Traveling With Alexa: What You Need To Know

Alexa is a great travel companion. You can take it with you on your next trip to use in a hotel room or other locale. All you need to do is set up your device for the new Wi-Fi network and change its location setting. You can use Alexa to control your smart home devices from anywhere in the world, listen to music, get local recommendations, and much more.

Setting up Alexa in a new location

Yes, you can take your Alexa device with you when you travel. Here is a detailed guide on how to set up Alexa in a new location:

Connect to Wi-Fi

First, you will need to connect your Alexa device to the Wi-Fi at your new location. This process is similar to when you first set up your device, but you may need to manually force the device into setup mode by pressing and holding the action button on your Echo. If you are unable to connect to the new Wi-Fi network, you may need to reset your Alexa and set it up as a new device.

Update Address and Time Zone

Once your Alexa device is connected to the new Wi-Fi network, you will need to update your address and time zone. This can be done through the Alexa app by going to Devices > Echo & Alexa > your device > Device Location. Enter your new address and tap Save. Repeat this process for each of your Alexa devices.

To update the time zone, go to Devices > Echo & Alexa > your device > Time Zone. Select the new time zone and tap Change.

Set Up Smart Home Groups

If your new location has a different layout than your previous one, you will need to set up new smart home groups to reflect the placement of your Alexa and smart home devices.

Rename Devices

If any of your Alexa devices are now in different locations, you may want to rename them accordingly. For example, if a device named "Office Echo" is now in a guest bedroom, you may want to rename it "Guest Echo."

Reconfigure Flash Briefing

If you use the flash briefing feature, which provides a rundown of the current news, you may want to add sources relevant to your new location. You can do this by going to Settings > Flash Briefing and adding content for local news sources.

Connect Amazon Accounts

If you are moving in with someone who also has Alexa devices, you may want to connect your Amazon accounts using the household feature. This will allow you to set up and control all Alexa devices from one app and enable connectivity between Alexas and smart devices. It also allows for the sharing of Prime benefits and digital purchases.

Using Alexa as a translator

Alexa has many capabilities and third-party skills that can be especially useful when travelling. One of these is Live Translation, which can be used to translate conversations in real-time. This feature supports seven languages: English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

To use Live Translation, ask Alexa to initiate a translation session for a pair of languages. Once the session has started, you can speak phrases or sentences in either language. Alexa will automatically identify the language being spoken and translate each side of the conversation.

You can also ask Alexa how to say basic phrases in a wide variety of languages to help you converse with locals. Simply say: "Alexa, translate [phrase] in [language]".

If you want to take the conversation a step further, you can use Alexa Live Translation to translate conversations in real-time. Currently, this feature supports seven languages: English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Alexa's translation skills also include the ability to convert almost any currency pair, which can be useful when travelling between non-native countries.

In addition to Alexa's built-in translation capabilities, there are also third-party skills that can enhance its language-learning capabilities. One such skill is Translated, which allows you to translate short sentences from English into 37 languages. After the translation, you can ask Alexa to slow down or repeat the translation for better understanding.

• "Alexa, ask Translated how to say 'how are you' in Japanese"
• "Alexa, ask Translated to say 'it's a wonderful day' in Russian"
• "Alexa, translate 'where is the nearest restaurant' in French"
• "Alexa, how do you say 'thank you' in Italian?"

By utilising these features, you can make the most of Alexa's translation capabilities during your travels.

Using Alexa to find local amenities

Yes, you can take your Alexa device with you when you travel. It can be a great travel companion, providing you with information on local amenities, attractions, and points of interest.

Setting Up Alexa When Travelling

To use Alexa effectively when travelling, you will need to set up your device with the new location details. This includes connecting to a new Wi-Fi network and updating your device's location and time zone.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

To connect your Alexa device to a new Wi-Fi network, follow these steps:

• Plug in your device and wait for it to boot up.
• Press and hold the action button (usually the one with a dot on it) for a few seconds to initiate the Wi-Fi pairing process.
• Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and go to the option to add a new Echo device.
• Input the Wi-Fi password and connect.

Updating Location and Time Zone

To update your device's location and time zone:

• Open the Alexa app on your mobile device.
• Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or a hamburger icon) and go to "Settings".
• Select your Echo device and scroll down to the "Device Location" section.
• Enter your new address or ZIP code, or give a general location by entering your ZIP code. Then tap "Save".
• To change the time zone, go back to the "Settings" menu, select your device, and choose "Time Zone". Select the new time zone and tap "Change".

