Keeping track of your spending when travelling abroad just got a lot easier, thanks to a little-known iPhone feature that allows you to quickly convert currencies with just a few taps.
The calculator app’s new currency conversion tool has gone viral on social media, with travelers praising it as a “game changer” for international trips. The feature works without data and easily switches between your home currency and the local currency, making it a must-have for Brits heading abroad, especially as 51 countries are now more expensive for UK travelers due to the drop in the pound’s value.
How to Use the iPhone Currency Converter
- Go to the Calculator app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Calculator Mode button at the bottom left of the screen.
- Toggle on ‘Convert’ and select ‘Currency’ from the menu at the top of the screen (you can also choose to convert measurements like speed, time and weight with this feature).
- Choose the units or currencies you want to convert from and to.
- Enter a value in either field to see conversions as you type.
The new feature came as part of the iOS 18 update, released in September 2024, so iPhone users will need to have the latest software to access it. The currency converter is compatible with iPhone XR/XS or later models.
The calculator currency converter isn’t the only travel hack that’s gone viral on social media recently. Travelers are sharing increasingly extreme hacks to avoid airline baggage fees, and other money-saving tips like using comparison sites to find the best deals.
More Travel Hacks
- Pack a smaller suitcase inside your suitcase and only pay for extra baggage fees on the way back if you plan to do lots of shopping abroad.
- ‘Positioning’ involves taking a separate flight from your home airport to a bigger international one before your onward journey, and can save money on the trip cost.
- Some airlines offer passengers a way to upgrade their ticket for less by bidding for it.
- A flight attendant previously revealed to Metro that lots of planes have an onboard wardrobe that passengers can use.
However, be cautious when trying out viral travel hacks. Not everything you see online will work, and trying to dodge fees may land you in hot water with airline and hotel staff.
