If you are travelling to see family or friends during the holidays, here are 5 items we’ve found extremely helpful when we travel.
Extra charging ports & outlets
It seems you can never have enough ports to charge all the devices we take when travelling – phone, tablet, watch, laptop, gaming system, etc. There are two items we take depending on whether we are travelling internationally or not.
For travel in North America we take the TROND slim charging station.
It has 3 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port, and four 120V outlets so you can charge everything you brought at once. It is small enough to slip into a bag or knapsack.
If we are travelling internationally, we take this travel plug adapter.
It can plug into almost any outlet in the world and gives you 2 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports, and one regular outlet. If you are travelling in a country that uses the 240V power standard (instead of the 120V standard in North America), make sure any devices you plug into the outlet are compatible because this device does not change the voltage (hair dryers and straighteners are two common devices that usually do not work on other power standards).
Cord storage
With more devices come more cords that you need to carry. This storage bag holds all our cords, extra adapters, battery backups, earphones, and more.
With the straps and zippered pouches things won’t fall out. We put it in our carry-ons so we have charging available when it is needed – especially during delays.
Night lights
You are familiar with your own home and can likely find your way at night in the dark. But at a hotel, short-term rental, or relative’s house it is easy to stumble and fall if you get up at night to use the washroom or attend to a child. These magnetic rechargeable night lights go with us on every trip.
They can be attached to any metal surface and provide enough light to see safely at night. The brightness can be adjusted so you don’t wake up others in the room. I did a video on how to use these at https://youtu.be/vCVnVpVbY50.
USB adapters
Not all hotels have updated their charging ports to USB-C ports. With more and more devices using the USB-C standard, it is a good idea to carry USB-C to USB-A adapters so you can plug your cords into the ports provided. Here’s the one we carry.
It is not the cheapest you’ll find but it is made by UGREEN, a manufacturer I trust so I know it won’t damage my valuable devices. You’ll also find these handy if the relative you are staying with only has charger bricks that have USB-A ports.
Phone holder for a rental car
Rental cars don’t have the connectivity that our vehicles at home have. The rental vehicles are usually the lowest level of features so you won’t likely have a screen to see maps when you are driving. Here’s the phone holder we have.
It securely attaches to most vents with a hook and pads. It rotates 360 degrees so you can use the phone in either orientation. And it allows you to charge your phone at the same time. It makes driving in unfamiliar places much safer.
Where to buy these items
I’ve created a list of all these items and others that we like when travelling on my Amazon Store at https://amzn.to/3UEq2eq. Check out the list and get the ones you don’t already have before you travel to see family and friends at holiday time.