Spokeo helps you connect with others, but if you’re planning a jaunt through Italy or an adventurous two weeks in South America, you might need help with staying connected in general. Whether you’re a skilled international traveler or just want to orchestrate a trip your family will never forget, technology is making the staying connected around the world easier than ever before. There are plenty of new products available to take with you on your trip, helping you eliminate safety concerns, language barriers, and even health issues!
So, which of today’s tech products are indispensable for a trip abroad? Let’s take a look.
Luggage Tracking Device
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Did you know you can buy an FAA-compliant device that keeps track of your luggage, even if the airlines don’t? A company called Trakdot has created a product that does just that, and it’s pretty inexpensive to boot. Just slip it in your suitcase (it falls “asleep” during the flight) and when you land it’ll text you to let you know where it is – hopefully it’s at the airport with you! If your luggage is lost you’ll have a much greater chance of finding it.
Extra Battery Packs
Smart travelers carry smartphones to keep track of their reservations, their location, and even their money. GPS data can really drain your phone’s juice but there are dozens of battery solutions available that offer an extra charge in a slim, unobtrusive package. Pocketcell Duo and Mophie are two great options, each offering additional one-use charges in a small package. There’s nothing worse than a dead phone when you need it most.
Security Apps
Your phone isn’t just useful, it can actually keep you safe. Of course, before you leave you should do all the research you can: sign up with the government’s STEP program, and register your trip with the embassies you’ll be near. But apps like React Mobile can keep you safe on the road. The app allows selected people back home to track your movement in real time and get your GPS location if there’s a problem.
Break the Language Barrier
Great apps don’t just keep you safe, they can help you communicate. There’s a slew of real-time translation apps available (think Word Lens, iTranslate, and Google Translate) that can instantly help you make sense of a menu or negotiate a hotel rate. Particularly for languages that don’t use Roman letters like Mandarin or Arabic, photo-centric translation services can be invaluable. Certainly worth the few dollars these apps cost, at least.
Personal Humidifier
Do you need this product? Absolutely not. Is it a great way to keep your sinuses in check when staying in stuffy hotel rooms and dusty apartments? You betcha. May personal humidifiers are about the size of a grapefruit and can aerate a room with just a bottle of water and an electrical plug. Who says travel tech has to be space-aged?
The trip of a lifetime doesn’t have to be far and it doesn’t have to be long. What it does have to be is comfortable. The more in-your-element you feel on your trip the easier it’ll be to enjoy the sights, the food, and the accommodations. The best part is, most travel technology can be repurposed at home after the trip’s just a fond memory, too!