What The Tech: A guide to gift-giving for those frequent travelers
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Frequent Travelers: Tech Gadgets They Didn’t Know They Needed
If you have a frequent traveler on your holiday gift list this year, consider yourself lucky, they’re
easy to buy for. You can completely fill up your shopping list with essential tech gadgets designed to make any trip smoother and safer.
Forget the usual luggage tags and neck pillows. I’ve compiled a list of innovative and practical items that will make hotel stays, airplane trips, and international adventures a lot easier. These are the gifts that travelers will truly appreciate when they need them most.
Must-Have Tech Gifts to Make Travel Easier
The International Travel Adapter:
If your loved one is traveling internationally, a simple plug adapter won’t cut it. Different parts of the world have different plugs, prongs, and voltages. A false move could blow up their favorite device. A quality, all-in-one international travel adapter is a game-changer. Look for compact models, like those from Anker, that include adapters for most regions of the world, ensuring they can safely and easily plug in anywhere they go.
The Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector:
You may not think about it, but carbon monoxide poisoning incidents can happen every year in
unfamiliar lodgings. A portable carbon monoxide detector is an inexpensive way to get peace of
mind. These small devices fit easily into a carry-on and will alert the user to any high levels,
providing a vital layer of safety.
The Unexpected Lifesaver: Travel Router:
Many hotel rooms, even modern ones, still only offer a single internet port. A travel router turns
that one port into its own private WiFi Network, allowing them to connect multiple devices, their
laptop, tablet, and phone, all at once. And if there’s no hotel internet at all, they can connect the
router to their phone’s hotspot to share that connection with their other devices. It’s a
surprisingly essential gadget many travelers overlook.
The Reliable Portable Charger:
Long days and unexpected delays at the airport can drain a phone’s battery quickly. A portable
charger is a classic but essential gift that keeps their devices charged and connected. Look for
models that are compact but powerful enough to charge a phone a few times on a single
charge. A dead phone is a disconnected, and often stressed, traveler.
International Voltage Travel Hair Dryers:
While many hotels abroad provide hair dryers, not all of them do, and not all of them are up to
the task. Lightweight travel hair dryers that are guaranteed to work on international voltage
make a fantastic, practical gift. They’re typically inexpensive (often under $20) and don’t take up
much room in a suitcase. They’ll thank you for saving them the hassle.
It might not be the most exciting gift they unwrap this year, but when they need these gadgets,
they’ll be incredibly glad you thought of it.
