Travel gadgets for 2021: New ideas as world opens again

(Director’s note: As Covid curves fall and travel restrictions lighten, the world is traveling again. If you want added touches for your travel comfort, check out these new ideas from guest blogger Andrew Jones of Ireland. I am spending this week researching next week’s blog on the plight of Rome tour guides.) 

Modern technology has impacted nearly every facet of society, the travel industry included. Whether you’re on a Caribbean adventure or a South American getaway, chances are you’ll encounter some form of travel technology or a gadget used by a fellow holiday maker. It could be a miniature camera or an app used to locate the best accommodation in a foreign setting. The options are impressively vast.

For some travelers, gadgets and various travel accessories can enable a journey to feel quicker or provide a worthwhile functionality while away from home, be it through helping to wash clothes, play music in your villa, or take memorable holiday snaps. Some people are quite happy leaving technology behind and only taking a mobile phone away with them, perhaps to keep in touch with work developments or to go on an adventure into the world of slot games, while others simply can’t imagine a vacation away without some form of technology by their side. The options are certainly comprehensive in 2021, too, with innovation showing no signs of slowing down.

With modern travelers utilizing the influx of travel accessories and gadgets which have come our way in recent times, here is a brief look at some of the best options ahead of your next adventure abroad.

EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter Wall Charger

Universal travel adapters don’t tend to reach the standards of creations like the EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter Wall Charger. Compatible in more than 150 countries that use US/EU/AU/UK plugs, this particular device also comes with four USB ports, an AC socket, and one USB Type C port. Capable of charging six devices at the same time, the EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter Wall Charger is one of the best travel adapters on the market currently.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Ideal for any campers among us, the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter enables users to have a reliable and clean water source wherever they may be. This special filter can clean up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water without using any chemicals, therefore creating safe drinking water should you not be able to access it in the woods or up on the cliffs.

Osmo Mobile 2 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal

Being tasked with taking memorable holiday snaps or capturing footage of some glorious moments can be daunting for some people, especially if all they’re using is a smartphone camera. To increase your chances of nailing the best shots possible, get the Osmo Mobile 2 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal. This particular gimbal has built-in controls that rotate the device in one sweeping motion, which stops any shaky or blurry images in the process.

Jetpack MiFi 8800L

Establishing a solid internet connection while away on holiday isn’t always easy to achieve, therefore making devices like the Jetpack MiFi 8800L by Verizon a necessity for some people. Essentially your very own personal network, you can connect up to 15 devices on it at any one time, it works extremely well, and it even works as a charger for electronic devices also.

C-Gear Original Sand-Free Mat

Sand can find its way into the most annoying of crevices and be a real nuisance at times. To stop sand sticking on you or your belongings, consider investing in the C-Gear Original Sand-Free Mat. Originally intended for military use, this revolutionary beach towel is a sand-free groundsheet. Sand simply can’t and won’t stick to it.

Other travel gadgets worth looking at are the Skyroam Solis, goTenna Mesh, Evolution S3 Travel Pillow, OVO Travel-Size Iron and Steamer, GRAYL’s Ultralight Purifier, and Tentsile Connect Tree Tent.