Part 2: Your Most Important Travel Companions

Jani Davids
23 hours ago
6 min read

Updated: 4 hours ago

Staying in Touch Throughout Your Travels

To continue where we left off in Part 1, the next items on your list concerns being in constant contact with loved ones and anyone else who is important in your life.

You obviously already have your mobile on your list as most of us today seem to have been born with a mobile stuck to our hands or ears. But there are two things that are an absolute must to accompany your mobile so that you can stay in touch with everyone close to you and those you’ll need in an emergency. No matter where your travels take you.

e-SIM For 24/7 Connectivity

First ask yourself, "What would happen if I ever get stuck without data or air time because of the following situations"?

* Satellite connection in the area is poor;

* My phone’s battery decided to die on you;

* I run out of data;

* Worst of all, the area I’m in doesn’t have the all-important Wi-Fi that I'm addicted to.

The reasons you have to consider all the above in most cases, relate to your network back home and the assistance you might need during your trip. For example:

* You might have landed in an unfortunate situation while traveling abroad and cannot get proper assistance from the right people.

* You might have had to contact someone in your region about some important business detail that you overlooked;

* Or, worse still, you might have had to connect with a family member for some urgent event that slipped your mind.

* When you arrived back home after an overseas trip, you were battered by a huge roaming bill and had to break your piggy-bank to settle it;

I’m sure some or must of the above is what concerns you most when you think about remaining in constant contact with all the important people in your life and during your trip. And you will definitely be worried about being able to get in touch with the most important people to reach out to during an emergency.

An e-SIM should answer all your questions and more throughout your stay. It is convenient and can be used both locally and internationally. So, no matter where you or the next person find yourselves, you'll be able to make or receive that all-important call.

Travel Charger or Power Bank

I’m sure you know what a power bank is and why it is your next best phone companion. But let’s discuss it’s importance in more detail so that you can make sure you get one that is appropriate for packing it into your carry-on bag.

Whether you’re going to use it for leisure or business travel, these are the important features to look for in a travel charger:

Capacity: Choose a capacity that meets your needs; 10,000mAh to 20,000mAh is standard, while smaller units are better for giveaways.
Branding: Look for power banks with good branding options, such as large logos, custom colors, and quality materials.
Features: Consider useful features like built-in torches, wireless charging, or integrated cables, depending on your needs.
Portability: Compact and lightweight power banks are ideal if you’re going to make travel your favorite pass-time.

Phone & Charger Photo by I'm Zionh https://www.pexels.com 4526428

No matter where you’ll find yourself during your trip, a battery alone won’t help your phone remain consistently powered up. You will need a power bank that is able to output high-wattage to your device and is able to charge and re-charge multiple devices on the spur of the moment during your flight.

You need a power bank that balances performance with reliability. Therefore, you should look for:

* Capacity (mAh) means milli-amp hours, which is a measure of how much energy a power bank has stored. The larger the quantity, the more you can recharge your device. You should, however, keep in mind that for flights, larger might not be better. Airlines normally limit batteries to 100 watt-hours (Wh), which is about 27,000mAh.

A perfect size for your travels is a battery that has a size of 20,000mAh. It is enough to re-charge your mobile several times and is small enough to pack into your carry-on bag. A plus is that it is within airline restriction limits.

* Watt Output in watts (W) determines what and how fast you’ll be able to charge. This is a crucial feature if you’re going to need to charge your phone at top speed.

* Re-fueling your power bank means that you’ll need a power bank that you can quickly charge during flight-layover. Power banks optimized for high-wattage input (65W and above) charge within a couple of hours less, versus charging overnight.

Each gram in a carry-on bag is important and you don’t want a big, cumbersome power bank on your travels. The ideal power bank should have maximum capacity and output and should be small and light.

To get it right, you should compare the size and weight of the power bank, for example, one that is 20,000mAh would be about the size and weight of a large phone and would weigh around 500g. This will make it fit easily within your bag without taking up too much space.

* Multiple High-Output Ports means that you need to look for two high wattage USB-C ports and perhaps a USB-A port.

* Integrated or Retractable Cables eliminates the problem of forgetting a charging cable and only realizing it when you have to charge your mobile. This small feature provides immense convenience and ensure you have no hassles with charging.

* Smart Features (Screens & Apps) means that your power bank should have a clear LCD screen showing the exact battery percentage, as well as the input and output wattage. Companion apps offer more control allowing you to optimize charging for battery health.

Power Bank & Phone Photo by_I'm Zion https://www.pexels.com4765366

Related Post: Part 1: Travel Insurance Cover

Last, but not least, what do airlines say about flying with your power bank?

Lithium battery prohibitions are in place and all have a maximum rating of 100Wh. Anything over that and up to 160Wh requires airline approval. Over 160Wh is rarely, if ever allowed.

The rule is that you must keep your power bank in your carry-on bag. You cannot have it in a checked bag because they are a fire hazard in the cargo compartment. Keeping your power bank in a plain tray similar to that of a laptop will make the screening process easier.

Airport & Airplane Charging Tips

Being prepared is the best way to ensure your phone stays charged while flying. Stick to these tips, and you should be good to go:

Airport Charging Stations: if you can, avoid charging your phone at an airport charging station. There have been warnings about "juice/portjacking" by cyber criminals. It is best then to make sure you charge your phone and power bank before leaving for the airport.
Bring the right accessories: Pack cables for all your devices, plus a universal adapter if flying internationally.
Choose the right power bank: Select a high-capacity but airline approved model.
Use low-power mode: Reduce battery drain by dimming screens, closing apps, or switching to airplane mode when you don’t need Wi-Fi.
Consider bringing backup entertainment: Such as a book or using the in-flight entertainment, so you aren’t relying solely on your phone.

Wrapping Up

Before you travel, do your research to find out what are the best e-SIM providers for you to get a data plan to avoid expensive carrier roaming. You can activate the QR code before or after arrival in your destination. You can also set it as your phone’s primary settings by turning off data roaming.

For the modern traveler, a power bank is a necessity. With high-wattage output, flight safe capacity, and rapid recharging capabilities, you can be sure that your phone is smartly on-tap at all times.

Having both the above sorted out will ensure that you don’t experience any connectivity woes, no matter where you find yourself at any given time of the day.

Carpe diem and happy travels!

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