With summer just around the corner, it’s a good chance to get away and soak up some sun. And if we’re lucky, we might even get a few days of hot weather right here in the UK (ours fingers are firmly crossed). But what are the best travel gadgets for your vacation or staycation? Well, you’re in luck. Because we’ve rounded up a bunch of tech that you’ll definitely want to take on your trip…
Apple AirTag
If you’re anything like us (and constantly losing stuff), get yourself a couple of Apple AirTag Bluetooth trackers. These little discs can be attached to everything from your tablet to your bag, and even your keys. So, when you accidentally leave them on the Eurostar, you can fire up the Find My App and use the map to track them down. And you won’t have to use your rusty French A-level to explain to the train company exactly where they are. Phew.
Nintendo Switch Lite
For short trips, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a game changer. It’s been designed especially for gaming on the go, and only weighs 276g. Meaning you’ll barely even know it’s there when you pop it in your backpack. And because the controllers are built-in, there’s no chance of you losing them when it’s time to get a move on.
Fancy a bit of multiplayer battling? If your mates bring their Switch or Switch Lite too, you can connect and play locally with up to eight other consoles at once. So, bring the bragging rights home with you and challenge them to some Mario Kart 8 while you wait for your flight.
Nintendo Switch 2
When you want even more oomph from your handheld gaming, you can’t go wrong with the Switch 2. Nintendo’s latest has levelled up in almost every single area. For one, the screen’s now a whopping 7.9” in size, letting you see even more of the action. And you might think that because it’s bigger, it’s got to be bulkier. Nope. It’s actually still the same thickness as the original Switch. Meaning you won’t be sacrificing precious space in your rucksack.
You shouldn’t lose the upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers down the side of your plane seat either. A set of super strong magnets lock each one onto the side of the screen. And it’s a big, big improvement over the flimsier rail system from the previous version of the console.
Portable power banks
Going out and about, you might not be near another plug socket for hours. Especially if you’re heading off grid for the weekend and doing a bit of wild camping. That’s where portable power banks come into their own.
Charge them up before you hit the road and you’ll have enough juice to top up all your gadgets for the whole weekend and then some. After all, you don’t want your speaker to run out. Otherwise, your friend might have to crack out their acoustic guitar. And nobody wants to hear another out of tune version of ‘Wonderwall’.
Kindle Paperwhite
When you want to read by the pool – and don’t want to lug a bunch of books around in your backpack – Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is a great shout. You can load up a few new reads before your trip and have them all right there on the one device. And if you’re not feeling any of them, you won’t be stuck with nothing to read. Just hookup to the hotel Wi-Fi and download another book. Through Kindle Unlimited, there’s literally millions to choose from. So, it shouldn’t be too hard to find something that clicks.
While you’re soaking up the sun, you won’t have to shift to the shade to see what’s going on either. A glare-free screen reads exactly like the printed paper in a standard book, even in direct sunlight. Plus, if it does take a dunk or get splashed by the kids launching themselves into the pool, don’t panic. It’s IPX8 waterproof, meaning that horror you’re reading won’t carry over into real life.
Travel adapters
When it comes to plugs, Europe, the USA, Australia, and a bunch of other places all have their own kind of socket. Which means that if you want to keep your gadgets and gizmos at 100%, it’s worth chucking a few travel adapters in your luggage. Just plug them into the wall wherever you’re staying and then connect your UK style charger to the adapter. You’ll have that dead phone back up and running in no time.
Clothes steamers
Not every hotel or Airbnb has an iron stuffed in a cupboard somewhere. That’s where clothes steamers come in. Yeah, they’ll take up a bit of room in your luggage. But when you need to look sharp for tonight’s meal out, you’ll be glad you brought one with you. These handy little gadgets puff out hot steam to relax creases in your clothes. And that makes them perfect for quickly freshening up shirts and dresses – especially after a long day of travel.
The best part? You don’t need an ironing board. Imagine lugging one of them around with you. Fill up the small water tank, plug it in and wait about 30 seconds. Then, sweep the steamer head down the fabric while it hangs. It’s safe to use on most fabrics as well, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your best threads. Yep, even that hideous Hawaiian shirt you insist on taking with you everywhere.
