of smartphones and search engines, you can easily find the nearest food, rest stops, and gas stations so you’re not waiting for a sign to tell you where to stop ahead. Plus, you can often browse by cuisine types, check hours to make sure it’s open before you pull off the road, and find something the whole family will love in the next town ahead.

Don’t play another game of “eye spy.” Search for new road trip games! When the games you’ve played aloud again and again get old, use the search function on your phone to find new games to play– my favorite search is “road trip games” or “road trip games with no supplies.”

Keep your family and friends updated on your trip. Use your favorite social media apps, or your text messaging, to keep in touch and share your journey in photos, videos, and text. Just be safe and don’t post too many public details while you’re gone.

Use video chatting to keep in touch with family that’s far away. Use your favorite video chatting app and call family or friends that aren’t nearby. Show them the scenery, get them to play car games with you, and pass the time chatting and catching up with the grandparents, face-to-face (kind of).

Keep an eye on your home. We love to use our smartphones to keep track of our video doorbell and security cameras while we’re out of town, so even though we’re not home, we know our home is safe. Use your smartphone to tap into your security cameras so everything is safe and sound at home, giving you the peace of mind to enjoy your trip.

Keep in touch with the dog sitter. Have a pet at home? Keep in touch with your pet sitter, and get photo updates from time to time of your favorite furry friends at home to make sure they’re happy and safe in your sitter’s trusted hands.

To do all of these awesome things on the road, though, you’re going to want a really rockin’ data plan. You definitely don’t want to be worried about going over on your data while video chatting or checking up on your security camera. I have the peace of mind that I’m not going to go over on my data, because I use Walmart Family Mobile PLUS, which has unlimited talk, text, and data, with up to 10GB of 4G LTE service! That makes it fast, and it’s really affordable, too– you’re getting more 4G LTE data at a really great value.

What’s amazing is that in addition to the great service you’re getting, you also get one free movie rental each month on VUDU– that’s a $7 value. When we’re on the road, we bring our Chromecast with us to plug into our condo or hotel TV to watch the movie we rented on VUDU together!

Walmart Family Mobile has a great selection of phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, that rival other smartphones on the market. I personally love my Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime– at only $99, it’s a really affordable smartphone option, while still having all of the great features you love in a smartphone, like a quality camera (great for snapping beach sunsets and car shenanigans during the trip), and a large, clear display so I have no problem seeing everything I need to, from GPS directions to a video call with my sweet puppy, Echo, while I’m out of town.

For me, it’s a no brainer to connect with Walmart Family Mobile PLUS, with unlimited talk, text, and data, including 10GB 4GLTE and a free movie on VUDU each month, per line, for $49.88. It’s a great plan at a great price. Plus, it isn’t your typical pre-paid plan. Walmart Family Mobile PLUS is a post-paid plan, meaning you pay for your service at the end of the month.

I love that my family can connect around a great movie night with the free movie rental we get each month, and I also love the unlimited data with 10GB at 4G LTE speeds– it’s truly a must-have for families that love to travel. We aren’t worried about video chatting too much, sending too many texts to our neighbors who are caring for our dogs, or looking up the next stop. We can instead just sit back, enjoy the journey, and our time together as a family.

What is your favorite use for your smartphone when you’re on the road? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to learn more about Walmart Family Mobile Plus! Also, check out how to pack for 2 people in 1 carry on bag!

 

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/28aqc or your local Walmart for current pricing.