I like to travel. I love technology. As I write this at the Four Seasons Hotel in Kyoto, Japan, I have come to rely on a few tips that I bet you will also find useful.
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Collect your documents in a row
By now, you probably have all the apps you need: airline, customs, rideshare, maps, train tickets, translations, and more. Now create a folder “just in case” if you lose your wallet or break your phone. Hey, crazier things happen. Make sure it's saved somewhere you can access from any device, like your tablet or laptop.
At a minimum, scan your driver's license, passport, TSA or Global ID card and health insurance card.
On an iPhone, the Notes app is my favorite. Bonus: it’s built-in and saves notes to the cloud.
- Open the Notes app.
- Click the icon that looks like a square with a pen located at the bottom right of the screen to take a new note.
- Tap the camera icon at the bottom of your new note and select Scan Documents.
On an Android, try the scan feature in Google Drive:
- Open the Google Drive app.
- Tap the plus button in the bottom right corner.
- Tap Scan and allow access to your camera if you haven't already.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to take and save your photos.
Go the extra mile and save a copy of all of this as a PDF. Add it to your ebook app or even send it to your Kindle so you can access it offline. I also keep records of my flights, where I stayed, and my reservation details in a Google Doc.
Set your inbox to “see you soon” mode
About 40% of us (myself included) respond to emails on vacation. If you can, turn off all email notifications or even deactivate your email accounts on your phone. Put an out of office reply on your email. The trick, however, is to keep things simple. Many people say too much and it ends up boring their contacts.
Keep it simple. Here is a model:
“I am not at the office. I will respond to your message when I return on (this date). And if it's an urgent matter, contact (this person) at (phone number) and (email address). By the way, give yourself a day or two from this date. You will need some catch-up time.
Make sure you have a safe way to recharge
Juice jacking is the term for a scary but clever scam. With a quick cord change, someone can turn a public charging station into a way to silently find their way to your phone.
For what? Money and data, of course. The idea is to download malware to your devices and then ransom your phone or steal your passwords.
For 100% protection, stay away from all USB ports, especially abroad where these attacks are more likely. Hackers can target popular hotel room USB ports to steal data, even if you're not using a kiosk. Pro Tip: There is usually a slot for a USB cable on the back of the TV. It's a safer choice.
Wireless charging stations are great to use, but your best bet is to carry a charger and power bank with you.
If you're desperate, you can safely use a USB connection with the right cable. You need to plan ahead and prepare a charging cable only for your trip. They are cheap, compact and do not allow data transfer.
Maintain your technical knowledge
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