When you travel with Apple devices there are some small accessories that you can bring along to help you connect and use your devices. See which simple and cheap accessories I bring along when traveling.
Comments: 25 Responses to “MacMost Now 894: Apple Device Travel Tips”
Joel Anderson
11 years ago
Appreciated the sights of Barcelona interspersed throughout (with silence, even), but what are you trying to do, make us jealous?
Eldar
11 years ago
Thanks for great tips!
wade
11 years ago
Thanks for the great tips. Just hope you can add a little voice over (or sub-titles) on the photos describing where they were taken and if possible to show the show the whole image first before the ken burn effect. I like to travel too.
Andreas
11 years ago
Hey Gary,
So great to see you're in Barcelona! I've been living here for many years. I own a little chain of bars and restaurants in the city.
I'm a big technology fan and I've been following your blog/channel for years, drop me a line if you feel like experiencing some of the coolest places in the city.
Take care,
Andreas
Unfortunately, I filmed that a few weeks ago and only got the chance to edit and post it when I returned home. I LOVED Barcelona. Had a wonderful time there -- great food, streets, beaches, people.
Adrian
11 years ago
Useful info, though I'd add a qualification to the power strip tip:
Check the rating of any strip you bring along - a large part of the world (including Spain where you were) runs on 220-240V. If your strip is UL-rated for only 110V, it might not melt under 240V, but I wouldn't risk it.
Doubly so if the strip has any indicator lights on it - think "boom" and perhaps a fire.
Triply so if the strip has a surge protector - think "boom" and no power.
Doug
11 years ago
Great episode! I always bring all the things you mentioned except I had never thought of bringing my AirPort base station with me. I will from now on! Thanks!
David
11 years ago
I only take my iPad on trips. I shoot a lot of photos and so I take the SD Lighting adaptor along to download the photos each day. I don't mess with camera cables.
Mac Carter
11 years ago
David, how much memory do you have on your iPad? What resolution size photos are you storing?
mike
11 years ago
Like you I carry all of those things plus an ethernet cable, one other advantage of taking alone the Airport Express is that you can boost the wifi in a given location.
I always stay with family on my long trips to europe and the first thing I do is plug in the the AE in the bedroom and hey presto a full fan and great wifi.
This means when we wake early because of the jet lag we do not disturb anyone walking round the house for the best reception, we already have it!
Keep it up Gary nice job.
George Bell
11 years ago
Great idea about the WiFi base station. One thing I always carry is a small (ish) portable Bluetooth speaker e.g., Monster Clarity HD (I wish Apple would make something) in case there aren't any audio devices to plug into. One that has a conference call facility can also save a bit of money on those calls home when everyone wants to talk to everyone else as it saves everyone asking each other the same stuff.
Peter
11 years ago
Your posts are very informative and helpful Gary, thank you.
I also take a SIM cutter (to convert local SIM if iPhone sizes not avail.) and a wireless 3G router.
Carol
11 years ago
I take the iPad camera connector kit so I can add the photos from my camera to my iPad, the better to share with friends and family. I wish I'd seen this 2 months ago, before my overseas trip in June! This is a pre=summer video!
Lance
11 years ago
Gary:
Good travel accessory ideas. I travel with a PlugBug, great for charging my
MacAir & iPad.
Rick
11 years ago
If you take an HDMI adaptor, you also need the cable. One can also bring an Apple TV instead, but then one needs to plug it in.
I also recommend paying for a VPN service as many American webpages and services are blocked outside the U.S.
Mac Carter
11 years ago
Gary, thanks from me too on the travel gear tips. One question... how do you deal with security for all the gear when you are out sightseeing? Do you just leave your MacBook, for instance, in the rented apartment? What about if you stay at a hotel?
I used passwords on all devices, and FileVault on my MacBook. So if someone gets them, all they get is the hardware. They can't get to my stuff.
As for "my stuff" I use almost all cloud services -- iCloud, Gmail, DropBox, etc. So if any of my devices were stolen, I'd be able to get up and running on a new device without losing much.
