We’ve entered peak travel season, where many of us turn to the skies, roads, rails and seas. And these days, getting ready for a trip also means making sure your tech is ready.
Let’s start with your phone. If you’re headed out of the country, make sure your plan works for the country you’re visiting, or you could wind up with an enormous roaming bill. You likely have coverage everywhere in the U.S. and, depending on your plan, possibly Canada and Mexico. But if you’re traveling to other countries, you might need an international plan to avoid potentially enormous roaming fees. Most carriers offer international plans, such as
AT&T’s International Day Pass
, which gives you all the features of your home plan for $12 a day for the first line and $6 a day for each additional line on your account. You’re only charged for days you use texting, data, or voice calls, and you only have to pay for 10 days per billing period. AT&T also offers a $20 plan for cruise ships.
These plans do not cover the entire world, but they do cover the vast majority of countries you’re likely to visit. Be sure to contact your carrier (you can call 611 from your phone) to activate the plan and verify it covers your destinations. Other companies may have similar plans but always check with your carrier.
Other options include trying to get a local SIM card in the countries you’re visiting, which may or may not be possible depending on your phone and plan. You could also turn off international roaming or disconnect from the cellular network entirely and use your phone for free by only connecting when you’re at a Wi-Fi hotspot. Many people around the world use WhatsApp for calls, texts, and video chats, which is free if you’re on Wi-Fi.
Most countries outside North America use different plug types than the U.S., so you’ll need a travel adapter to fit local outlets. However, you won’t need a voltage or power converter for phones and laptops, as they’re designed to handle a wide range of voltages worldwide. You can buy inexpensive adapters for each country or a universal one like the $26
Anker Nano Travel Adapter
, which also has two USB-C ports, or any of the less expensive models you can find by searching for a universal travel plug adapter. Continental European countries mostly use the same plugs, but it never hurts to check, just to be sure.
I always travel with a two-prong (ungrounded) extension cord, and I sometimes tape the travel adapter to it so it doesn’t fall off. I also carry a small three-prong power strip. When I plug a two-prong cord into an airline in-seat power outlet, it frequently falls out, but the three-prong adapter stays in place. Avoid power strips with surge protectors because they might not survive 220 volts, which is standard in many countries.
Airline in-seat power can be unreliable, so consider a portable charger for your phone. It might also come in handy after you land, especially if you use your phone for navigation, which draws extra power. For heavy-duty needs, the
Anker Laptop Power Bank
($120) has a 25,000mAh battery, two USB-C ports, and a USB-A port, allowing you to charge four devices simultaneously, including laptops. In addition to being a bit pricey, it’s also on the heavy side at 21 ounces, but I tested it and it works well.
Planes are noisy, and whether I’m listening to music, podcasts, or the sound of in-flight movies, I always wear noise-canceling earbuds or headphones — and not the free, cheap earbuds that airlines sometimes give away. Apple AirPods Pro 2 work well, but if you want to eliminate even more noise, you’re better off with noise-canceling headphones. There are many on the market, including the highly rated $249
Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones.
I recently tried out the $99
Soundcore Space One Active
Noise Cancelling Headphones, which are quiet and comfortable. These — and many other noise-canceling headphones — use wireless Bluetooth but also include, or are compatible with, an optional cord that lets you connect to an airline entertainment system. When shopping for headphones, check whether you can listen without turning on the power (useful if the battery is dead) and whether noise cancellation works in wired mode—which is usually, but not always, the case.
Don’t forget phone chargers and cables. Newer phones and laptops now use USB-C, which makes things a lot easier. I purchased an Anker USB-C charger with two USB-C and one USB-A port, including a 65-watt port that charges a laptop or tablet. There are also charging stations that can power an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time—brand-name ones from Anker and Belkin.
Luggage can get lost or misplaced, so a lot of people are putting Apple AirTags or other trackers on their bags. The advantage of Apple AirTags is that they will be found anytime they come into contact with anyone’s iPhone. Even if the person with the nearby iPhone doesn’t do anything, their phone will anonymously inform you of the location.
Android has a similar technology that works with its Find My app. Pebblebee and Mili offer tags that work with both Apple’s and Google’s networks.
Wherever you roam, it’s a good idea to have a general travel/hotel app like Expedia, Booking.com, or Trivago, as well as navigation apps, translation apps (like Google Translate), communication apps like WhatsApp, and apps that might include important information such as healthcare data or financial information that you might need. Just make sure your phone is locked when not in use, and that you have strong authentication on these accounts, such as Face ID or fingerprint unlock.
If you’re traveling outside the U.S., download the MPC app (Mobile Passport Control) from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It streamlines the entry process for eligible travelers returning to the United States. You can submit passport info, photos, and customs declarations before you reach customs. In my travels, there have been special lines for MPC users that are much shorter than the regular line and sometimes just as short as the line for Global Entry.
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I also recommend currency conversion apps for international travel, as well as making sure you’ve downloaded your airline’s app before takeoff—especially with airlines like United that require it for entertainment or in-flight purchases.
If you do travel this summer, have a great time. I used to send postcards to make friends and family jealous, but now you can easily send pictures of yourself and any companions from some amazing places.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at [email protected].
