Over 100 years ago, in 1914, the first passenger airline, scheduled between St. Petersburg and Tampa, took off and paved the way for the explosion in global travel. Fast forward to the early 2000s and over 100,000 flights operating every single a day worldwide. At Heathrow alone, more than 200,000 passengers pass through the terminal each day, flying to destinations across the globe. In the past five years, tourism has grown further than ever before and amounts for over $1 trillion in overseas spending, spending expected to outpace the global economy in the next decade.
As demand for global travel has increased, it has become increasingly more affordable. Flights to Europe from the UK can be bought for less than a train to London from the Midlands and travel farther afield is growing increasingly more common. As travel has become more affordable and thus more popular, a secondary market has emerged of applications and services which make travelling a whole lot easier. From applications like Skyscanner and TripAdvisor to Google Maps and Uber, iPhone’s have simultaneously made it easier to travel and tied us to dependence on our devices.
In this brief guide, we look at a few ways to make travelling with your iPhone a whole lot easier, ensuring you don’t get caught out and make the most of your device during your travels. However, the items from the list are not the only ones that will make your iPhone safe and more effective. There are also many software solutions that will make your trip easier. Chad Kimball suggests one of the software solutions that can find locations of different brands, companies, hotels, etc.
Portable charging
iPhone batteries may be significantly better than they were many years ago, when they didn’t tend to last too long; however, with more and more applications becoming the normal and a growing dependency on our devices, these batteries simply do not last long enough. Background applications drain your iPhone battery without even considering active applications.
Imagine for a second you’re abroad and using Maps to navigate your way around a new place, Uber to find a taxi to take your back to your hotel or to a local restaurant, TripAdvisor to locate a great restaurant or excursion and WhatsApp to speak with family back home. If this is your situation the likelihood is that your battery will run out before you know it. A portable charger is an absolute essential for any traveller no matter what the purpose. While there are great external packs available, the best option is a charging case, one that integrates with your device without the need for a cable or any external module. These cases are often able to provide at least a single full charge and can be simultaneously charged with the device itself in the evening, meaning they are convenient and functional.
Tech cases
Travelling with a device can get messy, especially if you rely on a battery pack. Odds are you need an adaptor, a cable, a charging pack, and potentially a few other devices to maximise the value of your iPhone abroad. A simple Google search returns some handy tech cases designed for the storage of the aforementioned while travelling, offering handy pockets and sections, keeping your cables, device, and charges in good condition. There also a range of great tech cases which are slightly larger and designed for carrying all technology required by the savvy traveller including your laptop, camera, and further charges, these are great options if you plan to travel frequently and are a little more laden with technology than the average traveller.
Device unlocking
The biggest bugbear of many travellers is roaming charges, you’ll find it difficult to find a single person who doesn’t have a bad experience with an unexpected bill upon returning from a trip. With the average device cost becoming more expensive as they become more capable technologically, customers are increasingly reliant upon network contracts to provide access to the latest tech with affordable monthly deals. However, when your device is locked to a network you are then automatically subject to that networks roaming charges, which can be particularly expensive when travelling farther afield.
You can save a ton of money and use your device as normal by simply unlocking your device before you travel. Once your device has been unlocked, when you arrive at your destination you can simply find a local store, purchase a SIM from a local network which provides you with the amount of usage you require for the duration of your trip, and continue to use data as normal without hefty roaming charges. This is great because with WhatsApp calls you can pretty much use your device as normal if you have data. Unlocking your device also offers a whole host of further benefits such as greater resale value.
DirectUnlocks have well over a decade of experience in iPhone unlock and can provide a simple and efficient service from the comfort of your own home.
Screen protectors
The latest iPhone is a thing of beauty, the aesthetic design of smartphones has become almost as important as their functionality. They look great when new and users are keen to maintain this appearance. It’s commonplace to own a case; however, even with a case, your screen itself is open to shattering and scratching. This is undesirable from the perspective of both function and appearance. The best way to protect against this is a tempered glass screen protector which can be easily applied over the iPhone screen and acts a defence mechanism between your device and anything from keys in your pocket to damage when dropped.
Wherever you’re travelling and whatever your intentions, you will likely rely on your iPhone at some point. If you want to make the most of your device, keep it looking great, and not get caught without battery, take notes and get online. As we become more reliant upon our devices for photography, payment, navigation and more, it will become an integral part of every journey we make. Making sure you have access to your mobile throughout your journey also helps you to get the most out of your trip by finding the best excursions, restaurants, trips and local sights to see.
