7 Travel Tech Essentials We Actually Use (After Tossing a Lot of Junk)

We’ve bought, packed, and ditched more travel tech gadgets than we can count.

Some sounded brilliant… until they broke. Or took up too much space. Or sat untouched in our bags while we reached for the same few tried-and-true items over and over.

These 7?
They’ve earned a permanent place in our carry-ons.

Whether we’re bouncing between countries or spending a week in one city, this gear makes our travel days smoother, lighter, and way more comfortable.

1. Compact Power Bank with Built-in Cables

Gone are the days of tangled cords and giant charging bricks.
This power bank is:

• Slim enough to fit in a day bag or pocket
• Fast-charging, so you’re not waiting forever
• And it has built-in cables, so you’re never hunting for the right cord

We keep this one with us every time we leave the hotel. It’s saved us mid-flight, mid-tour, and mid-nowhere more times than we can count.

2. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

From beach days to hotel mornings, this little travel tech speaker makes everything better.

We’ve used it to:

• Play music while unpacking
• Listen to podcasts while getting ready
• Bring a little life to quiet Airbnbs
• Have a dance party on a rooftop in Lisbon (true story)

Waterproof means we don’t worry about sand or splashes. Lightweight means it always comes with us.

3. Bluetooth Audio Transmitter

If you’ve ever wanted to use your Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment, this travel tech gadget is for you.

We plug it into the seat-back screen, pair it with our noise-canceling headphones, and boom! No more using those awful airline earbuds.

It’s small, light, and a total game-changer on long-haul flights.

4. Noise-Canceling Headphones

These get used every single day we travel.

• On planes with crying babies
• On trains with loud conversations
• In cafés when we’re working
• In apartments near construction

We’ve tried cheaper alternatives, but honestly? Good ones are worth every penny.

They don’t just block noise — they save our sanity.

5. E-Reader

We love books, but lugging them around? No thanks.

Our e-readers hold thousands of books, last weeks on one charge, and work offline once titles are downloaded.

They’re the perfect travel tech for long flights, poolside lounging, or reading in bed after a long travel day — especially when hotel Wi-Fi is sketchy (which it always is).

6. Portable Fan

Yes, we really carry a mini fan. And yes, it’s totally worth the space.

It’s saved us in:

• Stuffy Airbnbs with no airflow
• Hot, humid overnight trains
• Hotel rooms where the AC “just needs a few minutes” (spoiler: it never works)

It’s tiny, USB rechargeable, and makes all the difference when you’re overheating.

7. Mini Power Strip

One of our biggest travel pet peeves? Hotels and apartments with one working outlet — and two people with six devices to charge.

Our mini power strip solves that instantly.

• Charges multiple devices at once
• Small and light enough for carry-on bags
• Saves the day in older buildings with weird outlet placement

Once you use it, you’ll never go back.

Final Thoughts: Pack Smart, Not Just Light

There’s a lot of travel gear out there.
But the best gadgets are the ones that make your trip better. Not just your bag heavier.

These 7 items have stood the test of time, countries, climates, and chaos.
We don’t leave home without them — and once you try them, you probably won’t either.

Want the exact links to the gear we use and love? Simply click here to visit our Amazon Store!