Whether you’re traveling across state lines to visit friends and family or hopping on an overseas flight to seal a business deal, there are certain gadgets that you’ll want to bring along. The following highlights a few of these helpful technologies that can make your trip a bit easier, no matter how far you’re going.
Smartphone
Bringing your smartphone along on your travels is definitely a no-brainer. After all, how else are you going to make phone calls, send messages and use your favorite apps to check flight times, book hotel reservations and find directions? Smartphones like the LG G5 make for perfect traveling companions thanks to their jack-of-all-trades capabilities such as the high battery life and 8MP camera, allowing you to take those perfect holiday snapshots.
Phone Battery Pack
While today’s smartphones pack a powerful punch when it comes to features and capabilities, it’s not unusual for the average smartphone to lose its juice before the day is out. A convenient pocket-sized phone battery pack can help keep your smartphone charged up and ready to go, even when you can’t find a power outlet for your charger. Most external battery packs feature cables that accommodate the most common charging connectors in current use, including micro-USB and mini-USB.
Universal Plug Adapters
Traveling to a different country often means running into different plug standards and getting the right power cord for your devices that’ll fit is often an expensive endeavor. Having a set of universal plug adapters on hand means you can plug in your power cords and keep your devices charged. Just be aware that some countries also operate on different voltages, which means you’ll also need a power converter to avoid any shocking surprises.
Digital Luggage Scale
Airlines can be sticklers for carry-on and checked luggage weights, which could result in added fees if those gifts and souvenirs you picked up add an extra pound or two to your luggage. A compact digital luggage scale can help make overweight luggage a thing of the past. The digital readout makes it easy to see precisely how much your luggage weighs so you can stay within airline guidelines.
In-Ear Headphones
In-ear headphones are a must-have on long flights and bus rides, especially if you plan on watching a movie or listening to music to pass the time. Designed to nest within your ear, these headphones deliver clear quality audio in a discreet way that doesn’t bother others around you. The vast majority of in-ear headphones feature a universal 3.5mm jack that fits in most smartphones, tablets, laptops and music players. Some models even feature their own external volume control and noise-canceling technology.
E-Reader
It might not be a tablet or a smartphone, but never underestimate the humble e-reader’s outstanding capabilities. For starters, the average e-reader can hold hundreds of e-books and display them on a clear and easy-to-read e-ink display. It’s also capable of lasting for days on end on a single battery charge. Many models also feature built-in Wi-Fi connectivity to make downloading e-books that much easier.
Camera
In an age where practically every smartphone has its own built-in camera, a compact point-and-shoot camera seems, well, pointless. However, a standalone camera still has its perks. For starters, point-and-shoot cameras feature larger sensors that allow for larger, more detailed photos. Along with better picture quality, compact cameras offer better and more powerful optical zoom capabilities. For budding or seasoned photographers, there’s also the manual control that a compact camera offers when compared to a smartphone’s built-in camera.
Investing in some of these top pieces of travel technology, or even making sure you pack them if you already own them, is a certain way to assure you have the best experience possible.
