De Alfred-blog
Aantekeningen over bellen in het buitenland
Praktische dingen over reserveren, bellen en je redden waar je de taal niet spreekt.
De artikelen zijn in het Engels.
Why so many places in Japan still want a phone call
Tiny counters, paper reservation books and no booking button. Here’s why, and how to get a table anyway.
Booking a Thai massage without speaking Thai
Walk-ins, set durations and the little words that make Thai sound polite. A short guide for the day you want 5 pm, not whenever.
Calling a Swiss restaurant: what to expect
Dialect on the phone, rest days, early kitchens and why nobody expects a big tip. Notes from our home turf.
I hate phone calls. Abroad, it’s worse.
If you’d rather walk across town than make one call, you’re not alone. A few honest thoughts, and a way round it.
What Alfred actually says when it calls
From the moment you tap Call now to the result on your phone, with the transcript from our demo.
What happens when nobody picks up
Unanswered calls, busy lines and voicemail: what they cost (nothing) and what to try next.
Tipping and booking etiquette in four countries
Japan, Thailand, Switzerland and Italy: when to tip, what a cover charge is, and how not to be the no-show.
A table for two, without the language barrier
How to write a request that gets you a useful answer, and how to read the result before you make plans.
Why we built Alfred
Travel is great right up until you need to make a phone call in a language you don’t speak.
Translate the call, or hand it over?
Live call translation and calling assistants solve different problems. Here’s how Apple’s Live Translation, Google’s AI calling and Alfred compare.