In our modern society we all like our gadgets. Whether that be smartphones or tablets, e-readers or laptops, there are plenty of devices that we all like to use and play with. But when it comes to traveling, we usually don’t want to risk taking it all with us. Not only could the gadgets be lost, but they could also be broken along the way and some of them will not even work when you are traveling, making them just a heavy burden to lose or have stolen. So what do you take with you and what should you leave behind?
Few of us do without our Smartphones, which act like our gateway to our connected online world. From keeping in touch with loved ones, being able to browse for the best deals, or simply keeping yourself occupied with games is what makes this mobile gadget a top favourite.
It is safe to say that the majority of mobile phone users these days have a smartphone. Smartphones will allow you to make calls and access the internet while you are out and about. Of course, using the internet on your smartphone when you are not connected to Wifi will use up your data and could result in extra fees that you may not have wanted to pay. This is especially true when traveling, though many places will offer free Wifi. However, using a public Wifi connection can mean that you are putting yourself at risk of other people who are on the same network.
Still, smartphones are handy while you are traveling for so many reasons. The primary one is still, of course, having a phone that you can use for actual phone calls, which is essential for any kind of travel. In addition, you can have a multitude of apps at your fingertips that will help you with travel plans while keeping your regular daily activity up to date. You should check to make sure that your phone will work no matter where you are. If you are traveling to an international destination, it may not work there. If it does work, however, you should absolutely take your phone with you.
Keep yourself and the kids entertained with a tablet. You can view pictures better, watch movies on a larger screen, without needing the hassle of porting around a large laptop.
While most tablets can do everything a smartphone can do, there are some things that are better on a tablet than a smartphone. If you are thinking of watching movies while on a plane or road trip, a tablet offers a much larger screen than your smartphone does which will offer more comfortable viewing. Tablets are also a great way to read e-books instead of lugging around physical books with you. The screens, however, are not always the easiest on the eyes for hours of reading. The larger screen does allow you to do some work on it that would be very hard to do on a smartphone, but without a keyboard, extensive writing is nearly impossible to do. Like with smartphones, tablets do use the internet and will drain your data if you are using the internet a lot while not being connected on WiFi.
E-readers are your best bet to keep you occupied if you are a bookworm but don’t have unlimited baggage weight for flights. Keep those books away – this is today’s way to read more, and read better.
There are a few different brands of e-readers out there that offer you the option of carrying many books without all the extra weight that taking the real thing would mean. Books are incredibly heavy to lug around and you simply do not want to carry them with you. You will not need an internet connection with one as long as you download the books before you leave on your trip.
The screens of several e-readers are much easier to look at for long spans of time than if you were to read on your smartphone or tablet. But if you’re not an avid reader and you are traveling with a smartphone and tablet that you use regularly, it may not be worthwhile bringing the e-reader. However, if you are a big reader, an e-reader is the perfect thing to put on your packing list.
If you have to work on the go, your laptop may be a good option, as you can store all your data, work easier and remain on top of your game.
Clearly, your laptop is going to be the best thing to bring with you if you have a lot of work to do while traveling or if you are headed out onto a business trip. A laptop is able to efficiently perform multiple tasks for you at the same time and has its keyboard so you can actually do some real work as and when you need to. A laptop is, of course, heavy to lug around. They are also expensive and valuable and could be easily lost or stolen on a trip. It is not worth it to take it with you if you are not going on a work trip or working while you are traveling. Leave the computer at home if you can, take a tablet or use your smartphone instead. You will have a lot less baggage and save yourself from the added struggle and weight of carrying a laptop.
Now, we don’t mean lug around your PS4 or Xbox One, we mean take little portable video games. These are not a necessity, your smartphone can work just as well.
There are still a number of portable video game options out there that could occupy your time if you are going to be doing any long haul traveling. Games will keep you entertained if they are something that you enjoy normally. But video games are really a non-essential travel device. You should only bring one if it is something that you will absolutely use. Otherwise, play a game on your phone or do something else to fill your time. Having a game system with you, no matter how small, is taking up precious luggage space that could be used for other things. If gaming is something that you enjoy, by all means, pack the device.
When it comes down to it, you should pack what you are going to get the most use out of on your trip. Carrying useless devices around will not just make your bag heavier, but it runs the risk of the item being stolen, lost, or broken during your journey. It is easier to limit the amount of expensive devices that you carry and just leave the ones you will not be using at home, where they will be safe, waiting for you to return.