Compact cameras
While the camera on your phone is pretty good for your holiday Insta snaps, if you’re serious about your photography, it’s worth upgrading to a proper compact camera. Because they’re pretty small (and can fit in your pocket) they’re easy to carry and ideal for taking on any of your adventures. And with that extra zoom and high-resolution pics, your action shots, group photos and arty snaps of the horizon look even better than you remember. Plus, if you’re feeling a bit old school, you can print them out and display them later on.
Car phone holders
It’s time for a road trip, but you don’t have a sat nav. No worries. Pop your smartphone in one of these handy car phone holders and follow your route on Google Maps completely hands-free. And if you’re out in the deepest, darkest UK countryside – you know, where there’s loads of narrow, single lane tracks – it doesn’t matter if things get bumpy. They attach solidly to your windscreen, dashboard, or air conditioning vents and snugly grip your phone. So, nothing’s going to go flying about when you hit that inevitable pothole.
Noise cancelling headphones
There’s a load of great noise cancelling headphones to choose from out there. Over ear. On ear. In ear. All of them are worth a spot in your rucksack. That way, you’ll actually be able to enjoy your tunes in peace.
Sitting on a train or a plane can be kind of loud. You’ve got the whirring of the engines, screaming children, and other passengers having a chat. And that can make it almost impossible to hear a word of your podcast. But, when you flick on noise cancelling, you can block all of that out. Letting you silence the distractions and enjoy your audiobook without having to constantly rewind because you missed something.
Renpho EyeSnooze Aroma Sleep Mask
If you’ve ever had to rush to the airport for a 4am flight, you’ll know you’ve got to catch up on your beauty sleep at some point. With the Renpho EyeSnooze sleep mask, you can get a quick forty winks in pretty much anywhere. It wraps snugly around your face, blocking out any annoying light and letting you get your nap on. And if you’re planning on a serious snooze, the memory foam pads stay nice and comfortable. So, you won’t be tossing and turning for hours trying to find that perfect cosy position.
Beurer BR90 Insect Bite Healer
Getting nibbled on by mosquitos and other creepy crawlies isn’t much fun. That constant itching is enough to drive anyone mad. The Beurer BR90 Insect Bite Healer can help provide a bit of relief though. By using heat – and no chemicals or medicine whatsoever - it’ll soothe those bites, and you’ll actually be able to sleep. If you do need a good scratch before bed though, just fire up the LED light and find exactly where that pesky lump is.
Smart water bottles
We’ve all been there. You’re outside. It’s boiling hot and you’ve quickly ran out of water. And dehydration isn’t much fun. So, make sure to pack a smart water bottle. These water whizzes are a life saver whenever you need a good guzzle. Using UV light, they zap germs – making tap or stream water safer to drink. Which is super handy if you’re somewhere with dodgy tap water (we’re looking at you, Turkey), or on a hike in the middle of nowhere.
Just fill the bottle, press the button on the cap and wait about a minute. The UV light will do the rest, cleaning up the quality of the water. They don’t remove dirt, or heavy metals though, so if you’re planning a proper expedition, you might need a few proper filters too.
Electric toothbrush with travel case
Keeping your pearly whites happy on your hols shouldn’t take up half your suitcase. So, ditch the manual brush and get yourself a compact electric one. They’re cleaner and way better at keeping plaque at bay than a basic brush. Especially when you’re living off airport snacks and iced coffees. And if you’re wondering, they’re absolutely fine to go in your hand luggage and checked bags as well.
If you give your electric toothbrush a quick top up before you travel, the battery should last the whole trip. Many holiday-friendly brushes last two weeks or more on a single charge, so you can leave the charger at home for a long weekend away or an extended city break. Plus, with a travel case, your brush won’t collect all that fluff from your suitcase either.
Portable massagers
Travel days are great for building that holiday excitement. But they’re not so great for your back, neck or legs. So, pack a portable massager! They’re genuinely a lifesaver. These little heroes help you recover after a cramped flight, a long drive, or that city walking tour that quickly turned into a 20,000-step slog. Fire it up and you’ll loosen any tight muscles and help stop stiffness from ruining your trip.
Most portable massage guns can go in your carry-on too. Just make sure the battery meets airline rules (luckily, almost all of them do).
So, there are the best travel accessories we reckon you can’t do without. Need an idea to make the most of your time off? We’ve rounded up five amazing walks to try this bank holiday. So, get out there and make the most of it! And if you still need more epic travel tech, check out the three best tablets for travelling.
