As we approach the end of November, it’s hard to believe that we’re almost through another year. 2018 was another big one for Pikalily as we moved into our new home, Lewis turned one and Nial started a new job. We also managed to squeeze in a couple of trips around the UK & Ireland, and 2019 travel plans so far include Madrid, Munich and Co Clare (with more to add no doubt).
If you’re ready to go off travelling, you most likely already have some sort of checklist of things that you need and want to take with you. It’s important that you think of every kind of situation before it happens when you can, as it will avoid any unnecessary drama and issues that could affect your adventure. Technology is a big part of our travel adventures, and we often scratch our heads wondering how our parents managed to navigate around Ireland years ago just using a map!! With this in mind we thought we’d share the tech essentials that we feel everyone needs when travelling.
Tech Essentials for Travelling
1. Smartphone
Top of the list is the smartphone. If the truth be told, so long as you have a decent smartphone you’re probably good to go. Smartphones can do so much today, with so many apps available to help you plan your trip and get the most from your travels. Not to mention the quality of the camera in most phones and the built in maps. Smartphones are a godsend.
People can barely survive without their phones in this modern day world, and although sometimes that’s part of the problem, we can’t deny just how much we rely on them now. You don’t need to worry about overspending on something that you don’t get much use out of either, because there are companies out there like Smarty.co.uk, that credit back any unused data onto the next month, so when you’re travelling, you really get exactly what you’re paying for.
2. A Camera
Okay, so while most smartphones have a great camera, it’s still worth considering investing in a quality camera to capture those great moments of your travels. We bought a Canon DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera a few years back and it’s great for getting focus with your photos. They can be a bit bulkier but if you have a backpack and are happy to carry around, they’re well worth investing in.
Having a camera is what allows you to capture those magical and often rather unexpected moments when travelling. It also allows you to relive things that you may have forgotten about. You know how powerful photos are, so much so that they can take you back to that day, and you can smell the air and feel the wind on your face. So always have a camera with you – around your neck if need be, so that it’s always ready to snap something amazing.
3. A Sat Nav
Another thing that most smartphones can provide, but when we’re going on a long drive when travelling, we opt for the sat nav. If you plan on making your own way to your destinations, be it a road trip, or a backpacking trek, then you’re going to need some kind of sat nav or map with you.
While it can be fun to get a little bit lost and explore some undiscovered places, it can also be very dangerous, especially once the sun goes down. So although you may like the idea of living spontaneously, you need to be smart and realistic too. Having a sat nav doesn’t mean you have to stick to those main roads by any means – it just means you know how to get back to them when you need to.
4. Drone / Go Pro
Okay, so this one isn’t really an essential, but if you’re planning on doing a lot of travelling and really want to capture the journey from afar or up close and personal, consider looking at a drone or Go Pro. While they can take a bit of getting used to, if you love shooting video on your travels then these could be well worth looking into. We’ve used a Go Pro on some of our travels and the camera has come on a long way in a short space of time. A drone is something we’ve yet to use when travelling, but it’s on our list as we continue planning our 2019 travels.
Got Anything to Add?
What tech products are a must for you when travelling? Let us know by commenting below.
Until next time, happy travels.
Helen, Nial and Lewis.
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
