It’s much easier to travel today than it would have been, say, two hundred years ago. Back then, you’d set off on your adventure just hoping that you’d end up where you planned to go. And talking with your friends and family back home? Forget it. You would be able to send a letter, but it’d take a long time to arrive — by the time it did, the information would probably be outdated! Today, we have technology, which makes virtually everything to do with travelling much easier.
With that being said, you’ll only get to enjoy the benefits of technology when travelling if you use it in the right way. In this blog, we’ll look at some handy tips that’ll ensure technology aids your trip and doesn’t hinder it.
Get a Local Sim Card
You’ll need access to the internet when you’re travelling, and it’s dangerous to assume that you’ll automatically have it regardless of where you’re visiting. If you’re visiting Europe, then you’ll be fine (though watch out for additional charges), but if you’re going further off the map, then your home sim card may not work. You can get around this issue by buying a prepaid local sim at the destination you’re visiting. That’ll give you the best coverage at an affordable price, so you can enjoy the internet to the fullest when you’re travelling.
Download Local Apps
Some of your apps will be relevant when you’re travelling, but not all of them. After all, while some apps are universal, some are local to one area. Before you visit a destination, research the most commonly used apps in the country. It can save you a lot of difficulties further down the line — for example, if you know that no one uses Uber and that there’s another ride app that people use, then you’ll be able to get a ride when you land at the airport.
Use Your Apps Offline
Did you know that some apps are available to use offline? This can save you a lot of hassle when you’re travelling, especially if you’re visiting a place that has limited internet coverage. One particularly recommended app to make available for offline use is your maps app. If you have this data installed locally on your device, then you’ll know that you can always get from point A to point B, even if you don’t have access to the internet. Some other apps include XE Currency, which will let you know how much you’re spending in the local currency, and a Spotify playlist or two, so you can enjoy music while 40,000 feet in the air.
Get Travel Insurance
Your tech is valuable, so make sure you’re protecting it from theft and damage! You never know what might happen to your laptop, tablet, or phone when you’re on the road, especially if you’re going to a city that has a lot of pickpocketing and theft, or a nature area where it’s easy to see how your device might fall into a river! Having travel insurance won’t magically bring your personal device back to you, but it will ensure that you can at least replace it once you’re back home. A word of advice about travel insurance: don’t just buy the cheapest policy you can find, since it probably won’t offer as much protection as you need. It’s always worthwhile carefully reading the policy in detail to see what exactly it covers and how much you’ll get in return.
Freeing Up Space
You’ll be taking a lot of photos and videos when you’re travelling, and rightly so. The only problem is that if you’re taking plenty of high quality shots, then your phone’s storage could quickly run out of space. At that point, you might resort to deleting some old videos to make space for your new ones. Don’t do it! There are plenty of ways to transfer large videos from your iPhone; just take a look at https://setapp.com/how-to/send-large-videos-from-iphone to see the various methods available to you. Make a habit of transferring your videos when you have the chance, rather than waiting until you get a notification that storage is low — by that point, you might be deep in the jungle, without the capacity to upload your videos.
Avoid Public Wifi
Public wifi can seem like a miracle when you’re in desperate need of the internet and have no data. However, it’s best not to connect to open wifi networks, or if you do, do so very carefully. If someone has named a connection ‘free wifi’ then it’s reasonable to ask why it’s free. These types of unsecured networks make it very easy for hackers to view your personal information, which will put you at risk of having a travel adventure that costs you much more than you expected. If you do trust that the public wifi is legitimate (say, in an airport), then at the very least avoid using the connection to handle any personal affairs.
Bring a Battery Pack
Most people think about how much access to the internet they’ll have when travelling. However, it’s important to remember that if your device doesn’t have battery charge, then you won’t be able to access anything. Before your trip, look at buying a power bank, which will allow you to keep your devices charged when you’re on the move. They’re cheap but can make a big difference to your trip! In addition, read up on which type of plug you’ll need when you’re travelling. A universal adapter is usually the best way to go.
Switch it Off!
Finally, remember to switch off your technology from time to time. Having a smartphone can make travelling much easier, but it can sometimes be a little too tempting to spend long days just staring at your device. If you find yourself using your smartphone for longer than you should, then switch it off. You’ll be able to browse the internet when you’re back home for as long as you like!
