Whether you’re flying domestic or international, any savvy traveler knows that it pays to come prepared. As an Italian travel writer who travels internationally at least four times a year (and domestically just as much), I’ve come to learn that smart tech items and accessories can seriously impact my flight experience.
Over the years, I’ve fine-tuned my packing list to include a variety of helpful travel tech, including Apple AirTags, portable digital luggage scales, compact international adapters, and more. Not only do these items vastly improve my flight experience and help the hours fly by (pun intended), but they also continue to provide assistance when I reach my destination. If you’re looking to make your next travel day a little more bearable, I rounded up the 10 best travel tech accessories I won’t board a domestic or international flight without — and they start at just $8.
Apple AirTag 4-pack
Apple AirTags are my absolute best friends when I travel. Not only do they give me peace of mind when I fly and have layovers, but they’ve also helped me track my lost luggage more times than I can count. Once, when my suitcase had been left behind in Dublin during a layover flying from Boston to Rome, I was able to track it when it eventually arrived in Italy and made its way to my house via an airport worker. This pack of four is great for if you’re traveling with friends or family, or want to use your AirTags for more than just travel — I also use mine to keep track of my keys and wallet.
Travel Inspira Portable Digital Luggage Scale
This small but mighty portable digital luggage scale will help even the most serial of overpackers save money avoiding overweight luggage fees. Compact enough to pack in a personal item, the easy-to-use scale can weigh your luggage in both pounds and kilograms. At only $8, it’s a handy and ultra-affordable device that I always pack when I travel.
Apple AirPods Pro
Aside from being wireless and noise canceling, the reason why I always travel with my Apple AirPods Pro is because they’re incredibly compact and easy to pack. The carrying case the earphones come in can easily fit into a jacket pocket, or you can invest in a travel case with a clip to hook them onto a bag strap to really maximize luggage real estate. My AirPods also help drone out the general cabin noise and the rumbling jet engines, letting me focus on my music, movie, or audiobook in blissful peace.
Twelve South AirFly Bluetooth Transmitter
The days of using those cheap, wired airplane-supplied earphones are over, thanks to this traveler-loved pocket-sized Bluetooth audio transmitter. It lets me connect my AirPods Pro to the airplane’s seat back television, so I can enjoy crisp audio quality without any wires getting in the way. Its reasonable $35 price tag is especially worth it for longer international flights, and it hardly takes up any room in my travel crossbody bag, which is an added bonus.
Miady 2-pack Portable Chargers
This pack of two pocket-sized portable chargers, roughly the same size and thickness as an Apple iPhone, is an essential item for any kind of travel. These chargers have come all over the world with me, from Iceland and Ireland to Rome and India.
These portable chargers are incredibly versatile: They each have two output USB-A ports, one micro-USB input port, as well as one dual USB-C input and output port. I’ve used these portable chargers to power up everything from my Apple iPhone and AirPods to my Fujifilm camera batteries and Amazon Fire tablet — sometimes all at once. If that’s not enough to convince you, consider that they have over 75,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and are currently on sale for $18.
Epicka Universal Travel Adapter
Any traveler knows the importance of a good travel adapter, and this one from Epicka has quickly become my favorite after testing it out during a week-long trip to the Azores. The adapter comes in a lightweight, zippered carrying case that can fit into the palm of your hand, which is especially great for those traveling light.
For such a small adapter, it packs quite the punch when it comes to charging options. It has four different retractable plugs that can work in over 150 countries, four USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and one AC socket that can charge up to six small and high- powered devices at a time. It also comes with two spare fuses and two USB-C to A adapters. In short, this is basically the only adapter you’ll need to carry.
Amazon Fire Tablet
The Amazon Fire Tablet is without a doubt my go-to device for travel. While I love the feeling of a good hardcover book in my hands, packing just one can take up a lot of space and weight in a carry-on suitcase, whereas this tablet is thin, lightweight, and can store hundreds of books.
Plus, I’ve noticed that if I’m only using the tablet to read, it can go days without needing a charge. Although I primarily use the Amazon Fire Tablet as a Kindle, it can also be used to play games, download and watch movies, and listen to music.
Fyy Travel Cable Organizer
I tend to travel with a lot of tech: a laptop, power banks, camera, tablet, and more. This means that I also have to travel with a lot of additional items like chargers and cords. To keep everything organized and in one easy-to-reach space, I use a cable organizer, like this one from Fyy. It’s slim, lightweight, and has a slew of compartments, pockets, and pouches so you can quickly grab what you need when you need it — and it’s currently only $8.
Ultimaxx Small Carrying Case
This small, inconspicuous camera carrying case is ideal for travel: Not only does it protect my device while on the go, but it’s also small enough to always wear on my person. It’s roughly the same size as a small pocketbook, which means that I can wear it while sightseeing without it getting in my way. It’s also compact enough to fit into a larger personal item such as a backpack or a weekender bag. It even comes with an adjustable strap and two mesh side pockets to hold additional gear or accessories. Although some cameras may not fit depending on their make and model, it’s suitable for a wide range of point-and-shoot digital cameras. For reference, my Fujifilm XT30 fits perfectly and leaves just enough room for extra batteries and chargers.
Voova Laptop Sleeve Case
Although simple in design, this laptop sleeve case is a favorite of mine, due in part to its ample padding — it has enough cushioning to protect my laptop without being too bulky. It features great storage capacity, including two front, zippered pockets that can fit everything from cables, a mouse, external hard drives, and USB memory sticks.
In my opinion, though, its best feature is also its most basic. The laptop sleeve is incredibly portable, thanks to its flexible and retractable top handle, which makes it easy to slide in and out of a personal item. This is especially useful when passing through hectic security lines, as I can whip it out of my personal item with just one hand.
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