Even the most Luddite among us isn’t far from our many mobile devices at any given moment, including on vacation. We may say we’re going to unplug, but here are a few gadgets that make sense to plug in for a more enjoyable vacation:
Portable speakers
Photo courtesy of Here & Beyond MagazineIt’s reggae night in the resort lounge but you’re looking to set a more romantic mood? No problem. Just plug your phone into one of these and find your favorite playlist. There’s a number of durable and compact options on the market, many of which probably sound at least as good, if not better, than your stereo at home.
Noise cancelling headphones
Photo courtesy of Here & Beyond MagazineThese are a must if you want to avoid listening to airport chatter or end up sitting by the engines on a long flight. Even if you’re not listening to music, the noise-dampening function will keep things quiet and relaxing.
Multi-port charger
Image courtesy of ChargepodEveryone in the family’s got a different phone, plus their tablets, e-readers and other electronic doodads. Instead of packing an entire suitcase of charging cables, spend a few bucks for a multi-port charger.
Portable charger
Image courtesy of Amazon.comIf you’re taking a lot of day trips or you’re a shutterbug, it’s always disappointing when your cellphone or camera battery dies just when the views are getting good. The latest generation of portable chargers don’t take up much more space than a tube of chapstick.
Waterproof phone case
Image courtesy of Here & Beyond MagazineDropping your phone is bad; dropping your phone in water is worse; dropping your phone in water on vacation is the worst. Invest in a waterproof phone case so you can snap photos and check your resort credit whenever you want without worrying about a rogue wave or overexcited kid.
A few more travel tech tips we love from Here & Beyond magazine:
- Keep your mobile devices safe by putting them in a plastic, zip-top bag so you can continue using them at the pool or beach.
- Avoid international data charges by leaving your phone or tablet on airplane mode and connecting to the hotel’s Wi-Fi.
- Snap photos of your travel documents and export them to the cloud for easy access and safe keeping
