Five Gadgets For The Independent Traveler

Airports, hotels, and other stop-off points for travelers continue to add extra amenities that make both business and leisure trips more endurable. There are a couple of problems with these growing numbers of added services, though. First, while a particular offering might sound nice, there's no guarantee it'll work as advertised. Second, even when things go according to plan, the bill that comes afterwards could be more than you bargained for. Often, the more attractive the convenience is, the bigger the price tag. Fortunately, there are a few gadgets available that let you enjoy reliable and affordable amenities without being at the mercy of a less than adequate third-party supplier.

Bring Your Own WiFi

Most hotels offer Internet access in their facilities, but there's sometimes a nice, big fee attached to it. This can take two forms. Most operators will provide basic service for free, but then might start including extra fees for faster connections More often, the most luxurious and expensive chains will charge extra for any access. The probable reason here is that if you're already shelling out big bucks for the room, a little more for web surfing won't be a big deal. Savvy travelers can avoid this by connecting to the Internet via their own cell phone service. With the exception of some older models, smartphones have the ability to operate as WiFi hotspots once they're online through a regular phone link. They can either broadcast their own WiFi signal to other devices like laptops or the equipment can be directly attached to the phone using a cable plugged into the phone's data jack. Concerning the network provider's costs for Internet access, alternatives like Freedom pop allow a no-cost and subscription-free connection if you stay within 500MB each month.

Squelching Static

Once a standard phone call or Internet connection is established on the road, another key to keeping one's independence is being able to hear it in any situation. Having the flexibility to take calls whenever you want or need to isn't much good if background noise makes hearing them impossible. Noise-canceling headphones handle this annoyance by actively counteracting background sounds. The first ones were introduced at the start of the 21st century by Bose and work by collecting undesired noise and generating an inverted waveform of it to intercept the offending sounds. They show the best results against steady noises produced by motorized vehicles. These types of headphones cost the most and need a power supply. Ear buds that insert into the ear canal and form a type of plug offer a lower cost alternative that works simply by blocking and absorbing incoming sounds.

Charge It

Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have become essential travel companions, but they have constant energy needs. With all their features and continuous use, it's not long before their batteries need recharging. Often, though, there just isn't time for this. In the case of international travel, there's also the problem of having to carry multiple adapters for different country's electrical outlets. Fortunately, companies like Energizer, Tylt, and Jackery supply the solution in the form of single high-capacity batteries that can be used to recharge various mobile devices. Not only is the job of finding the right cable simplified since they usually rely on a USB connection, but they can do the charging while you're on the go. They're designed to provide multiple recharges with the Energizer XP18000 model holding up to 18,000 mAh of power.

Dinner Is Served

Depending on restaurants for meals while traveling can get to be expensive real fast. A way around this is by heating or even cooking your own meals. This is usually only a possibility if your lodgings provide a microwave or similar accessory. Even when this is available, it may not be in the greatest condition. The Hot Logic Mini solves this problem. The portable oven consists of a 10 by 8 by 3.5 inch hot plate with a maximum temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The plate is contained in a fabric bag with a reflective inner liner that acts as miniature oven. According to its manufacturer, it can not only reheat food but can also slow-cook meals as well.

Portable Laundromat For most trips, travelers usually bring along enough clothing to last the trip. Still, accidents like spilled food can happen. In these events, making a side trip to a laundromat is time-consuming and costly for just one article of clothing. Washing the item in a hotel room sink can cause a real mess. Taking along the Scrubba, a water-tight, 9.5-inch wash bag, makes these jobs easy. The item is sealed in the bag with detergent and water and rubbed while its inner layer of ribs acts like a washboard to knock dirt loose from the fabric in only a few minutes.

This Post Was Written By Natalya Pobedova. She is a travelling nomad and backpacker from beautiful Brno Czech Republic. She is 27 and makes a living as a freelance web developer to support her travelling needs. Her website is http://www.travelsiders.com . She dreams to fly to Brazil and speaks Portuguese fluently. She visited 14 countries already and most of them are in Asia and Europe.