Make use of Google Translate camera feature

Google Translate's camera feature is a very useful tool for travelers who need to understand text in a foreign language quickly. Here's how you can make use of it as a travel hack:

1. Download the App: Before you travel, download the Google Translate app for iOS or Android. Make sure it’s updated to the latest version to have all the newest features and language packs.

2. Offline Translation: Download the language pack for the destination you're traveling to. This allows you to use the camera feature offline, which is particularly useful if you don't have access to the internet or want to save on data usage.

3. Instant Translation: When you encounter a text in a foreign language, open the Google Translate app, select the camera icon, and point your camera at the text. Google Translate will overlay the translated text in your preferred language on your screen.

4. Snap and Translate: If the instant translation is too finicky or you're dealing with a lot of text, you can take a photo instead. Once the image is captured, you can use your finger to highlight the text you want to translate.

5. Importing Photos: If you’ve taken photos with your camera or screenshots that contain text, you can import them into the Google Translate app and use the same highlighting feature to translate text.

6. Menus and Signage: This feature is particularly useful for reading restaurant menus, street signs, or notices that are often not available in English or other familiar languages.

7. Accommodation and Transportation: Use it to translate instructions, rules, or schedules in accommodations (like hostels, hotels, or Airbnb) and transport hubs (like train stations and airports).

8. Shopping and Labels: Translate labels in supermarkets, instructions for appliances, or even clothing sizes in stores.