The Best Travel Tech Essentials

If you are planning a holiday, even when on vacation as people say in the USA, there is always tech that needs to be with me and it makes everything much simpler than carrying around cash alone. My favourite travel tools range from my top recommended bank for international spending through several of my preferred apps down to physical devices I can not leave behind without missing out.

Verdict: If you suffer with your ears popping and taking days to recover after travelling, which is a specific issue I have experienced myself, then check out these reusable flying earplugs from Boots. These are genuinely the best £5 I’ve ever spent because they solve that discomfort immediately. This post focuses on all the other tech essentials needed for you.

Travel Money Management

When travelling to another country, getting currency is always tricky and probably don’t want to be carrying around a load of cash in your hand. For this specific reason I signed up to Starling Bank a couple of years ago without issue. They offer a debit card account where other than sending you a physical card everything else is done via their app on the phone.

I have two reasons why I’d highly recommend them for spending abroad:

No Fees

• 1 – No ATM or Paying Fees!
• If you want to use an ATM or pay using your card there are no fees wherever you are in the world.
• You just pay the conversion rate of the day so spending money when travelling becomes easy and simple instantly.

Spend Tracking Notifications

2 – Keep a Check on Spending as You Go:

Payment notifications come through instantly. Even they tell you how much your $11 payment just cost in £s which lets me keep track of my money budget as I go along without needing to ask for cash back.

Essential Travel Apps

Besides the Starling app, there are a few other travel favourites that make life easier while you explore. Here is how these apps assist in daily tasks:

TripAdvisor or Triposo Guide App

A great application for travelling which lets me download offline city or country tourist guides including places to eat, local attractions, tourist routes and even an offline map.

Google Translate allows you to download languages so I can translate by holding camera over something instantly. It scans items directly from the screen using audio translation options too without needing a strong data connection for basic phrases.
Uber & Lyft operate in similar ways but make it easy (and cheaper than standard taxi services) to grab ride requests easily online.

Ride Share Payments:

Payments are easy because they go through the app and Uber is operating in loads of places now! In one instance last year a Lyft driver turned out to be drummer from band I listen to…what a coincidence there. This kind of connection happens when using ride share services.

Duo Lingo Finally, if you want learn new language before going then Duo Lingo makes it fun for beginners to do that without feeling like studying hard.

Must-Have Physical Gear

Now we talk about actual things I pack physically when heading out.

Cables & Power Bank:

I’ve linked the specific products mentioned below or in description if applicable but for this section, here is detail on my power setup: The first thing packs into bag are USB cables for all devices…typically standard MicroUSB cable and a lightning cable. I also travel with portable charger, specifically Romoss Sense 4 …this isn’t lightest or smallest of options out there right now but has massive 10400MaH battery capacity so lasts forever on single charge without needing recharge mid-journey for weeks at time.

The device comes complete with two USB ports allowing I can charge two devices at once to save my iPhone from draining down completely during long layovers in terminal halls. Next is Universal Travel Adapter which picked up this year specifically after testing different plugs around globe.

Daily Drivers & Tracking

I also have a Tile Mate which throw inside case before putting it in checked luggage if possible for security reasons on flights! I’ve got full review coming next week specifically but mate lets me track my bag if gets lost by scanning device against network signal then gives heads-up when arriving baggage claim conveyor belt area so don’t miss pickup.

Wallet:

The ultimate travel wallet and now daily driver picks up is Trove Swift Reflex which fits all cards inside safely, has handy pull strip for most used cards like credit limit ones always needed in front pocket but keep tucked away from thieves at cafe tables during coffee breaks anyway! The Swift Reflex material itself even vegan friendly so good on conscience while carrying.

Media & Camera Gear

The reading device of choice has a 2019 base model Kindle which fits all books onto screen easily, is compact size in pocket or bag side and includes backlight feature for late night flight reading.

The iPhone X comes with me (of course) because it has music library stored on internal memory plus travel apps installed ready to go plus takes brilliant photos when needed as backup camera. On top of that my contract lets use data usually throughout most world so stay online easily while roaming in hotel lobby or airport security.

Earphones choice are AirPods which fit inside pocket without worry about them coming out, sound great quality with awesome battery life for whole trip duration typically. Finally throw in pair wired headphones and aeroplane adapter because do not like earphones you tend get given on plane flight itself usually due to poor connection issues.

Camera:

The only other thing essential now is my Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ70 digital camera because it has killer 30x zoom capability, great battery life lasting through multiple shooting sessions and lets transfer photos directly to phone via wifi using smartphone application installed on iOS devices…the zoom lens on this camera is seriously good for wildlife or architecture shots. I will show example image if possible.

Frequently Used Gear Links

If you would like details on where to get these, here are links to all the things mentioned above:

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