Smartphones are the ultimate travel essential: we use them for research, map guidance, communication, social sharing, to catch a ride, and take photos and video. On average, you spend nearly five hours per day on your phone and you aren’t fooling anyone by “going off the grid” on your vacation. According to our Twitter poll, SmarterTravel followers would rather travel without a toothbrush or change of clothes instead of their phone.
Which of these would you be most willing to travel without?
— SmarterTravel (@SmarterTravel) April 24, 2019
These five smartphone essentials will protect and improve how you use your precious phone on the road so you’ll never lose it, break it, or run out of battery life again. Here’s what I always travel with.
Smartphone Essential # 1: Phone Lanyard
I recently invested in a phone lanyard and it has been one of my favorite travel-accessory purchases to date. Amazon offers a large selection, with most costing under $10. Not only does the phone lanyard help protect your phone from theft or accidental drops, but it also keeps your phone handy so you’ll never miss the perfect photo opp. Note, this is especially helpful on active or adventure trips.
Smartphone Essential # 2: Backup Battery
Unless you keep your phone in Airplane mode all day, your phone battery will most likely be dead from usage at the end of your vacation day. That’s why I like to travel with a phone case that comes with an internal battery, so I don’t have to worry about extra items to carry around. CASELY offers their powerful charging cases in a variety of popular designs starting at just $37.
If you’re looking for a portable charger that isn’t a case, I recommend the Ventev Powercell or one of these tiny-sized options.
Smartphone Essential # 3: Protective Shield Glass
There’s nothing worse than a shattered screen. A scratch-resistant, tempered glass screen protector is a traveler’s best friend. I use InvisibleShield for my phone and it comes with a lifetime limited warranty.
Smartphone Essential # 4: Phone Grip or Stand
Whether it’s a PopSocket, LoveHandle, LoopyCase, or something else, a phone grip helps steady your hand when taking photos and video on vacation. There are many options on the market; I like the CLCKR phone stand and grip.
If you don’t want to attach an adhesive grip to your phone case, but still want to shoot steady photos and video, I recommend traveling with the Ubeesize smartphone tripod.
Smartphone Essential # 5: Extra Memory Storage
How many times have you needed to delete old photos or apps to make room for new photos on your device? Probably plenty. Invest in an inexpensive phone storage plan (I use iCloud’s $3 per month storage plan) so you never have to waste time deleting photos again.
Alternative storage options include Amazon (free for Prime members!), Dropbox, Google Drive, or a good old-fashioned external hard drive.
All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.
You Might Also Like:
• The 8 Best Ticket Websites for Booking Day Tours and Travel Activities• This Airline Is Renting Clothing to Passengers Who Want to Travel Light
• The Best Travel Leggings of 2023
• The Essential Carry-On Bag Packing List
• The Hottest Travel Tech for Summer 2023
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
11-Nt Ireland Tour, Incl. Dublin, Belfast,...
smarTours
Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com