The Ultimate Travel Gadgets...............

[YankeePorker]

irocfan said:

Yeah I know, should be equally cynical about the Europeans! But when I search on eBay UK there don't seem to be the big lots of used Swiss Army knives for sale as there are in the US. To their credit, at least the US sellers openly state that they are selling TSA seizures, but it just seems wrong somehow!

[ecsrobin]

The Tea Boy said:

my top tip on top of the universal/world adapter plug is, a box shaped multi adaptor that you use at home behind the tv, that way if there is more than one uk socket required to charge things you now have 3

also a watertight zipper type bag for if you don't want to leave cash or keys on the beach whilst swimming.

and finally download some free guide for where you are going via an app store and also save maps on google maps so you can still get around, really simple jut zoom into the area you want.... https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/3273567?hl=e...

matt

Them plugs are a massive fire hazard!!!

[whoami]

bazza white said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Sized-Desktop-Charg...

Use it at home and been great on holiday with some rooms having a shortage of plugs (1 in Egypt when TV was unplugged). Both myself and brother use Ecigs so great for them, phones and aaction camera over night.

Bought one and it was delivered today.

Ta.

[anonymous-user]

The Skross travel plug with USB outlets is awesome.

After that, and noise cancelling over ear headphones (no particular make) and an ipad, the next thing on my list is the Bose Soundlink Mini. A mate introduced me to these, and now I won't go anywhere without one.

Oh, and a caribiner, for connecting house keys to a ring in my carry on, so I know exactly where they are when I get back. And a paper clip (unfolded) for changing sim cards in an iphone. And a biro, for landing cards.

[Munka01]

I found one of these very handy when travelling (good for locking backpack to things in room if you are going out or need to leave behind somewhere).

Extends to about a metre

http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/mini-combination...

[SimonV8ster]

R8VXF said:

Want decent satnav/maps wherever you go? Get a simfree Windows Phone for under £100 ( http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/phones/nokia-lumi...) and use HERE maps for free downloadable maps for most countries in the world used mine for 2300 miles through Europe without a hitch

And now £79 here at Tesco --

http://www.tesco.com/direct/nokia-lumia-630-black/...

[markmullen]

A spacepen bullet pen, ideal for filling in landing cards etc. small enough not to notice in your pocket and rugged enough not to get broken and leak.

[RizzoTheRat]

Munka01 said:

I found one of these very handy when travelling (good for locking backpack to things in room if you are going out or need to leave behind somewhere).

Extends to about a metre

http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/mini-combination...

If you want to be even more paranoid, I carry a Pacsafe when touring on the bike, it's a wire mesh bag that folds up small but is intended to enclose a 70 liter rucksack. Great when touring as I can shove my helmet, boots jacket and trousers in it and lock it to the bike if I'm leaving it for any length of time.

Even better when coupled with an Aldi Drybag, which seems to be just as well made as my Ortlieb one for about a third of the price.

[Buzz word]

ulmon city maps 2 go. Phone app which adds a map and travel guide for most big cities. Its no where near as good as google maps for a map function but the last few destinations I have been to wouldn't allow caching of the map which is pretty useless unless you are permanently on wifi or a re a millionaire with a great data plan. It saved me from getting lost a number of times.

[feef]

RizzoTheRat said:

Munka01 said:

I found one of these very handy when travelling (good for locking backpack to things in room if you are going out or need to leave behind somewhere).

Extends to about a metre

http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/mini-combination...

If you want to be even more paranoid, I carry a Pacsafe when touring on the bike, it's a wire mesh bag that folds up small but is intended to enclose a 70 liter rucksack. Great when touring as I can shove my helmet, boots jacket and trousers in it and lock it to the bike if I'm leaving it for any length of time.

Even better when coupled with an Aldi Drybag, which seems to be just as well made as my Ortlieb one for about a third of the price.

I use a pacsafe on the bike too. Not so much for security as such, but it's a handy way of stashing leathers and boots on the bike while you wander around your destination.

[LeapingDeere]

AndrewCrown said:

And.....
We went 4wd with all our luggage last year... I have to say it has totally transformed the whole airport experience....
E.g.

Rimowa luggage is typically German, very well made and funcations fantastically.

But I think it's over priced and it's become a bit of a fashion statement to the snobbish elitists these days and if you really need lots of space in a small suitcase then there are ones which are lighter and are more space efficient, but it looks good!

