A vacation is a time for rest, relaxation, rejuvenation, and maybe even a little adventure. But just because you’re indulging in some R&R doesn’t mean that you have to leave your tech behind. Check out some of the most essential gadgets that you need to bring for vacation.
1. Smart Phone
This is the most obvious and necessary gadget for your vacationing pleasure. Not only can it help you stay connected with your travel partners for safety’s sake, it has countless uses and possibilities. You can utilize literally thousands of apps to perfect your holiday. Everything from bookings, navigation, restaurant recommendations, and accommodations is a mere finger tap away. For those of you on the Apple bandwagon, the Passbook feature allows you to keep all of your boarding pass and frequent flier information in the one place too, which is incredibly convenient. Of course, it also has its trusty MP3 and podcast capabilities so you can listen to your favorite music and shows.
2. Portable Battery Charger
This is a holiday imperative, particularly if you’re like me and enjoy taking every possible safety precaution. There are a wide variety of portable chargers available, some being as small as a thumb drives, and others with multiple ports that are designed to keep the whole family charged. They are also great if you’re running short on socket space in your hotel room.
3. iPad/Tablet
Similar to your smart phone, a tablet device is an absolute vacation necessity if you have access to one. This is mostly due to its sheer versatility. It can be your portable media center, MP3 player, e-reader, and laptop, just to name a few. It’s also, of course, lightweight and far more convenient than lugging a laptop around. This is particularly important if you need to catch up on work while you’re away.
4. Lightweight Laptop
Need to mix a little business with pleasure? Perhaps you’re on a working vacation or simply want a convenient outlet to blog your experiences. Thin laptops such as the MacBook Air or the Sony Vaio T are your answer. Light and convenient, these devices allow you to convert any holiday destination into your very own office.
5. Noise Cancelling Headphones
A great pair of noise cancelling head phones are one of the best vacation investments you can make. Whether you’re flying to New York or taking a bus from Vietnam to Cambodia, a decent set will block out pesky engine noises. These bad boys will also be a godsend if you have to contend with inconsiderate flyers, crying babies, or want to ignore unruly teenagers on the beach. You deserve to be able to get your zen on anywhere.
6. Keyboard Covers
These are one of the best travel friendly tablet accessories currently on the market. Logitech’s Keyboard Cover doubles as an iPad case and responds instantly to keystrokes via Bluetooth. This is essential for working travelers, bloggers, and writers.
7. Pocket Camera
Want to document your vacation via high quality photos but don’t want to cart around a camera and a bunch of additional lenses? That’s okay, you don’t have to trade quantity for quality. There are some amazing compact cameras on the market, some of which are smaller than a deck of cards and can be used underwater. If making your friends jealous is more your style, you can even get models with built in wifi for all of your Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter needs. The great news here is that they’re not only convenient, but also affordable.
8. Headphone Splitter Adapter
These are great little devices for when you’re sharing your tablet or laptop. Now two people can enjoy your mini media center! This is particularly handy if you’re flying on a budget airline and they’re showing a crappy movie, or for keeping the kids entertained.
9. Portable Speakers
Great for the beach or impromptu parties, portable speakers have come along way since the days of boom boxes. The more recent models are powered by wireless Bluetooth technology and even have the ability to charge your other devices via USB. That’s right, not only will they play your favorite tunes, but they will also power your tech and allow you to Facetime your loved ones at home — a sound vacation investment.
10. E-Reader
Now this may seem like a superfluous inclusion considering that we’ve already discussed tablets, but I can assure you that an e-reader is a fantastic vacation gadget in its own right. We all know about the importance of battery life, and this is where these babies really shine. The more recent dedicated e-readers have battery lives that can last up to a month. This means that you don’t have to panic about being bored on a 14 hour flight if you forgot to plug it in overnight. They’re a bibliophiles dream, particularly if you’re like me and want to take an abundance of reading choices on your vacation. No more taking up all your luggage space!
