How to keep your devices charged while travelling is a perrenial question – certainly in the more modern era (which is a bit sad actually!) Whether you’re navigating new cities, planning your way round, showing boarding passes, snapping photos, or simply keeping in touch with loved ones, staying charged can be essential when you’re traveling.
We’ve all been there – staring at a phone with 5% battery left and knowing you’ve got your boarding pass in your digital wallet for a flight in five hours time. Here’s some tricks we use to ensure our devices stay powered up and ready to use, no matter where we are.
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1. Carry a Portable Charger
The most essential tool for keeping your devices charged on the go is a portable charger. We carry one everywhere. Make sure to get a charger with a decent battery capacity (10,000 mAh or more) so you can recharge your phone, tablet, or camera at least once or twice while you’re out. We’ve also found that having a couple of outputs can be useful – so we can charge two phones simultaneously. It’s a lifesaver, especially if you’re travelling to places with unreliable access to power outlets.
Also, take every opportunity to charge this back up. For example, it can be left in your hotel in the day whilst you’re out exploring. it’s only as good as the charge in it.
2. Bring the Right Cables and Adapters
It’s easy to forget cables or adapters when you’re packing, but they’re just as important as the devices themselves. We both have the same phone and still take a couple of charging cables (you never know when one might break or go missing). If we’re travelling internationally, we also make sure to pack two universal travel adapters so we can plug into any type of outlet.
Do not assume everywhere will have USB charging points. We repeat: do not assume this. Verona hotel 2024, we’re looking at you.
3. Choose Power Banks with Fast Charging
Not all power banks are equal. We prefer power banks that support fast charging. These can charge your devices faster, which is handy when you’re on a tight schedule. Many modern devices support fast charging, so it’s worth investing in a charger that can take advantage of this.
4. Charge While You Travel
If you’re in a car, train, or plane, take advantage of the charging ports available. We always make sure to have a car charger if we’re renting a car or a USB power outlet for planes or trains. Charging on the move ensures your devices stay topped up without having to dedicate time to finding an outlet. Charging slots on public transport also tend to be free as opposed to some airports which can charge for charging.
5. Use Offline Mode When Possible
When we’re in places where charging options are scarce or we’re running low on battery, we try to limit the power drain by using offline mode. Download maps, entertainment (books, movies, podcasts), and apps that you might need ahead of time. This reduces your reliance on your phone’s data connection and helps conserve battery.
Turn on Aeroplane mode (Flight Mode / Airplane Mode for our North American friends) as this greatly reduces battery consumption. You can also turn on low power mode (iPhone – may be called something else on Android) and look at reducing the screen brightness etc.
6. Turn Off Battery Draining Features
Some features on your devices can drain battery quickly, so we make sure to turn them off when not in use.
For example, disable location services, turn off Bluetooth when it’s not needed, and reduce the screen brightness. Also, we keep background apps closed to avoid unnecessary battery use.
Genuinely, make sure you close down apps you’re not using. Just in life as well as when travelling!
7. Find Local Charging Spots
If you’re really in a pinch, look for places that offer free charging. Cafes, airports, libraries, and shopping centres often have charging stations or USB ports. Some even offer portable charging stations you can rent for a few hours. Just make sure you’re not leaving your phone unattended while charging.
Obviously, if you’re using a cafe’s charging points or plug sockets, buy a coffee or something. Just be a decent human being.
Keeping your devices charged while travelling is easy with a little bit of preparation. A portable charger, the right cables, and a bit of planning can keep you connected and ready for anything, whether it’s navigating the next leg of your journey or capturing that perfect sunset shot.
It’s mostly the portable charger though.