Finding Local Amenities

Once your device is set up with the correct location, you can ask Alexa for suggestions and information on local amenities. Here are some examples of queries you can ask:

• “Alexa, what restaurants are in the area?”
• “Alexa, what bars are nearby?”
• “Alexa, where is the closest supermarket/gas station/post office?”
• “Alexa, where should I go for dinner?”
• “Alexa, what movies are playing nearby?”

Using Skills for Local Information

Alexa also has various skills that can provide more specific local information. To access these skills:

• Tap on the menu icon in the Alexa app and go to "Skills > Categories > Local".
• Here, you can explore skills devoted to local places, events, and other items.
• You can also tap on "Things to Try" and scroll down the list to find topics like "Local Search", "Traffic Information", and "Movies and Showtimes".

Some specific skills that can be useful for local information include:

• Place Finder: Allows you to find various businesses in any location, including restaurants, shops, gas stations, hotels, hospitals, and more.
• Dinner Suggestions: Provides recommendations for nearby top-rated restaurants.
• Restaurant Review: Suggests restaurants based on location and type of cuisine.
• Transit or Drive: Helps you decide whether to drive or use public transportation to reach your destination, and provides an ETA.
• Flight Tracker: Allows you to check the latest departing and arrival times for most major airlines.
• Airport Security Wait Times: Provides projected wait times for airport security at specific airports.

Controlling your smart home from afar

Smart home technology has made it possible to monitor and manage your home from anywhere in the world, giving you peace of mind and saving you time and energy. Here are some ways to control your smart home devices while travelling:

Using Mobile Apps

Most smart home devices come with dedicated mobile apps that allow you to control them remotely. These apps enable you to turn lights on and off, adjust your thermostat, lock and unlock doors, check motion detectors, and view security cameras. Ensure that you have the relevant apps installed on your smartphone and an active internet connection.

Using Voice Assistants

Voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri offer a convenient way to control your smart home devices remotely using voice commands. For example, you can ask Alexa to turn off the lights, display the feed from a security camera, or adjust the temperature on a smart thermostat. You can also set up routines to control multiple devices with a single command.

Setting Up Routines and Automation

Routines and automation can streamline your smart home monitoring. For instance, you can automate tasks such as turning off the lights at a specific time or adjusting the thermostat when you leave the house. Automation can also be used to control devices based on specific conditions, like turning on lights when you enter your home.

Choosing the Right Smart Home Devices

When selecting smart home devices, consider their compatibility and ability to be controlled remotely. Examples of devices that can be remotely monitored and controlled include smart surveillance cameras, smart thermostats, motion detection alerts, smart locks, smart light bulbs, and smart speakers. Ensure that the devices you choose are compatible with each other and can be controlled from a single interface.

Connecting to a Central Hub

Connect your smart home devices to a central hub, such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit, which acts as the central point of control. This allows you to manage and monitor all devices from a single interface. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when connecting the devices to the hub.

Enabling Remote Access

After setting up the central hub, enable remote access for each individual smart home device. This allows you to control and monitor them separately from anywhere. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions and configure the devices to allow remote access through the hub's interface.

Using Alexa to book tickets for events

Yes, you can take your Alexa device with you when you travel. It can be a great travel companion, providing entertainment and information on the go.

Alexa can be extremely useful when it comes to booking tickets for events. Here are some ways in which you can utilise Alexa for this purpose:

Using Ticketmaster Skill:

• To access this skill, say "Alexa, open Ticketmaster" or "Alexa, ask Ticketmaster to find events this weekend".
• After a welcome message, you can search for events by name, city, date range, artist, or team name. For example, "Find concerts in Los Angeles" or "What are Twenty-One Pilots' upcoming tour dates?"
• Specify the number of tickets and your budget per ticket.
• Link your Ticketmaster account to Alexa and use its stored payment methods to complete the purchase. You will receive an order confirmation email, and your tickets will be available in your Ticketmaster account.

Using StubHub Skill:

• Set your location with StubHub and say, "Alexa, ask StubHub what's on tonight," and it will inform you about the events listed.
• You can then log on to the StubHub website and purchase tickets. Alternatively, you can say, "Alexa, ask StubHub what's happening in [city name] on [day of the week]."

Other Options:

• The Flight Tracker skill allows you to check the latest departing and arrival times for most major airlines' flights. Simply provide the airline name and flight number.
• For airport security wait times, use the Airport Security Wait Times skill. You can query wait times using the airport code or city name.
• For sports enthusiasts, the Uber skill can be handy for booking a ride to and from the venue.

Frequently asked questions