I think the introduction of Passbook has been a genuine useful gadget to modern travel. Most of the major travel companies seem to have utilised it.

This year Ive been able to have my boarding pass, hotel reservation and car hire details on one app with no folder of paper work.

[markmullen]

I use Rimowa luggage and whilst it is pricey you get what you pay for, its superbly built stuff.

[anonymous-user]

RizzoTheRat said:

Munka01 said:

I found one of these very handy when travelling (good for locking backpack to things in room if you are going out or need to leave behind somewhere).

Extends to about a metre

http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/mini-combination...

If you want to be even more paranoid, I carry a Pacsafe when touring on the bike, it's a wire mesh bag that folds up small but is intended to enclose a 70 liter rucksack. Great when touring as I can shove my helmet, boots jacket and trousers in it and lock it to the bike if I'm leaving it for any length of time.

Even better when coupled with an Aldi Drybag, which seems to be just as well made as my Ortlieb one for about a third of the price.

For drybags, I use Lomo gear. Absolutely fantastic stuff. If it keeps my stuff dry when kayaking (which I spend half of my time upside down), then it'll do what 99% of most people will ever need it for. Cheap as chips too. And cracking customer service.

[anonymous-user]

LeapingDeere said:

I think the introduction of Passbook has been a genuine useful gadget to modern travel. Most of the major travel companies seem to have utilised it.

This year Ive been able to have my boarding pass, hotel reservation and car hire details on one app with no folder of paper work.

I prefer to have a paper boarding pass. Paranoia about running my phone down I suppose. For hotels and cars, I keep the res number in my phone's calendar, but never have to use it - I just turn up at the desk and say I have a reservation in my name, and they do the rest.

On a different not, why on earth aren't boarding passes the size and shape of either a passport, or a credit card? The way they stick out of a passport really grates (yes, I know the answer is to have it on my phone...)

[shirt]

boarding passes prior to arrival at the airport are pointless that's why. i usually just given the check in desk passport only and they do the rest.

[mikerons88]

shirt said:

boarding passes prior to arrival at the airport are pointless that's why. i usually just given the check in desk passport only and they do the rest.

Check in desk to me is pointless, I usually travel with hand luggage.

[JVaughan]

I travel quite a lot with Business, having been stuck many times due to bad weather, mechanical failure, natural disaster (volcanic ash), Industrial action.
I travel with the following items I consider as essentials.

o.pack of polos or other mints.
o.1x Pot Noodle & plastic fork (useful for a simple snack as long as you can get a pint of boiling water).
o.10400mAh Backup Battery (provides 4x full recharges to an iphone (or 2 full o.charges for my iphone and 2x charges for my Nexus-7)
o.Small Wifi Router / Personal Hotspot (Argos £39.99)
o.Gerber Multitool ( and Gerber "Shortcut" scissors )
o.Selection of cable ties
o.small AA sized CREE torch
o.International power adapter and dual USB output
o.micro USB stick with digital images of my passport, birth certificate, driving license, Home Address, CC & bank account numbers, Emergency contacts Plus images of any boarding passes or E-Tickets for whatever journey im taking

• Before anyone picks me up on the fact I have CC and Bank details together with personal data, I use the Kingston "dataSecure" application to ensure the data is encrypted **

I also carry a laminated A5 card with emergency contacts / address information with me too.

Edited by JVaughan on Tuesday 23 December 15:44

[Matt Harper]

LeapingDeere said:

AndrewCrown said:

And.....
We went 4wd with all our luggage last year... I have to say it has totally transformed the whole airport experience....
E.g.

Rimowa luggage is typically German, very well made and funcations fantastically.

But I think it's over priced and it's become a bit of a fashion statement to the snobbish elitists these days and if you really need lots of space in a small suitcase then there are ones which are lighter and are more space efficient, but it looks good!

I think the introduction of Passbook has been a genuine useful gadget to modern travel. Most of the major travel companies seem to have utilised it.

This year Ive been able to have my boarding pass, hotel reservation and car hire details on one app with no folder of paper work.

I think that blokes look like right silky-boys pushing those 4 wheeled things around.

[mike80]

Kindle, and portable hard drive full of films, if taking my laptopm.

[Truckosaurus]

Matt Harper said:

I think that blokes look like right silky-boys pushing those 4 wheeled things around.

Harsh, but fair.