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Many people go on vacation for the first time in 2-3 years. Whether you’re traveling by plane or on the highway, it’s important to pack light. It is also important to pack enough.
And enough, I’m talking about the things you’ll need to make sure you have enough power to keep all your gadgets charged and ready to go for a day of sightseeing.
Hotels and condos never seem to have enough outlets to charge everything. Phones, laptops, watches, tablets, headphones and all the other things. If you haven’t hit the road for a few days since 2019, chances are you’re packing more gadgets that need to be charged every night.
Ha, the first thing my family does in a hotel room is look for an outlet they can claim for the week.
You can convert one outlet to 5 with a portable power strip. You can pack one of the old power strips that are often found in the garage. You can also pack a power strip just for travelling.
Anker, one of my favorite tech brands, has several portable batteries. They are small enough to be thrown in a
suitcase. With 3 AC outlets, a USB-C port, and two standard USB ports, you won’t need charging pads.
Rather than packing separate cables for your devices, take a look at a 3-in-1 charging cable.
You can find them online and in some big box retail stores. It really is genius. The cables have a micro-USB socket but also have 2 adapters connected for an Apple Lightning cable and a USB-C.
When you need to charge a device with a different outlet, simply connect the adapter to micro-USB. They’re especially handy to pack in a backpack so you always have the right cable when you need it.
You will need a portable charger at some point and there are many brands to choose from.
iOttie makes a sleek and completely wireless portable battery charger, just place the phone on the charger. Anker has portable power banks for all devices and a new portable battery model that connects to iPhones 12 and up with a magnet so you never have to worry about cables or wires.
One word of caution when buying a portable battery charger: make sure you have the right cable to go with it. Some newer charging packs only have outputs for USB-C cables.
Check what you get.
Vacation photos look better if the phone camera is stable. Joby makes a pocket tripod that doesn’t need a stand, just place the phone inside the clips for steady shots. The mini tripod (I might even call it a mic) is tiny but gets the job done whether you’re snapping photos of the kids by the pool or trying to capture video of a sunset.
If you need readers when you want to sit by the pool and read, you might find yourself supporting the readers you have inside your sunglasses. Nothing looks worse.
Thin Optics makes a very thin style of readers that rests on the bridge of your nose. They’re small enough to fit inside your sunglasses. I bought a pair of these years ago and eventually wore them out. You
can find cheap versions online. Wear them behind your favorite sunglasses and no one will notice you’re wearing them.
They’re tech-related because they fold into a small case that can be attached to a phone, tablet, or e-reader so you always have readers with you. They come in all strengths.
Here is my tech packing list that I take on vacation:
● An e-reader such as a Kindle that doesn’t need an internet connection and is splash-proof and distraction-free.
● Portable power strip.
● Portable battery (I usually carry two because someone always needs to be recharged).
● A fast charging pad when I go back to the hotel room and need to recharge my phone battery.
● 3-1 charging cable with micro-USB, Lightning and USB-C outputs.
● Thin Optics readers.
● Smartphone camera lenses for even wider shots of sunsets.
● Tripod for Joby mini-smartphone
And when we travel, I make sure to download movies or TV shows to a phone or tablet so we can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu even when we don’t have an internet connection.
But don’t forget the sunscreen either. Like those travel gadgets, it’s more expensive if you have to buy it at the airport or the hotel gift shop.