Mac Carter
11 years ago
Two more questions... 1) you're carrying quite a pile of gear. How do you actually carry it? Separate carry bag with you at all times?
2) If you weren't producing MacMost videos while traveling, could you get along with just an iPad? If so, how would you store your great photos? On extra SD cards? (I know I asked you about this recently, but I'm wondering if you have a fresh idea.)
Its really not that much. Nothing is big. My MacBook Air, iPhone, iPad mini and all the devices I show in the video probably weigh less than the much larger laptops everyone would carry 10 years ago. Most goes in my carry-on so I can access on the plane to waste time. But some of the cables and the Airport Extreme go in my suitcase.
I could probably get along with just my iPhone if I had to. That's what I used to film the videos -- I edit when the vacation is over. But it is a bit hard to maintain my web servers without a MacBook. Also hard to answer questions people ask me about Macs since I can't "try it" to solve a problem.
Andreas
11 years ago
One gadget I take along is a Wi-Drive (http://www.kingston.com/en/usb/wireless/#wid). This small device allows streaming to up to 3 devices independently. Each child in the back of the car or on the train can enjoy his favourite movie/TV show/music. One just has to load the files on this device before leaving home. Battery live is not great but quit ok for 3 - 4 hours.
Gerald
11 years ago
What inexpensive travel converter will do in Spain to charge iPhone. Apple has one for $30 but you mention taking your inexpensive converter with you in Barcelona.
U.S. Apple iPhone chargers will work with voltages from all over the world. All you need is a cheap ($2) plug converter since the physical plug is a different size. You can get them at Walmart, Amazon, or airports.
D Campbell
11 years ago
Thanks for another great podcast; enjoyed your photos too. I don't travel with nearly as much as you, just iPhone 5, iPad mini & my husband's older iPhone. I agree w/ other poster about taking a small speaker The other handy item that I use both at home & traveling is a charger base w/ 2 USB slots that works in the car AND wall outlets. We each bring our Apple cords to plug into it. $13 @ walmart.
Tom
11 years ago
Gary,
Will the Airport Express Base Station work in a cruise ship state room?
Unlikely. You need an ethernet connection to connect any base station. I doubt a cruise ship would provide an ethernet connection to each stateroom. Usually, they just have Wi-Fi throughout.
Appreciated the sights of Barcelona interspersed throughout (with silence, even), but what are you trying to do, make us jealous?
Thanks for great tips!
Thanks for the great tips. Just hope you can add a little voice over (or sub-titles) on the photos describing where they were taken and if possible to show the show the whole image first before the ken burn effect. I like to travel too.
Hey Gary,
So great to see you're in Barcelona! I've been living here for many years. I own a little chain of bars and restaurants in the city.
I'm a big technology fan and I've been following your blog/channel for years, drop me a line if you feel like experiencing some of the coolest places in the city.
Take care,
Andreas
Unfortunately, I filmed that a few weeks ago and only got the chance to edit and post it when I returned home. I LOVED Barcelona. Had a wonderful time there -- great food, streets, beaches, people.
Useful info, though I'd add a qualification to the power strip tip:
Check the rating of any strip you bring along - a large part of the world (including Spain where you were) runs on 220-240V. If your strip is UL-rated for only 110V, it might not melt under 240V, but I wouldn't risk it.
Doubly so if the strip has any indicator lights on it - think "boom" and perhaps a fire.
Triply so if the strip has a surge protector - think "boom" and no power.
Great episode! I always bring all the things you mentioned except I had never thought of bringing my AirPort base station with me. I will from now on! Thanks!
I only take my iPad on trips. I shoot a lot of photos and so I take the SD Lighting adaptor along to download the photos each day. I don't mess with camera cables.
David, how much memory do you have on your iPad? What resolution size photos are you storing?
Like you I carry all of those things plus an ethernet cable, one other advantage of taking alone the Airport Express is that you can boost the wifi in a given location.
