Technology has come a long way in such a short space of time. We find ourselves surrounded by gadgets that help with day-to-day life to make experiences easier and more enjoyable. Taking them on holiday is no exception; the aim of the holiday is to relax and enjoy ourselves so there’s nothing wrong with enhancing that with the assistance of the latest technology. We list our top recommendations for gadgets that can help your holiday run a tad more smoothly. You should also check out our top recommendations for travel in 2017 which includes 3 of our favourite gadgets.
Photo by: Olesia Bilkei/Adobe Stock
Sand-free mats.
Okay, so this isn’t exactly record-breaking technology or even incredibly exciting, but you’ve got to admit that when relaxing on the beach, sand gets everywhere. You can try to avoid kicking sand on the mat, but even the slightest movement can throw up enough sand onto the blanket to build a sandcastle. Take the stress away from attempts to remove every speck of sand with one of these handy blankets. The mats from CGear are woven in such a way that sand particles simply fall straight through. Prices start from £34.84 on Amazon.
Mobile breathalysers.
Drink-driving should always be taken seriously and it’s not worth risking driving if you’re over the limit. Stay aware of how many units are in your bloodstream on your night out with one of these handy devices. The devices from BACTrack handily sync to your mobile phone and the readings are incredibly accurate.
Power banks and solar chargers.
These are incredibly useful items if you know you’re going to be out for long periods of time using a portable device such as mobile, tablet, GPS unit, or GoPro. For example, if you know the kids are going to be glued to the tablet for a while. Plug in a power bank to ensure the charge keeps up with their activity. It’s also handy if you’ll be using your smartphone a lot to take photos on your travels. They’re also handy if you’re camping and you know power sockets will be few and far between. The Zendure A4 has won PC Advisor’s No.1 Rated Power Bank three years in a row and is available from Amazon starting at £28.31.
Photo by: REDPIXEL/Adobe Stock
Alternatively, you could consider buying a solar charger to keep your mobile devices topped up of juice. This solar charger comes as a power bank, so you’ll never be without a power supply. Priced at £21.99 from Amazon, this solar chargeable power bank also has built-in lights which can be used as a flashlight.
You can also get these great backpacks that come complete with solar panel and power bank built in. Fantastic if you’re hiking- store solar power as you go and charge your phone up when you take a break. You can charge the power bank from a wall socket too and store it safely inside the backpack. Great for festivals or hiking trips.
Earbuds.
These are great for on the plane when you want to focus on listening to music, watching a film on your tablet, or listening to an audiobook. These Shure noise isolating ear buds are sure to do the trick, starting from £74.50 on Amazon. Or if you’re looking for something while you keep active on your travels, try these Jaybird X5 bluetooth earbuds. Handy if your child has a habit of pulling the wires free from their tablet.
Water filter.
This LifeStraw easily portable water filter allows you to drink water directly from the source. Great if you’re travelling and you’re not sure about the water quality, or even if you can see the water isn’t clean. Great for children to use too even from bottled water. Prices start from £21.00 on Amazon. The filter inside can easily be cleaned by blowing through the straw. When the filter is no longer useable, it will stop allowing water through.
Photo by: travnikovstudio/Adobe Stock
Translator.
You could probably manage using the Google Translate app on your phone; it will probably get you safely through your holiday without too much hassle (hopefully). However, if you’re looking for something more tech-savvy, and useful while exercising too, these earphones from Bragi, translate words as you hear them. Be prepared for a big price tag though!
Multi-headphone splitter.
If you’ve got more than one child in your party but only one tablet, you might face a fight on the plane for earphones. Resolve the problem easily with a headphone splitter. Plug up to 5 separate sets into this splitter so the whole family can listen.
Bluetooth speaker.
These are fantastic to have not just on holiday but in the home too. Cooking can be more fun with a great background track handily supplied through one of these Bluetooth speakers. Use around your holiday accommodation to help relax. Try the Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II– comes recommended by our Web Developer, Ian.
Your gadgets.
What gadgets or technology do you always take on holiday with you? Do you own any of the products listed above or variations of them? Let us know in the comments below what you would recommend to other Zest travellers.
Written by Jessica Juby.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
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