Technology
The tools that changed modern travel. If you don't use at least three of them, you're still travelling like it's 2015.
Stay in touch for less
WhatsApp, Signal, FaceTime or Zoom: set up your accounts before you leave to save on calls. Wait for Wi-Fi to connect.
Protect your electronics
A waterproof bag for your camera and phone: protection against water and, above all, sand (the worst enemy of moving parts).
Charge everything before you leave
Camera, cellphone, smartwatch. Check that you have all your cables, connectors and chargers. A plug adapter if your destination uses a different standard.
Back up to the cloud
Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud: accessible anywhere, ideal for photos and videos. Storage for vouchers, tickets, a copy of your passport.
Internet cafés and your bank account
Internet cafés aren't safe for banking. Stick to sites with encryption (https), and log out when you're done.
Useful mobile apps
2026 essentials: Google Maps (offline mode), XE Currency, Google Translate, your airline's app, an eSIM app (Airalo, Nomad), TripAdvisor, Maps.me, Citymapper.
Airplane mode
Mandatory in flight. If you don't have an out-of-country plan, keep it on at your destination to avoid surprises on your bill.
Power bank
Models of 20,000 mAh or more give you several full charges. Essential for days out on excursions.
Headphone splitter
Plug 2 pairs of headphones into the same jack. Handy for watching the same movie together on the plane.
Tablet
Instead of bringing several paper books (heavy, bulky), a tablet or e-reader lets you carry a hundred books in travel size.
International eSIM
It replaces the physical SIM card. Download a data plan for your destination straight to your phone. No roaming fees, no hunting for local SIM cards. Popular providers: Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, Ubigi. Plans for 200+ countries, from $1-15 depending on length. Check first that your phone supports eSIM.
Luggage tracker (AirTag, SmartTag)
An AirTag (Apple) or SmartTag (Samsung) in your suitcase. Follow its location in real time through Find My. Plenty of travellers have used one to find a suitcase the airline left behind in another city.
Universal GaN adapter
New-generation adapters (gallium nitride technology) are compact, charge several devices at once, and work in almost every country. A lasting $40-60 investment.
Cloud photos of important documents
Before you leave: photograph your passport, tickets and travel insurance, and sync them to the cloud. You can reach them from any device, even if the originals are lost.
Public Wi-Fi and VPNs
Avoid sensitive transactions (banking, shopping) on unprotected public Wi-Fi. An affordable VPN service (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN) encrypts your connection. Especially useful in airports, cafés and hotels.