I always stay with family on my long trips to europe and the first thing I do is plug in the the AE in the bedroom and hey presto a full fan and great wifi.
This means when we wake early because of the jet lag we do not disturb anyone walking round the house for the best reception, we already have it!
Keep it up Gary nice job.
Great idea about the WiFi base station. One thing I always carry is a small (ish) portable Bluetooth speaker e.g., Monster Clarity HD (I wish Apple would make something) in case there aren't any audio devices to plug into. One that has a conference call facility can also save a bit of money on those calls home when everyone wants to talk to everyone else as it saves everyone asking each other the same stuff.
Your posts are very informative and helpful Gary, thank you.
I also take a SIM cutter (to convert local SIM if iPhone sizes not avail.) and a wireless 3G router.
I take the iPad camera connector kit so I can add the photos from my camera to my iPad, the better to share with friends and family. I wish I'd seen this 2 months ago, before my overseas trip in June! This is a pre=summer video!
Gary:
Good travel accessory ideas. I travel with a PlugBug, great for charging my
MacAir & iPad.
If you take an HDMI adaptor, you also need the cable. One can also bring an Apple TV instead, but then one needs to plug it in.
I also recommend paying for a VPN service as many American webpages and services are blocked outside the U.S.
Gary, thanks from me too on the travel gear tips. One question... how do you deal with security for all the gear when you are out sightseeing? Do you just leave your MacBook, for instance, in the rented apartment? What about if you stay at a hotel?
I used passwords on all devices, and FileVault on my MacBook. So if someone gets them, all they get is the hardware. They can't get to my stuff.
As for "my stuff" I use almost all cloud services -- iCloud, Gmail, DropBox, etc. So if any of my devices were stolen, I'd be able to get up and running on a new device without losing much.
Two more questions... 1) you're carrying quite a pile of gear. How do you actually carry it? Separate carry bag with you at all times?
2) If you weren't producing MacMost videos while traveling, could you get along with just an iPad? If so, how would you store your great photos? On extra SD cards? (I know I asked you about this recently, but I'm wondering if you have a fresh idea.)
Its really not that much. Nothing is big. My MacBook Air, iPhone, iPad mini and all the devices I show in the video probably weigh less than the much larger laptops everyone would carry 10 years ago. Most goes in my carry-on so I can access on the plane to waste time. But some of the cables and the Airport Extreme go in my suitcase.
I could probably get along with just my iPhone if I had to. That's what I used to film the videos -- I edit when the vacation is over. But it is a bit hard to maintain my web servers without a MacBook. Also hard to answer questions people ask me about Macs since I can't "try it" to solve a problem.
One gadget I take along is a Wi-Drive (http://www.kingston.com/en/usb/wireless/#wid). This small device allows streaming to up to 3 devices independently. Each child in the back of the car or on the train can enjoy his favourite movie/TV show/music. One just has to load the files on this device before leaving home. Battery live is not great but quit ok for 3 - 4 hours.
What inexpensive travel converter will do in Spain to charge iPhone. Apple has one for $30 but you mention taking your inexpensive converter with you in Barcelona.
U.S. Apple iPhone chargers will work with voltages from all over the world. All you need is a cheap ($2) plug converter since the physical plug is a different size. You can get them at Walmart, Amazon, or airports.
Thanks for another great podcast; enjoyed your photos too. I don't travel with nearly as much as you, just iPhone 5, iPad mini & my husband's older iPhone. I agree w/ other poster about taking a small speaker The other handy item that I use both at home & traveling is a charger base w/ 2 USB slots that works in the car AND wall outlets. We each bring our Apple cords to plug into it. $13 @ walmart.
Gary,
Will the Airport Express Base Station work in a cruise ship state room?
Thanks,
Tom
Unlikely. You need an ethernet connection to connect any base station. I doubt a cruise ship would provide an ethernet connection to each stateroom. Usually, they just have Wi-Fi throughout.