Smart Money: "These Gadgets Will Make Your Trip to the Games a Winner"

By Lisa Scherzer, August 7, 2008

HOW DO YOU ASK "Where's the men's water polo event" in Chinese?

That one might not be in the "Essential Mandarin Chinese Phrase Book" you picked up at the airport. Americans headed to China to take in the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing — which officially kick off Friday — might need something a bit more high-tech to guide them through the fast-paced city of 12 million. In addition to seeing world-class athletes, first-time visitors are inevitably in for a culture shock and a thick language barrier.

From communicating with taxi drivers to finding your way to the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park1, here are a few nifty gadgets and services that will help your trip go more smoothly.

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Speaking the Language

While shopping in Beijing's Curio City, you find a gorgeous antique chair and want to know if it can be shipped back to the States, but no one on staff speaks English.

Instead of hauling the chair back to your hotel, you could call Language Line Services' Personal Interpreter and an interpreter will make the arrangements for you.

Here's how it works: Users of this mobile service set up an account on Language Line's site. They then receive a personal identification number, which gives them access to a telephone interpreter whenever they need one. The cost: $3.95 a minute — plus the cost for any regular international call made through your phone service provider.

Read the entire Smart Money article here

Learn more about Personal Interpreter Service here