Traveling for a vacation can be a stressful experience. While you’re supposed to be going on a holiday, there will be times when you might ask yourself whether or not you made the right choice choosing to leave the comfort of your own home.
Bringing the right gadgets, however, can definitely ease some of your troubles. If you’re wondering what to bring with you on your next trip out of town, we’ve got you covered. Here is a short list of the most important gadgets you shouldn’t leave without.
Smartphone
Obviously, a smartphone is no longer just a luxury these days. It’s an absolute necessity, especially when you travel often. You use it not just to be able to post your vacation photos on Facebook and Instagram but also to keep in touch with your family and friends back home. You will also need it to contact emergency services or the authorities just in case you run into trouble. Moreover, it is where you can keep digital copies of your vital documents, whether it’s a city map, your passport, your travel visa, your hotel reservations, or your debit and credit card details. This is important in the event that your belongings get lost or get stolen.
Powerbank
Purchasing a powerbank is a very smart move, particularly if you travel a lot, and most especially if you go on long-haul flights often. Because you won’t always be able to find an outlet everywhere, you should have what is essentially a portable battery that you can use to charge your phone with. This way, your phone will always have that much needed juice, especially if you’re using it to navigate your way around foreign cities or if you have important business calls to take from your office back home.
International Plug Adapter
If you’ve traveled to multiple countries, you’ll know that not all power outlets are the same. The plug that works in the USA and Canada, for example, will just not fit into power outlets in Australia and China. Outlets also look different when you go to Japan, Italy, France, Switzerland, India, and many other countries. To get around this problem, you can buy an international plug adapter that adjusts to the outlets of various countries. Trust us, it will be a worthwhile investment.
E-Reader
Whether your flight has been delayed or you’re on a half-day layover in some foreign city, being stuck waiting with nothing to do can be a real bummer. However, when you have an e-reader, your favorite books and those new titles you’ve been wanting to read for quite some time are now just a few clicks away. An e-reader won’t take up much space in your day bag or luggage. Moreover, it can easily contain between hundreds and thousands of titles, so much more than you can ever hope to carry when you choose paperbacks instead. Make sure to get an e-reader that has a backlighting feature so you can continue to read even when the lights in your plane or bus are dimmed.
Point-and-Shoot Camera
We know that you probably think cameras are passé, but hear us out. It’s good if you already have a smartphone that takes very good photos, but if you’re traveling, wouldn’t it be great if you have a gadget that takes even better images? After all, you’re likely going to visit a place just once or a few times within your lifetime, so you really have to make those shots count.
Make sure to get an advanced point-and shoot-camera like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100, whose built-in Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 3.6x zoom lens provides an awesome 24-70 mm focal length range. It’s perfect whether you’re shooting on the streets or taking images of landscapes. And with its f/1.8-2.8 maximum aperture, you’re sure to take great photos even in low-light conditions.
With so many things that you can take on your next trip, these five essential gadgets make up the top tier of the true must-haves. Have fun on your next vacation!