In the past, when we went on a trip, the requirements were: clothes, toiletries and some books and games. Now, smartphones, laptops and tablets have made their entrance and the list has changed a bit. Books and games are digital, but that doesn’t mean your suitcase has become lighter, because you also have to take all kinds of chargers, power banks and car holders. Whether you’re going on a city trip or have a longer trip planned, there are things that you really can’t leave at home as a tech lover.
Indispensable when travelling: cables
Almost everyone takes a phone on holiday these days, even if it’s just to check your messages every now and then. It’s important to take the right cables with you and preferably a few extra, so that you never have an empty phone. If you’re lucky, you have a relatively new iPhone with a USB-C port, so you only need one type of cable. But don’t forget your AirPods, which often still work with Lightning. With iPads, it depends on which model you have. Until a few years ago, they all had Lightning, while nowadays you can only buy iPads with USB-C. For the Apple Watch, you obviously need a separate charger.
To be on the safe side, also pack a USB-A to USB-C cable in your hand luggage, because you can sometimes charge your device on airplanes, but you often still have to deal with the older USB-A port.
Other cables you want to take with you are, for example, those of your wireless headphones, because they too will run out sooner or later. Just when you get on a bus or plane for a long journey, for example. You can read all about iPhone cables in our separate overview.
Handy: power adapters
Chances are your hotel room only has one power outlet, preferably in a hard-to-reach place behind the nightstand. While you still want to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, spare battery and some other stuff at night. The most convenient is a plug or power block that allows you to charge multiple devices at the same time with USB-C or USB-A. Apple sells the 35 Watt power adapter with two USB-C ports for this, but with other brands such as UGREEN and Anker you often get more value for your money.
- Apple 2-in-1 USB-C power adapter 35 Watt
- UGREEN 65 Watt 4 Port Power Adapter
- UGREEN 65 Watt Power Adapter with International Plugs
- Anker 60 Watt powerport with 6 connections
Also make sure you bring a travel adapter, because in some countries the socket looks different than in ours. Do you really want to be safe? Then bring a second charger, in case the first one breaks. Although nowadays you can find shops everywhere where you can buy a USB charger.
A good alternative are foldable docks for your nightstand. Our favorite is the Anker 3-in-1 MagGo charger (review) because it is foldable and can charge all your mobile devices at once: iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. This costs around 100 euros and will also come in handy at home after the holidays.
Keep everything organized with a cable organizer
With an organizer for your cables and adapters, you can make sure that your suitcase doesn’t get messy. You can secure everything with elastic bands. You can also use it to store lip balm and other items lying around in your suitcase in one place. The Cocoon Grid-It in the photo is available in several sizes and can be used for all kinds of things. Thanks to the hanging loop, you can easily hang the cable organizer at home and in your hotel room on the coat rack or a picture hook.
You could opt for the original from Cocoon, but there are also countless counterfeit organizers available at Amazon.nl and Bol.com.
- Cocoon GRID-IT at Amazon
- Cheaper Cable Organizer Bag
Prevent an empty battery with a power bank
Unfortunately, your battery does not last forever and even when traveling, you are not always near a power outlet. And with various games and videos, the fun is quickly over, because they quickly drain your battery. Taking an extra battery with you is therefore not an unnecessary luxury. Fortunately, there are now all kinds and sizes of power banks, so you never have to be without power. And they are becoming cheaper and cheaper, even those with a high capacity.
No noise on holiday with earplugs
Anyone who has ever been on a trip knows the pain of noisy neighbours. Although it may be worse in a tent on a campsite than in a hotel, it is not pleasant to hear all the parties, arguments and drunken banter of your temporary neighbours. Wireless earbuds with noise cancelling can offer a solution and should therefore definitely not be missing from your list. They take up hardly any space in your suitcase.
Travel router: not a day without the NOS News
With a travel router you can safely surf the internet on public wifi. These also contain a built-in VPN client, so you can stream Dutch content and just keep watching the NOS Journaal and Videoland. Examples are the TP-Link nano router, the popular GL.iNET Beryl AX or the GL.iNet GL-E750V2. More travel routers can be found here.
If you are going on holiday with a group of people, it can be a hassle to get an eSIM for everyone. A mobile WiFi router (or MiFi) can be an idea. You insert a SIM card into this, which converts the 4G signal to WiFi. The whole family can then connect with smartphones, laptops and tablets. It even works if you have equipped your camper with all kinds of smart home accessories, because they can also use the WiFi connection.
You can find such portable routers as the Netgear Nighthawk M1 and M2 at Coolblue and other stores. A cheaper option is the TP-Link M7650 of around 150 euros.
No internet? Use offline apps and content
Especially when you are flying, this is an indispensable one: apps that you can use offline. Especially when you are going to countries with high roaming costs, it is wise to download sufficient content in advance. Think of offline maps, but also offline films in Netflix and offline music in Spotify. Spending money on internet data is a waste and you would rather spend it on a nice meal. Fortunately, there are many apps that you can also use without internet, for example Google Maps and various translation apps.
