Before embarking on your next vacation, there is always a big list of items you need to take care of. You’ve got to pack, check in to your flights, finalize your hotel reservation, and then double-check everything again.
If nothing else, you should at least have your passport, phone, and wallet. You can figure everything else out on the way.
Unfortunately, it’s necessary to add another item to your pre-travel list. With technology being a key part of our lives, it’s important to prepare yourselves in the technology realm before departing. It’s also a way to ensure you’re going to be a savvy, up-to-date travel genius.
Below is a quick list of things you should check off before hopping on the plane.
Take a Screenshot
At one time or another, you’ve no doubt taken a screenshot of your phone, maybe to send your friends a photo of the conversation or an Instagram post.
Now it’s time to use those buttons to remember some important details. If you’re traveling to a place where you may not have reception or data immediately, it’s best to take screenshots of your future plans.
That means your accommodation information, important addresses, flight information, and whatever else. It will be much easier to pull up a photo on your phone instead of waiting for a connection.
While most email apps have a functional offline mode, they may not be able to load all of the photos and information you’ll need. Make a folder in your photos gallery to have all of it there, at the touch of a button.
Charge it Up
While you’re out visiting sites and riding ATVs through the jungle, you may not have the time or ability to find a functioning outlet to charge your phone.
One of the easiest things you can do is purchase an external charger. Many can fit in the palm of your hand and connect to any device out there. Put it in your pocket, purse, or bag, and hook it up to your phone when you’re not using it.
Speaking of phones, be sure to put it in airplane mode when you’re not using it. That way, it won’t drain the battery that fast and you’ll have it ready and available for taking those perfect photos.
Don’t Leave Your Entertainment at Home
With so many can’t miss shows and movies around, you’ll be wanting to bring your entertainment with you for a potentially rainy day or relaxing evening.
You might be taking your laptop with you but if not, you can easily take your streaming device and plug it into any TV.
All you’ll need is an internet connection and you can easily access your favorite content. You might have to install a VPN on your device so you’re not restricted by your geographical location, but that’s an easy step that Troypoint can help you do.
Back it All Up
Not only is this great advice for your dance moves, but also for any photos and videos you make take during your trip. The unexpected can happen at just about any time and even though you may be extra careful, your phone’s fate can change at any moment.
Make sure you have your phone connected to some kind of cloud service that will back up everything you document during your travels.
You might already be losing your contacts and any high scores you had on Solitaire, so avoid rubbing salt in the wound by losing all of your precious photos and memories as well.
The Phone Plan
You might already have a plan with your local carrier about a plan when you go overseas, and that’s perfect. Those plans are usually perfect for short term trips but can get expensive quickly.
If you’re planning a semester abroad or a long-term trip, look into getting a local SIM card. You will have to check with your home carrier to see if your phone is jailbroken, meaning it can work with any SIM card.
But the internet can help you as well! Download a few messaging apps like WhatsApp to talk with people easily and buy some Skype credit. It’s much cheaper and easy to use. You can use WhatsApp for texting and Skype for any calls.
All you’ll need is an internet connection, which can easily be found in just about any public location.
