International travel can sometimes be stressful, especially your first time or during peak seasons. However, to make things a little bit more convenient, here are some essential tech items to bring on your next international flight.
1. Power Bank
You won’t want to travel abroad with your cellphone’s battery empty, especially if you need it to access maps, travel itineraries, e-wallets, and more. So, it’s crucial always to have a reliable power bank within your airline’s allowable limit.
Please note that the typical permissible capacity of your power bank shouldn’t exceed 100 Watt-hours (Wh), or about 20,000 to 27,000 mAh. Anything above that may require special permits or be confiscated by airport security.
Related: Bringing power banks on an airplane? Here are the things you should know
2. Digital Luggage Scale
Some airlines are stricter regarding baggage weight, so you mustn’t exceed your baggage allowance by having a digital luggage scale. Whether for your hand-carry or checked baggage, you should always be within the limits to avoid paying for the excess kilos. Also, ensure you’re buying a good brand to ensure the reading is accurate.
3. Universal Travel Adapter
Countries and territories have different types of electric outlets that are not the same as those in the Philippines. That’s why you should always bring a universal travel adapter to ensure you can use or charge your gadgets. You should also consider buying the adapter with built-in USB ports so you can plug multiple devices into one adapter at the same time.
4. Noise-canceling Headphones
Sometimes, you just want to relax, watch shows, or listen to music during transit without disturbing others, so you should bring noise-canceling headphones. It would also be helpful during flights when you want to sleep without hearing a baby crying or a gossiping seatmate.
5. E-book Reader
If you love reading and don’t want to get left behind on your reading goal for the year, you should bring an e-book reader or a Kindle. With one slim and dedicated reading gadget, you can carry dozens of books without increasing baggage weight. It would also be a plus to have something waterproof so that you can read by the poolside or on the beach.
See also: Gadget restrictions and policies in PH airplanes
6. Lightweight Laptop
Even if you’re not planning on working during your travel, you would still want to bring a laptop (but make it lightweight) because you don’t know when you’ll have to use it. You may want to quickly access your important files, open your spreadsheet, upload and edit photos or videos, or write something online. Whatever it is, a laptop will always be more convenient to use than your phone for serious tasks. For lightweight machines, you can check out Apple’s MacBook and Lenovo Yoga laptops.
7. Smart Luggage Tag
You wouldn’t want to lose your luggage and all your belongings abroad. That’s why a smart luggage tag is becoming more popular for travelers. With this small item, you can track your bags in real time via GPS or Bluetooth and monitor them on your phone to ensure their whereabouts throughout your journey, especially during transit and in busy areas.
8. Smartwatch
A smartwatch is a great companion during international travel. Aside from its automatic time synchronization, you can also use it to quickly access essential notifications, like messages or calls, control music, or use it as a payment option without having to pull out your phone. You can also conveniently track your activities and monitor your steps, heart rate, and other health metrics.
9. Portable Mini Fan
If your destination country is as hot as the Philippines or you’re just traveling during their summer season, it’s good to bring a portable mini fan to ensure you can remain as cool as possible. Depending on how much you perspire, you can choose among low-power to higher-power portable handheld fans.
10. Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
If you’re working from vacation, this gadget will serve as your mobile hotspot and help you securely connect multiple devices to the Internet. Two common types would be a portable hotspot with a local SIM card or one with prepaid data. You can also use your mobile phone as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
Read: How to survive on limited data and volume-based Internet subscriptions
Bonus: Handheld Tech Kit
I learned during our recent travels to be organized, particularly with electronic devices and tools. This is where a tech kit can help you. You can sort, compartmentalize, and organize your cables, chargers, and small electronic devices (e.g., earbuds, connectors, adaptors) in a single pouch. You can also quickly check if you forgot a charger plugged into your hotel room by a single inspection.
Related: 10 gadgets and accessories you should have in your travel bag
These items are not an exhaustive list of gadgets for international flights, but they cover the basics. So, to make your next international travel as smooth as possible, bring these ten tech items on your next trip.
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