Hiking

How to use what3words

What3Words is a wonderful tool for navigating precisely on your travels! Since we use this method to share our favourite locations and hidden gems, we’ve compiled a quick guide for our readers.

What is What3Words?

Street addresses weren’t designed for the modern world. They aren’t accurate enough to specify precise locations, such as building entrances and bus stops. Many places, such as parks or rural areas, don’t have a street address at all! This makes it hard to find places, meet friends, and describe exactly where help is needed in an emergency. 

Enter What3Words. This system has divided the world into three-metre squares, each with a unique combination of three words. We find this system the easiest way to know where you are, and use it throughout the blog for describing places in rural locations or hiking trails. Three really is the magic number!

Over fifty percent of Mongolians have a nomadic life with no fixed address, moving their families and herds with the seasons. What3words is an essential tool for navigating the Mongolian steppe.

Why we use What3Words

There are so many reasons to use What3Words over a traditional map or navigation app! We use it to find, save and share the exact locations of hidden gems here on the blog – but with the world divided into three-metre squares it’s easy to find the best photo spots or viewpoints on your travels! We use it to plan routes and it makes it easy to arrange a rendezvous to meet for an adventure with that cool person that you met in your hostel.

And if something goes wrong, what3words makes it easier for the emergency services to find you. Let’s face it, we can’t always give a street name when we’re on the go and don’t know the area. And what3words works offline – ideal for when we’re on the go, in the wilderness, or have an unreliable or no data connection.

How to use What3Words

Using what3words couldn’t be easier! We recommend downloading the what3words app for iOS or Android. It works offline so is great when you’re in a different country without mobile data. 

  1. Find the 3-word address for your location 
  2. Share your 3-word address with a friend
  3. Navigate there using your preferred navigation app. 
  4. Meet at the exact location with no confusion!

Follow our daily adventures on Facebook and Instagram

Disclaimer: The information and advice provided in this blog are the author’s opinions and based on their personal experiences. All information was accurate at the time of writing. However, things can change quickly, so always double-check current conditions and guidelines before setting out. Remember, your travels and safety are your own responsibility, and this blog can not be held responsible for anything that might happen on your adventures! Always exercise caution and good judgment. Oh, and don’t forget to get travel insurance! Happy travels!

This post may contain affiliate links (yay for transparency!) This means that I will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and choose to buy the product. I only link to stuff I have personally bought and found useful and never endorse crap. Your support helps keep the site going, thank you!

Alice is a UK travel blogger who advocates sustainable travel and being more eco-conscious on a budget. She loves coffee, her houseplants and summiting mountains.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *