Universal adaptors, local SIMs and VPNs: my favourite travel technology
5x5 Once a tech journalist…I had the chance to really work out some travel technology as I pottered across four continents this Spring, as well as picking up a few excellent tips from the lovely folks I met on the way.
1 Universal socket adaptor with USB Most of the world uses stupid two-pin electrical plugs that can only just hold onto a wall socket, and I’m now confident that Australia’s angled flat pins are the worst of all (how did a British colony end up with this mess?). I dragged a bag of detachable adaptors and USB multi-chargers halfway around the world before I saw one of my fellow travellers using one of these: it will take any plug and connect to any plug, with the bonus of two 5V/2.1A USB for charging phones and tablets. Top tip: badly-wired sockets can deliver a destructive zap, so carry a spare connector block and always plug it in before you attach your valuable devices.
2 Local SIM cards Three’s Feel At Home is an amazing bonus if you travel, but a lot of countries aren’t covered. International travel SIMs like GoSIM look good on paper, but in reality they’re much more expensive than just finding a local provider and buying a PAYG SIM with a few Gigs of data. It’s absurdly cheap in some countries and there are often great 4G networks that make it feel like you’re at home, if only everyone at home wasn’t in bed when you’re staring at the best view ever. You can keep your existing SIM in operation for receiving texts by getting a dual-SIM phone (widely available outside Europe), carrying a portable WiFi hotspot with the local SIM, or using a second handset for the same purpose (but you can make local calls as well). Top tip: A few countries, like China and Japan, use unusual mobile technology, so make sure your chosen handset will work with your chosen networks.
3Offline tools: Google Translate and Maps.me You can’t always be sure you’ll be online, but you can be sure that you’ll want access to maps and instant translation when you’re not. Google Translate is free and lets you download offline dictionaries for dozens of languages which will both translate and speak your text (online it will also translate speech and images). Top tip: pair it with a local keyboard and you can pass it back and forth to have a conversation with surprisingly little pantomime. Google Maps has downloadable maps, but they’re often restricted by local rules — Maps.me uses the open source Open StreetMap so it has no restrictions, and unlike some OSM apps it’s very intuitive, with reliable routing for finding your way. Top tip: set up a route in advance to work out exactly which maps you’ll need to download while you have a connection.
4 Get a Virtual Private Network If you’re in China, a virtual private network (VPN) is the only way to tunnel through the Great Firewall and keep in touch with Facebook or those Google services that are so useful. China has Baidu Maps, but it’s in Chinese (although even Google Maps is annoyingly untranslated at times), and you can use Bing or Apple’s search, but they’re not as good. Elsewhere, it’s a useful way to add security to your Internet use, especially if you’re using WiFi hotspots which can be easily rigged to eavesdrop on your data and steal passwords or other personal information. A service like ExpressVPN costs a few Pounds a month, and there are even a few free VPNs out there. Top tip: If you want to stay on top of your favourite TV while travelling, VPNs can also get around ‘geoblocking’ on many streaming services.
5 Portable power How much power you need depends on the gadgets you take, whether it’s a pocket 3000mAh (a single charge) or in your bag having up to 20,000mAh. They’re relatively cheap and now come with features like multiple USB sockets or rapid charging. If you’re even further off the grid, then you could top up your power bank with a PowerMonkey Extreme or even a SolarGorilla, although the last one is a both bulky and heavy. Top tip: Solar chargers need direct sunlight, so even regular glass will drastically cut down the power they get and in many hot countries there’s an anti-UV coating on glass which will stop them working even if it still feels hot.
