Pack these five underrated items for every getaway
Skip the fancy travel gadgets. These simple things will save you stress, money and hassle
I have spent the majority of the last five years as a digital nomad, living and working in over 40 countries.
Because of this, I tend to travel fairly light. I have also tried countless travel gadgets and found most are a waste of money and space. Instead, here are five universally useful, perhaps unexpected, items I never leave without. Agood pen Pens are one of those things that only seem to be around when you do not need them. When you do, you can’t find one.
For example, most countries require you to fill out an immigration card before you enter. Your airline will give you this in-flight, but not a pen to fill it out.
Sure, you could wait until you are at immigration and try to find and use the ballpoint on a chain that is probably out of ink, but by the time you fill it out everyone on the plane is now in front of you in line to get through customs, through the terminal, and to baggage claim.
Then there is filling out postcards or signing receipts. And who knows, maybe you will meet someone who is desperately looking for a pen. It seems simple and obvious, but so handy, and so few people travel with one. An unlocked phone, for internet everywhere Travelling with a phone that works everywhere is a game changer. Being able to post to social media and talk with friends and family at home is great, but having fast access to Google Maps and Translate will transform your travel experience.
Being able to book a new flight or hotel if something happens could save a vacation.
For example, I was on a tiny island in Fiji when the call came in that an oncoming cyclone had intensified overnight to a Category 3, and we would all have to evacuate. I was able to use my phone to immediately book one of the last hotel rooms on the main island. Nearly everyone else had to wait in line at the resort’s office for one of the few computers and slow internet.
The key is having internet access at all, and ideally, fast access.
If you get your phone “unlocked” by your cellular provider, you can buy a local SIM card in whatever country you are visiting.
This lets your phone work just like you bought it new in that country, with high-speed data and free local calls, depending on the SIM you buy. These are usually around $20 (U.S.), and available at airport vending machines and kiosks, although a cellphone store in town might be cheaper.
With certain service providers, your phone should work in most other countries, though it will be very slow, so a local SIM might still be worth it. Many phone companies have very expensive international data plans that offer just a couple of days worth of internet for the same price as a local SIM that will work for your whole trip. If you are with one of them, definitely check if you can unlock your phone and that it will work outside Canada.
Google Fi has 4G international data included, no local SIM needed. Your digital downloads (and uploads) I mentioned Google Maps and Translate, but making the most of them requires some preparation before you leave.
Let’s say you are going to Paris. Type “Paris” into Google Maps. Make sure you see all the parts of the city you need (the arrondissement where your hotel is, for example) and the parts you want to explore, then hit “save” at the bottom of the screen. This does exactly that, saving everything on the visible map. Now you can walk around without internet and still see a map of your surroundings. This includes street names, Metro stops and so on.
Google Translate has the same feature, letting you download language packs for use offline.
This speeds up translations, including the futuristic camera feature that lets you point your phone at a sign to translate what you are seeing in real time.
It is also worth looking into a photo backup service. Something such as iCloud or Google Photos, if you are not using them already, will save your phone’s photos to the cloud as you take them (or when you get back to Wi-Fi), so if it your phone gets lost or stolen, you will still have all your pictures. Aportable USB battery When you are out all day taking pictures, navigating with Maps, posting to social media, and so on, your phone’s battery is going to drain pretty quickly. Even a small USB battery pack can charge your phone once, and slightly larger ones twice or more.
Packs with built-in cables are handy, but that cable will be the first thing to break. If you do not have one, get one before your next trip — you will love it and use it at home later. AUSB multi-charger (and some long cables) No matter where you go or how expensive the accommodation, you are almost always going to struggle to find enough power outlets.
The easiest way to recharge all your gear is with a USB multicharger that trades one wall socket for several USB ports.
Then just plug in your phone, tablet, USB battery pack and so on, all at the same time.
Like the battery pack, this is helpful on the road and at home.
In the same vein, a few longer USB cables are a good idea, too. A longer cable lets you use your phone in bed while it is plugged in that faraway outlet.