Being stranded in a foreign city with a dead phone is nightmare fuel. But it’s something that will never happen when you have this and the other travel tech accessories on my list.
1. Universal outlet adapter
I’m kicking it off with what I think is the best travel adaptor for international travel. There are a ton of them and I’ve narrowed it down to my ultimate go-to adapter. This is the Joomfeen worldwide all-in-one universal travel adapter that’s good for 150 countries. This model is black, but it comes in different colors, it’s got 2 USB ports, US, UK, Europe, and Australia plugs and it’s got a built-in safety feature that will cut power if the current is too much.
This adapter is 100-240V allowing you to charge up to 3 devices at once. It’s really lightweight and it goes on sale all the time, but it’s very affordable at around $12USD. I always recommend bringing more than one adapter when you travel. That way you can keep one plugged in by the nightstand and you can use one  in the bathroom when you’re getting ready. Trust me, live and learn.
2. Universal charging cable – Travel Accessories
Second on my list is my go-to universal charging cable. This is so handy for all your different devices, regardless of the connector. Mine comes with me everywhere I go. I’ve got the Native Union Universal 6.5ft Ultra-Strong Reinforced Charging Cable. This baby is a 3-in-1, so you get a lightning, USB-c, and micro-USB all in one cable.
I like that it works via USB because most planes have USB charging ports now. Plus, this cord is extremely durable too and though this particular cable is a little on the expensive side, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
3. Earbuds and headphones – Travel Accessories
So now let’s talk about some of the best tech for planes and trains, and while you’re on the move. You’re going to want earbuds or wired headphones. God only knows what airlines are charging for junk headphones on flights these days. I’ve got the Apple Air Pods Pro, which I’ve had for years and are still holding charge for my trips.
You should really consider a noise-canceling option to help quiet out the sound. I’ve also got an old-school Bose pair that are really comfortable around-ear headphones. So, it’s really up to your comfort level here and how much space you have in your travel bag. And you may be wondering but if I bring my Bluetooth headphones, how do I watch a seatback movie when planes are equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack?
4. Bluetooth adapter for headphones – Travel Accessories
I present to you the next item on my list of top 10 travel accessories: The Air Fly Pro from twelve south. The Air Fly Pro connects two wireless headphones to any headphone jack. Yes, really. The built-in  battery lasts more than 25 hours. All you have to do is pair your wireless headphones and blamo, you’re rocking and rolling without a wired connection.
There are a few models of this, and it’s important to note that the pro version allows you to connect two wireless headphones, because some of the other models don’t.
5. Earplugs (Concert and Sleep) – Travel Accessories
Next on the list of best travel tech 2024 are earplugs. I know what you’re thinking, is this really tech? Yes, and here’s why. First, when it comes to plane travel or loud environments like concerts or events that you may be attending, my favorite earplugs are the Loop Experience Ear Plugs.
They have a noise reduction rating of 18 decibels, NRR of 7 and come in a bunch of cute colors. Most important, these are so comfortable in-ear, I swear to you. I wear these at hockey games and almost forget they are there. Each box comes with 1 set of Loop Experience earplugs, 4 sizes of soft silicone ear tips (XS-L), and 1 handy carry case.
The other earplugs I recommend are specifically for sleeping – full disclosure, I wear earplugs even when I’m not traveling and can I tell you how irritating it is to try and sleep on your side with a huge foam earplug jammed into your head?
So that’s why I bought these Hineriaeo earplugs. They are very similar in style to the Loop earplugs in that they sit comfortably in-ear with nothing sticking out. These are the  best earplugs for side sleepers, I’m telling you. They are also reusable noise-cancelling, silicon earplugs that reduce sound up to -33dB. They too come in different colors, with different tip sizes and a handy carry case.
