My iPhone is my favorite travel device. I feel quite lost without it. Whether it's taking photos and editing them on the go, listening to music or watching movies, checking emails, or even writing a blog or creating reminders for important tasks, my iPhone is truly indispensable to me. That's why I was very happy when great people from Apple reached out to me and asked me to play with the new iPhone 15 and iPad Air ( 5th Generation), and after using them for 2 weeks, I especially loved the camera, which is a game changer for me in terms of work. There are many really great features I discovered under the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and I decided to compile them in a blog post. Now, I present to you my top 9 tips and tricks that make the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPad Air indispensable as travel accessories and planning tools.

1. Use Notes and Reminders to organize your packing and planning tasks

Apple’s built-in Notes app is a perfect place to keep all the information you gather while planning something like a vacation. You can create packing checklists, collect web pages you want to bookmark for travel (like the one I created for my upcoming trip to Porto below), and even scan and store important documents like your passport in the app. You can share this note with any number of people and ensure everyone can read and update it. Another plus is that if you have an iPad or MacBook, notes and reminders sync seamlessly across all your devices.

2. Discover new places or plan in-depth using Guides in the Great Maps App

I'm a big fan of Google Maps, but recently updated Apple Maps has some great features like the new Apple Maps Guides. These curated travel guides offer recommendations for the best places to see, eat, and drink, created in collaboration with leading publishers like Culture Trip and Time Out.

Let's say you're planning a trip to Barcelona.

After launching the Maps app, type "Barcelona" into the search field at the bottom of the screen.

This will bring up a list of curated travel guides for Barcelona. I'm a huge fan of Culinary Backstreets tours and blog content, so I want to read their guide to the best neighborhood tapas bars. After reading the guide, you can save it to your personal favorites list or share it with a friend.

Apple Maps also allows you to create travel guides and share them with the people you are traveling with.

3. Load all your favorite content for a long journey: Download everything in the Apple TV and Netflix App beforehand

I recently took a long flight from Berlin to Singapore with Scoot Airlines. Since there was no entertainment system on the plane, I had to make the most of my approximately 12 hours, so I was really grateful that I downloaded some movies and episodes of 'Better Call Saul' in the Netflix app. This feature is also available on Apple TV; here you can download shows and movies to watch offline later.

It is worth mentioning that when you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you are entitled to a three-month free subscription. You must use the offer within 90 days after purchasing to get the free trial.

4. Don't lose your bag or any other item by using AirTag and the Find My Phone feature

If you have experienced the misfortune of losing your luggage after a flight, had your wallet stolen, or lost your keys while on vacation, you can avoid many troubles thanks to Apple's new AirTags. The AirTag helps track the item using ultra-wideband technology and Apple’s existing device network. Compatible iPhones and iPads can use the Find My app to determine the approximate location of an item with a lost AirTag. It should also be noted that the AirTag battery lasts for a year and needs to be replaced. It uses a standard CR2032 battery, which can be purchased at most electronics stores, online, and locally.

Find My feature really came in handy when I lost my iPhone during a drunken night return in Bangkok a few years ago. You can track all your Apple devices from another Apple device; in this case, I was able to track my iPhone from my laptop. The feature provides an approximate GPS location, and then you can find directions using Apple or Google Maps. My iPhone was found on the back seat of a taxi I rented while returning home. My driver hadn't noticed the iPhone stuck in the back seat, so after waking him from his sleep, we opened the back door of the vehicle, and there it was...

Please remember that for this feature to work, the Find My feature must be enabled. Another great feature of this app is that if your iPhone is stolen or lost, you can mark your device as lost through the app and activate 'Lost Mode.' This ensures that all your personal information and data are protected.

5. Have you reached your destination? Translate text, voice, and conversations with iPhone or iPad

Apple now has its own built-in translation app; here you can get real-time translations – it currently supports 11 languages. I love the look and feel of the app; it's much better than the Google Translate App. Google Translate supports 43 languages, so the Apple app has a bit of a way to go, but if your needs are met by Apple (the 11 languages include Arabic, mainland Chinese, English (US and UK), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish), then it's a great app to use on your travels.