Travelling internationally requires a careful balance between convenience and space. There are so many different solutions out there that your travel bag can begin to look like the container for a rock band roadie. Over the years, I have tried a variety of different electronic gadgets. Here are a few of my favorite ‘go to’ gadgets that accompany me whenever I travel abroad.

Power Strip

One of the best investments I have made for travelling internationally that goes with me everywhere is a small power strip. Seriously. How often have you been in an international hotel and if you are lucky, there might be one power outlet near your side of the bed … with a lamp already plugged in. With this little gadget, plug it in and the lamp into it. Voila … ample outlets to power the rest of your electronic gadgets anywhere you go. You obviously need one power adapter on this to fit in the international outlet, but this power strip will then accept any power plugs into it. I’ve been using the following power strip with 3-outlets from Simran, although it looks like they now also have a 2-outlet version with 2 USB plugs built in as well. I don’t leave the US without it.

 

Power Plug for Multiple USB Devices

Nearly everything I carry is now powered by USB … our mobile phones, tablets, Fitbit, camera equipment, GPS, and so on. I like to cut down the number of things I am packing so an absolute necessity is a USB power plug that can effectively charge multiple devices at the same time. There are a lot of them on the market. I recommend looking for one that is equipped with various international plugs and can charge at least four devices. Have you ever had to hunt down a power outlet in an airport? If you’ve succeeded in the ‘Quest for the Holy Plug’, you certainly want to take full advantage.

 

WiFi Hot Spot

A recent addition to my gadget repertoire has been a WiFi hotspot. As anyone that has travelled with their mobile phone abroad understands … international data roaming costs can be ridiculous and SIM cards can be a pain. While WiFi is almost always available in hotels and other public spaces, it is less reliable when out walking around. Even with international data packages from providers like Verizon, $10 per day per phone can add up quickly. Having had access to a small portable WiFi hotspot on a trip to Paris got me hooked. We carried a small device the size of a mobile phone around with us which allowed us to connect both of our mobile phones. Not worrying about every megabit was a relief. We no longer had a mental Gigabit clock running in our heads when we were checking e-mails, booking restaurants on ‘The Fork’, or getting information on places we were visiting from Wikipedia. I purchased the GlocalMe hotspot and used it on a recent trip to Scandanavia. Loading up minutes from the various plans that they have is easy and relatively inexpensive. A Gig of data was more than we needed and cost about $30. Turn it on and throw it in the backpack. Wonderful.

GPS

I know … you have Google Maps on your phone. Hear me out. I find a dedicated GPS invaluable when driving, particularly in Europe. I don’t need to worry about batteries running low on my phone. I don’t need to worry that I might be building up a huge charge from international data roaming. I don’t need to worry about cell tower service. For years I have carried a Garmin nuvi 1370 GPS. It is small, a nice touchscreen, and I can load lots of countries. One single feature has saved my marriage. ‘Find Parking Near’. Prior to leaving, I will load up some of the specific places we are heading to and use this feature to find various parking options. It takes a lot of the stress out of driving around looking for parking while navigating unfamiliar cities, roads, and languages. The GPS that I use is no longer available, but a newer version is now available that appears to have all of the same features.

Bluetooth Speaker

Every trip needs some down time and when you are ready, it is always nice to have access to your tunes. Enjoying some wine and cheese in your Paris apartment? Perhaps some Sade. Driving through the countryside of Spain. Queen seems like a good choice. By the pool in a rental villa in Crete. Well that is when I should probably carry two because Molly opts for ABBA. I’ve always carried a JBL Micro speaker. It is small, produces some excellent sound, and is easy on power.

 

Stay tuned for future posts on other ‘hacks’ that I have found which can help you get the most out of your next international travel experience.