All opinions are mine and mine alone.
There’s a sense that technology has somehow ruined the travel experience. After all, not only does it allow us to go to places virtually, but it also enables us to remain in continuous contact with home, something which just wasn’t possible in the past.
But as with any technology, it’s not the technology itself that matters, but how it’s used. Instead of being a burden, you can put technology to use to help you have a better time while you’re away. Far from ruining the holiday experience, technology may have made it better. Just don’t spend your whole time on Facebook while you’re away – there will be plenty of time for that when you return.
External Batteries Put Your Mind At Ease
Not everybody will be going to a hotel with a constant supply of electricity. Some will be camping or hiking all day and nowhere to charge their devices. This might not sound like a bad thing, but when you consider that most of us are now dependent on the things for finding our way around, running out of battery can be a major problem. You don’t want to be stuck up in the mountains when that happens.
The good news is that you don’t have to be left high and dry by your phone’s limited battery life. External batteries have come a long way thanks to advances in Li-ion technology, and now they can keep your phone operational, sometimes for days at a time. The great thing about external batteries is that they’re not confined to the volume of the phone, meaning that they can be much larger and store more energy. A company called Anker makes an external battery which weighs in at around a pound. That’s heavy, but it’s got enough charge to recharge your iPhone seven times.
Waterproof Phone Casing
When people are at home, the most common reason they break their phones is by dropping them down the toilet and causing irreparable PCB damage. When they’re away, it’s water damage from dropping them in pools or the sea. Suffice to say, water is technology’s biggest enemy.
But now there’s a solution: the waterproof phone case. There are many manufacturers out there that make these cases, although Lifeproof Fre is quite popular. The company claims that even if you accidentally take a dive with your phone in your pocket, it’ll survive and you won’t have to go running for the rice.
Postcard Apps
Sending postcards and greeting cards online is what holidays are all about. But actually taking time out of your holiday schedule to find a postcard shop can be a drag. What’s worse, when you get there, the selection is usually pretty mediocre.
The good news is that there is a solution to all this: postcard apps. The way they work is simple: all you do is log on via an app on your phone, choose a postcard design you like and then write your message. Tell the app who you want to send the card to, and one will be printed with your message on it and sent to a person of your choice by the company that made the app. It makes staying in touch with people a lot easier while you’re away.
Kindle
When Amazon made the Kindle, they imagined that the device would ultimately replace books. That hasn’t happened yet, but one area it’s had a significant impact is on holiday reading. While people might want to take a stack of books with them, with limited space in the trunk and weight restrictions on flights, it’s not exactly a practical option. Kindles help holiday makers get around these book-related problems while providing them with a device they can read comfortably outside.
For those who really want a great reading experience, the Paperwhite option is essential. It’s got a better screen resolution than standard Kindles and comes with built-in backlights for nighttime reading.
Luggage Tracking Devices
Losing your luggage seems to be par for the course these days on long-haul flights. No matter how well you plan, something goes wrong with your luggage. Either it’s sent to the wrong airport, or it doesn’t even get off the ground and has to be carried on another flight – and who knows when that might be.
There’s good news, though, thanks to technology. Now, passengers who are worried about losing their luggage can buy a tracking device which they put in their luggage. The device connects to the mobile phone network, just like a cell phone, and uses it to triangulate its location. Travellers can then track the device on their phones using a companion app. When the device is within 30 feet of the passenger, it’ll send an alert to their phone, telling them that they’ve been reunited with their luggage.
The luggage tracker is a good idea, but if you want it to actually work, you’ll have to pay a subscription fee to cover the cost of using the mobile network. So just bear that in mind.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Because they’re plowing through the air at 500 mph plus, aircraft aren’t always the quietest places to sleep. But thanks to technology, you don’t have to stuff polystyrene ear buds into your ears to block out the sound. All you need is a really great pair of noise canceling headphones.
The sound system company Bose has developed a travel-friendly pair of headphones called the Bose QuietControl 25s. According to industry research, they’re better than expensive $300 models out there and help you to drift off to sleep, listening to your favorite whale music. Well, that’s certainly one way to beat the jet lag.
Luggage Scooter
Hauling suitcases from one end of the airport to another can be a real faff, especially if the inbuilt wheels have seen better days. Now though, you can buy a luggage scooter – a type of scooter specially designed to carry cases in and out of baggage handling. That should make carrying your bags easier and a lot more fun.
Streaming Stick
Going on holiday isn’t entirely about exploring a new place or going out for authentic cuisine. Sometimes, you just want to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself in your home away from home. But sometimes, the choice on hotel TVs can leave a lot to be desired. No matter. Thanks to streaming sticks, you can watch all your favorite YouTube and Netflix videos, no matter where you go.
There are a couple of caveats, though. First off, beware 4K TVs. 4K streaming requires a pretty hefty data connection, thanks to the sheer amount of information in every frame. 4K has four times as many pixels as standard HD. Second, your hotel will need to be quite tech savvy. Most new TVs come with rear-facing USB ports – something you’ll need if you actually want to plug your streaming stick in – but many don’t. Bear in mind, therefore, that you might not get the service you want.
Citymapper
Most people stick with Google Maps when traveling abroad, not realizing that there are better options out there. One of those is CityMapper, an app that provides more detailed information on local attractions that regular maps. It includes things like flight time integration, Uber hailing ad more. It’s currently available in 30 popular tourist cities like New York and is now expanding to others. Thus, Citymapper is ideal for people who want to take a city break and would like all the information they need at their fingertips. Citymapper will update you if your flight or train is canceled.
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