6. MagSafe Charger and Powerbanks – Travel Accessories
The Anker MagGo wireless charging station, it’s a foldable 3-in-1. I use and love so many of their products, so this was a real treat to get to try this baby out. The MagGo is an ultra-compact 3-in-1 foldable design, which I love. It weighs 6.9oz and is  smaller than the mouse I use. Here’s a little comparison to my iPhone 15 Pro size. And you just unfold the top where you can utilize the MagSafe charger on the front, which exposes the perfect charging spot for my airpods pro and then, hidden underneath is a popout charger for my Apple Watch.
Look at that. By the way, this has the official Apple Watch Fast Charging certification, enabling a 30-minute charge to give your Apple Watch Series 9 a 47% battery boost. This is lightning-fast charging, equivalent to that of the original Apple MagSafe chargers. So, it’s a powerful 15W wireless charging device, twice as fast as most standard 7.5W wireless chargers. I love that now when I’m traveling, I can keep all my phone, airpods and watch charging in one central spot so I always know where my devices are and I’m not lugging around a million different charging options. It’s my go-to docking station while traveling.
This Anker Powercore Powerbank is 5000mAH and has fast-charging capabilities, and will hold enough juice to provide a full charge on nearly all smartphones. This one connects via USB, so you will need your own compatible cable for this, hint hint like the Native Union one, but then you’re off to the races. Or you could go with the Belkin USB-C power bank.
It comes with a USB-c to USB-c cable and features 10,000mAH for faster charging. And, it will provide about 36 hours of additional battery life for your phone. If you want to ramp up to fast charging, you’ll use a separate USB-c to lightning cable for certain older iPhone models. But this will charge just about any smartphone you have from Pixel, to Galaxy devices, to iPhones and more.
7. Cable organizer – Travel Accessories
By now, we’ve gone over headphones and charging cables and the like, so you may want to keep everything organized with a cable organizer. This is my go-to, never leave home without bag. This is the Bagsmart electronics organizer, and it’s just a handy little way to keep all your bits and bobs sorted. It’s nice and compact and not heavy or bulky.
You can organize your cables, wired headphones, batteries, and even portable charges however you’d like. Plus, there’s a little SD card holder too. Mainly, what you want to keep in mind with a cable  organizer is that you get one that opens flat like this for easy access. I’ve had this one  for years and it always makes my list because, what can I say, organization is my love language.
8. Tablet or E-reader
The next item I never travel without is my iPad. So, I’d recommend a tablet or e-reader of your choice, depending on your preferences. I love my old, old iPad. I watch all my downloaded Netflix shows on it, but I’ll link to the Fire HD Tablet as well, and I’ll also link to the Kindle Paperwhite, if you prefer to bring a lightweight e-reader on vacation as opposed to a tablet. If you’re in the Pixel ecosystem, I’ve also linked to the Google Pixel Tablet as well for you.
9. Luggage scale
The next piece of tech is another staple that has been one of the best travels purchases I’ve ever made. It’s my portable luggage scale. Seriously, this thing is the most accurate gadget ever and it’s taken the guesswork out of me weighing my bag. So, this is the Etekcity portable digital luggage scale. It is lightweight, easy to throw in your carry-on, and will read up to 110lbs.
All you have to do is hook the strap around your checked bag and lift up and the reader gives you the weight. And, yes, it is accurate every single time, I swear. I’ve had mine since 2018, and it’s been accurate every time and believe it or not, I’ve still not had to replace the battery. Knock on wood. You can also change the unit as well with this scale and it does come in different colors as well if you desire. Or you can buy a two-pack and gift one to your favorite person. I’m telling you, this is a game changer. It’s one of my absolute favorite pieces of tech I’ve ever purchased.
we’ve made it to number 10 on my list of best travel tech for 2024.
10. Bluetooth trackers
Consider a Bluetooth tracker for your luggage or important items. I’ve got the Tile Mate Bluetooth tracker and these are great to attach to just about anything you can think of. They are water resistant, iOS and Android compatible, and have up to a 250ft range.
If your item is lost or far away, you just use the app to view your tile’s most recent location on a map. If you’re solely in the Apple ecosystem, you can grab an Apple AirTag. Toss that baby into your luggage and keep track of it using the Find My app.
