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Make sure to pack the right charging cables for your devices. Increasingly, that means USB-C cables, but remember that most public charging ports in airplanes and hotels will still be USB Type A, so bring an appropriate cable or adapter for such situations.<\/p>\n
Portable battery packs<\/a> can be a lifesaver, such as for late-night transit navigation after you\u2019ve run down your iPhone\u2019s battery taking photos and videos during the day. Unless the battery pack has integrated cables, ensure that you carry the right cables with you every day.<\/p>\n We always encourage staying up to date on operating system updates for security reasons. It\u2019s especially important to update before leaving on a trip where you may be in less secure situations. Don\u2019t leave those updates for the night before you leave! The device you\u2019re updating won\u2019t be usable while the update installs, which may be stressful, and in the rare case where something goes wrong, you\u2019ll need extra time to recover. Always update your devices and apps at least a few days before leaving.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to make backups before you leave. It\u2019s easy for a device to be damaged, lost, or stolen while you\u2019re traveling, and a backup is essential for recovery. For Macs, make sure your Time Machine and other local backups are current. For iPhones and iPads, iCloud backups<\/a> are best while traveling because you can continue to back up while away, and if you have to replace a lost iPhone on the road, you can restore from your iCloud backup wherever you are.<\/p>\n You may find a new set of apps helpful on your trip, and some may be essential for checking in for flights, going through customs, and more. If you\u2019re flying, configure your airline\u2019s app to know about your flight and add your boarding passes to Apple\u2019s Wallet app. Paper copies of travel documents are worthwhile in the event of your iPhone being damaged, lost, or stolen. Travel guides for specific locations and itinerary planners like TripIt<\/a> may also be helpful, though you can also track your travel and itinerary in Notes, which you can share with fellow travelers<\/a>. An app like Flighty<\/a> can help you track your flights and better react to delays.<\/p>\n Even if you prefer Apple Maps<\/a> or Google Maps<\/a>, having the other available when you travel is worth it. One or the other may work better in certain places or with certain types of navigation, like city transit. Connectivity isn\u2019t always guaranteed while traveling, so download maps ahead of time in both Apple Maps<\/a> and Google Maps<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re heading to a country where you don\u2019t speak the language, make sure you can quickly access Apple\u2019s Translate<\/a> app. Also get Google Translate<\/a> so you can find out which you prefer. Both translate text you enter, text you focus on with the camera, and the contents of conversations.<\/p>\n It\u2019s always best to load enough ebooks, podcasts, and videos on your iPhone or iPad so you don\u2019t run out of something to do during downtime when there\u2019s no connectivity. With ebooks, if you\u2019re not already using Libby<\/a> to access your public library, give it a try. It\u2019s easy to download episodes in most podcast apps. And nearly all streaming apps like Amazon Prime Video<\/a>, Apple TV+<\/a>, Disney+<\/a>, Hulu<\/a>, and Netflix <\/a>allow downloading. That said, leave plenty of free space for taking photos and videos on your travels.<\/p>\n Cellular Internet access isn\u2019t usually an issue when you travel within your home country as long as you don\u2019t have a data cap. But when traveling internationally, you need to plan for how you\u2019ll get cell service. Your carrier may have an international roaming plan, but those are often massively overpriced. Instead, look to an international roaming provider such as Airalo<\/a>, Airhub<\/a>, and Nomad<\/a>.<\/p>\n Factors to consider when choosing an international roaming provider include the provider\u2019s network coverage at your destination, how much data you\u2019ll need, whether you\u2019ll also need voice and SMS support, the duration of your trip, and whether your iPhone supports eSIM technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget the tech you\u2019re leaving behind. Shut down your Macs and unplug anything not protected by an uninterruptible power supply. That way, a power surge or lightning strike won\u2019t hurt anything.<\/p>\n Unplug your Time Machine and other local backup drives and hide them in a secure location\u2014you don\u2019t want to lose both your Mac and your backups in the event of a burglary.<\/p>\n If you use HomeKit, set up automations<\/a> to turn lights on and off to make it seem like you\u2019re home. Make sure you can remotely access home monitoring systems like security cameras. Consider a motion sensor like the Kini<\/a> to report on doors or items that shouldn\u2019t move (unauthorized access) or should move regularly (a scheduled pet sitter).<\/p>\nPrep Updates, Backups, Apps, and Entertainment<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nInvestigate Cellular Connectivity Options<\/h3>\n
Protect Tech You Leave Home<\/h3>\n